After a string of legal issues over the past several months, Busta Rhymes still can’t catch a break.
 
The emcee was blocked from participating in the production of his new film, Order of Redemption by the NYPD. “Safety concerns” were cited as the reason Rhymes was unable to participate.
 
“The production agreed that Busta Rhymes would not be participating in the scenes shot here after the Police Department raised public safety concerns,” said Julianne Cho, associate commissioner with the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting.
 
The NYPD failed to give a specific reason for blocking Busta’s access, according to an EUR Web report. However, there is some speculation that the NYPD’s involvement stems from Rhymes not cooperating in
the investigation of the murder of his bodyguard.
 
Israel Ramirez was slain last year after an altercation during the Touch It (Remix) video shoot. Rhymes has not spoken with the NYPD in relation to the incident and the murder remains unsolved.
 
Redemption director Jeff Celentano says that not only does Rhymes lose
in this situation; the city of New York loses as well.
 
“This is tremendously unfair to Busta, who has been nothing but professional during this project.This is a bigger loss for the city of New York .”  
 
According to an Associated Press
report, Order of Redemption, starring Tom Berenger (The Substitute, Training Day) began the shoot without Rhymes and will continue shooting in New York through April.