‘We like to let an artist be an artist and we support what they want to do,’ Cash Money Records boss MTV News. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Travis Laurendine Birdman Photo: Prince Williams/ FilmMagic Busta Rhymes made headlines when he inked with Birdman ‘s Cash Money Records last week, but don’t expect Baby to try and change up the Dungeon Dragon. Nope, the #1 Stunna wants Bussa Bus to just be himself. “Whatever they bring to the table, whatever their vision is, [my role is] just to back it up and let them be the artist that they want to be and we support what they want to do,” Birdman told MTV News of recent CMR recruits Busta and Mystikal. The new deal links Busta Rhymes’ Conglomerate label with Cash Money and Google Music . “It’s just amazing to see that they understood what Busta Rhymes means to the music, what Busta Rhymes means to the culture, what Busta Rhymes means to the embodiment of authentic hip-hop,” the fire-spitting MC told MTV News when we spoke to him last week. “We never was [the type] to try to tell no [artist] how to do music, that’s not what we’re about. We like to let an artist be an artist and we support what they want to do,” Birdman told us while out in New Orleans handing out Thanksgiving turkeys to the local community on Friday. Bus began his career in 1991 as one-fourth of the rap quartet Leaders of the New School, but after the group disbanded he kicked off his solo career in 1996. Now a 20-year rap vet, Busta is responsible for a number of solo hits, including “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check,” “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” and “Touch It,” as well as scene-stealing cameos on A Tribe Called Quest’s 1992 posse-cut “Scenario” and, more recently, Chris Brown’s “Look at Me Now.” Some skeptics have questioned how Rhymes, a New York veteran, will blend with Birdman’s Southern record label. Throughout the years, however, Busta has collaborated with the label’s flagship artist Lil Wayne on Weezy’s own Tha Carter III and IV, as well as Busta’s 2009 single “Respect My Conglomerate.” Bus also appears on YMCMB member Lil Twist’s new single “Turnt Up,” so chemistry shouldn’t be a question. Busta’s latest single, “Why Stop Now,” reunites the rap speed demon with Brown on a record that sounds like a continuation of this year’s “Look at Me Now.” What do you think of Busta signing to Cash Money? Tell us in the comments. Related Artists Busta Rhymes Birdman
