What If @BustaRhymes Had Signed With @StrangeMusicInc Instead Of Cash Money Records?

The name “Busta Rhymes” is synonymous with energy, with relevance and with Hip-Hop itself—he is a rapper who over the decades has managed to both influence the music and culture of Hip-Hop while still topping charts. Just recently, Busta announced that he and his most recent label Cash Money Records shall part ways. According to Busta, his departure from the label to which he was signed since 2011 was a mutual agreement between himself and Birdman. On Sway in the Morning, Busta explains the decision to leave:

As Busta has always remained a consistent and popular artist, the Hip-Hop world now collectively wonders what his next move will be. What I am wondering is whether he will chose to sign with another major label or take the independent route as so many of his colleagues have done in the recent years. I have given the question much thought and would like to paint a hypothetical of what Busta Rhyme’s career may have looked like had he chosen to sign with Strange Music, Hip-Hop’s top independent label, instead of YMCMB.

Picture this if you will: The year is 2011. Chris Brown releases his explosive single “Look At Me Now,” which features a breakthrough verse from Busta Rhymes. The song reaches number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Busta’s rapid-fire verse puts him back in the spotlight. The same year, Busta is featured on Tech N9ne’s “Worldwide Choppers,” along with Yelawolf, Ceza and Twista. At this point, Busta makes the decision to sign with Tech’s Strange Music imprint.

To commemorate the signing, Busta and Tech release a collaborative album that showcases their tongue-twisting abilities. The album sells platinum. Tech also reveals that in addition to signing with Strange Music as an artist, Busta has taken on an executive producer and artist development role in the label (it is no secret that Busta played vital roles in projects including Raekwon’s “Only Built For Cuban Links II” and N.O.R.E.’s unreleased “Super Thug” project). After settling in with Strange Music, Busta aids in crafting Rittz’ debut album, which also exceeds a million in sales.

Busta releases his project, “Year of the Dragon,” through a partnership with Google Play in 2012. In light of his recent commercial success, Google gladly releases his content exclusively and elevates Strange Music into a much more powerful force with more reach than ever. Strange Music as a label, of course, remains independent. Busta and Tech focus next on incorporating Busta’s imprint The Conglomerate into the Strange Music family, leading to Busta becoming a label partner.

It is now present day 2014, and we find Busta prepping the release of his album “Extinction Level Event 2,” which is over 5 years in the making. With the help of Tech N9ne and Google, Busta is able to present the project as he had envisioned it, both in terms of its sound and its marketing, something he was unable to accomplish at Cash Money Records. The album is released, nominated for a Grammy for “Best Rap Album” of 2014, and achieves commercial and critical success. The Strange Music brand is stronger than ever and both it and Busta Rhymes as an artist continue to influence Hip-Hop for years to follow.

Of course, the preceding story is a hypothetical and a rather grandiose one at that. But fans of Busta Rhymes may ask, and rightfully so, would it be in Busta’s best interest to hop over to the Strange Music or a similar independent imprint now that he’s a free agent? Only time will tell which course one of Hip-Hop’s most consistent talents will choose.