Busta Rhymes On Collaboration With Eminem: "It Started To Feel Like We Was Really Battling Each Other."

BYPatrick Lyons14.7K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Busta Rhymes details his recent collaboration with Eminem, "Calm Down," and describes the competitive nature of the recording process.

The world was waiting for Busta Rhymes and Eminem's "Calm Down" all weekend, as Busta announced the track last Friday and dropped it on Monday. What we got was exactly what was expected of the syllabically gifted pair: a thrilling, battle rap-esque epic. Before the track was even released, Busta caught up with Power 106's Ricki Martinez to talk about working with Em on the song.

"It's finally here," he said. "This is for Extinction Level Event 2... [We're] going toe-to-toe and respectfully competing and just bringing the best out of each other. I ain't gonna lie. The process that we took to make this record is a story to tell." 

He elaborated:

"We just kept going back and forth, just competitive. It started to really feel like we battling each other. It started to feel like a three minute and eight second song. After we kept sending it back and forth, it ended up being six minutes. We was like, 'Yo, listen, it's one thing to say 'F the rules, but it's another thing to say we O.D.in'.' But it's a beautiful piece of art... You're probably never gonna experience a moment like this before. It's our first time going in this crazy on a record unlike we've ever done on our own records before and probably unlike what we'll do on any other record again. It's special." 

Watch the full interview below, and stay tuned for Extinction Level Event 2.

[via]


Gallery #1

Busta Rhymes On Collaboration With Eminem: "It Started To Feel Like We Was Really Battling Each Other."
About The Author
<b>Feature Writer</b> Ever since he borrowed a copy of "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" from his local library, Patrick's love affair with hip-hop has been on an extended honeymoon phase. He now contributes features to HNHH, hoping to share his knowledge and passion with this site's broad audience. <strong>Favorite Hip Hop Artists:</strong> André 3000, Danny Brown, Kanye, Weezy, Gucci Mane, Action Bronson, MF DOOM, Ghostface Killah <strong>Favorite Producers:</strong> Lex Luger, Kanye (again), RZA, Young Chop, Madlib, J Dilla, Hudson Mohawke
...