What It Is (Busta Rhymes song)

Last updated
"What It Is"
What It Is (Busta Rhymes song).jpg
Single by Busta Rhymes featuring Kelis
from the album Violator: The Album, V2.0 and Genesis
A-side "Grimey" by Noreaga
ReleasedMay 1, 2001
Recorded2000–2001
Genre
Length3:30
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Busta Rhymes singles chronology
"Fire"
(2000)
"What It Is"
(2001)
"Break Ya Neck"
(2001)
Kelis singles chronology
"Good Stuff"
(2000)
"What It Is"
(2001)
"Candy"
(2001)

"What It Is" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes featuring American singer Kelis. It was released as the lead single from both management company Violator's second compilation album Violator: The Album, V2.0 and Rhymes' fifth studio album Genesis on May 1, 2001, by Flipmode Entertainment and J Records.

Contents

While Kelis is credited only with additional vocals on the single and Violator: The Album, V2.0 release, she is credited as a feature on Genesis.

Composition

"What It Is" was composed in 4
4
time
and the key of F♯ major, with a tempo of 101 beats per minute.It has a duration time of three minutes and thirty-nine seconds. [1]

Charts

Chart (2001)Peak
position
Germany (Official German Charts) [2] 70
US Billboard Hot 100 [3] 63
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [4] 20
US Hot Rap Songs ( Billboard ) [5] 4
US Rhythmic ( Billboard ) [6] 35

Related Research Articles

<i>Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front</i> 1998 studio album by Busta Rhymes

Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front is the third studio album by American rapper and record producer Busta Rhymes. It was released on December 15, 1998 by Flipmode and Elektra Records in North America. The album follows the apocalyptic theme explored by Rhymes' first two albums, The Coming (1996) and When Disaster Strikes (1997). Musically, the album comprises East Coast, West Coast, horrorcore, and hardcore hip hop music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What's It Gonna Be?!</span> 1999 single by Busta Rhymes featuring Janet Jackson

"What's It Gonna Be?!" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes featuring American singer Janet Jackson. It was released as the fourth and last single from Rhymes' third studio album Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front on March 9, 1999, by Flipmode Entertainment and Elektra Records. The song was written by Rhymes, Antoinette Roberson and its producer Darrell "Delite" Allamby. The song was a commercial and critical success, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top ten of various countries. It also hit number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 2000 Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Know What You Want</span> 2003 single by Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey featuring Flipmode Squad

"I Know What You Want" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes and singer Mariah Carey, featuring verses from Rhymes' group Flipmode Squad: Spliff Star, Baby Sham, Rah Digga, and Rampage. Produced by Rick Rock, it was released on February 24, 2003 as the second single from Rhymes' sixth album It Ain't Safe No More..., released on November 26, 2002.

<i>The Big Bang</i> (Busta Rhymes album) 2006 studio album by Busta Rhymes

The Big Bang is the seventh studio album by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on June 13, 2006, by Aftermath Entertainment, Flipmode Records and Interscope Records. Production for the album took place during 2005 to 2006 at several recording studios and was handled by Dr. Dre, Swizz Beatz, Mark Batson, DJ Scratch, J Dilla, Timbaland, Mr. Porter, will.i.am, Sha Money XL, JellyRoll, Black Jeruz, Nisan Stewart and DJ Green Lantern. The official cover artwork was revealed on May 7, 2006. The tracklisting was released on the 15th.

<i>Genesis</i> (Busta Rhymes album) Album by Busta Rhymes

Genesis is the fifth studio album by American rapper Busta Rhymes. The album was released on November 27, 2001, by Flipmode Records and J Records. The fourth single from the album, "Pass the Courvoisier Part II", peaked at number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100. It was included at the end of the album on some later pressings. The album debuted at number 7 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 185,000 copies. It later sold one million domestic copies and certified Platinum by RIAA.

<i>It Aint Safe No More...</i> 2002 studio album by Busta Rhymes

It Ain't Safe No More... is the sixth studio album by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on November 26, 2002, by Flipmode Records and J Records. The album went Gold on January 6, 2003 – and has sold 605,000 copies as of December 5, 2007. It served as his final album for J.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Love My Bitch</span> 2006 single by Busta Rhymes featuring Kelis and will.i.am

"I Love My Bitch" known as "I Love My Chick" in its edited version is a song by Busta Rhymes featuring will.i.am and Kelis, released as the second single from Busta Rhymes' seventh studio album, The Big Bang (2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check</span> 1996 single by Busta Rhymes

"Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on January 7, 1996, by Flipmode Entertainment and Elektra Records as his debut solo single and the lead single from his debut studio album, The Coming (1996). The song was both written and produced by Rhymes and Rashad Smith. It contains additional vocals by Flipmode Squad member and Rhymes' cousin Rampage, credited as Rampage the Last Boy Scout. A critical and commercial success, the song peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100, and also peaked at the same position in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. In the United States, the song was released with several remixes of the song and "Everything Remains Raw", also appearing on The Coming, as its B-side. The single received a nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 39th Grammy Awards, losing to "Hey Lover" by LL Cool J. In addition, its music video, directed by Hype Williams, received a nomination for Breakthrough Video at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dangerous (Busta Rhymes song)</span> 1997 single by Busta Rhymes

"Dangerous" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released as the second single from his second studio album When Disaster Strikes... on November 18, 1997, by Flipmode Entertainment and Elektra Records. The song was written by Rhymes and its producer Rashad Smith. Since the song contains a sample of the Extra T's 1982 song "E.T. Boogie", two of the song's writers, Henry Stone and Freddy Stonewall, are also credited as songwriters on "Dangerous".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Low (Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz song)</span> 2003 single by Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins

