When Busta Rhymes debuted with his crew, Leaders Of The New School, there was a quality and dynamic in his voice and delivery which caused him to stand out from his group mates. Songs such as "Case Of The P.T.A.", "The International Zone Coaster", and "Sobb Story" not only established the Long Island quartet as a force in Hip-Hop, they displayed the early brilliance of Busta.

Collaborations with A Tribe Called Quest would further cement Busta as a unique MC, with an unorthodox flow, voice, and delivery. Friction within the group would lead to Busta pursuing a solo career, releasing his debut solo album, The Coming in 1996.

His solo career has been nothing short of spectacular, working with everyone from Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Missy Elliot to Dr. Dre, Pharell, and Eminem.

Check out Busta Rhymes live at the 2025 Rock The Bells Festival.

1. Scenario - A Tribe Called Quest, 1991

"Scenario" appeared on A Tribe Called Quest's second album, The Low End Theory, and was released as the third single ( with "Butter" as the B side). The posse cut featured Leaders Of The New School (which Busta was still a member of at the time).

The energy on "Scenario" is high from the beginning of the four and a half minute song, but Busta's verse, which begins with a muted drum track builds energy, and ends with the flow that forever dubbed him the "Dungeon Dragon"

2. Flava In Your Ear Remix- Craig Mack, 1994

Craig Mack set off the legendary Bad Boy label with “Flava In Ya Ear” in 1994, and gained popularity on the label slightly before The Notorious B.I.G. who debuted the same year. “Flava In Your Ear” was not only a chart topper, the Easy Mo Bee-produced opus is a classic in the genre.

The remix receives as much adoration as the original, and features The Notorious B.I.G., Last Boy Scout, LL COOL J, and Busta Rhymes. Busta brings his unorthodox cadence and delivery to the last verse of this posse cut, earning early accolades as a standout MC when performing alongside his contemporaries.

3. Ill Vibe (Feat. Q Tip), 1996

"Ill Vibe" appeared on Busta's 1996 debut album, The Coming. "Ill Vibe" features Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest and Busta rocking a playful flow over a Boom Bap track, which compliments their flows perfectly. Busta's delivery is much more tame here than his other Tribe collaborations, but the synergy between Tip and Busta works well on this gem - a testament to Busta's versatility.

4. Scenario Remix - A Tribe Called Quest, 1991

Sometimes the remix receives more accolades than the original. Such was the case with 1992’s “Scenario” by A Tribe Called Quest. This posse cut was already considered a classic without question, but the remix featuring newcomer Kid Hood (who was murdered three days after recording his verse) and Leaders of The New School solidified this songs position as one of the most revered posse cuts.

This song also put all antennas on alert for Busta Rhymes who was already respected. Busta’s energetic, animated and fiery delivery on both versions of “Scenario" officially crowned him "The Dungeon Dragon" and built anticipation for a solo project.

5. Ante Up Remix - M.O.P., 2000

The Mash Out Posse's "Ante Up" contains an energy that only the Brownsville duo could deliver. The song can be heard everywhere from the corner streets of urban America to television commercials, films, video games and other places in popular culture.

Only Busta Rhymes, Remy Ma and Tephlon could bring even more energy to the stick up kid anthem with the DR Period produced remix. Check out M.O.P., Busta Rhymes, and Remy Ma at the 2025 Rock The Bells Festival.