Busta Rhymes Honors D’Angelo with New Tribute Song “Magic”
Busta Rhymes has paid tribute to the late D’Angelo with a heartfelt new track called “Magic.” Premiered by Okayplayer, the song finds Busta Rhymes rapping over D’Angelo’s “One Mo’ Gin” instrumental, celebrating the singer’s talent, influence, and enduring legacy.
The tribute recalls the first time Busta met D’Angelo at a Tribe Called Quest studio session in the early ’90s. Busta delivers a spoken word-style flow, reflecting on the depth of D’Angelo’s artistry: “The shit he did cut deep in the soul, hit the center of your core / Oh yes, we wanted more! Damn right, we wanted more! / We could not get enough of the god, damn, he was so charismatic / Every body of work he contributed to culture ended up being a classic / Type of shit that made a n*gga romantic together with his woman, climactic / Thank God He gave you to us as a gift that kept giving us this magic.”
Busta Rhymes shared his memories of D’Angelo with Okayplayer, describing their first meeting: “It was just a good, beautiful energy with the bro. D’Angelo’s personality speaks volumes because of how reserved he was. When it was time for him to actually speak — when you heard him sing or play the keyboard — it magnified the polar opposite of how quiet he was.”
Reflecting on their decades-long friendship, the Flipmode Squad founder said, “The entire 34 years of knowing D has been an incredible experience … I feel like the Earth shifted when D came to do music. He was the embodiment of some shit that was a complete balance of what our ancestors created, to where he took it.”
Busta Rhymes emphasized his commitment to keeping D’Angelo’s legacy alive. “The shit that he did decide to share with us — when people discover it, now or years from now, [it] is going to still shift the way of thinking. For whoever can appreciate real music. People think that it ends because of his physical transition, but it needed to be made clear that there’s nothing about him that’s going to end anytime soon.”
D’Angelo passed away on October 14 following a private battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 51. His family released a statement: “The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life … We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind. We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time but invite you all join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song that he has left for the world.”
Busta Rhymes’ “Magic” serves as a reminder of D’Angelo’s impact on music and culture, ensuring his influence will continue to resonate for years to come.
