Busta Rhymes took a lot of flack recently for failing to attend the wake of a bodyguard who was fatally shot on the set of 1 of Rhymes video shoots. But Busta did attend the second day of the grieving, flanked by four security personnel, and has released the following statement through his attorney.
“I have sent my condolences to the Ramirez family during this time.”
He also said that Ramirez was "one of the rare friends that you come across that you can trust with your life."
"The conversations I have had with Izzy's wife have all been focused on comforting her and helping her get through this. To that end, I've assured her that I will be taking responsibility in making sure that my friend, a devoted husband and a loving father, is laid to rest in a proper fashion."
The rapper also offered an explanation for his absence at the first wake for Ramirez.
"Out of respect for the family's desire for, and right to, privacy during this mourning period I made the decision to attend Izzy's wake on the second day rather than the first, knowing that my presence would have brought unnecessary media attention to a personal and private time of grieving."
Funeral services for Ramirez are scheduled to take place today (Feb. 10) at the Church of the Ascension in New York.
While the rapper expressed his sympathy for the family, he made no mention of when - or if - he intends to speak with police about the shooting.
"Beyond this [statement] I have no further remarks to make at this time," Busta Rhymes concluded.
Meanwhile his manager and Violator head, Chris Lighty had the following to say.
"I have to hope that my children or their children will one day know Hip-Hop without the violence. I am sorry and send out my regards to the family of Israel Ramirez. I don't know what happened as I wasn't on the scene, so I won't comment. But it is a sad day when violence erupts and takes anyone's life. We have to come together as a people and try to rise above the conflicts we have on the streets of our neighborhoods," Lighty continued. "I am sure that everyone has a comment and the press will blame Hip-Hop and rappers but none of that is the case. Hip-Hop gave the opportunity for all these great stars to come together for this."
Sources stated that police still believe the gunman is an associate of Tony Yayo's from Brooklyn. The gunman apparently escaped in a car with the rapper, who has refused to speak to police via his lawyer, Scott Leemon.
Authorities also considered checking to see if the rapper violated his probation in order to detain and question him but later ruled out the option.
“I have sent my condolences to the Ramirez family during this time.”
He also said that Ramirez was "one of the rare friends that you come across that you can trust with your life."
"The conversations I have had with Izzy's wife have all been focused on comforting her and helping her get through this. To that end, I've assured her that I will be taking responsibility in making sure that my friend, a devoted husband and a loving father, is laid to rest in a proper fashion."
The rapper also offered an explanation for his absence at the first wake for Ramirez.
"Out of respect for the family's desire for, and right to, privacy during this mourning period I made the decision to attend Izzy's wake on the second day rather than the first, knowing that my presence would have brought unnecessary media attention to a personal and private time of grieving."
Funeral services for Ramirez are scheduled to take place today (Feb. 10) at the Church of the Ascension in New York.
While the rapper expressed his sympathy for the family, he made no mention of when - or if - he intends to speak with police about the shooting.
"Beyond this [statement] I have no further remarks to make at this time," Busta Rhymes concluded.
Meanwhile his manager and Violator head, Chris Lighty had the following to say.
"I have to hope that my children or their children will one day know Hip-Hop without the violence. I am sorry and send out my regards to the family of Israel Ramirez. I don't know what happened as I wasn't on the scene, so I won't comment. But it is a sad day when violence erupts and takes anyone's life. We have to come together as a people and try to rise above the conflicts we have on the streets of our neighborhoods," Lighty continued. "I am sure that everyone has a comment and the press will blame Hip-Hop and rappers but none of that is the case. Hip-Hop gave the opportunity for all these great stars to come together for this."
Sources stated that police still believe the gunman is an associate of Tony Yayo's from Brooklyn. The gunman apparently escaped in a car with the rapper, who has refused to speak to police via his lawyer, Scott Leemon.
Authorities also considered checking to see if the rapper violated his probation in order to detain and question him but later ruled out the option.
Oh well what I basically said was, Gambler if we are idiots does that make the family members of Ramirez idiots too since in the first article they were upset at him for not showing? 
