Busta Rhymes longevity, staying relevant throughout his nearly thirty year career has been matched by very few fellow hip hop artists. His latest track “They Want My Blood” featuring Lil Wayne off of DJ Kay Slay’s Hip Hop Frontline shows he can still hang with the best of them. He has always maintained who he is at the core while at the same time adapt and assimilate with changes in the hip hop climate. The Crunk era when the South dominated the genre is a prime example.
DJ Kay Slay – They Want My Blood feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
In the early 2000’s Crunk music was breaking into the mainstream. Help leading the charge was Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz with their 2002 multi-platinum album Kings of Crunk which included the hit “Get Low”. Busta Rhymes would ultimately hop on the remix accompanied by Elephant Man and the Ying Yang Twins the following year. Busta later on that same year linked up with Bone Crusher’s “Never Scared” remix alongside Cam’ron and Jadakiss from the album AttenChun!.
Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz – Get Low (remix) feat. Elephant Man, Ying Yang Twins & Busta Rhymes
Bone Crusher – Never Scared (remix) feat. Cam’ron, Jadakiss & Busta Rhymes
He then followed up with a feature with David Banner and Twista for the remix to the classic “Like a Pimp” from the project Undaground Vol.1 & Mississippi: The Album. Then in 2006 Busta Rhymes ties with the southern hip hop movement were solidified with the release of the mixtape The Crown. The project was orchestrated by DJ Drama and part of the popular “Gangsta Grillz” series. A number of prominent southern artists would link up with Busta on the project including T.I., Slim Thug, and Lil Wayne.
David Banner – Like a Pimp (remix) feat. Twista & Busta Rhymes
Both Lil Wayne and Slim Thug showed up on “It Ain’t Over”. T.I contributed vocals to “Cannon”. Busta Rhymes returned the favor dropping a memorable spirited verse on “Hurt” from T.I.’s 2007 T.I. vs T.I.P.. That same year Busta jumped on DJ Khaled’s remix to “I’m So Hood” from the album We the Best. Besides Busta the posse cut also consisted of Ludacris, Big Boi,, Young Jeezy, Fat Joe, Birdman, Rick Ross, and T-Pain.
Busta Rhymes – It Ain’t Over feat. Lil Wayne & Slim Thug
Busta Rhymes – Cannon feat. T.I.
T.I. -Hurt feat. Alfamega & Busta Rhymes
DJ Khaled – I’m So Hood (remix) feat. Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Young Jeezy, Fat Joe, Birdman, Rick Ross & T-Pain
Busta Rhymes was in such demand he was coined “King of the Remixes”. While many of Busta’s peers’ careers were going stale or stalling his continued to thrive. A theme that has characterized Busta Rhymes throughout the years regardless the ever-changing hip-hop climate. His upcoming project should continue this trend.
