THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

675-Busta Rhymes-Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up.

1998-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. He’s a clever Trevor.

Busta Rhymes (see also best songs 841 and 210) was born Trevor George Smith Jr. on May 20th, 1972, in the East Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York City, United States, he was given his stage name by Chuck D of Public Enemy, (see also best songs 578 and 37) who named him after the American ‘NFL,’ and ‘CFL’ football player George ‘Buster’ Rhymes. At the age of 12, his family moved to Uniondale, New York, where for a short while he attended the ‘George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School,’ in Brooklyn, with the future rappers Christopher ‘The Notorious ‘B.I.G’ Wallace, (see also best songs 955 and 307) and Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter (see also best songs 636-477-267 and 23.) In 1984, and 1985, Smith spent two summers in England, with his mother and younger brother, residing with his maternal aunt, and attending the ‘Skerton Community High School,’ in Morecambe, Lancaster, England.

In 1986, Busta Rhymes, now back in New York, co-formed the East Coast ‘Hip-Hop’ group ‘Leaders of the New School,’ their big breakthrough came when they were invited to become an opening act for Public Enemy. With ‘Leaders of the New School,’ Busta Rhymes released two studio Albums in 1991, and 1993, and six singles within the same time period. Busta Rhymes unique style of quickfire rapping soon led to him becoming in demand for guest appearances on other artists records, including Mary J. Blige, (see also best songs 359) and TLC. Busta Rhymes unique style was an influence on many, including, Eminem, (see also best songs 936) and Kendrick Lamar. The American rapper Big Daddy Kane stated that Busta Rhymes has the best flow in Hip-Hop,’ when alluding to the original version of ‘Turn It Up.’

The solo discography of Busta Rhymes, who has sold in excess of nine million Albums, includes 11 studio Albums, that have been released between 1996-2023, and 108 singles, which includes 57 as the featured artist, issued between 1995-2023, there are also seven mixtapes, and three official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, as the lead artist, eight of his singles have reached the top 40, with ‘I Know What You Want,’ with Mariah Carey, featuring The Flipmode Squad, (2003) and What’s It Gonna Be?!’ featuring Janet Jackson, (2003) both charting the highest at Number 3. As the featured artist he has appeared on three top 40 hits, including ‘Don’t Cha,’ with The Pussycat Dolls, which peaked at Number 2 in 2005. In America on Billboard ‘Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up,’ reached Number 10. In the UK, Busta Rhymes has achieved 18 top 40 hits as the lead artist, with ‘Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up,’ peaking the highest at Number 2, he has also had a further five top 40 hits as the featured artist, with ‘Don’t Cha,’ with The Pussycat Dolls, reaching Number 1.

‘Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up’ was in it’s original form called ‘Turn It Up,’ and was first issued on Busta Rhymes’ second studio Album ‘Disaster Strikes…’ from September 1997. ‘Turn It Up’ heavily samples the 1972 song ‘Love and Happiness,’ by the American Soul singer Al Green, and for that Al Green shared writing credits with Busta Rhymes. In 1998 Busta Rhymes remixed, and co-produced ‘Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up’ along with William A. Lewis, who is better known by his stage name ‘Spliff Star,’ this remix was added to ”Disaster Strikes…’ and issued as the third of four singles released off of the Album. ‘Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up’ was also chosen as one of the tracks for the soundtrack for the 1998 American teen romantic comedy ‘Can’t Hardly Wait,’ and featured on the films soundtrack ‘Can’t Hardly Wait: Music From The Motion Picture.’

‘Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up’ heavily samples the theme from the 1980’s American action crime drama television series ‘Knight Rider,’ which was composed by Stu Phillips, and Glen A. Larson, (1937-2014) although neither Phillips or Larson receive songwriting credits on ‘Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up.’ In 1998 the British/Indian artist ‘Panjabi MC’ sampled ‘Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up’ for his UK Number 5 hit single ‘Mundian To Bach Ke (see also best songs 966.) Also in 1998 the ‘Hip-Hop’ duo of Timberland & Magoo sampled ‘Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up,’ for their Billboard Hot 100 Number 37 hit ‘Clock Strikes.’

On ‘Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up’ Busta Rhymes is not shy to tell us of his own achievements, as he boasts about his street credibility, as well as his personal wealth. The song also features references to smoking weed, and driving around in a ‘Mercedes-Benz S500,’ which could be interpreted as symbols of luxury and excess. Overall, the song celebrates the success and indulgences of Busta Rhymes and his crew.

‘What y’all wanna do, don’t you know we always coming through, me and my crew. Let me hear you say fire it up, say fire it up, fire it up.’