Born to parents Geraldine Green (1947) and Trevor George Smith Sr, and he has a younger brother, Paul Smith. His parents divorced when he 10 years old. Busta’s time during the year of 1983 was that of change, his parents got divorced and his way of thinking was altered, during that year he also changed his religious beliefs and re-named himself ‘Born Justice God Allah’ because of the supreme sorts of names that he now believed in and looked up to. He discovered hip hop music through listening to the Zulu Beats Radio Show, something influenced him from that show and three years later he would form a group. Busta also went to school in the United Kingdom, where he lived in Blackpool, Preston and Morecambe. Ended up graduating from George Westinghouse High School in downtown Brooklyn.
As a youngster he played basketball, football and soccer.
His Panamanian baby-sitter, Aunt Mitzi, made him listen to all the rap radio stations. So, He would sit there at 2 in the morning rapping when he was supposed to be sleeping. I just couldn't be too loud or Mitzi's poodle would start dancing around and barking. One night, the poodle barked and Mitzi took my radio away. So he said, "I don't need that radio. I'll write my own rap songs." Busta Rhymes later became part of a B-Boy crew with mainly latinos, a couple of white kids, and Busta, the only black one. When he was about 10 years old after he moved from Brooklyn to Long Island, where he became a member of the crew when it was a big contest happening which the leader of the crew, Johnny Juice watched. Busta just came up to him like, "Are you Johnny Juice?" and Johnny answered like "Yeah." and he said he wanted to be down with this crew. He started poppin' and Johnny said he was dope so he said "We're about to do this contest" and they wanted to put him down with them, but he didn't know the routines. But they put him down anyways and they lost the contest because they didn't know where to put him in the routine. The next contest they had was more of a battle, for the crown of best b-boys in Long Island and they had their crew there and they won. Busta destroyed these other guys, when he was poppin. Johnny Juice says "even if you listen to his rhymes now, you can tell by the way he rhymes and the way he moves around he's really dope on the popping shit".
Before his leap to stardom, Rhymes, was a rambunctious middle-class kid from Long Island who wrote "rap poetry" and dropped out of high school to pursue a music career. "I really thought he'd be a dancer," says his mother, Geraldine Green. "At family cookouts he would win all the dance contests. He was always a showman." He reminds his worst job: “I used to work as a stock boy at a department store called Cheap John’s,” he says. “I knew that I couldn’t really wrap my head around doing that kind of work. Even if your heart is not in something, your mind has to at least be able to be willing to do it. So, I took the job and I worked for about two weeks, and then I quit.” Why?
“They just had me doing too much. I had to line up the roach sprays on the shelves and make sure they were all in order, facing the same way, with the logos facing the front. The dishwashing liquids, the detergents, the boxes that they came in when they came from the actual shipping companies that they were manufactured at. After I lined them up on the shelves, I had to cut up the cardboard boxes, fold them up neatly and tie them up so that they could do the recycling thing with them. After a couple paper cuts too many, and hands that were calloused and ashy and bruised, I said ‘this is definitely not the thing for me to continue to be doing.’”
Busta adds, “I used that as inspiration to go into the studio all the time when I had a free moment. After work, during my lunch break, traveling back and forth to work … to just apply myself creatively, and the opportunity finally came one day when I was downtown.” At 17, Rhymes landed a six-figure record deal.
