Author Topic: Interesting new Busta Rhymes interview (Read 409 times)

Meho · « **on:** October 05, 2005, 06:33:29 AM »

i only wish they asked more about Big Bang

oh and damn these fucking labels

In his illustrious career, Busta Rhymes clearly established to Hip-Hop not only that he was here to stay, but also a distinguishable force to be reckoned with. After enduring professional growth and personal pain, it was Busta’s stand out performance on his verse of the A Tribe Called Quest hit “Scenario” that helped him to establish a name for himself as not only an animated but an ill MC.

The crews, the labels, it’s all changed in the last fifteen years. No prophet could’ve connected Leaders of the New School with N.W.A. in 1991. But now with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Records, Busta Rhymes speaks to AllHipHop.com on the journey. We look at the botched J Records deal, the politics of Aftermath, Busta’s weaknesses and strengths, and even a word on LONS. Great art comes full circle.

All HipHop.com: What really happened at J Records, because the partnership between you and Clive [Davis] seemed great when Genesis hit, it also seemed like a great move for the team especially with what was going on with Flipmode and the solo joint with Rah Digga?

Busta Rhymes: You know everything is always beautiful in the beginning. So when we first did our deal with J Records, they weren’t even officially announced [as a label yet] and to me it made sense to jump on something fresh; especially with a man who had a record like [Clive Davis]. The problem with J Records for me was that they don’t have a clue on how to market a Black record, because Urban Music is the politically correct way of saying Black Music. People will look at it like Alicia Keys is a Black woman, so she is Urban Music, but you can’t group Rap music the same way. Rap music is about going against policies and is so hard to contain that it is impossible to market the same way as you would an Alicia Keys’ record. It was a time where if you didn’t have a Puffy or Missy or Mariah Carey on your album J Records didn’t know what to do with it and that is why I think they are a trash record company.

AllHipHop.com: So is there any beef between you and Clive Davis?

Busta Rhymes: My feelings on the way my deal went down and the views I have about J Records have nothing to do with the way I respect Clive Davis’ legacy, but I do feel that the Rap department is a part of the company that he doesn’t give a f**k about. I feel that it’s evident by the way he runs the label. Look at when the American Idol muthaf**kas won, he was right there giving them million dollar deals and putting all this money into making sure they were marketed right and that they are promoted to be a success. Now look at Cassidy, yeah they were there [for him] in the beginning, but when he got locked up they gave him one video and the rest of his album was thrown in the trash. They cut his budget and really just messed him up, but if you look at Lil’ Kim [who’s on Atlantic], I don’t mean to compare situations that are unfortunate but Lil’ Kim is on her way to jail and you can see the distinct difference that Lyor Cohen and them did versus that of Clive Davis.

AllHipHop.com: There are two things that you said in previous interviews that I agree with, one is that the reason you continue to switch labels is because the labels aren’t understanding your vision, but you also said something in a totally separate interview that Hip-Hop is the only music that has created jobs for people who don’t understand it. Do you feel that the lack of understanding is what causes street records not to be as heavily promoted as a mainstream record and that’s what leading to the over saturation?

Busta Rhymes: Completely, I definitely feel that and I feel that a lot of that has changed because of the corporate mergers and the layoffs that have taken place in the industry. I think that there has definitely always been a lack of respect and a lack of understanding by the employees that worked at the labels because they looked at this like a job, like a straight up nine to five. On the other hand with me, switching labels has always been something that was needed in my situation in order to maintain a certain level of success because I feel like the longer you stay at a company the less fresh and the less exciting you become to a company and that’s the nature of any relationship. Just like if you with your girl, the longer you are with her the less exciting the relationship become and it’s unfortunate but that’s just how we [as people] are, we have short attention spans.

AllHipHop.com: Do you feel that it will turn that way with Aftermath?

Busta Rhymes: I feel that destiny for me has worked itself out, because I have never dreamed of being on a label that is so understanding of the music that I have always been trying to make, but have never been able to make like Aftermath. Because to me if you can win a Grammy and perform on the Grammys with someone like Elton John on a record like “Stan” that talks about killing your wife because you are an over obsessed deranged muthaf**ka, that is so far from a Top 40 record or even a club banger, that it’s created a new level of success that goes against the normal establishment. Working with Dre has given me the freedom to express feelings and things that I was never able to express because the labels always wanted a high energy, bafoonish, animated Busta Rhymes that I really don’t have a problem with doing because it’s a part of who I am. When I have a problem with it, is when I am unable to express other parts of myself and other sides that I consist of. It ain’t always the cartoon and exaggerated facial expressions that Busta Rhymes is about, I have so many other dimensions that I consist of and I am glad that honestly the label that I am apart of allows me to explore and express those sides thoroughly through my music. I hope people are bracing because I am going to finally get a chance to tell stories that I have been holding on to since ‘95 that I haven’t been able to share, because the previous companies I was a part of didn’t know how to nourish or nurture those types of records, concepts or ideas. That’s why I feel blessed that despite how I was hindered in other situations, muthaf**kas tend to identify with the true capabilities that you represent and the quality of your music.

