When I first heard Busta Rhymes in the early 1990s when he was part of the NY rap group, Leaders of the New School. And he stood out like an orange hood in a black and white photo. His unique style and charisma were unmistakable. I remember thinking that we had a real star on our hands. And, not for the first time, I was proven correct.
The likes of Busta Rhymes, Redman, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard (ODB) from Wu-Tang Clan were inventors of a new grimy rap style that changed the game. The best Busta Rhymes songs of all time are so different from anything ever conceived.
Especially the way he wedged untold amounts of words sandwiched within words made him a unique rapper. A rapper the likes of which we have not seen since. Take note, you mumblers! That said, here are some of Busta Rhymes’s best songs ever, starting with…
25 Best Busta Rhymes Songs of All Time
1 Woo Hah (Got You All In Check)
“Woo Hah (Got You All In Check)” should always be at the pinnacle of the Top 10 Busta Rhymes songs. If not, you have not been paying attention or doing this correctly. Or, perhaps you were not around at that time. It was his breakout track after leaving the Leaders of the New School and going solo in 1996. Aside from all that, it was a fantastically conceived song that showed Busta at his very best.
It was from his debut studio album, The Coming, and it put him on the map as a solo artist that you need to take seriously. The flow, the quirky chorus, and the overall vibe of this song felt like hardcore rap in a circus. If you don’t believe me, go and check out the official video, and you’ll know what I mean. So, if you don’t have this in the top spot, you should hold your head in shame.
2 Scenario by A Tribe Called Quest (feat. Busta Rhymes)
Never underestimate how important “Scenario” by A Tribe Called Quest was to Busta’s career. This might be the most explosive cameo appearance on any rap track in history. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg from ATCQ are absolute legends. And this 1991 track from their second studio album, The Low End Theory, was an instant classic and something very special.
When Busta’s verse kicks into gear, it’s like the entire Western world exploded into tiny little pieces. This was probably the first time that many rap fans had heard Busta. And they were immediately enamored by his up-tempo styles and his unique delivery. Stop what you are doing right now and go and listen to this track. You can thank me later.
3 Break Ya Neck
If you’ve not noticed by now, I am a real Busta Rhymes fan. And someone who doesn’t put his commercial hits above his other songs just because they sold more units. I prefer only to list what I think are the best Busta Rhymes songs ever.
“Break Ya Neck” was produced by legendary Hip-Hop beat maker Scott Storch. Of course, this was before he went on a mad drug binge and blew his $100 million fortune. Back then, pretty much every Storch beat made the top of the charts or became a massive hit.
It was a single from Busta’s fifth studio album, Genesis, which is one of his bestselling albums to date. It’s also been stated that Dr. Dre helped Storch with the production, and that makes it even more special. The up-tempo vibes of the track literally ask you and make you want to break your neck, nodding along.
4 Gimme Some More
“Gimme Some More” might be the strangest-sounding rap song of all time. Well, since mumble rap became a thing, anyway. This track was well freaky and had my young kids spooked for years. But that might have more to do with the official video than the actual song. Nobody flows like Busta, and once you hear this song, you’ll know just what I mean. Nobody else could’ve made a track like this.
It was the lead single from his third album that came out in 1998, entitled E.L.E. Extinction Level Event The Final World Front. To take the spookiness even further, it sampled a part of the super-famous Alfred Hitchcock movie, Psycho.
It’s a beast of a track, even though it might not have been a massive commercial success. That said, it’s one of the most memorable and best Busta Rhymes songs of all time.
5 I Know What You Want (feat. Mariah Carey & Flipmode Squad)
Okay, maybe I have finally given in to some of Busta Rhymes’ more commercial tracks by including “I Know What You Want,” which featured Pop superstar Mariah Carey and the Flipmode Squad. I can’t believe I got this far without mentioning Busta’s Flipmode Squad clique.
This is easily the poppiest track of his career. But, even then, it still has that special urban flavor tinged with R&B that was so popular in the early 2000s.
The beat was produced by Rick Ross, and some might say it’s the greatest Bust Rhyme song ever. “I Know What You Want” was a single from his hit 2002 album, It Ain’t Safe No More. It was a massive global hit that peaked in the Top 10 in nearly every country in the Western World.
6 Don’t Cha by Pussycat Dolls (feat Busta Rhymes)
I have officially sold my soul to the devil by including “Don’t Cha” by Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes. Joking aside, it’s quite a banging Pop song that has heavy R&B and Hip-Hop vibes. Pussycat Dolls were decent and always seemed to have cameos from rappers in their tracks at the time.
