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Busta Rhymes Curses Out Essence Fest Crowd for Using Phones During Performance: 'Put Them Weird Ass Devices Down!'

Rapper Busta Rhymes called out audience members at the 2024 Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans on Friday, July 5, for using cell phones and being seated during his live performance.

The legendary rapper, 52, grew frustrated with the crowd at the 2024 Essence Festival of Culture on Friday, July 5, after seeing audience members seated and seemingly scrolling on their phones during his set. He then instructed “all age groups” to “get y’all big head asses up” before continuing with what he said was his debut performance at the New Orleans festival. “The reason why there will be zero tolerance for bulls--- energy in here is because this is my first time in New Orleans at the f---ing 30-year anniversary of the Essence Fest,” Busta concluded alongside his longtime collaborator and hype man, Spliff Star.

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