The Extreme Transformation Of Busta Rhymes
Most rappers would kill for the kind of longevity that Busta Rhymes has. Since the 1990s, Rhymes has been praised not only for his music and lyrics, but his music videos as well; Rhymes' video for "Gimme Some More" remains a singular, absurd visual, even more than 20 years later. The rapper has worked with everyone from Janet Jackson to Lin Manuel Miranda, and even if he chose to retire, he would still be considered one of the best.
Busta Rhymes is not done, though. He competed on The Masked Singer in 2020 and geared up to release his first album in eight years, Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God. In preparing for this next chapter, Rhymes completely transformed his body. The transformation took a village, and Rhymes worked with Dexter "The Blade" Jackson, Kai Greene, and Victor Martinez, as well as celebrity trainer Victor Munoz to get absolutely shredded. Take a look for yourself below.
Busta Rhymes seriously toned up
Preparing for the release of his new album, Busta Rhymes worked with a team to shed some pounds and add muscle. In an Instagram photo, Rhymes shared dramatic before and after photos of his physical transformation. The rapper showed off his six-pack abs from the gym, and encouraged his followers, "DON'T EVER GIVE UP ON YOURSELF," saying, "LIFE BEGINS RIGHT NOW!"
The transformation was something that Rhymes felt he needed to do before he released his album, out at the end of October 2020. "I WOULD NEVER PUT OUT AN ALBUM AND NOT BE IN THE BEST SHAPE OF MY LIFE," he wrote, adding, "I RESPECT MYSELF TOO MUCH AND I RESPECT Y'ALL TOO MUCH!!! I'M ONLY HERE TO INSPIRE!!" Inspire, he certainly did.
One person inspired was the performer Spice, commenting, "Let me just get the f*** up outta this bed and go Run." Swizz Beatz also shared his support, writing "I'm so proud of you King." Lip Game joined in, commenting, "You are inspiring so many with this post and with your journey." Even in 2020, Busta Rhymes is still influencing people.
How did Busta Rhymes' training work?
Busta Rhymes trained with Victor Munoz of Pro Edge Professional Fitness Training. Munoz has established a pretty hefty reputation as not only a bodybuilder, but as a celebrity trainer in the Greater New York City area. In addition to Busta Rhymes, Munoz counts Diana Ross among his success stories. According to his website, Munoz moved to the United States from Cuba and has been a trainer for decades. He doesn't only work with bodybuilders and stars but "regular folk" like writers, Wall Street brokers, and doctors.
Munoz's strategy is mostly based on weight training, but he lists nutrition as a vital part of his regimen as well. In an interview with ABC Bodybuilding, Munoz said that he doesn't have an exact formula for diets, but that it depends on his client's metabolism. "In general though, they need to have more frequent and smaller meals," Munoz explained. "Probably around 7 a day. A little peanut butter in the morning and some flax seed oil during the day will help an athlete gain mass."
"The basics are heavy weights, low reps, eat well and you'll get big," Munoz said. This seems to be more or less what Rhymes did to achieve his new look. While the rapper obviously was not trying to achieve a complete bodybuilder look, he definitely toned up his abs, and added pounds of muscle to his chest and shoulders.
Busta Rhymes and his trainer go way back
Busta Rhymes' transformation didn't happen overnight; his trainer, Victor Munoz, has shared photos of the rapper on his Instagram as early as 2013. Munoz shared a photo with Rhymes in 2013, writing, "Two words that describe my friend are inspirational and highly determined." Alright!
It's unclear exactly when Busta Rhymes started this most recent transformation as the photos Munoz shared from several years ago still show the rapper in pretty killer shape. They do seem to be friends outside of the gym, too, with Munoz sharing a photo of them together at a birthday party in 2014. Munoz also attended one of Rhymes' concerts in 2015, sharing a photo of the two of them backstage. The rapper also turned to Munoz the same year to help him get in shape before a performance at the Grammys.
The pair even went to the Super Bowl together in 2018, sharing a video from the stadium in Minneapolis in which Rhymes correctly predicted that the Philadelphia Eagles would defeat the New England Patriots. With a friend like this, it can't be too hard to find the motivation to work out.