5 Of Busta Rhymes’ Best Performances
“What More Can I Say” on Jay Z’s Black Album has an iconic line that reads: ”And I ain't animated, like say a, Busta Rhymes”.
While at first listen the bar may sound like a jab, it’s no shade! Busta Rhymes is the epitome of energy and performance. The East Flatbush Brooklyn rapper, known for songs like “Woo-Hah”, “Dangerous” and “Give Me Some More,’ leaves it all on the track.
There’s no mistake that the 48-year-old MC just earned his fourth “Best Live Performer” nomination for the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards (he won in 2006).
While it’s been almost a decade from his release Back on My B.S. (2009), nearly twice as long as its acclaimed predecessor, Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front (1998), Rhymes’ ninth studio album Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God, released last October , proves he hasn’t lost a step with the pen or breathe control. One might argue, in fact, he took one forward.
With tracks like “Outta My Mind”, which samples Bell Biv DeVoe's "Poison" to deliver a lyrical barrage that could have also found a placement on a club playlist, to a joint like “Wrath of God”, where covers topics like the world, Black pride, and challenging white supremacy, no stone is left unturned.
“While Trump is present with a mouth screamin' louder than trumpets
While you bow to the puppets, I'ma stand and stick around for the judgment”
With the BET Hip Hop Awards returning October 5 and the king of rap performances being nominated, there’s no better time than now than to take a peek at some of his best performances.
VMA’s- 2021
Busta Rhymes’ surprise performance at the 2021 MTV VMAs this year was a gift from the hip hop gods, as he put on a full-on performance playing hits like the 1997 classic song “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See,” “Scenario,” “Touch It” and “Pass The Courvoisier”. Then, just to flex, he displayed out-of-this-world breath control on his “Look At Me Now” verse.
Hip Hop Awards Cypher- 2011
Joining Reek da Villian, 2 Chainz, Ludacris with spins by DJ. Preemo, Busta Rhymes stood out again, exercising syllables and flows that only a handful of humans can pull off.
Live from The Apollo Theatre - 2020
During the pandemic last year, Busta Rhymes partnered with YouTube’s Music Nights series for an exclusive live set from The Apollo Theater in Harlem, NYC.
There he ran through his hits as well as a medley of joints off his new project in an impassioned performance that included sweat and wardrobe changes.
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BET Awards - 2006
Back in 2006, Busta was on top of the world again with his “Touch It” single. But, unbeknownst to viewers of the BET Awards 2006, he’d bring out Eminem as a surprise guest for the remixed version in what would be a rare collaboration between the two artists.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon - 2020
Last year Busta teamed up with Anderson Paak for a live performance of their hot single, “YUUUU”.
Backed by a live band, the veteran rapper and the west-coast drummer complemented each other’s styles during the staccato rap song, taking turns spitting out their lines while dancing side to side.
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