When people discuss hip hop and all that it encompasses, its competition is often brought up. One of the people that really symbolize this is Bronx born MC, the Original Chief Rocker, Busy Bee. Busy made a name for himself battling MCs all around New York. He became known for a lot of his humor and wit in much of his rhymes and was able to take translate his battling skills onto wax.

In addition to his album releases, including Running Thangs and Thank God For Busy Bee, he released singles including "School Days", "Making Cash Money", "Busy Bee's Groove", and "Suicide". He also worked extensively with Kool DJ AJ and is a part of Afrika Bambaataa's Zulu Nation. He would actually DJ for Bambaataa's Zulu Nation parties during the early 1980s.

Busy Bee also proved his battling skills when he won the World Supremacy Battle Belt in 1986 and participated in the infamous battle against Kool Moe Dee. Copies of this battle have continued to circulate among the hip hop community since the battle first occurred. 

Just like so many other notable old-school artists, Busy Bee was featured in - you guessed it - Wild Style. He is featured as one of the main characters in the movie as an MC and is shown battling Lil' Rodney C of the Funky 4 +1 and others. Busy continues to travel and perform today, taking hip hop wherever he goes. For his role in hip hop's beginning stages and as a pioneer, to Busy Bee we say...Respect Due.

Leave any thoughts or comments you have about Busy Bee below. You can also send any e-mails to straightouttahiphop@gmail.com.

Peace.


Sources:

http://hiphop.sh/busy

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p23286

http://www.oldschoolhiphop.com/artists/emcees/busybee.htm