This was a massive, commercially successful single in 2006 from The Pussycat Dolls album, PCD. Busta makes a cool cameo on the track to give it some street credibility. But, in all fairness, this a very well-conceived Pop Music track that charted high across the entire world.
7 Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
“Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” is a track by a rapper who is at his very best in every way and at the top of his game. Originally, it was released in 1997 and was the lead single from his second album, When Disaster Strikes. It might not have been a massive hit on the US Hot 100 Billboard charts. However, it did peak in the Top 10 of the UK charts and did very well across Europe.
It was nominated for several MTV Awards and even for a Grammy Award in the Best Rap Solo Performance category. “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” was a sign of things to come for the New York native. That’s because Busta was about to become more of a commercial crossover than anyone could’ve imagined.
8 Turn It Up/Fire It Up (Remix)
“Turn It Up/Fire It Up” seems to be a forgotten rap classic that not many people talk about anymore. If you ever heard the theme song to the 1980s American TV show, “Knight Rider,” and thought that it should be sampled, Busta already beat you to it. The track seems to be difficult to find these days. Probably because the sample wasn’t cleared or something along those lines.
It’s a very fun tune to listen to. And, if you’ve never heard this before, you are in for a real treat. This remix was originally from his second studio album in 1997. It’s still stuck in my head today due to its catchy beat and Busta’s fun rhyme schemes and flow.
9 Pass The Courvoisier Part II Remix (feat. P-Diddy & Pharrell Williams)
When I think back to rap club bangers from the early 2000s, I simply cannot overlook the “Pass The Courvoisier Part II” remix featuring P-Diddy, and Pharrell Williams. From the beat to the rhymes to the cameos and the excellently funny official video, this track had everything. It even had Mr.T from the A-Team cameo in the video.
The beat has a real stripped-down Latin vibe, and the rhymes from both Diddy and Busta are sensational. Having Pharrell sing on the chorus hook is like the proverbial cherry on top. It was the fourth single from his fifth studio album, and it still sounds as good today as it did back in 2002.
10 Ante Up Remix by M.O.P (feat. Busta, Remy Ma, & Teflon)
This Ante Up Remix of the original M.O.P track featured Busta Rhymes, Teflon, and Remy Ma. It took the original version to the next level and was very memorable for most rap fans back in 2000. It’s super-hype, super-energetic, and it bounces like you wouldn’t believe.
This remix ripped it up on an epic level. And, although it’s not a Busta track per se, his cameo on it was hard as hell. M.O.P. was mostly known as a hardcore rap group from New York that was famous for their “Cold As Ice” track. But, aside from that, this was easily the biggest commercial success of their career.
11Touch It
12Arab Money
13What’s It Gonna Be?! (feat. Janet Jackson)
14Thank You (feat. Q-Tip, Kanye West & Lil Wayne)
15We Made It (feat. Linkin Park)
16Break Out
17Calm Down (feat. Eminem)
18Look At Me Now (feat. Chris Brown & Lil Wayne)
19Let’s Go (feat. Twista)
20I Love My Chick (feat. will.i.am & Kelis)
21Twerk It (feat. Nicki Minaj)
22Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check (The World Wide Remix) (feat. Ol’ Dirty Bastard)
23Goldmine (feat. Raekwon)
24Respect My Conglomerate (feat. Lil Wayne & Jadakiss)
25C’mon (Catch ‘Em By Surprise) (with Tiësto vs. Diplo)
Want More Tracks from Legendary Rappers?
Well, check out our thoughts on the Best Lil Wayne Songs of All Time, the Best Drake Songs of All Time, the Best Snoop Dogg Songs of All Time, the Top 10 MC Hammer Songs, and the Top 10 Nas Songs for more banging song selections.
Best Busta Rhymes Songs of All Time – Final Thoughts
Since 1996, when he left The Leaders of the New School to pursue a solo career up until 2020, Busta Rhymes has released a total of 10 studio albums. And it looks like he is still making music and doesn’t plan to stop any time soon.
The top Busta Rhymes songs of all time are so unique and original that not many people can match his style. He went from a rapper in a clique to the pinnacle of the industry. And he did it all on his own terms. There will never be another artist quite like Busta. No doubt, it’s that originality that has made him so loved in the Hip-Hop community for the past 25 years.
Until next time, happy listening.
