Busta Rhymes shares a fascinating insight into his time with 2Pac, revealing a unique studio experience where the late rapper displayed his prolific songwriting skills.
On the All the Smoke podcast hosted by former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Busta Rhymes delves into his close bond with Tupac Shakur and a memorable studio session they shared.
Recalling the aftermath of Tupac’s return from Atlanta, where he faced legal issues, Busta describes Tupac’s heightened sense of paranoia, fearing for his safety regardless of his location. During this time, Busta witnessed an extraordinary display of creativity from Tupac.
Tupac, equipped with an MPC beat machine, crafted multiple songs using the same Isley Brothers sample. Busta was astounded to see Tupac effortlessly write seven distinct songs to the repetitive beat, each addressing different themes and subjects.
“He had gotten a wild arsenal. He kept an MPC beat machine in the crib and I literally watched him write about seven songs to the same Isley Brothers sample. Each song was about different shit. I couldn’t understand that.
After a while, I get tired of hearing the motherfucking beat. I don’t wanna hear that beat to write no more songs to it. I write the one song to it, I’m off the damn beat. He wrote seven songs to the same beat!”
Busta Ryhmes
Reflecting on the experience, Busta expressed his own fatigue from hearing the same beat repeatedly, emphasizing his preference for variety in his creative process. However, Tupac’s ability to extract multiple songs from a single beat showcased his exceptional talent and work ethic.
Interestingly, this revelation adds another layer to the dynamic between Tupac and his contemporaries during the East Coast-West Coast rap rivalry of the 1990s.
In a separate revelation, Lil Cease, a former collaborator of The Notorious B.I.G., disclosed Biggie’s desire to collaborate with Busta Rhymes and Nas in response to Tupac’s provocations. Biggie envisioned a track titled “The Ugliest,” produced by J Dilla, as a retort to Tupac’s notorious diss track “Hit ‘Em Up.”
These anecdotes shed light on the creative processes and interpersonal dynamics within the hip-hop community during a pivotal era in the genre’s history.
Busta Rhymes’ recollection offers a fascinating glimpse into Tupac’s prolific songwriting abilities and sheds light on the collaborative potential and rivalries within the rap scene of the 1990s.