Songfacts®:

• The third single released by Busta Rhymes from his E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front album, "What's It Gonna Be?!" features guest vocals from Janet Jackson. It was the first time the songstress had ever been a featured guest on a rapper's single.
• The collaboration came about as a result of a radio interview that Jackson did on Hot 97 with Angie Martinez. When the Afternoon Drive presenter asked the singer what hip-hop artist she would like to work with, Jackson replied, "Busta Rhymes."
  
  Busta was listening to the interview at the time. He recalled to Billboard: "I was actually in my vehicle driving from Long Island to [New York City] and I had to pull over because I almost crashed."
  
  "Janet's one of my favorite artists ever to exist in the world. To hear her say that was one of the biggest highlights of my life," he continued. "I had Mona Scott Young, who was my manager with Chris Lighty, notify management. I told them to get [Janet] on the phone. [Mona] got Janet on the phone and interestingly enough I told Janet, 'I had the perfect song for her,' and I didn't even have the song yet. With that being said we found the perfect song, once I said all that I had to deliver."
  
  "I guess I'm pretty good under pressure," Busta added. "I got with the right people to collaborate and put the song together, which ended up becoming one of the most historical moments of my career."
• Janet Jackson included the song as an interlude during her Number Ones: Up Close and Personal tour.