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.
Betta Stay Up In Your House
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bring your nasty ass inside
(Eddie you should know better)
Play yourself a dark corner motherfucker, yea
(Brother, you know you're wrong)
Come on, can't stop, won't stop, rockin' for you niggas
'Cause I rep the street and Johnnie Cochran for you niggas
(Twenty-one) legal (gun) shots
Poppin' for you niggas
And I, blow tones, more force than cyclones
Shit is on every time I catch a Ron Jones
Thug bitch, rock boots and hoops with rhinestones
(Got the) key (to the) city and (run the crime zone)
Now come on, take something, shake something, break something
Stop, close your shop, you niggas ain't sayin' nothin'
Niggas be frontin' and knowin' they ain't really weighin' nothin'
Betta (stop) 'fore we (pop) and really (get to sprayin' something)
Flood it up
Whip it up
Smoke it up
Blooded up,
Niggas straight tryin' to brake, I tell 'em shut it up,
I spit the ill for real, ain't nothin' buttered up,
(Flipmode) doin' it (everybody) love it up
East coast, what up? West coast, what up?
Midwest, what up? Dirty South, what up?
All my chickenheads, put it in your mouth,
It's Flipmode, better stay up in your house
All my thugs, what up? Thug bitches, what up?
Street niggas, what up? Stack riches, no doubt
We got the block locked take another route,
It's Flipmode, better stay up in your house
My niggas HOOK
Dirtiest, wordiest, Jersey it's wetter than a mile
I stalk like pedophiles, no body get's saved when I bless the child
Gettin' (eight) like (snapper) you too fessed to vow
Hold up
Run on
Get up
Come on
Ahhooo!
And put every single nigga where I'm from on
(Bitches) all in the (spot) go head (and get your) fun on
(Niggas keepin' it) movin' (go head) and get your (thug on)
(What on) earth possesed y'all to try a lil' (drunk) lil' (high)
Big heads in the sky make (niggas) straight (cry)
Without Mo' and Dry, take it down (homeboy) got bigger fish to fry
Fuck that (Other nigga) Rush that (sucker nigga)
Niggas love the way we sound up on another Digga
(Hot D) but I got another younger brother bigger
(Digga) pass me the Henny so I can take another swigger
Switch it up like Ak-Nel
Why you hit a dry spell,
Cats like you get no reply on the Skytel
(Hate y'all) Raps like Eminem hate Britney
(Bonafide) MC (Who) fuckin' with me?
Top niggas better give props nigga
('Fore you get dropped) fuck around and get your shit popped nigga,
Flip-flop niggas, you could (really get your shit mopped)
Or left to lay up in a pit stop nigga
Spillin' it
Feelin' it
Killin' it
Come on!
The hardest MC don't want flex no more
(Make it hot) everytime I rock, rest assured
Shit'll have that (who could rock) the raw best award, nigga
Look it up
Cook it up
Shook it up
Book it up
When we (rock) you shouldn't watch (promoters) nook it up
(Raise the level a little) you know (my niggas) took it up
(In and outta big) figgas while me and (Digga) cook it up
The song "Betta Stay Up In Your House" by Busta Rhymes is a rap song that features raw and explicit lyrics. The first part of the song portrays a warning to those who dare to venture out into the street, specifically those who are not supposed to be outside when it's cold. When Busta invites people inside, he uses vulgar language to get his message across. The second part of the song is all about Busta Rhymes showcasing his lyrical prowess. He expresses his love for the streets and how he represents them, then goes on to throw some shots at other rappers, claiming he's the "hardest MC" and doesn't "want flex no more."
Overall, the song is a representation of the street life and the struggles faced by those who live it. Busta Rhymes uses his lyrics to showcase his dominance in the rap game and to warn others not to mess with him or his crew. The song is intense and full of attitude, reflecting the personality of the artist.
Line by Line Meaning
Yea, I know it's kinda cold outside
I understand the weather is cold, but you should still come inside
Bring your nasty ass inside
Come inside, even though you have been acting badly
(Eddie you should know better)
I am calling you out by name, Eddie, because you should know better than to act this way
Play yourself a dark corner motherfucker, yea
Go to a dark corner and stay out of the way
(Brother, you know you're wrong)
I am calling you brother but you know that you are in the wrong
Come on, can't stop, won't stop, rockin' for you niggas
I will keep going and never give up for my fans
'Cause I rep the street and Johnnie Cochran for you niggas
I represent the streets and I will defend you like Johnnie Cochran if I need to
And I, got a state gun cockin' for you niggas
I am armed with a legally owned gun and ready to defend myself
(Twenty-one) legal (gun) shots
I am legally allowed to have 21 shots in my gun
Poppin' for you niggas
I will use my gun to shoot at you if necessary
And I, blow tones, more force than cyclones
I rap with more power and intensity than a cyclone
Shit is on every time I catch a Ron Jones
Whenever I catch Ron Jones, something goes down
Thug bitch, rock boots and hoops with rhinestones
There is a woman who is tough and wearing flashy shoes and earrings
(Got the) key (to the) city and (run the crime zone)
I have the key to the city and control the crime in my area
Now come on, take something, shake something, break something
Let's get wild and break something
Stop, close your shop, you niggas ain't sayin' nothin'
Stop what you are doing because you are not saying anything of value
Niggas be frontin' and knowin' they ain't really weighin' nothin'
People pretend to be important when they really are not
Betta (stop) 'fore we (pop) and really (get to sprayin' something)
You better stop before we shoot and spray something
Flood it up
Let's flood the area with our presence
Whip it up
Let's work hard and make something happen
Smoke it up
Let's smoke some weed
Blooded up,
We have the loyalty and strength to succeed
Niggas straight tryin' to brake, I tell 'em shut it up,
People are trying to slow us down, but I tell them to be quiet
I spit the ill for real, ain't nothin' buttered up,
I rap honestly and authentically, no fluff included
(Flipmode) doin' it (everybody) love it up
The Flipmode Squad is rapping well and everyone loves our music
East coast, what up? West coast, what up?
