Busta Rhymes works the stage. Blink once, and without a doubt, you would have missed a lot. Full of energy, this vibrant, Brooklyn-patois accented rapper has been setting trends from the moment he started in the rap game.
Busta has been working on his unique rhyming style since the age of 12. But it wasn't until he moved from his home in Brooklyn to Long Island that he began to put his style on display. It was at a New York City rap contest that Busta became acquainted with his future partner MC Charlie Brown. Charlie Brown and Busta became a team and together they won a contest sponsored by Chuck D and the Public Enemy crew.
In 1989, Busta, Charlie Brown and two aspiring rappers, Dinco D and Milo in De Dance, began recording at the Public Enemy's studio. The four youngsters became known as The Leaders Of The New School. The group released their first project titled "Future Without A Past" in 1990. In 1991, Busta added his own flavor to A Tribe Called Quest's hit "Scenario". It was his addition to "Scenario" that made people stop and take notice to Busta's unique and flowing style. There was no question whether he could hold his own as a solo artist. Rumors began to circulate that Busta would soon leave the group to pursue a solo career. But The Leaders Of The New School continued to strive as a unit and in 1993, they released their second album entitled "T.I.M.E". Later that year, Busta received his break into film with a role in Ted Demme's hiphop "whodunnit" comedy "Who's The Man?" (1993). The role was small, but it brought forth a new passion for Busta. In 1994, he appeared on the remix of Craig Mack's "Flavor in Ear" adding color to an already vibrant song. In the music circuit, Busta was a sure thing so when The Leaders Of The New School parted ways, he began shifting his energy toward a much anticipated solo career.
In 1995, Hollywood came-a-knocking once again, in the form of director John Singleton. Singleton offered Busta the role of Dreads in his feature film "Higher Learning". Busta brought the same energy, color and intensity he used with his music to the role of the headstrong, college militant, which proved to be a winning combination. Taking a break from acting, Busta placed his concentration back on music and in 1996 he debuted with his solo album "The Coming". "The Coming" was a refreshing album that gave his fans what they wanted and more. The hit song "Woo Hah, Got You All In Check" became the lead off single from his solo debut. The album naturally went platinum plus. His sophomore album, "When Disaster Strikes" (1997), proved that "The Coming" was not a fluke, and that he would continue to make monster-hits. His across the board smash "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" positioned him and his production company as a cultural force that transcended the boundaries of hip hop. Also in 1997, Busta participated in a rap documentary called "Rhyme & Reason". The documentary showed the state of contemporary hip hop and the state of contemporary urban life. In 1998, Busta released his third album "Extinction Level Event" "Extinction Level Event" was a whirlpool of enlightened turbulent wordplay about the millennium. It contained songs that reflected his "end-of-the world" fixation. In 2000, Busta appeared in two major feature films; "Shaft" and "Finding Forrester". In "Finding Forrester" a different side of Busta was seen as he played the big brother to an Afro-American teen writing prodigy. In 2002, Busta was featured in the summer's horror flick, "Halloween: Ressurrection". He then ended the year co-starring in the crime thriller feature "Narc." The passed years have really been good to Busta Rhymes. He has, without a doubt, established himself as a double threat. With the music industry in his pocket and Hollywood holding his hand, Busta is guaranteed to be a hit in both professions.