The Busy Signals was the lo-fi loop-pop solo project of Minneapolis-based Howard W. Hamilton III, a onetime roadie for Babes in Toyland, who later appeared in the band Saucer. Selling his car to fund the purchase of an eight-track and a sampler, he adopted the Busy Signals moniker to issue his Sugar Free label debut Baby's First Beats in the spring of 2000. Pretend Hits arrived the following year. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi