The Dungeon Dragon still spits fire!!

Before Jay-Z and BIG dropped their classic LPs "In My Lifetime vol.1", and "Ready To Die", repectively Before Cypress Hill Could killa man. Before he mentioned he was a trap star like Young Jeezy. [not a mistake he sold rocks too.] Before he mentioned he was a Brooklyn native. There was a cat that was part of a legendary rap group in Long Island that changed the Hip-hop game forever. (legendary is debateable) I remember the era real well like it was tattooed in my brain.

In NYC, Long Island was always the sixth man on the team. The five boroughs were the starting line up with of favorites from each town. Too many to mention however Strong Island was the place where Rakim, De la Soul and Public Enemy reigned. Although Strong Island was coming up their latest rookie was going to shake things up. It was a Sunday Night almost at the closing credits of an episode the second season of "In Living Color." (available now on DVD) Keenan Wayans introduced them to the world to the rookies. He introduced "The Leaders of the New School." I looked at my twin like "who the #%$^ is that?" The name of the group alone would constitute a great weight for them to carry. Their first single popped off, "Just a Case of the PTA". Three young cats ran and jumped on stage like kids on a playground. They were REALLY animated just like the song, doing some dance which became the signature dance of the era "the EastCoast Stomp." The stage presense was wild, the style was very different as opposed to the laid back style of most hip-hop greats. The way they rhymed was very loud, with a touch of ocassional interjections, outburts and screams, whatever to keep the audience hype. At first it looked as if there was one MC and the other two were the hype-men. The routine was like a call and response song. They got my attention. Then the second MC growled and shouted said his lyrics "Busta Rhymes the Mighty infamous. Always misbehaving and mischievous." It was a wrap. The voice, the flow and the passion was the talk in hallways and locker rooms of Brooklyn Tech High school the next day. We couldn't wait for the album. All we could remember was his intro. Later their video jumped off demonstrating four cats: DJ Milo, Dinco D, C. Brown and Busta Rhymes having loads of fun on the school grounds. Hip-Hop changed. The Leaders of the New School made their mark. Everyone wanted to be a "Leader." Wild colorful baggy jump suits became the uniform. Our hightop fades transformed to dreadlocks. (well not mine pop duke would have kicked my tail.) This new generation of MCs were embraced beginning of the 90's with high impact. The generation all related to "Tranformers" and "Sobb Story." We pranced around to "Trains, Planes and Automobiles." When "Scenario" by a Tribe Called Quest featuring L.O.N.S dropped I was a late listener. I recall going to a day party in Queens College watching all the dudes going beserk. "As I combine from the Juice from my mind. heal up reel up bring it back, come back rewind, powerful impack. Boom!! from the cannon" and "Uh! Pardon me. Uh! As I come back!!"
If you think "Scenario" was wicked, "Scenario" remix ever crazier. "Whats going on my man! g_d d_mn!! my brain is hurting!!" and "Roaw!! Roaw!! like a dungeon dragon" (I know it doesn't crazy but at the time it stood out like a sore thumb and everyone knew that part.)

The Leaders invaded television and radio and thier style was admired and wanted for all venues. Just seeing them bumrush spring break on MTV was exciting along with acts like Naughty by Nature, Cypress Hills, Nice and Smooth, Tribe called Quest. Breaking the barriers which prevented playing hip-hop on MTV regualarly.

Leaders produced as well. They produce a significant part of the thier own sound and Def Jam's first female artist, Nikki D. Leaders were the unofficial members of the Native Tongues. Rhyming alongside of De la Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and the Jungle Brothers. "Baby" Chris Lighty (president of Violator Mangement) who once managed most of the Native Tongue artists, knew he had a goldmine in his hands.
I wasn't really surpised to hear a solo album in the works. It was the best move of his life. "Woo Ha" was hot and the remix with Dirty was insane. "Everything remains Raw" was my anthem. When "Put your hands where Eyes Could See" was released his popularity grew off the chain. I remember chilling at my friends barbeque and the crowd bumrushed the yard just to dance to this song. People give Jay-Z too much credit although lyrically Jay is a beast. Busa-Bus is the ultimate package. He could write hit records. He is he best hip-hop performer ever. Point Blank.

Don't beleive me ask anyone that has seen him perform "Break Your Neck".

There is no hip-hop artist today that can duplicate the chemistry between Busta, Spiff Starr and DJ Scratchator. The only group to come close was Proof & Eminem and Chuck D and Flovor Flav. Busta has an infinte amount of hits too many to mention. As my twin mentioned to me the first Hip-hop artist to record with Janet jackson something that we never thought would happen. Made R&B artist rap like Erykah Badu and Mary J.Blige. Recorded with the most famous rock stars and pop stars. Ozzy Osborne, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Boys II Men, and Stephen Marley. Busta is the undisputed King of the Remix. If the first version was hot the remix with Bus on was even better. I will not even go there and create a list. He was the anchor man on the Posse Cut. Heavy D's "A Bunch of N_ggas" or "Flavor in your Ear". He put a lot of energy in his videos as well. Of coures he hired the best directors. Which also led him to get into film: Shaft, Higher Learning and Finding Forestor just to name a few. He has worked with almost every producer you can think of. Violator made him the face for Sprite cola. B.R. recored about 11 albums, 2 with Leaders of the New School, 1 with his crew Flipmode squad and 6 solo lps with each going either gold or platinum. Jay could sell multiplatinum quicker but his stage presense is weak. Jay relies on guest stars. Busta needs no one but spliff. But the aritsts come anyway.

June 12 marks the date of his 7th solo release, 1st on AfterMath Records under Dr. Dre's careful eye. He has had more recording contract negotaitions than anyone in his genre. But he manages to reign on top. Modern technology has given me the priviledge to get a listen before the release. This is his best album over past few years. AfterMath/Interscope allowed him to express his art with the guest stars like Rick James and Stevie Wonder.