Busta Rhymes names the two hip-hop artists that made him cry
Busta Rhymes is still a respected figure in hip-hop. The ‘Touch It’ emcee has been in the industry for over 30 years. That said, he has interacted with the biggest and the best of the last three decades. As such, he has a lot of stories to tell, and last year, when he announced the release of his documentary, he unveiled some of the most memorable moments of his career.
Over the years, hip-hop fans have seen documentaries from the Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Eminem, and many more. Many artists are deserving of a documentary, and considering the length and excitement of his journey, Busta Rhymes is most definitely someone who has an interesting story to tell.
Speaking about how long he had kept the project under wraps, the Brooklyn native told fans, “It’s actually been in the works for the last eight years. So it’s on its way, it’s almost done, and the deal got done for it. I’m not disclosing that information yet in detail. But I do want you to know that we actually trying to get it out before the end of the year.”
As an emcee who began his career in the early ’90s alongside Leaders of The New School, Busta quickly became one of the most exciting and intriguing artists on the New York underground. With his eccentric voices and speedy flows, he had versatility. As such, he was regularly featured on songs by Big Daddy Kane, the Notorious B.I.G., A Tribe Called Quest, and more.
Although he exploded into the mainstream in 1996, he had many memorable moments before that and during his interview with Complex, he shared one that really fuelled his drive. Recalling the moment, he began, “I ain’t gonna front the first time we was in Spectrum City Studios in Hempstead, Long Island and Hank Shocklee called us to the studio with Chuck D.”
He explained Public Enemy were actually giving Leaders of the New School advice, adding, “They were kind of giving us shit for acting like we dope or whatever from the little demo tapes and songs we was making. Next thing you know, they put on ‘Rebel Without a Pause.’ When I tell you, I almost started crawling up the fucking walls and the ceiling? I actually cried in that room.”
Busta admitted that was the first time he had ever cried because of an album. However, he did unveil it then happened on more than one occasion, stating, “So there’s only two albums that made me shed a tear, or two artists. They both were groups but Public Enemy and A Tribe Called Quest. Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders made me cry. It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back made me cry. Fear of a Black Planet made me cry. Nothing has ever made me feel like that.”
The projects he listed were the only ones that had moved him to that extent, but he did disclose that other albums were close, divulging, “The only three other things that made me come close to that was Nas’ album Illmatic, Peter Rock & CL Smooth Mecca and the Soul Brother and Ol’ Dirty Bastard Return to the 36 Chambers. Them three was the closest three to bring me to the tear-jerking moments. But them two, Tribe and P.E., they made me ball.”