LONS signing with Elektra
His first name as a rapper was Chill-o-ski, but he thought it was a corny name, and Chuck D from Public Enemy gave him a new name, Busta Rhymes. He got the name from an american football player from the eighties, George "Buster" Rhymes, and people always asked him to "Bust-a-rhyme", so the choice was easy. In the end of the eighties he met Charlie Brown at Turtlehook Middle School and they formed Leaders of the New School with Dinco "The rhyme scientist" D and Milo In De Dance (aka The Cut Monitor). They were on Rush Management. They was signed to Elektra Records December 12th 1989. First Recorded Appearance: “Mt. Airy Groove” from the Rubaiyat compilation, Elektra 1990. A&R Dante Ross heard about Leaders of the New School from Hank Shocklee [Bomb Squad] and Chuck D [Public Enemy] and them.He says "I knew they were one of their burgeoning groups and I also knew they didn't have a record deal. I heard they were performing and I went to check them out. I had just got my A&R gig at Elektra. I went there, saw them perform, grabbed them right after the performance and told them they had a record deal if they wanted one. LONS released 2 albums, "A future without a past" in 1991, and "T.I.M.E." in 1993. In 1992 Busta's girl was pregnant, but the baby died right after he was born, and Busta had big personal problems after that, but he got great support from his group members. In 93 they where divided because of ego in the group.
A couple of other things that made him well known before his solo career was a couple of cameo performances, among them A Tribe Called Quest's remix of "Scenario" with Leaders Of The New School, and the "Flava in ya ear remix" with Craig Mack and Rampage.
It took Busta three years before he released an album for Elektra, in 1996 he released "The Coming" with the hits "Woo hah! Got you all in check" featuring Rampage and "It's a party" featuring Zhane. while recording his debut album, he left the studio to check on his new SUV. He'd recently purchased the Toyota Land Cruiser, a giant vehicle that gives the impression of driving on an elevated track, for $40,000. Rhymes took the elevator down and came out on Broadway, in lower Manhattan, at 11:30 p.m. His ride was gone. Furious, he marched back inside and closed the door in the recording booth. "There was nothing I could do at that point, so I just vented that angry energy into three songs," he says. Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check, one of the tracks he completed by morning, went on to become a street anthem and crossover hit, his first ever.
There was a short gap between the release of Busta’s first album and his second album, but it came sooner than people imagined it to. Busta was sceptical about bootleggers copying the new album so for reviewing purposes he only sent out album samplers. In 1997 he released his second album, "When Disaster Strikes", and after that, his popularity exploded. 1998 became a very good year for Busta, he started his own clothing line, BUSHI designs, and released his third album "Extinction Level Event (The final world front)" and Flipmode Squad's debut "The Imperial". Flipmode Squad at that point included Busta Rhymes, Rah Digga, Spliff Star, Rampage, Baby Sham & Lord Have Mercy.
1999 became a year with problems for Busta, he had to visit the courthouse a couple of times because of child support, and police stopped his car and found an unregistered gun. He lost the case about child support, and he got a 5 year probation for the other case. Now Elektra started to shut him down with less studio time and promotion for his next album. Busta didn't like that, and took his squad over to J Records in 2001 after his fourth release in 2000, "Anarchy".
J Records
His first album at J was "Genesis", with the hits "What it is" featuring Kelis, "Break ya neck" & "Pass the courvoiser part 2" featuring Pharrell and P. Diddy. Now he is CEO for Flipmode Records. In november 2002 he released his most fervent album so far, "It Ain't Safe No More" with the singles "Make it clap" featuring Spliff Star, and a remix of it featuring Spliff Star and Sean Paul. Other achievements in 2002 was the movie roles he had in "Halloween: Resurrection" and "Narc". In 2003 his SUV was shot up with 6 bullets while he was in the Violator offices, that happened just a month after a couple of people shot inside their offices. The collaboration with Mariah Carey & Flipmode Squad named "I know what you want" on "It ain't safe no more" became Busta's biggest hit so far.
Aftermath
In February 2004, Flipmode Squad joined Aftermath Records, New members was added to the squad: M. Dollars, Labba and former Blackstreet Chauncey Black joined them. In March he got a six month probation sentence after pleading no contest to a charge that he assaulted a woman during a concert in Fall River, Massachusetts, in December 2002.
In November 2005 the first official single off the album "Touch it" was released to radio. The video premiered in December. He is now the father of four children (born in 93, 99, 00 and 02). In February, while making the second video for "The Big Bang"- the "Touch it remix" ft. Mary J. Blige, Missy, Rah Digga, Lloyd Banks, Papoose and DMX, one of his bodyguards, Israel Ramirez, who recently started working security for Busta as his jewelry handler, was shot and killed shortly after midnight outside of the Kiss The Cactus Production studio in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, NY. According to eyewitnesses, the shooting was a result of an argument that began inside the studio and continued outside.
