The Evolution of Busta Rhymes

There's no burn-out for this hip hop Energy God.

Busta Rhymes - After turning in perhaps the best guest verse ever on A Tribe Called Quest's "Scenario," Busta Rhymes and his singular talents needed room to breathe. He split from his old crew, Leaders of the New School, and released his solo debut, The Coming, in 1996.    (Photo: Joe Kohen/Getty Images)

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The Evolution of Busta Rhymes - We're going to come right out and say it: Busta Rhymes is one of the greatest MCs of all time. Has any other rapper had scene-stealing cameos in hit songs from three different decades? His solo catalog, from "Woo-Hah (Got You All in Check)" to "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See," has too many classics to list here. And with his new deal with Cash Money and today's appearance on 106 & Park, Busta is set to extend his legacy even further. Take a look back at Busta's legendary career, from LONS to YMCMB and everything in between.(Photo: Joe Kohen/Getty Images)

School Daze - Born Trevor Tahiem Smith Jr. on May 20, 1972, Busta Rhymes was born and raised in Brooklyn, where he attended high school with Jay-Z and the Notorious B.I.G. before moving to Long Island as a teen.(Photo: Courtesy MTV)

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School Daze - Born Trevor Tahiem Smith Jr. on May 20, 1972, Busta Rhymes was born and raised in Brooklyn, where he attended high school with Jay-Z and the Notorious B.I.G. before moving to Long Island as a teen.(Photo: Courtesy MTV)

Future Leaders - Busta first broke through as the standout member of Long Island–based crew Leaders of the New School, whose acclaimed first album, Future Without a Past, included the hits "Case of the P.T.A." and "Sobb Story." (Photo: Courtesy Elektra Records)

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Future Leaders - Busta first broke through as the standout member of Long Island–based crew Leaders of the New School, whose acclaimed first album, Future Without a Past, included the hits "Case of the P.T.A." and "Sobb Story." (Photo: Courtesy Elektra Records)

Jack Move - Busta began his long tradition of outshining other MCs on their own records with "Scenario," the 1991 Tribe Called Quest classic featuring LONS. Busta's frantic, edge-of-your-seat closing verse is undoubtedly one of the most memorable rhymes of all time. (Photo: Courtesy Jive Records)

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Jack Move - Busta began his long tradition of outshining other MCs on their own records with "Scenario," the 1991 Tribe Called Quest classic featuring LONS. Busta's frantic, edge-of-your-seat closing verse is undoubtedly one of the most memorable rhymes of all time. (Photo: Courtesy Jive Records)

Umma Do Me - In an infamous Yo! MTV Raps appearance, Busta and Charlie Brown, another member of LONS, began arguing, and the group broke up soon after. Busta launched his solo career in 1995 with The Coming and its lead single "Woo-Hah (Got You All in Check)," which was accompanied by an eye-popping video from Hype Williams — the first of his and Busta's many off-the-wall collabos. (Photo: Courtesy Elektra Records)

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Umma Do Me - In an infamous Yo! MTV Raps appearance, Busta and Charlie Brown, another member of LONS, began arguing, and the group broke up soon after. Busta launched his solo career in 1995 with The Coming and its lead single "Woo-Hah (Got You All in Check)," which was accompanied by an eye-popping video from Hype Williams — the first of his and Busta's many off-the-wall collabos. (Photo: Courtesy Elektra Records)

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Busta Rhymes, 'Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See' - With tribal dancing and paint to match, it's not hard to tell Coming to America inspired the video for this Busta Rhymes Grammy-nominated hit. Hype Williams got behind the lens.(Photo: Courtesy of Aftermath Records)

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Second Time's a Charm - Busta found his wheelhouse on his second solo LP, When Disaster Strikes, which struck platinum on the back of the kinetic, dance-floor-packing hit "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" and its bonkers Coming to America–inspired video.(Photo: Courtesy Elektra Records)

"Ignorance Is Bliss" - Janet Jackson rejected a role in The Matrix (1999) to go on a concert tour (the Velvet Rope concert tour to be exact, which ended in January of 1999). (Photo:  Elektra Records)

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Futuristic - Busta killed it again with his 1998 album E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front, which featured "What's It Gonna Be," his hit duet with Janet Jackson. The song, which featured a $2 million Hype Williams video and some of Busta's most nimble, tongue-twisting rapping yet, peaked at No. 3 on Billboard. (Photo: Courtesy Elektra Records)

Giving You More - Busta updated his sound for his fourth album, 2001's Genesis, by collaborating with Dr. Dre and Mary J. Blige, and on his party-starting hit "Pass the Courvoisier Part II," featuring Diddy and the Neptunes.(Photo: Courtesy Elektra Records)

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Giving You More - Busta updated his sound for his fourth album, 2001's Genesis, by collaborating with Dr. Dre and Mary J. Blige, and on his party-starting hit "Pass the Courvoisier Part II," featuring Diddy and the Neptunes.(Photo: Courtesy Elektra Records)

Flip the Script - Busta's star power couldn't be constrained to music alone: He's landed several movie and TV roles, including the 2000 hit remake of Shaft.  (Photo: Courtesy Paramount Pictures)

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Flip the Script - Busta's star power couldn't be constrained to music alone: He's landed several movie and TV roles, including the 2000 hit remake of Shaft.  (Photo: Courtesy Paramount Pictures)

Welcome to the Aftermath - Busta took his career in a new direction by signing with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. The move paid off — Big Bang topped the Billboard 100 when it debuted in 2006, landing Bussa-Bus his first No. 1 album.(Photos from left: John Sciulli/Getty Images,Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

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Welcome to the Aftermath - Busta took his career in a new direction by signing with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. The move paid off — Big Bang topped the Billboard 100 when it debuted in 2006, landing Bussa-Bus his first No. 1 album.(Photos from left: John Sciulli/Getty Images,Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

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Middle East Heat - Busta struck black gold with his 2009 Ron Browz–helmed hit "Arab Money," though the song's topic and use of Quran quotes prompted a backlash from many Arabs and Muslims.  (Photo: Courtesy Universal Records)

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Middle East Heat - Busta struck black gold with his 2009 Ron Browz–helmed hit "Arab Money," though the song's topic and use of Quran quotes prompted a backlash from many Arabs and Muslims.  (Photo: Courtesy Universal Records)

New Generation - Save 2009's "Arab Money," Busta had been rather quiet — until he stole the show yet again on Chris Brown's 2011 smash "Look at Me Now," which also featured Lil Wayne. Busta's breathtaking, inhumanly agile verse is one of the most impressive, acrobatic rhymes in recent memory.  (Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

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New Generation - Save 2009's "Arab Money," Busta had been rather quiet — until he stole the show yet again on Chris Brown's 2011 smash "Look at Me Now," which also featured Lil Wayne. Busta's breathtaking, inhumanly agile verse is one of the most impressive, acrobatic rhymes in recent memory.  (Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

Still Got It - Buss proved his comeback was no fluke when he dominated The Cypher at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards.  

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Still Got It - Buss proved his comeback was no fluke when he dominated The Cypher at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards.  

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New Money - Bussa Bus capped off a banner year by announcing he was signing to Cash Money Records. He's currently working on his ninth solo LP, E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event) 2: End of the World, and we can't wait to hear it. Look at him now. (Photo: Courtesy Cash Money Records)