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Busta Rhymes Departs From Cash Money

After nearly three years and no album, the rapper severs ties with the label.

Busta Rhymes is no longer a Cash Money millionaire. The Brooklyn MC announced his departure from the label after nearly three years due to conflict surrounding his forthcoming album, E.L.E. 2.

Busta spoke to Sway on Shade 45 about the making of E.L.E. 2 and how the five-year process was a very emotional time for him.

“I was there for two years because it was a great deal at the time…but for me, with this particular project and all of the sacrifice that went into it — recording the album for five years, I lost Chris Lighty making this album,” Busta told Sway. "I lost my father making this album. The shit I was putting into this album, I’m not compromising my vision for it."

Apparently, Buss felt Cash Money wasn’t on the same page when it came to the execution and his "vision" for the album.  

"So if I feel like if, in the slightest way, we ain’t facilitating everything necessary for the vision to be seen through and executed in the way that I’ve been envisioning this sh-- for the last five years, let me live and die in my own inequity," Busta said.

Although Bussa Buss made the ultimate decision for the sake of his music, he confirmed that he and Birdman are still on great terms. I just had a conversation with Bird," Busta recalled. "Like, 'Listen, bro. I'm grateful and everything is love with us, but I just gotta see this through the way that I want to see this through.'"

In fact the split helped Busta learn that there are no reasons to have "beef" or "burn bridges" with Lil Wayne and Birdman, especially since they have long-standing relationships. Busta appeared on Weezy's Tha Carter III and Tha Carter IV.

Over the past decade he has label-hopped quite often. He was also signed to Aftermath/Interscope. Buss didn’t mention whether he is signing to another label anytime soon or taking the indie route for the long-awaited release of E.L.E. 2.

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(Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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