Roles in popular films like Finding Forrester, Shaft and the Rugrats Movie also helped push the image of Busta Rhymes (born Trever Smith, jr.) toward new heights, but his love of Hip-Hop culture and live concert performances takes priority.

"[Public Enemy] was a major influence as far as live performances,"Busta said, who changed his stage name from Chill O'Ski after Chuck D gave him his now famous moniker.


"They was one of the first groups to bring like a theatrical movement to the stage with the S1Ws, the outfits, Terminator X, everybody was stars you know what I'm sayin? They were just dope collectively and that was the strategic planning of putting together a movement that could come across and work collectively as an undeniable force. I always wanted to be able to have that same element. I make sure that I made it difficult for the dude before me and after me if I ain't the last act."

Mariah Carey and Busta Rymes put touches of coolness on a live performance, top pic, while Bussa Bus plans world domination, center, and poses for a studio shot in Los Angeles.

Some would argue that it looked as though Busta was in the final act of his career three years ago when he made the decision to leave J records (started by music impresario Clive Davis), and sign with the Aftermath imprint which is owned by super producer Dr. Dre. After debuting on Billboard's Pop Album chart at #1, though, it appears that Busta made the right choice.

"Whenever I'm in the studio with Dre," Busta began, "we in there banging it out, making music, contributing to greatness on every level."