Busta Rhymes Talks Cash Money Partnership on 106 & Park
Although Busta Rhymes's initial announcement that he was signing with Lil Wayne and Birdman's Young Money/Cash Money Records in November 2011 may have come as a surprise too many, the Brooklyn-bred rapper appeared on 106 & Park yesterday and explained why his working relationship with the label makes the partnership so perfect.
"The great thing about Bird and Wayne and Slim is there's always been a respect level for 15, 20 years now," said Busta. "We've watched each other grow, we've watched each other evolve we've crossed paths. As fans we've watched each other's concerts. I remember seeing them when they were at Nassau Coliseum and they was still Hot Boys and they was flying in on the stage in helicopters. For me I was inspired by that. When you appreciate somebody generally you not only want to rock with them as a business but also as homies and as friends and that's something that I've always gotten."
After being quiet for the past few years, Busta resurrected himself in 2011 with scene-stealing cameos on Chris Brown's Grammy-nominated smash "Look at Me Now," Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV and the BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher. Busta says his deal with YMCMB is the icing on the cake.
As he gets ready to release his first album on Cash Money Records, Busta spoke of the strong work ethic and dedication of Lil Wayne by sharing a story with the 106 & Park audience about Lil Wayne coming to his rescue on the night Weezy won numerous Grammys for Tha Carter III.
"I was going through a clearance issue with Jeezy for the video and it was crisis mode and I had to get the video done," he shared. "So I reached out to Wayne and said 'Yo bro, I need you to hold me down and throw this verse on there because I ain't getting the clearance from Jeezy' and he was like 'Yo come through, I'm over here on such and such on the tour bus' … The point that I'm trying to make is, on a night when you won four Grammys and you would be out celebrating because that's a moment you might never get again he was on his bus grinding for the people he got love for. No red tape, no political drama, just love."
Busta has previously gone on record to share his reasons for signing with YMCMB.
"They understand. They know how to nurture the music, they know how to let artists be artists, they know how to let you reach your fullest capability creatively," Busta previously said of the label. "Wayne is a perfect example. He reached his apex a little while ago, and he just continues to grow."
Busta also said that the label's success with their other artists, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Lil Twist and Tyga, was a major factor in his decision to sign. "It feels good to see that," he said of the label's success. "It feels good to be a part of that."
"All I can do is promise ya'll that Cash Money and that young money and that conglomerate movement and this whole alliance. We really gone make it unfair for whoever ain't riding on this side of the fence with us."
Before he left the building Busta shared his thoughts on this weekend's Super Bowl match up between the New York Giants and New England Patriots. Watch the video below.
BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.
(Photo: John Ricard/BET)