Busta Flex

Born Valery François, the rapper Busta Flex sharpened his craft through freestyle sessions that refined both his lyricism and rapid delivery until French DJ and producer Cut Killer took notice. Cut Killer asked him to appear on one of his mixtapes, an opportunity that also reflected Flex’s decision to adopt his stage name in tribute to Busta Rhymes. During 1997 Flex encountered Kool Shen of the hip-hop duo NTM; the veteran was sufficiently struck by the newcomer’s ability that he urged him to complete a full-length project and arranged his signing to the Warner imprint. The resulting self-titled debut appeared in 1998 and quickly drew widespread attention to the hard-spitting MC. Shen subsequently brought him into the collective IV My People, whose roster already included Lord Kossity and Zoxea. Flex exited the group in 2000 so he could issue his sophomore album, Sexe, Violence, Rap and Flooze, which was followed two years afterward by Eclipse. Piece Maitresse, recorded under the supervision of Sulee B. Wax, reached stores in 2006.