Busta Rhymes had a blunt message to fans using their devices in the crowd at Essence Festival on Friday.
Several videos circulating on social media show the “Put Your Hands Where My Hands Can See” recording artist barking at the audience for pulling out their cellphones to record the concert instead of enjoying it in real time on the night of July 5.
“A-yo, f—k them camera phones, too. Let’s get back to interacting like humans. Put them weird-ass devices down. I ain’t from that era. Them s—ts don’t control the soul. F—k your phone,” Busta snapped at the crowd.
“Let’s get back to interacting like humans. Put them weird ass devices down. I ain’t from that era. Them shits don’t control the soul. Fuck your phone.”
The 52-year-old rapper continued his explicit message as he encouraged the crowd to be attentive.
“I will point every last one of y’all out until y’all asses is up,” said Rhymes, who noted that he’s “not used” to people sitting down at his shows.
He added that he had “zero tolerance for bullshit energy” because it was his first time performing at the Essence Festival.
“Make me feel like we home,” the rapper declared.
In an Instagram post on Saturday, Rhymes appeared to dismiss claims that he was frustrated with the crowd and described his response as “SHOWMANSHIP” in an all-caps caption accompanying the post.
He added that it was “TRULY AN HONOR” to perform at the festival on its 30th anniversary and thanked the New Orleans crowd for their “INCREDIBLE ENERGY.”
Social Media Reacts
X (formerly Twitter) fans didn’t hesitate to react with their thoughts.
“He shouldn’t have disrespected the people who have been supporting him,” one user wrote.
Another person agreed with Busta, “He right its disrespectful. Imagine going on a date and the person on the phone.”
One fan on X clarified that the arena was most likely empty due bad weather.