Welcome to another installment of Way Back Wednesday, where I remind you about some classic artists from way back...My introduction to Busta Rhymes came in 1992 via A Tribe Called Quest's classic track, "Scenario," back when Busta was still a member of Leaders of the New School. His verse stood out from everyone else's, his style so different than anyone I'd heard up until that point, and it wasn't long after that he enjoyed his come up as a solo artist, then as a virtual hip-hop superstar cranking out hit after hit.
Background: Trevor Smith Jr. was born in Brooklyn in 1972, but spent his teenage years in Long Island, attending George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School with classmates Jay-Z, DMX and The Notorious B.I.G. Smith hit the music scene in 1989 alongside fellow Long Island natives Charlie Brown, Dinco D and Cut Monitor Milo, forming East Coast hip hop group Leaders of the New School (LONS). Later that year, LONS got the break they needed from Public Enemy and were invited to open for that iconic group. PE's frontman was actually responsible for gifting Smith with his handle, Busta Rhymes, after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes. LONS released debut LP A Future Without a Past... in 1991, its fresh rap styles and captivating personalities (headed up by the animated Busta Rhymes) capturing the attention of critics and new fans. Two years later, they dropped a follow-up and final LP, T.I.M.E. ("The Inner Mind's Eye"). The album didn't drum up the buzz of the group's first outing but that didn't stop Busta from breaking out of the group and becoming popular in his own solo right, though this caused rifts within the group and led to an on-air argument while LONS was recording an episode of Yo! MTV Raps, where they claimed that Busta was stealing the show. After two albums and four years, Leaders of the New School announced their split in 1993. In late 1994, Busta teamed up with Puff Daddy, LL Cool J, Rampage and former classmate The Notorious B.I.G., for a remix of Craig Mack's hit, "Flava In Ya Ear," arguably one of the best remixes ever created, and a host of other guest appearances followed.This was just the beginning for Busta Rhymes and his energetic career.
Notable albums: In the spring of 1996, Busta Rhymes dropped his first single as a solo artist, "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check," and it became a huge hit, proving the perfect way to hype up then launch his debut full-length, The Coming. Wu-Tang's ODB did a remix later on (included below), and I actually prefer it to the album version. ODB belongs on a song like this, and the two together created a wild, rather entertaining video to go with the track. The Coming hit the shelves a month later and was not only met with rave reviews (receiving near-perfect ratings across the board) but embraced wholeheartedly by fans, and it remains a classic hip-hop album for me. "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check" was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. Second single "It's A Party" revealed Busta's calmer and smoother side as bolstered by R&B duo Zhane. The Coming is most definitely one of the better hip-hop releases that dropped in the '90s. The production is fantastic and handled by some of the best names of the era — DJ Scratch, Easy Mo Bee and The Ummah among them. The Coming also reflects the change that came in hip-hop between 1993 and 1996, and the vast stylistic evolution that was happening at the time. Rhymes never really delivered any deep messages or dealt with controversial topics, but his unique flow and quick-firing tongue kept him in the forefront for years to come.
More Busta Rhymes albums release pre-2000:
When Disaster Strikes... (1997)
E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front (1998)
Anarchy (2000)
"Woo-Hah!! Got You All In Check" Feat. ODB (Remix)
"It's A Party" Feat. Zhane
"Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See"
"Dangerous"
"Turn It Up/Fire It Up"
"Gimme Some More"
"What's It Gonna Be?!" Feat. Janet Jackson
"Get Out"
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Do you prefer '90s-era 'Busta Rhymes or are you into the more accessible music he produced in the 2000s? Sound off below.