Busta Rhymes and J Dilla Reunite Across Time: 'Dillagence II' Arrives With 19 Tracks
Busta Rhymes has released Dillagence II, a 19-track joint project built entirely from J Dilla's production, on streaming services as of Tuesday, 25 August 2026. The album arrives through Busta Rhymes' Conglomerate Entertainment label and pairs the Brooklyn rapper's vocals with beats from the late Detroit producer, who died in February 2006.
The project's guest list spans generations of hip-hop and soul. D'Angelo, Big Sean, Ludacris, Lil Wayne, Common, Talib Kweli, Anderson .Paak, La Reezy and Honey Bxby all appear, alongside Dilla's mother, Ma Dukes — a familiar presence in the preservation of her son's legacy and catalogue, the body of recorded work a producer or artist leaves behind (Billboard).
One track carries a particularly long history. D'Angelo features on "This Woman," a song Busta Rhymes says was gifted to him from an unfinished collaboration between D'Angelo and J Dilla made more than 20 years ago. Busta revealed the song's origins in an interview on the New York Times' Popcast podcast, published 21 August 2026 (Billboard). He has also teased a music video for the track directed by Hype Williams, shared across his social media accounts.
The scope of the archive behind the album is striking. Busta Rhymes has been holding nearly 300 J Dilla beats, according to Billboard. A portion of those instrumentals were polished and shaped into the 19 tracks that make up Dillagence II. The producer — born James Yancey — is credited as the sole producer on the project (Busta Rhymes on Facebook).
This is not the first time Busta and Dilla have shared a sleeve. The two originally joined forces for Dillagence in 2007, a little over a year after Dilla's death. That earlier tape established the framework: Busta's rapid-fire delivery over Dilla's signature swung drum patterns and warm, sample-heavy production.
Leading up to the release, Busta dropped the singles "Spazzz" and "Talk Ya ShIt," the latter a collaboration with Lil Wayne. Both tracks served as promotion for the full project, which had been announced with an 25 August 2026 release date.
For fans of Dilla's work — meticulously maintained by Ma Dukes and the J Dilla Foundation since his passing — Dillagence II adds another chapter to a catalogue that has continued to grow nearly two decades after his death. For Busta Rhymes, it is the latest in a career defined by collaborations with producers who shape the sound around him, from Erick Sermon and DJ Scratch in the Leaders of the New School era to Dr. Dre and Pharrell in his solo run.
The album is available now on all major streaming platforms.