AllHipHop.com:: Why do you think It Ain’t Safe No More was so unsuccessful, is it because you were unhappy with the situation at J Records or did you just feel like oh well?

Busta Rhymes: I am going to break it down for you a lil’ bit. When I was at Elektra, all of my albums were platinum, when I was leaving Elektra the Anarchy album was the least successful. When I went to J Records, my first album sold 1.8 million, when I was leaving J Records, the biggest radio record I have had in my career, that Mariah record was bigger than “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See” bigger than any other single I have had, but ironically the record sold the least amount of records. Why, because when a label knows that you are leaving, they are not going to put as much money into your project when they know they ain’t getting that money back. So that’s really what that’s about and I am glad you asked that question because a lot of time people hold it against you, like you slipping creatively; but it ain’t got s**t to do with my creative ability. If you look at around the time this album was falling off, I was the hottest muthaf**ka out.

AllHipHop.com: Everyone has a favorite Busta album, but in my opinion you really shine the most on remixes. Is that because coming from a group setting you had to work harder than a solo MC or is it just the challenge of being around other great MC’s?

Busta Rhymes: My goal when I jump on those remixes, is for that woman or that man to say I killed it. I mean I have been on some joints with heavyweights, so if I am not the favorite MC out the bunch, that’s fine. But I always want them to say my verse ripped everyone else’s, because you only get one chance to really express yourself on someone else’s record. So I treat every opportunity like my last when I am rhyming with other MC’s because if you are nice with the pen and the delivery muthaf**kas are already screening for you, so I am going to take every opportunity to shine because you never know if you will ever get to rap with these MC’s again.

AllHipHop.com: On another note, you know the biggest question on everyone’s mind is what’s up with the Flipmode Squad? Are they on hiatus because when you left Elektra, Rah Digga followed you over to J Records and shortly before you left, she was about to drop her solo album.

Busta Rhymes: Well actually they all followed me. The only reason why you really feel more of a presence from Rah Digga is because she was the one ready to release and album and she was the one that was ready to do more of a solo project. Unfortunately, she and the rest of the Flipmode got caught up in the political dumb s**t that I was going through as I was leaving J Records. So without me being at J Records, Rah Digga didn’t really have the support on the strength or the bargaining power that she needed to support her project. So I didn’t want to leave her in a death trap, especially when I see how J Records was treating all of their other artists. So I took her with me, everyone in Flipmode is with me; the only thing is that things have to work in stages and structures but everything I do will be beneficial for the grand scheme of things.

AllHipHop.com: As far as being signed to Aftermath, everyone hasn’t seen too many different sides to Busta, other than the animated, party joint side; so a lot of people were a little shocked when they heard your verse on the “Never Scared” remix, although you continue to divulge a little more of yourself with each album. With that being said, with all the beef coming from over there with G-Unit, are fans going to start hearing you spit more disses because there is word that you have a song called “F**kin’ Up the Game” and it features 50 Cent.

Busta Rhymes: Well to set the record straight, I don’t have a song on my album called “F*ckin’ Up the Game”. For two, I don’t have beef with nobody in the industry and never have, with the exception of me and Ja Rule, but we addressed it accordingly. The only reason it went down like that after he said what he said on his record, was because we used to be cool when he did that. I guess he felt obligated to diss everyone at Violator, which is my management company, when 50 came over there. Now of course me and 50 is on the same team and I rep my for my team and who ever is on my team. Now if you don’t like it, f**k you. But at the end of the day, if me and you are cool and you have an issue with something before you publicly disrespect me, you better try to call me or get at my peoples so we can talk about whatever differences that we have. Because I am that type of person, I am very confrontational; I don’t want to go to bed knowing that there is unresolved issues that I have to wake up to tomorrow.

But as a man, I got kids and an integrity, morally and principally that I am going to defend to the death bed. If a muthaf**ka crosses the line, we are going to deal with that on whatever level necessary. I have never been one to promote going out there tearing somebody’s head off, but if it’s in self-defense I support it fully.

AllHipHop.com: Looking back over your career, is there any point in your life whether professional or personal that you would change?

Busta Rhymes: I really feel like after going through all these years with making these records and situations, I feel that I am finally receiving my reward and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The only thing I wish is that the stuff I know now, I wish I knew when I made my first deal. But now I am on Aftermath and even though I have so many years of experience, I really feel like I am getting a chance to do it all over again, but with all the information that I have always wished I had in the beginning when I did my deal with Elektra.

