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.
Cannon
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Its for the money this time
Howdy do motherfuckers its Weezy Baby,
Niggas bitchin' and I gotta toke the cannon.
Listen close I got duct tape and rope,
I'll leave you missin' like the fuckin' O'bannons.
One hand on my money, on hand on my buddy,
Bullets like birds you can hear them bitches hummin',
Don't let that bird shit, he got a weak stomach.
Niggas know I'm sick I don't spit I vomit,
Got it?
One egg short of the omelet.
Simon says, shoot a nigga in his thigh and leg,
And tell him catch up like mayonnaise, um.
I'm the sickest nigga doin' it,
Bet that baby.
These other niggas dough I'm wet crack baby, yes.
Get back get back boy this a set back,
Clumsy ass niggas slip and fall into a death trap.
Them boys pussy, born without a backbone,
And if you strapped we can trade like the Dow Jones.
Wet him up, I hope he got his towel on,
I aim at the moon, and get my howl on.
Some niggas cry wolf, I'm on that dry kush,
And when it comes to that paper I stack books.
You heard what I said,
I can put you on your feet
Or put some money on your head.
Life ain't cheap,
You're better off dead.
If you can't pay the fee,
Shout out my nigga fee.
See every mother fucker at the door don't get a key,
You outside lookin' in, so tell me what you see.
Its about money its bigger than me
I told my homies don't kill him bring the nigga to me, yea.
Don't miss, you fuckin' with the hit man,
Kidnap a nigga make him feel like a kid again.
[Chorus]
Straight up, I ain't got no conversation for ya,
Nigga talk to the (cannon)
Have a few words with the (cannon)
Tell it to my mother fuckin' (cannon)
Straight up, I ain't got no conversation for ya,
Nigga talk to the (cannon)
Have a few words with the (cannon)
Tell it to my mother fuckin' (cannon)
Ayo
I make it hard for rap niggas I'm peer pressure,
Matter fact I'm motivation to rap better.
I show niggas how to act how to dress better,
I stay fresh more fitted caps than bat catchers.
I'm the crack
The smack
The gun
The rule
The gat
The strap
The gun
The tool
The motherfuckin' (cannon).
Other words I'm the real, for real
We can go check for check or bill for bill,
We can go chick for chick or skill for skill,
The deal is sealed.
Niggas ain't real as Will cause I'm a (cannon).
And I handle well pedal like Cannondale.
And I got the fifty cal mag its a hand-held.
I'm tellin' you niggas I pop put a shell in you niggas,
My nice watch'll Helen Keller you niggas.
I got whores in the cannon camcorder bendin' over
Blowin' game by the quarter weed over in the Rover nigga
From Philly to where I'm landin I'm a cannon.
And I'm on that Philly fire shit,
Then I come fully equipped.
You try me get bodied keep the shawty in the whip.
If a nigga try to stick me I'm a blam him.
Sing a long da da da di I'm free got the butters
Got the green and got the tan got the whole enchilada.
Homie know I'm inside of your house,
Tie up your brother.
Make the prick call up your mother
She might know where to find you.
I am, on top of my job
The heavyweight champ of the flow
Its flow like the ocean, open water you drownin'
I will, four pond 'em
And sink them heat 'em and leave 'em stinkin'.
Sharks surround them and eat them nice then know that I will.
Roll over ya squad like I'm a one punch card.
You chumps, you best call General Motors.
I will, take control of your soldiers.
You wont listen till I toss them in the wok like chicken.
General toaster
The lyrics to "Cannon" by Busta Rhymes and T.I. are a boastful and menacing portrayal of the rappers' attitudes towards money and violence. Busta Rhymes opens the song with the declaration that he is "Mr. Thanksgiving" and that it's "for the money this time." T.I. chimes in later, rapping about how he can make it hard for other rappers with his "peer pressure" and how he is "the crack, the smack, the gun, the rule, the gat, the strap, the tool, the motherfuckin' cannon." The repeated refrain of "Nigga talk to the cannon" suggests that the rappers themselves are the ultimate arbiters of power and that anyone who challenges them will face explosive consequences.
