Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes uses a lengthy delay to his advantage

By Joe Walker

Busta Rhymes sounds uncharacteristically chill during our evening phone conversation. Usually energetically animated, excited simply to be excited, Busta has mellowed. “It’s been a long day,” he says calmly in his unmistakable, deep New York-accented voice, “but I’m here.” After an unexpected flight delay, he made his destination hours behind schedule. He’s grown accustomed to setbacks such as this in the recent years of his lengthy, high profile hip-hop career.

Busta’s current album, Back On My B.S., was originally set for release two years ago on label Aftermath/Interscope Records. After some haggling, the album’s now out on Motown Universal. Looking back on the whole situation he harbors no ill feelings. “I’m straight,” he says simply.

Busta Rhymes arrived in the recording industry in 1991 as a member of rap group Leaders Of The New School. At 19-years-old, his aggressive performance antics, which consisted of whipping about his towering body and signature dreadlocks, and rapid-fire lyrical wizardry were showcased in the group’s debut video “Case of the P.T.A.” (search YouTube if you’ve never seen it), making him an instant standout. By the time his solo debut The Coming dropped in 1996, Busta was a bona fide star.

Today, at 37, Busta hasn’t lost a step or a once of respect. His place in music history is cemented, but not his hairstyle. Busta shaved off his braids, but his passion to being an MC remains. All he really wants is to continue making hip-hop. “The love for it and the passion for it is just from being genuinely a fan of the music, and that’s been an infinite drive of mine,” he says. “I love to rhyme. I love hearing dope beats and seeing people respond to what I spit on them. You can’t get that feeling from anywhere else, from nothing else but making good music.”

Busta Rhymes’ career has been stellar, if nothing else: six platinum albums (five consecutive), one gold album, and nearly 20 hit singles. That’s no B.S. “I’ve been blessed,” he says. “I got everything I need and could possibly want.”

Busta didn’t want his album delayed. Doing so, though, gave him more time to tweak already finished tracks, and also record new ones. “The great part about all the delays is that I have the opportunity to do it all over again with a new label,” he says. “I don’t frown at a fresh start, especially when you’ve been in the game as long as me and continue to get them. My comfort zone is the most incredible space to be in right now. I’m still making music people want to hear. Old fans love me, new fans love me; It’s a genuine love.

Back On My B.S. was a long time coming. Busta is sorry for the delay, but assures he has “continued to be creative and break a lot of rules, and go against the grain and do what I do best.”  When asked if he could top his previous run of success, Busta paused to think. Understandable, since he’s got plenty to ponder. Previous albums When Disaster Strikes, Extinction Level Event, Anarchy, Genesis, It Ain’t Safe No More and The Big Bang have all left much to remember. Busta sighs then chuckles before he says, “Putting my records out there making sure that they’re quality records so that people react the way you need them too; nothing can top that.”