Shoutouts to the East and West coasts
Midwest, what up? Dirty South, what up?
Shoutouts to the Midwest and the Dirty South
All my chickenheads, put it in your mouth,
Women who are very sexual should perform oral sex
It's Flipmode, better stay up in your house
You better stay home if you know what's good for you, Flipmode Squad is here
All my thugs, what up? Thug bitches, what up?
Shoutouts to all the thugs and tough women
Street niggas, what up? Stack riches, no doubt
Shoutouts to the tough guys and people who have made money honestly
We got the block locked take another route,
We control the area and you need to find another way around
My niggas HOOK
My crew is ready to fight and win
Dirtiest, wordiest, Jersey it's wetter than a mile
We are the dirtiest, most vulgar and dangerous group, like New Jersey is wet
I stalk like pedophiles, no body get's saved when I bless the child
I am like a child predator and no one can stop me
Gettin' (eight) like (snapper) you too fessed to vow
We are getting high and acting irresponsibly
Hold up
Wait a minute
Run on
Keep going
Get up
Get ready and stand up
Come on
Let's go
Ahhooo!
A sound of excitement and energy
And put every single nigga where I'm from on
I will represent my people and put them on the map
(Bitches) all in the (spot) go head (and get your) fun on
Women are present and should enjoy themselves
(Niggas keepin' it) movin' (go head) and get your (thug on)
Men should keep moving and stay tough
(What on) earth possesed y'all to try a lil' (drunk) lil' (high)
Why would you do something dangerous like getting a little drunk or high
Big heads in the sky make (niggas) straight (cry)
When people die, it makes others sad and cry
Without Mo' and Dry, take it down (homeboy) got bigger fish to fry
Without a certain type of alcohol, I am busy with other important things
Fuck that (Other nigga) Rush that (sucker nigga)
I don't care about some other rapper, hurry up and come at me instead
Niggas love the way we sound up on another Digga
People enjoy hearing us rap alongside another member of our crew
(Hot D) but I got another younger brother bigger
I am the main rapper, but I also have a younger and bigger brother who is part of the crew
(Digga) pass me the Henny so I can take another swigger
Give me some Hennessy so I can take another sip
Switch it up like Ak-Nel
We will change our style like the rapper Ak-Nel
Why you hit a dry spell,
Why are you not rapping well right now
Cats like you get no reply on the Skytel
People like you do not get a response from me on the Skytel
(Hate y'all) Raps like Eminem hate Britney
I hate you guys like Eminem hates Britney Spears
(Bonafide) MC (Who) fuckin' with me?
I am a real rapper, who dares to challenge me?
Top niggas better give props nigga
The most respected rappers should show me some respect
('Fore you get dropped) fuck around and get your shit popped nigga,
Play around too much and someone may shoot you
Flip-flop niggas, you could (really get your shit mopped)
People who change their views frequently can get into trouble with others
Or left to lay up in a pit stop nigga
You could be left in a bad situation if you don't stay true to yourself
Spillin' it
Rapping honestly and without holding back
Feelin' it
Enjoying the music and the moment
Killin' it
Doing a great job and killing the competition
Come on!
Let's go and keep the energy going
The hardest MC don't want flex no more
Even the toughest rappers are afraid to compete with me
(Make it hot) everytime I rock, rest assured
I will make the music hot every time I rap
Shit'll have that (who could rock) the raw best award, nigga
My music will win awards for being the very best
Look it up
Verify what I am saying
Cook it up
Let's create something great
Shook it up
We stirred things up and things are now different
Book it up
Let's make sure we all have our plans in order and are ready to go
When we (rock) you shouldn't watch (promoters) nook it up
When we perform, ignore the people trying to control things backstage
(Raise the level a little) you know (my niggas) took it up
We raised the level of the performance and took it up a notch
(In and outta big) figgas while me and (Digga) cook it up
We are rapping alongside big names in the industry while also working on new music with each other
Lyrics © JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Curtis Mayfield, Rashia Tashan Fisher, Jeremy A. Graham, Busta Rhymes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind