Busta Rhymes stops Toronto-area set to tell police: ‘Stop with the aggression’

The hip-hop legend paused his Kaya Fest performance after noticing officers handling a man near the stage.

Busta Rhymes halted his Kaya Fest set in the Toronto area after seeing what he believed was an aggressive police encounter with a man in the crowd. The hip hop legend turned a routine performance into an intervention, as the rapper, whom TheGrio has ranked among hip-hop’s top live performers and covered during a Global Citizen Festival appearance, stopped mid-song to tell officers to ease up.

The incident unfolded Saturday at Markham Fairgrounds in Markham, Ontario, while Rhymes was performing “Pass the Courvoisier Part II,” Atlanta Black Star reported. Video circulating online shows the rapper pausing the music after noticing officers handling an attendee near the stage.

“Officer, stop with the aggression,” Rhymes said from the stage. He told the officer he had seen the interaction and did not believe the man intended any harm.

Rhymes urged police to let event security create space if necessary rather than escalate the encounter. “Ain’t nobody getting hurt in here tonight. Relax,” he said.

The rapper also referenced the fact that he had been allowed into Canada for the performance, saying he was grateful to have made it across the border and did not want the confrontation disrupting his set or anyone else’s.

Once the situation appeared to calm down, Rhymes resumed the song and the show continued.

The report did not identify the audience member or explain what prompted officers to approach him. It also did not identify the officers involved. No public statement from Rhymes about the incident was cited after the performance.

Busta Rhymes was part of a lineup that included Stephen, Damian, Ky-Mani and Julian Marley, Shabba Ranks, Lila Iké and Jesse Royal. The festival’s official schedule placed Rhymes’ set at 8:10 p.m. on Aug. 22.

The moment drew praise online from viewers who applauded Rhymes for stopping his performance rather than ignoring the confrontation. It also marked a reversal from several previous viral concert moments in which the veteran rapper himself confronted audience members over behavior he considered disrespectful.