Busta Rhymes is back in shape, and the rapper is opening up about how an unexpected health scare inspired his fitness journey.
In an interview with Men’s Health published Tuesday, Busta said he experienced significant weight gain a few years back that stemmed from his unresolved grief over his father’s death.
“My dad died in 2014, and I drowned myself in work. I just kept drinking, smoking, eating bad — the whole nasty — and recording a bunch of songs just to escape the pain,” Busta told the outlet. “I also had a 90% blockage in my throat because of polyps on my vocal cords, and my breathing was bad.”
The rapper said a wake-up call came after he had breathing trouble following an “intimate interaction” with his ex-partner.
“I was having a really difficult time breathing, so I got up and I walked out of the bedroom so she wouldn’t panic seeing me trying to keep myself calm,” Busta said. “I was trying to inhale, and it felt like it wasn’t working. I felt like I was having like an asthma attack — but I don’t have asthma.”
Busta added that his ex confronted him about his weight gain shortly following the health scare.
“When I came back in the room once I got right, I laid back down next to her and she said something to me that really (messed) me up. She was like, ‘Yo, this is not who I fell in love with,’ ” Busta recalled. “She was like, ‘You’ve got to lose this weight. This breathing is scaring me. When I met you, you wasn’t like a muscle head, but you was slim, you was cut, you had your (stuff) right.’ “
The 51-year-old said the incident, along with his surgery for his vocal polyps, was instrumental in his weight loss journey.
Following his recent 100-pound weight loss, Busta further dedicated himself to his fitness as he prepared to go on tour with 50 Cent for The Final Lap Tour, which kicked off in July.
“I’m going to be onstage with 50 (Cent) and don’t want to be (the) weak link,” Busta said. “Also, it’s going to inspire people when they see you in shape when you walking around here moving and shaking. Me, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, a lot of artists now, understand the seriousness and significance of self-preservation: a healthy diet regimen, significant water intake, getting your sleep so your body can repair itself.”
For Busta, self-preservation has become “the most important thing in life.”
“Go to the gym, eat good, sleep, — get it right ‘cause it’s important,” Busta said. “Find that balance mentally and spiritually so that you can find that peace of mind and that happiness to be your best self. Not just for you, but for the people that you love.”
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