Busta Flex

Born Valery François, rapper Busta Flex honed his skills as a freestyler, developing his rhymes and quick attacks well enough to get the attention of French DJ and producer Cut Killer, who invited Busta Flex (who based his name off one of his idols, Busta Rhymes) to contribute a track to a mixtape he put out. In 1997 Flex met Kool Shen of the hip-hop duo NTM, who was so impressed by the young MC that he encouraged him to record an entire album, and helped him get signed to his label, Warner, in order to do so. Busta Flex’s self-titled debut came out in 1998, and immediately brought the hard-spitting rapper attention. Shen then invited him to join his group, IV My People, alongside other French rap stars like Lord Kossity and Zoxea. In 2000 Busta left IV My People in order to release his second album, Sexe, Violence, Rap and Flooze, followed two years later by Eclipse. Piece Maitresse, which was produced by Sulee B. Wax, was issued in 2006. ~ Marisa Brown