Busta Rhymes has cleared up rumours surrounding his departure from Interscope Records, explaining he parted ways with the label after a "mutual agreement" with chairman Jimmy Iovine. The Touch It hitmaker - real name Trevor Smith - announced he was walking away from his contract with Interscope and Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records in September (08) to release future projects under Universal Motown.
The move sparked speculation Rhymes had been dismissed by boss Iovine after a heated argument over the delay of his album, then titled Blessed.
But Rhymes has now spoken out to address the situation - insisting it was a joint decision that led to him finding a new label.
He tells Complex Magazine, "Just for the record, there was no heated argument with me and Jimmy Iovine. When I realised that I wasn't getting the things that I felt that I needed facilitated from the record company at the time, I set up a meeting to speak with Jimmy Iovine and we had a sit-down with each other.
"It was kind of a mutual agreement and a mutual understanding. And with that kind of support and understanding, I actually sing Jimmy Iovine's praises because not only did he let me leave, but he let me leave with my album."
And Rhymes is adamant the move was for the best - because he is now producing some of his best ever work: "I can honestly say that it feels like this is the album that is the more appropriate body of work for defining this moment in time for me as a man, for me as an artist, and also for the state of the music as far as hip-hop is concerned."