Busta Rhymes has opened up about a deep sadness he was dealing with during the coronavirus pandemic — and how he eventually got over it.
In a new conversation with Hot 97's Nessa, the legendary rapper said those feelings played a big part in him being "out of shape" and "fat." When he shed the weight, he lost a lot more than just body mass — he also reframed how he approached his relationships, his family and business, with the help of Pharrell and Swizz Beatz.
"You got to be willing to listen to those that you confide in, that you're looking for advice and for guidance from," Busta explained (around the 4:10 minute mark in the video below). "And sometimes, you might talk to people about what you're going through that you trust with that vulnerability, that actually will give you some incredible guidance because they really love and care about you, and they not going to stand by and watch you die."
He continued: "Two people that was extremely instrumental in this transformation and this realignment…and [helped me] get back to being at peace and happy and full of joy was Swizz and Pharrell."
Busta added: "For like eight months, these muthafuckas would be on the phone giving me some of the realest talk that I was afraid to hear about me…my children…my woman…and my business. And sometimes when you having those conversations, it's hard to hear."
Back in 2023, Busta made headlines for his health and wellness journey, which saw him drop over 100 pounds.
The 53-year-old was fairly transparent about what motivated him to trim down. In a 2023 interview with Men's Health, Busta recalled suffering from what felt like an asthma attack while having sex with his then-wife, saying the incident was a "mindfuck."
He went on to lose another 37 pounds while on The Final Lap Tour with 50 Cent and Jeremih. "I’m sexy," he told a crowd while on the road. "I lost 37 pounds on that fuckin’ tour. I wasn’t asking if y’all thought I was sexy or not, I just wanted you muthafuckas to understand I’m sexy, period."
