Here’s some news that’ll make you want to “Break Ya Neck”: a clip has resurfaced of a Busta Rhymes performance from earlier this summer, during which the legendary MC went on a heated rant slamming mask mandates in the wake of spiking COVID-19 cases. Back in June, just as concerns about the Delta variant took precedence in the US, Busta voiced his ill-advised frustrations during his set as the surprise headliner at the Seoul Taco’s 10th anniversary block party in Missouri. The clip is now being recirculated on social media.
“This is my second show in front of human life in the last 15 fucking months,” the rapper told the crowd in-between cheers. “COVID can suck a dick. All these little weird-ass government policies and mandates — suck a dick.”
“It’s called the God-given right of freedom, right?” he continued. “No human being is supposed to tell you that you can’t even breathe freely. Fuck your mask… Some of y’all might feel differently, but fuck your mask.”
Aside from spreading falsehoods about CDC guidelines, Busta’s reasoning for his anti-mask stance also revolves a lot around inhibited personal connection, or as he likes to call it, “energy”: “All of that energy gets blocked when our mask is on. Energy is important,” he added. “We are all conductors of fucking good energy.” His closing remarks seemed to be pointed at the re-introduced mask mandates in certain cities: “I’m not sorry I got a little political and shit,” Busta said in his closing remarks. “Fuck that. I ain’t going through that shit again.” Watch a clip of the rant below.
Last year, Busta Rhymes shared his most recent studio album, Extinction Level Event 2. Thankfully, some of his hip-hop peers have voiced some smarter stances on COVID-19: In July, Juvenile and Mannie Fresh dropped “Vax That Thang Up,” a pro-vaccine update of their iconic hit, “Back that Azz Up.”
Stay safe and mask up. Better yet, grab a face covering from Consequence Shop, where we are donating 50% of net proceeds to independent artists impacted by the pandemic.
Busta Rhymes rails against COVID lockdowns and masks:
Advertisement“No human being is supposed to tell you you can’t even breathe freely. Fuck your mask!”
“Stop trying to take our civil liberties away…Energy is important.”pic.twitter.com/CDpbTCk3bT
— T. Grant Benson (@GrantB911) August 24, 2021