"Get Low" is a song by American rap group Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, featuring American hip hop duo Ying Yang Twins, released as a single in 2003. It first appeared on the 2002 album Kings of Crunk. "Get Low" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 20 on the Hot Digital Songs chart. It was number five on the top Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs of 2003. Outside of the United States, "Get Low" peaked within the top ten of the charts in the United Kingdom, the top twenty of the charts in Germany and the top forty of the charts in Australia, Austria, and New Zealand. It is also known as a breakthrough song for the crunk genre, as the song's success helped it become mainstream. It is listed number 99 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Busta Rhymes discography</span>

American rapper Busta Rhymes has released eleven studio albums, three compilation albums, eight mixtapes, one hundred and nine singles, fourteen promotional singles and fifty-six music videos. Busta Rhymes signed his first recording contract with Elektra Records at the age of just 17, as a member of hip-hop group Leaders of the New School. Though the group would disband in 1994, a number of well-received guest appearances on songs by artists including A Tribe Called Quest and Mary J. Blige led Elektra to offer Busta Rhymes a solo contract in 1995. His debut studio album, The Coming, was released the following year, with lead single "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check" reaching number eight on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and being certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As of 2019 Busta Rhymes has sold around 9,000,000 albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Break Ya Neck</span> 2001 single by Busta Rhymes

"Break Ya Neck" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released as the second single from his fifth studio album Genesis on August 25, 2001, by Flipmode Entertainment and J Records. The song was produced by Dr. Dre, while singer Truth Hurts provides additional vocals. The song contains an interpolation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers song "Give It Away". The official remix of the single features Twista and Do or Die.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's a Party (Busta Rhymes song)</span> 1996 single by Busta Rhymes featuring Zhané

"It's a Party" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes featuring American R&B duo Zhané. It was released as the second single from Rhymes' debut studio album The Coming on June 4, 1996, by Flipmode Entertainment and Elektra Records. The song was written by Rhymes and Zhané member Rene Neufville, and produced by Easy Mo Bee. Peaking at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100, it was a moderate success. The song was released as a double A-side single with several remixes and the album cut "Ill Vibe" featuring fellow rapper Q-Tip, which also appears on The Coming, as its B-side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Made It</span> 2008 single by Busta Rhymes featuring Linkin Park

"We Made It" is a single by rapper Busta Rhymes featuring American rock band Linkin Park. The song was to be on Busta Rhymes's eighth studio album, Back on My B.S., but was then cancelled off the track list because the album was released on a different label as "We Made It" was Busta Rhymes's last song on Interscope. The song was produced by Cool & Dre, with additional production by Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson. The song was released on April 29, 2008. It was Busta Rhymes's final release on Aftermath Entertainment.

<i>Violator: The Album</i> 1999 hip hop compilation album

Violator: The Album is the first installment in the Violator hip hop compilations series. It was released on August 10, 1999 through Violator/Def Jam Recordings. It was the first release through the imprint Violator Records, a spin-off of Mona Scott & Chris Lighty's Violator Management company. A number of then-Violator Management clients and associates appear on the album, among them Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, and Noreaga.

<i>Violator: The Album, V2.0</i> 2001 compilation album by Violator

Violator: The Album, V2.0 is the second and final installment in the Violator hip hop compilations series. It was released on July 24, 2001 through Violator/Loud Records as a sequel to 1999's Violator: The Album. Production was handled by several record producers, including Scott Storch, Bink!, Bryce Wilson, Irv Gotti, Just Blaze, 7 Aurelius, and Eric Nicks, who also served as executive producer together with Chris Lighty. It features guest appearances by the likes of JoJo Pellegrino, Remy Ma, Capone-N-Noreaga, Butch Cassidy, Mobb Deep, Big Noyd, CeeLo Green, Fabolous, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Jadakiss, Kurupt, Memphis Bleek, Missy Elliott, Rah Digga, Spliff Star and Styles P among others. The album debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up</span> 1997 single by Busta Rhymes

"Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released as the fourth and last single from his second studio album, When Disaster Strikes... (1997), and as the second single from the Can't Hardly Wait soundtrack on May 15, 1998, by Flipmode Entertainment and Elektra Records. The song was written and produced by Busta Rhymes, and contains co-production by Flipmode Squad member and Busta's hype man Spliff Star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pass the Courvoisier, Part II</span> 2002 single by Busta Rhymes featuring P. Diddy and Pharrell Williams

"Pass the Courvoisier, Part II" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes featuring fellow American rapper P. Diddy and American singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams. It was released as the fourth and last single from his fifth studio album Genesis on February 12, 2002, by Flipmode Entertainment and J Records. The song is a continuation to an album track off of Genesis, also featuring P. Diddy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Look at Me Now (Chris Brown song)</span> 2011 single by Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes

"Look at Me Now" is a song by American singer Chris Brown featuring American rappers Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes released as the second single from Brown's fourth studio album F.A.M.E. on February 1, 2011. The artists co-wrote the song with its producers Afrojack, Diplo, and Free School, with additional writing from Ryan Buendia. Musically, "Look at Me Now" is a "dirty south–inspired" hip hop song that features "thumping bass, spacy synth and horn jam sounds."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">As I Come Back</span> 2001 single by Busta Rhymes

"As I Come Back" is a hip hop song by American rapper Busta Rhymes featuring American singer Kelis. It was released as the third single from his fifth studio album Genesis on November 20, 2001, by Flipmode Entertainment and J Records.

References

  1. "Key & BPM for What It Is". Tunebat. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  2. "Busta Rhymes – What It Is" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  3. "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  4. "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  5. "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  6. "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2023.