The Aftermath chief Dr. Dre said before the release of The Big Bang that ”All of sudden I’m hearing people in the streets talking about hos Busta’s back. In my mind, he never left, and that’s why I wanted to fuck with in the first place. He’s got that drive, and he never stops trying to top himself. Anybody who knows Busta knows that he’s always gonna come with heat." His third video from "The Big Bang" was released 10th May, "I love my bitch". The video features actress Gabrielle Union and the Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am, who produced the song, but Kelis who is featured on the song, was not in the video. The single also features Kelis, but she's not featured in the video. Also changed is his appearance, as he has cut off his trademark dreadlocks as part of a personal renewal. "Eight years of court appearances later and I was awarded custody of my children," he explained. "My hair was remindful of the unnecessary rocks in my career and life. So it was time to shed the locks... I've got my career and family right." "The Big Bang" was released 13th June. The fourth video was released in July, "New York shit" and the fitth video came out in August, "In the ghetto". The album was certified Gold in that month too. This month he was also charged with an assault after the Amsterjam Music Festival on Randalls Island, and he was ticketed after police saw him talking on his mobile while driving past a Manhattan police station.
On January 3rd 2007 he turned himself in to police custody after he allegedly attacking someone on Boxing Day. Lt. John Grimpel said a man told police that Rhymes, had punched and kicked him repeatedly after an argument over money. On May 3rd was arrested on a drunk driving charge by police in New York City. Officers stopped Rhymes at about 12:40 a.m. because the sport utility vehicle he was driving had overly tinted windows, officers then smelled alcohol on the rapper's breath and he was subsequently arrested. was released on $7,500 bail, set by Judge Tanya Kennedy. After a 8th May court appearance, he was free to drive. Rhymes' lawyer said a judge ruled against a prosecution motion to suspend the rapper's license following the driving-while-intoxicated arrest. He also turned down a plea deal that day that would have sent him to jail for one year, the Manhattan district attorney's office said.
Bus appeared in a Super Bowl finale commercial for Pepsi Max Diet in February. Busta Rhymes pleaded guilty on 23rd January to assault, two driving infractions and weapons possession, avoiding a trial and the yearlong prison sentence recommended by prosecutors. But Judge Larry Stevens disagreed with prosecutors that Rhymes deserved time behind bars. Instead, he sentenced him to three years' probation and 10 days of community service for beating a fan who reportedly spat on his car in August 2006, and then assaulting his driver, Larry Hackett, that December. Rhymes was also fined $1,250 for driving with a suspended license in 2006 and driving while intoxicated in 2007. "I just want to say that I'm very grateful to the judge, I'm very grateful to the system. I believe in the system. It hasn't failed me personally yet," Rhymes, dressed in a crisp black pinstripe suit, said outside the courtroom.
"I'm just glad that all of this is finally behind me and I can go back to doing what I do best - making great music and great films and being a people person," he said.
His 8th solo album "Blessed" was set for a release in July 2008. First he called it "When Hell Freeze Over" then he changed it to "Back On My B.S.", a title Pharrell helped him come up with, last it was changed to "Blessed" in April 08. Rhymes was added to Projekt Revolution 2008 (summer tour), He was joining Linkin Park, Chris Cornell, The Bravery, and Ashes Divide on the main stage. After the first week of touring he had to leave the tour because of business matters; Late July he left Interscope, because they couldn't agree with Busta how to handle the final version of the album.
