Track Review: Nicki Minaj & Lil Baby, "Bussin"

Just last week Nicki Minaj and Lil Baby debuted their new single and first collaboration, "Do We Have A Problem?" Since then, the song launched at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the pair reunited for their second collaboration in as many weeks. "Bussin," produced by Swaggyono and DJ Tizz, trades the grimy confrontational energy of "Do We Have A Problem" for a more braggadocious club-focused affair.

If "Problem" found Nicki leaning into Lil Baby's lane, then "Bussin" finds him returning the favor. With a staccato flow reminiscent of "FEFE," Nicki slides across the stuttering snares and delivers lines with slick wordplay like "I ain't at the bus stop, but my niggas bust back." Nicki's tone, along with the subject matter, helps truly set up a dichotomy between the two singles. "Problem" found her accessing the higher parts of her speaking and singing registers and coupling that with a more abrasive tone. Here, Nicki skates just above a monotone, and she sits in the lower parts of her register for the majority of the song. As per usual, Lil Baby's contributions are enjoyable. Their pairing allows for more interaction with one another as they trade bars back and forth. "Bussin" is a fine track, but the "FEFE" similarities and the brief runtime make it a slightly less memorable experience than "Do We Have Problem?" Moreover, the mix on the record feels oddly unbalanced to the point where the production sometimes drowns Nicki out. All in all, "Bussin" falls a bit flat; it's clearly angling itself for club play, and yet it doesn't feel urgent enough to get there. Maybe the rumored remix will tie everything together.

Score: 60