AllHipHop.com: You have always been a spiritual type of person and it’s no secret that you are a part of the Five Percent Nation, with all the controversy surrounding Eminem and the tape; what is your take on the situation? Because as a Black female, I personally don’t feel he apologized for it and all though he said it when he was sixteen, the fact still remains he said it.

Busta Rhymes: My experience with Eminem now, is a major respectful one. We really don’t get to see him that often, because everybody pretty much has their own things and their own crew so we only see each other if it’s work related. I can say I have never had a problem with him, I ain’t never heard him say, “nigger” on no record since his career started. When he was sixteen, our culture didn’t embrace him because he didn’t have a record or a record deal, so he was going through something personal at the time. We all have our way of dealing with s**t and I am not justifying it by no means because if a White dude call me a nigger, we going to have problems. But I don’t just hold him responsible because it could have something to do with his upbringing or whatever. I mean he’s a White man and his family is White, so of course they are going to be on some pro-White s**t, just like we being Black, were raised on the pro-Black, so it really shouldn’t be surprising. I think the worst type of racist is the one who acts a totally different way than they feel. So as far as I am concerned I ain’t mad at Em, I am mad at a lot of muthaf**kas who are Black like me but they don’t even help they own, they don’t even support they own, they don’t even respect they own, so f**k them n***as.

AllHipHop.com: You have recently sat into the producers seat working on Raekwon's upcoming album, what made you want to venture into the area of producer and is this a move that you are planning on making permanently?

Busta Rhymes: I hopped on Raekwon’s project because Raekwon and Ghost to me, just put me on another level, musically - the whole Wu-Tang did. The always seemed on some other s**t to me, I have never seen a nine-man clique that all had solo deals on different labels, while being housed as a group under another one; that was unheard of back on the day until they did it first of all. Number two, their dynamic was so different from each other, it reminded you of the old school super-hero cartoons where each one had their own intro, I mean Wu is like that they have their own swagger and that is just unbelievable to me. They whole movement was historic and no one has done it like they have done it. I told Raekwon that he didn’t need to make another album he needed to make another movie because Cuban Linx played like a movie, that whole album from the packaging to the color of the tape was classic. So I just hollered at him and told him he needed to recapture that. But honestly, I feel like I just sparked the energy and I am there for moral support. I mean I heard hot beats that I couldn’t use and I felt was right for him I slid them to him and we just worked like that. But as far as beats and all that, he and RZA have teamed up and created some sh*t that made my eyes water yo. Like on some emotional s**t, I may be a little biased but this album is going to be some fire.

AllHipHop.com: With all the groups reuniting to give a taste of the old school to the new school, what are the chances of you linking back up with the guys to do a Leaders of the New School album or tour?

Busta Rhymes: I would do it only if Charlie Brown wouldn’t be there.

AllHipHop.com: You guys still have beef after all these years?

Busta Rhymes: I mean there isn’t really a beef, there are just a lot of unresolved issues that he ain’t willing to speak to me about. Like I said I am a very confrontational person, and for things to go down like they did ain’t cool. I still see Dinco and Milo and we chill, we give love and it feels like the group never broke up. But it ain’t the same with Brown and when I really blow up like I want to, I am going to take care of D and Milo because that’s my fam and they will always be my fam.

AllHipHop.com: All in all what do you say is the overall legacy of your career?

Busta Rhymes: That everything comes full circle, if you look at the themes of my album it was like a telling what was about to happen. Like I said before, I find it real ironic that this being my 7th album and being ironic that this is 2005, it’s like everything is finally working out and I just feel blessed to experience all that God has allowed me to, in such a way that I am able to not only express myself creatively but reach people.

UKnowWhatItIs: welcome to my traps....game over · « **Reply #1 on:** October 05, 2005, 07:26:42 AM »

Thx,nice interview.

ωεεźγ ғ · « **Reply #2 on:** October 05, 2005, 07:28:04 AM »

Quote from: UKnowWhatItIs on October 05, 2005, 07:26:42 AM

Thx,nice interview.

wcsoldier · « **Reply #3 on:** October 05, 2005, 08:59:34 AM »

The interview is ok but c'mon no questions about the Big Bang : beatmakers,feats and single and album release dates

wack interviewer if u ask me

DopeDeala · « **Reply #4 on:** October 05, 2005, 09:17:58 AM »

Quote from: wcsoldier on October 05, 2005, 08:59:34 AM

The interview is ok but c'mon no questions about the Big Bang : beatmakers,feats and single and album release dates wack interviewer if u ask me

There are alot of things explained what happened in the past and whats goin on now. It's cool we know about these situations and this way big bang will come as a complete surprise which is rare nowadays concerning the big releases.