Motown
In September 08 he his new deal was announced, with Motown/Universal. He then re-titled his album to "Back On My B.S." The first single was released in October 2008, called "Arab Money" featuring Ron Browz. 2 remix videos with different guests were later releases in February 09. The second single, "Hustler's Anthem 09" was released in Febuary too. The third single's video "Respect My Conglomerate" was released in March. "Back On My B.S." was released May 19th 09, and entered the Billboard chart at #5, after a lot of delays; 1st July 08, 9th Dec. 08, 10th Feb. 09, 24th March 09). In June, the video for "If you don't know" was released. The video for "World Go Round" will be released soon.
Best I Can
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What you? Ay bruh
Have him home at eight, I ain't-I ain't playing with you
I was so rude when you was tryna be a father
Always gave you drama, never took the kids to see your mama
And I, I know, it's what you tried to do
Took so much time from you tripping 'bout the child support
Damn, I just want 'em
Putting up with me always took your joy
And had some sorry ass nigga playing daddy to your boy
And got mad 'cause you found a good woman, that's fucked up
I know, it's what I'm trying to do
Owe you that much, know I owe him that too
He ain't the man he s'posed to be 'cause I ain't let him learn from you, damn
For walking away when I was yelling in your face
Making a scene in broad day because you brought him back late
'Cause you missed him so much you only got him one day, shit
It's what I'm trying to do
One a month because you was working overpaid
Little child support, I still asked you to buy new Js
Only spent a little bit on our baby
And know that your support really made a nigga lazy
I'm just saying, damn
I could've done better
I know you didn't deserve that, I was thinking 'bout the cheddar
I was thinking 'bout that verse saying how you left me
For some other broad but I understand it, I was crazy
So, you did the best you could
You did the best you can, you still stuck around for good
And I appreciate, and I hope, I hope you see it, shit
And our son really needs you, damn
Damn is motherfucking right
And I can't believe all of the shit you did just out of spite
I want a, I just want a
It's what I'm tryna do, shit
Thank you for making me a stronger man and something
Too many times you fucking disrespect me in front of my son
God, I want to thank you
For allowing me to survive this, shit
Sorry that I called you, that I wish I didn't mean it
I never thought I would live to see the day that you would see it
I put up with your shit too many times I swear I wouldn't
And did it in front our son even when I get weak and thought I couldn't
But, I was taught to never raise my hand up to a woman
Should've got my sister to slap you 'cause you deserve a couple good ones
You deny the top of my son with this bitch nigga you harbored
Let him diss you in front of your kid when you here shitting on his father
Know I ain't perfect, I could be a better Dad
'Cause dealing with you helped me find a strength I never thought I had
And I wanna, yes I wanna
It's what I'm tryna do
I only want the best for my son, give me credit
Niggas deal was right, maybe I coulda started tryna respect it
And I hate this tension building like food in a pot that's brewing
Like I'm 'posed to deal with this nigga on top of the shit you doing
Now you motherfucking crazy
You think I'mma sit around and let some nigga you brought around ever come between me and my baby?
I wanna, yes I wanna
For biting off more than you could chew
Mom, Dad?
Hey little young kid, you should go play with your brothers
Go back downstairs where they at, let me finish talking to your mother
Go on now, thanks to my son for making me angry
The way I had to get up and go find a woman that makes me happy
The type of woman that teach him how to love his momma
To help me raise him like a young man and treat his woman proper
I wanna, yes I wanna
It's all I'm tryna do, man
Hey Wes, you ready to do it to 'em again?
Well, it's only right queen
Let's show 'em better than we can tell 'em
The lyrics to the song "Best I Can" by Busta Rhymes and Rapsody explore the complex dynamics of a tumultuous relationship between two parents. The verses alternate between Busta Rhymes and Rapsody, with each expressing their regrets, frustrations, and attempts to make things right. The conversation between them reveals a history of misunderstandings, hurtful behavior, and missed opportunities to be better parents.
Busta Rhymes starts off by acknowledging his past rudeness and the drama he caused, preventing the other parent from being involved in their children's lives. He reflects on the time and money wasted on child support battles and the negative impact his actions had on the other parent's relationships. Despite realizing his mistakes, he still struggles to do right by their child.
