One of the most idiosyncratic personalities in rap — with his halting, ragga-inspired style and incredible complexity, inventiveness, and humor — Busta Rhymes formed Leaders of the New School in 1990 and released two albums with the group before breaking out with a 1996 solo hit single, “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check.” Born in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, in 1972 of Jamaican heritage (a definite influence on his rapping style), Busta moved to Long Island in 1983 and, at Uniondale High School, met up with MCs Charlie Brown, Dinco D., and Cut Monitor Milo. Inspired by fellow Long Islanders Public Enemy and Eric B. & Rakim, the foursome united as Leaders of the New School and signed a deal with Elektra Records right out of the gate, when Busta was only 17 years old. Much respected in the hip-hop underground for their Afrocentric philosophy and tough rapping styles, Leaders of the New School debuted in 1991 with Future Without a Past and released only one more album, 1993’s T.I.M.E., before breaking up the following year. Out on his own for the first time, Busta called on some friends, appearing on A Tribe Called Quest‘s “Scenario,” the incredible remix of Craig Mack‘s “Flava in Ya Ear” (also featuring Notorious B.I.G. and LL Cool J), as well as other projects with Boyz II Men, Mary J. Blige, and TLC. He has released nine studio albums, with the first being the 1996 platinum-selling album The Coming. His list of hit singles include “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check“, “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See“, “Dangerous“, “Turn It Up (Remix)/Fire It Up“, “Gimme Some More“, “What’s It Gonna Be?!“, “Pass the Courvoisier, Part II“, “I Know What You Want” and “Touch It“, among several others.