Busta Rhymes has been a prominent figure in hip-hop for over 25 years and, during the late 1990s and early 2000s, was a central figure in East Coast hip-hop. Known for his complex wordplay and ability to rhyme at lightning speed, Busta Rhymes is an artist many look up to. However, the Brooklyn emcee (real name Trevor Smith) is amazed by a new artist and places the crown on his head.
In a 2022 interview with Billboard, Smith spoke about some of the artists he loves, both old and new. As well as his great music, Busta is known for his excellent and creative music videos and during the conversation, he spoke about his peers and the most innovative in hip-hop.
One artist he paid homage to during his conversation was Missy Elliot, who he labelled his “Twin sister.” Elaborating on the ‘Work It’ emcee’s excellence, Smith stated, “I love her on undescribable levels. She has been moving out here in such a phenomenally iconic way. She just got her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year.”
He continued, “She just got a street named after her. She got a doctorate, I believe. And I just seen that she recently got her Madame Toussaint Wax Museum statue. Her sh*t is on a whole ‘nother level of icon right now. So I’m super proud.”
However, Busta Rhymes also revealed that Kendrick Lamar is his new favourite and (in his eyes) has the rap crown, explaining, “‘The Heart Part 5.’ That video was special, and they set a bar for the new generation when it came to the revolutionary visual impact that me and Missy were always successful at executing. The balance of simplicity and complexity in it is so incredibly powerful, and that’s not an easy balance to find.”
He finalised by asserting, “I’m still looking to see who will come up with some sh*t that’s gonna f*ck with that. So visually, I’m giving Kendrick the crown. And that’s just one of the many things that Kendrick gets the crown for from me right now.”