Rapsody's verse continues the narrative, acknowledging that she could have done better in the relationship. She recognizes that the other parent deserved more respect and support. She regrets the arguments and scenes they caused, but also highlights the other parent's efforts to be there for their child. Rapsody expresses her hope that the other parent sees her appreciation and understands that their son still needs them.
Overall, "Best I Can" delves into the challenges faced by two parents trying to navigate their shared responsibilities amidst a troubled relationship. The song captures their remorse, gratitude, and desire to do better for the sake of their child.
Line by Line Meaning
What the fuck is you talking?
I don't understand what you're saying.
What you? Ay bruh
Who are you? Hey, friend.
Have him home at eight, I ain't-I ain't playing with you
Make sure he's back home by eight. I'm serious.
I was so rude when you was tryna be a father
I was disrespectful when you were trying to fulfill your role as a father.
Always gave you drama, never took the kids to see your mama
I constantly caused problems and never allowed the children to visit your mother.
And I, I know, it's what you tried to do
I understand that it was your intention all along.
Took so much time from you tripping 'bout the child support
I wasted a lot of your time arguing about child support.
Paid 'em, made 'em raise it and you still bought 'em Christmas toys
I paid the child support, but you still took the initiative and bought them Christmas presents.
Damn, I just want 'em
Gosh, I just want to spend time with them.
Putting up with me always took your joy
Enduring my behavior always drained your happiness.
And had some sorry ass nigga playing daddy to your boy
And I allowed some worthless man to act as a father figure to your son.
And got mad 'cause you found a good woman, that's fucked up
I became upset when you found a deserving woman, which was unfair of me.
I know, it's what I'm trying to do
I understand that it's what I'm attempting to accomplish now.
Owe you that much, know I owe him that too
I owe you that much, and I also owe the other man the same respect.
He ain't the man he s'posed to be 'cause I ain't let him learn from you, damn
He is not the man he should be because I prevented him from learning from you, damn.
For walking away when I was yelling in your face
I apologize for walking away when I was shouting at you.
Making a scene in broad day because you brought him back late
Causing a scene during the day because you returned him late.
'Cause you missed him so much you only got him one day, shit
Because you missed him so much, you were only able to spend one day with him, damn.
It's what I'm trying to do
It's what I'm attempting to achieve.
One a month because you was working overpaid
One visit a month because you were working too much and being overpaid.
Little child support, I still asked you to buy new Js
I provided a small amount of child support, but I still expected you to buy new sneakers.
Only spent a little bit on our baby
I only spent a small amount on our child.
And know that your support really made a nigga lazy
And you should know that your financial support made me lazy.
I'm just saying, damn
I'm simply expressing myself, damn.
I could've done better
I could have done more.
I know you didn't deserve that, I was thinking 'bout the cheddar
I know you didn't deserve that treatment, but I was only concerned about money.
I was thinking 'bout that verse saying how you left me
I was reflecting on that section of the song where you supposedly abandoned me.
For some other broad but I understand it, I was crazy
For another woman, but I realize now that I was being irrational.
So, you did the best you could
So, you performed to the best of your abilities.
You did the best you can, you still stuck around for good
Despite everything, you did your best and remained committed.
And I appreciate, and I hope, I hope you see it, shit
And I value that, and I hope, I hope you recognize it, damn.
And our son really needs you, damn
And our son truly relies on you, damn.
Damn is motherfucking right
Damn, that's absolutely correct.
And I can't believe all of the shit you did just out of spite
And I can't believe you did all those things just to be spiteful.
I want a, I just want a
I desire, I simply desire.
It's what I'm tryna do, shit
That's what I'm trying to accomplish, damn.
Thank you for making me a stronger man and something
Thank you for helping me become a stronger man and more.
Too many times you fucking disrespect me in front of my son
You have disrespectfully treated me in front of our son too many times.
God, I want to thank you
God, I want to express my gratitude.
For allowing me to survive this, shit
For enabling me to overcome this, damn.
