'Masked Singer': Grammy-nominated hip hop legend is unmasked on premiere

Season 4 of 'The Masked Singer' premiered Wednesday night and introduced viewers to six new masked celebrities –The Sun, Giraffe, Popcorn, Dragon, and the Snow Owls. Unfortunately, while all of them made great first impressions, the Dragon just couldn't take the heat of the competition. Nicole Scherzinger seemed to immediately recognize the Dragon's voice, as she should. After receiving the least amount of votes from the live virtual audience, the Dragon was unmasked and revealed to be 11-time Grammy-nominated rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer Busta Rhymes, whom Scherzinger worked with on the Pussycat Dolls' hit "Don't Cha." On wearing the costume of the Dragon, Busta stated, "I definitely felt like I was in an oxygen tank without oxygen. But it definitely brought back all of the incredible crazy outfits."

Video transcript

[MUSIC - "MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT"]

BUSTA RHYMES: (SINGING) I'm going to knock you out. Mama said knock you-- come on! I'm going to knock you.

KEN JEONG: He sounds like a legend.

[MUSIC - "MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT"]

BUSTA RHYMES: (SINGING) Mama said knock you out.

KYLIE MAR: Season four of "The Masked Singer" premiered Wednesday night, and introduced us to six new masked celebrities-- The Sun, Giraffe, Popcorn, Dragon, and the Snow Owls. And while all of them made great first impressions, The Dragon just couldn't take the heat.

[BOOING]

JENNY MCCARTHY: Oh my gosh!

NICOLE SCHERZINGER: I love The Dragon!

KYLIE MAR: Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke seemed to immediately recognize The Dragon's voice, and so did Twitter. So were they correct?

- (CHANTING) Take it off! Take it off!

[CHEERING]

NICK CANNON: The one and only Hip Hop legend, my icon, my brother, Busta Rhymes.

KYLIE MAR: While Busta had a great time donning The Dragon fit--

BUSTA RHYMES: I definitely felt like I was in an oxygen tank without oxygen.

[LAUGHTER]

But it definitely brought back all of the incredible, crazy outfits.

KYLIE MAR: Viewers were fired up over his elimination. Like this person, who tweeted, "Busta Rhymes being eliminated first is not fair. We need a recount." And even though Busta, formerly known as The Dragon, didn't quite smoke the competition, he gave the panelists and the fake audience one last fire performance.

BUSTA RHYMES: (RAPPING) Yeah, I'm here, rocking my peeps. Starting to fill, ready to chill. Break down like a bomb. Zoom, listen to the bass go boom!