Back to Business

Busta Rhymes’ long-delayed latest album Back on My B.S. features a re-energized Busta. It is full of his trademark frenetic energy and left-field rhymes, as well as number of auto-tuned tracks. Originally slated for Aftermath, the album has received mixed reviews, and many critics found his single “Arab Money” offensive. In our conversation, Busta defends the song, talks about what he thinks his legacy will be and offers up a timeline for his next album.

SupremeMag.com: With the label change and delays, are you ultimately happy with the way Back on my B.S. turned out?

Busta Rhymes: There’s always a wish list of things you would have wanted to happen, but for the most part I’m comfortable with my situation at Universal Motown. I love my team and my support system, and I look forward to growing with the team. This album is my first on Universal Motown, so a lot of the things that could have been done didn’t get done because we are still in the growing pains stages. We’re still getting to know each other, developing business and personal relationships. There’s definitely always a desire to come out and do a gazillion records in the first day, in the first week, but as of right now I’m feeling good about my situation.

Did you get to a point during the making of the album where you were like, “I can get on the auto-tune bandwagon, or I can stay off”?

Nah, I don’t use that approach with my music, I just do what I think sounds and feels good at all times. I have no issue with none of that. People do what they do, and if they do it right I respect it. If they don’t do it right, then I don’t respect it. Like, dudes that come out and consider themselves to be credible rappers, or dope emcees; a lot of the time artists try to rhyme and their sh*t just don’t feel right, it don’t sound right. At the end of the day, I don’t respect when people aren’t contributing greatness to the game. But, if you do it right, I’m going to respect it and I’m going to work with you.

Were you surprised by how many people got their panties in a bunch about “Arab Money”?

Yeah, because I thought people would be able to clearly see what the intention of the record was, which was to big-up the Arab culture and show my support. But it doesn’t surprise me when the media grabs a hold of a topic and blows sh*t out of proportion. That’s been something that’s been happening since the beginning of time, when it comes to entertainment.

Ultimately, what do you think will be your musical legacy?

I don’t know, because I still have so much more greatness left to contribute. I don’t know what level it’s going to get to, but I can definitely assure you that I’m about to take it to a place that far supersedes expectations. I’ve already far superseded what people probably thought I was going to achieve since the beginning. I just look forward to it, man. I’m just ready to really show motherfuckers a thing or two.

You’re working on your next album. Can you tell us anything about it?

The only thing I can tell you is that it’s going to be a very serious album. It’s going to probably be ready for a December release, the first or second week of December. You can look forward to that for sure. I wish I could disclose more information, but right now it’s not the appropriate time, because we’re still trying to put the nail in the coffin with certain major pieces that will contribute to the strength of this album. Just know for sure that I am about 75 to 80 percent away from locking in what needs to be locked in.

By Ben Westhoff