The lyrics depict a world where money and violence intertwine, where the ultimate goal is to accumulate wealth and power at any cost. The rappers seem to revel in their ability to intimidate and control others, using their weapons like props to assert their dominance. The imagery of duct tape and rope, missing O'bannons, and traded bullets all contribute to a mood of lawlessness and mayhem. Ultimately, the lyrics serve as a warning to anyone who might question the rappers' authority: talk to the cannon or face the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
I Mr. Thanksgiving
I am the host of this event.
Its for the money this time
This project is motivated purely by financial gain.
Howdy do motherfuckers its Weezy Baby,
Greetings, I am Lil Wayne, well-known among the community.
Niggas bitchin' and I gotta toke the cannon.
I have to use my gun because people are causing problems.
Listen close I got duct tape and rope,
Pay attention, I am prepared to use restraining methods.
I'll leave you missin' like the fuckin' O'bannons.
You will disappear without a trace, like the O'bannons.
One hand on my money, on hand on my buddy,
I am always ready for either business or violence.
That's the A-K forty seven made his neighborhood love me.
The AK-47 weapon has made me popular in the neighborhood.
Bullets like birds you can hear them bitches hummin',
Gunfire makes a humming sound similar to birds.
Don't let that bird shit, he got a weak stomach.
You can't handle this situation, you can't handle the 'shit'.
Niggas know I'm sick I don't spit I vomit,
People recognize that I am talented and unique, I don't just 'spit' rhymes, I 'vomit' them.
Got it?
Do you understand that?
One egg short of the omelet.
I am missing something important that completes my success.
Simon says, shoot a nigga in his thigh and leg,
I am in control, and I command you to aim for non-lethal parts of a person's body.
And tell him catch up like mayonnaise, um.
Then taunt them by saying they need to catch up, like adding mayonnaise to a meal.
I'm the sickest nigga doin' it,
I am the most talented and admired person in my profession.
Bet that baby.
I am so confident in my abilities that I am willing to bet on it.
These other niggas dough I'm wet crack baby, yes.
Other rappers may be successful, but I am the most influential and unique artist in the game.
Get back get back boy this a set back,
This situation is potentially dangerous and will set back our progress if we do not approach it carefully.
Clumsy ass niggas slip and fall into a death trap.
This environment is full of hazards, and others may not be cautious enough to avoid danger.
Them boys pussy, born without a backbone,
They lack courage and resilience, and are weak-willed individuals.
And if you strapped we can trade like the Dow Jones.
If you also have weapons, we can engage in a back-and-forth trade of violence.
Wet him up, I hope he got his towel on,
Shoot him, and I hope he's prepared for the blood and mess.
I aim at the moon, and get my howl on.
I strive for the highest level of success and will celebrate when I reach it.
Some niggas cry wolf, I'm on that dry kush,
Others claim to be exceptional, but I am truly one of a kind.
And when it comes to that paper I stack books.
When it comes to money, I have a lot and I am investing it wisely.
You heard what I said,
Pay attention to my words.
I can put you on your feet Or put some money on your head.
I have the power to make you successful or to have somebody kill you for a price.
Life ain't cheap,
Life is valuable and cannot be taken for granted.
You're better off dead.
You may be better off dead than to live a life of suffering or failure.
If you can't pay the fee,Shout out my nigga fee.
If you cannot afford the payment, ask somebody else to help you.
See every mother fucker at the door don't get a key,You outside lookin' in, so tell me what you see.
Not everyone is welcome here, and if you are not invited, you are an outsider looking in on something exclusive.
Its about money its bigger than me
This project is not solely about me, but about the larger financial gain for everyone involved.
I told my homies don't kill him bring the nigga to me, yea.
I want to confront the person causing problems, not just have them killed.
Don't miss, you fuckin' with the hit man,
Be precise in your actions, because I am the best at what I do and will seek revenge if necessary.
Kidnap a nigga make him feel like a kid again.
Hold someone against their will to make them feel powerless and vulnerable.
[Chorus] Straight up, I ain't got no conversation for ya, Nigga talk to the (cannon) Have a few words with the (cannon) Tell it to my mother fuckin' (cannon)
I have nothing to say to you, talk to my gun instead.
Ayo I make it hard for rap niggas I'm peer pressure, Matter fact I'm motivation to rap better.
I am a competitive force among other rappers, pushing them to improve their skills.
I show niggas how to act how to dress better,
I set an example for how to present oneself in both mannerisms and fashion.
I stay fresh more fitted caps than bat catchers.
I am always fashionable, especially in my choice of headwear.
I'm the crack The smack The gun The rule The gat The strap The tool The motherfuckin' (cannon).
I am everything dangerous and powerful, and my gun defines that completely.
Other words I'm the real, for real
In other words, I am the genuine article.
We can go check for check or bill for bill,
We can compete and compare accomplishments and wealth.
We can go chick for chick or skill for skill,
We can compare romantic partners or talents.
The deal is sealed.
The agreement has been made and is set in stone.
Niggas ain't real as Will cause I'm a (cannon).
No one is as genuine as I am, and my gun makes that even more apparent.
And I handle well pedal like Cannondale.
I am skilled and confident in my motorcycle-riding abilities.
And I got the fifty cal mag its a hand-held.
I own a powerful, handheld fifty caliber weapon.
I'm tellin' you niggas I pop put a shell in you niggas,
I am warning you, I will shoot and kill you if necessary.
My nice watch'll Helen Keller you niggas.
My watch is so bright, it could even temporarily blind some people, like Helen Keller who is blind and deaf.
I got whores in the cannon camcorder bendin' over Blowin' game by the quarter weed over in the Rover nigga
I have women working for me, engaging in illegal activities and making money for me while in the car.
From Philly to where I'm landin I'm a cannon.
Everywhere I go, I am a powerful force like a cannon.
And I'm on that Philly fire shit,
I am on top of my game, and my rhymes are inspiring and impressive.
Then I come fully equipped.
I am always completely prepared and ready for anything.
You try me get bodied keep the shawty in the whip.
If you challenge me, you will be killed, so keep your weapon in your car.
If a nigga try to stick me I'm a blam him.
If someone tries to rob or harm me, I will shoot them without hesitation.
Sing a long da da da di I'm free got the butters Got the green and got the tan got the whole enchilada.
I'm living carefree, enjoying life to the fullest with drugs, money, and everything else.
Homie know I'm inside of your house, Tie up your brother. Make the prick call up your mother She might know where to find you.
I am invading your personal life, holding your family captive and using them to locate you.
I am, on top of my job The heavyweight champ of the flow Its flow like the ocean, open water you drownin' I will, four pond 'em And sink them heat 'em and leave 'em stinkin'.
I am the best rapper, and my rhymes flow like water, drowning anyone who tries to oppose me. I will defeat them and leave them humiliated and defeated.
Sharks surround them and eat them nice then know that I will.
I am like a predator in the water, viciously attacking and defeating anyone in my way.
Roll over ya squad like I'm a one punch card.
I can defeat your entire crew with a single attack, like punching a single hole on a card.
You chumps, you best call General Motors.
You're in over your head, you should contact General Motors for backup.
I will, take control of your soldiers.
I am powerful enough to bend everyone to my will, even those who are supposed to be on your side.
You wont listen till I toss them in the wok like chicken.
You are stubborn and won't comply unless I use violence to make you do so.
General toaster
I am a powerful leader and will toast anyone who tries to oppose me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LESLIE PRIDGEN, DONALD E. CANNON, DWAYNE CARTER, CLIFFORD JOSEPH JR. HARRIS, WILLIE JACKSON, BARRY WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dwaynegreene152
This mixtape ish is better than 95% of the rappers whole catalog these days
@BattleTruth
Industry and feds purposely killed the Mixtape game was keeping hip hop alive
@nzadatneezy5311
Today's mumble crap is straight bullshit
@MrMrbriannewton
T.I. kills it!
"Don't get a nigga misconstrued, cause I'm in a suit."
"Cause if you see me pull a 2's,
cause I'm fittin ta shoot."
They both go in, for real. I'm from the south so, I feel that verse much more. Busta Rhymes also killed it though.
@ViccVinegar
THIS SHIT STILL TUFF IN 19!!!!!!!
@dentonsobota7091
Busta turned me to hip hop love his music. The guy did a song with ozzy!! and I've always had respect for t.i.p. the Walmart thing just tipped the scale!
@briancallahan3582
Denton Sobota yessir the ironman remix
@kevinwashington2723
Busta rocked the New York State of mind concert 💯💯💯💯 just left Atlanta it was LIT
@ChRisCronZ
2018! Still bangin
@jamesblazing101
Still 💯🔥⚡ in 2017