Sorry that I called you, that I wish I didn't mean it
I apologize for cursing at you and for wishing harm upon you.
I never thought I would live to see the day that you would see it
I never thought I would witness the day when you would understand.
I put up with your shit too many times I swear I wouldn't
I endured your nonsense many times, I promised myself I wouldn't.
And did it in front our son even when I get weak and thought I couldn't
And I did it in front of our son, even when I felt weak and thought I couldn't.
But, I was taught to never raise my hand up to a woman
However, I was raised to never harm a woman physically.
Should've got my sister to slap you 'cause you deserve a couple good ones
I should have asked my sister to slap you because you deserved a few hits.
You deny the top of my son with this bitch nigga you harbored
You prevent my son from acknowledging me as his father while being associated with this worthless man.
Let him diss you in front of your kid when you here shitting on his father
Allowing him to disrespect you in front of your child while you criticize his father.
Know I ain't perfect, I could be a better Dad
I know I'm not perfect, I have the capacity to be a better father.
'Cause dealing with you helped me find a strength I never thought I had
Because dealing with you helped me discover a strength I never believed existed.
And I wanna, yes I wanna
And I desire, yes, I desire.
It's what I'm tryna do
It's what I'm attempting to accomplish.
I only want the best for my son, give me credit
I only want the best for my son, acknowledge my intentions.
Niggas deal was right, maybe I coulda started tryna respect it
That person's plan was correct, perhaps I should have begun to show respect.
And I hate this tension building like food in a pot that's brewing
And I despise this growing tension, like simmering food in a pot.
Like I'm 'posed to deal with this nigga on top of the shit you doing
As if I'm supposed to handle this guy on top of the other things you're doing.
Now you motherfucking crazy
Now you're absolutely insane.
You think I'mma sit around and let some nigga you brought around ever come between me and my baby?
Do you really think I'm going to let some guy you introduced interfere with my relationship with our child?
I wanna, yes I wanna
I desire, yes, I desire.
For biting off more than you could chew
For taking on more than you can handle.
Mom, Dad?
Mother, father?
Hey little young kid, you should go play with your brothers
Hey young child, you should go play with your siblings.
Go back downstairs where they at, let me finish talking to your mother
Go back downstairs where they are and allow me to continue my conversation with your mother.
Go on now, thanks to my son for making me angry
Go on now, thank you to my son for provoking my anger.
The way I had to get up and go find a woman that makes me happy
I had to get up and find a woman who brings me happiness.
The type of woman that teach him how to love his momma
The kind of woman who can teach him how to love his mother.
To help me raise him like a young man and treat his woman proper
To assist me in raising him to be a respectful young man who treats his partner well.
I wanna, yes I wanna
I desire, yes, I desire.
It's all I'm tryna do, man
It's everything I'm trying to accomplish, man.
Hey Wes, you ready to do it to 'em again?
Hey Wes, are you ready to amaze them once more?
Well, it's only right queen
Well, it's only fitting, queen.
Let's show 'em better than we can tell 'em
Let's demonstrate it to them, exceeding their expectations.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Trevor Smith, Marlanna Evans, Patrick Douthit, R Arrington, C Tyson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@EzeICE
Rapsody spiting that truth. I wish baby moms had this much humility, shiiiiiieeeeettt.
@dee1380
this won't b on they playlist..
@jeanguyhamel5215
Word
@91Definite
Too bad most don’t
@ChasingElizabeth
@@dee1380 Big ‘ol Bowl of nutritious FACTS!!! 🤣😂🤣
@masterjedi6424
Damn
@gravestone93
RHAPSODY BROUGHT ME TO TEARS! Just imagining my BM saying those words to me after... I digress. This song needs to be preserved forever! 💪🏾
@KeylowMilliGramz
I swear 100 percent ❤
@movekeysdapianoman
Rhapsody and Busta you did this one dirty.. This was 1000000 % truth
@erikcrocker393
This song hits my heart and Imma GIRL DAD #24💜💛🙏🏾👑❤🖤💚💪🏿💪