Busta Rhymes: Influences

Busta Rhymes: Influences

Busta Rhymes' tough, swerving flows have been a staple of hip-hop since his Leaders of the New School crew debuted in 1991. Dense with wordplay and internal rhymes, his approach built on the legacy of rappers like Rakim, whose "Follow the Leader" put tricky, nimble vocals over thick, rumbling bass. But Busta's style also has a lilt that's pure dancehall: You can trace it back to gruff-yet-melodic jams like Buju Banton's "Boom Bye Bye".

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