Labels

Busta Rhymes


Born: 1972
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Genre: Hip Hop
Years Active: 1990 -
Real Name: Trevor Smith Jr.
Meaning of the Name: Named by Chuck D after the NFL player George 'Buster' Rhymes
Way of Working: Raps over a producers beats
Associated: Leaders of the New School, Rampage

Essential Releases

Dummy

T.I.M.E. (1993)

Leaders of the New School album. Showcased Busta Rhymes' energetic style.

Dummy

The Coming (1996)

Introduced his distinctive, high-energy style and foreshadowed his lyrical fascination with the end-of-days.

Dummy

When Disaster
Strikes (1997)

This album marked Busta Rhymes' full embrace of apocalyptic themes and the energetic, rapid-fire delivery he became famous for.


Busta Rhymes, the shaman of hip hop, gets so pumped when he raps he almost enters a trance. He became known for performances that were as energetic as an escaped mental patient, seeing him bounce around as if he was attached to an invisible pogo stick. His highly original style was honed after years of practice, which included attending high school with Jay-Z and Biggie Smalls. Later, as a part of Leaders of the New School, he further developed his lyrical prowess and unique delivery, hinting at the powerful solo career to come. Steel, as they say, sharpens steel.

What set Busta apart, however, was his image, which he didn't take too seriously, and unlike other rappers, he even cracked a smile on occasion. His music videos are fun, creative and full of vibrant colours, while his contemporaries, such as Mobb Deep, made straight-faced efforts shot in muted greys.

His music complements his image. The strings from the Psycho sample on 'Gimme Some Mo'' are both hypnotic and unsettling. The rapping sounds like a madman talking to himself: half genius, half insane rambling. However, what really made it special was the delivery. It's a breathless, surreal escape into a larger-than-life, Saturday morning cartoon rap world that balanced out the never-ending dirge of the doom merchants with humour and good vibes.

This late-90s period is when Busta really hit his creative stride, fueled by apocalyptic millennium hysteria. The news media couldn't stop talking about the millennium bug, and disaster films like Armageddon and Deep Impact were becoming the norm. Hip hop was no different, but it put its own spin on the apocalypse. The album cover for When Disaster Strikes features an intense Busta, bordering on the insane, with his back against the wall in a confined outdoors space.

Extinction Level Event starts with a father telling his daughter, in painstaking detail, how the world will end, only for her to surprise him by thinking it sounds cool. Laughing in the face of the fearmongers provided a sigh of relief, while retaining the aesthetic of incoming disaster. Songs like 'Tear Da Roof Off' started with "after the ultimate world blast that ended all things", before launching into bouncy rap that would capture your attention even if you had ADHD. It was refreshing, while also feeling true to the times, and this approach has become a part of Busta Rhymes enduring legacy.


Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
65

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
70

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
80

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
90

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
35

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
70

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
85

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
60

Rapping

i Technical attributes.
95

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
85

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
75

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
80

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
35

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
45

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
60

Charisma

i Factors include force of personality, appearance. Elvis making people faint etc.
80

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards >>>

  • Grammy Nominations x12

Certifications >>>

  • The Coming - Platinum in USA; Gold in Canada
  • When Disaster Strikes - Platinum in USA; Gold in UK
  • Extinction Level Event - Platinum in USA; Gold in UK
  • Anarchy - Platinum in USA
  • Genesis - Platinum in USA; Silver in UK
  • It Aint Safe No More - Gold in USA; Silver in UK
  • The Big Bang - Gold in USA; Silver in UK

Charts >>>

  • The Coming: #6 in USA
  • When Disaster Strikes: #3 in USA
  • Anarchy: #4 in USA
  • Genesis: #7 in USA
  • The Big Bang: #1 in USA
  • Back on My B.S.: #5 in USA
  • Extinction Level Event 2: #7 in USA

Critics



CRITICISM

  • Busta had to attend anger management classes after throwing a drink at an employee of a gym.
  • Found guilty of DUI and gun possession charges. Received 5 years probation for the gun.


Similar Acts



Labels:

Popular Posts