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.
Case Of The P.T.A
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man
Yo, yo, yo, I can't understand
Why the parents and the teachers
And everybody trying to o the kids
The young generation yo,
What's the deal bro, Charlie Brown, man
I don't know what the deal is
You have to ask my partna Dinco D
Yo yo tell us D tell us D
Mass confusion g, I don't know what's up
Hey yo man
(it's just another case of that old pta)
Huh man
[Dinco D]
In school I wrote notes and took quotes from Shakespeare
And other types of rhymes to show you that I (care)
But things like together forever to you my only one (only one)
It was special I can say it was another one
You would say someone's knocking at my window
(Knock knock)
Someone's ringing my bell
(Ding dong)
It's about two in the morning
(Hey yo g, what the hell's going?)
(it's just another case of that old pta)
But never the less here goes to show my potential
And even though our love was three-dimensional
One (me) two (you) three (your pops) now what am I to do
I had to transform into educated lad
Going around doing chores for your dad
Playing a duck, wearing sweaters and shoes
Chilling with pop just listen to the blues
And talking to your mom about a love for her daughter
Suggesting to me that I just oughta
Watch myself
(Inch by inch)
Watch myself
(And use some sense)
So I did
(Hey)
It didn't do a damn thing
But a case to complain, so now I sing
(it's just another case of that old pta)
[Busta]
Roar Busta Rhymes the mighty infamous
Always misbehaving and mischievous
Causing aggravation I'll never pause
Pushing out spit balls through plastic straws
(In class)
In gym I got caught at last
For lighting up the courtyard grass
(Hey)
Teacher, teacher, go to the flesh
(Busta Rhymes liked to killed the complex)
Hey yo
In class, kicked it to this girl Cheryl
(what?)
The teacher try to tell me I was Pharoah
(NO NO NO)
I'm not with detention no no with suspension
A child's wickedy wild the Calbridge Hill styles
Teach us just a knowledge to go talk to my mommy
Now when she gets home, she's gonna wear out the body
I hate this relationship, the mom and teacher
When she reaches home hey yo she knows that I reached ya
Ok, of today I am the new school, pray
Between my momma, teacher, and my dad hey yo
(it's just another case of that old pta)
[Charlie Brown]
Yo teachers hate me the girls don't take me
Because I'm C Brown
(Class clown)
Getting still sometimes I chill yo
Depending on the day and (HOW I FEEL)
Sometimes I leave an apple that's rotten and (BROWN)
No where to be found
Poll tax on sheets, five days a week
Arrive in the lunchroom, I gotta get some sleep
But I didn't do it
(You did it)
I'm suspended
(You was with it)
And now it's time to pay for the crime
That I never got caught like Judge Wapner
(Bam! take on the court)
A room of teachers, parents, and preachers
A principal and one kid dress in sneakers
Case of brown versus the board
(Order order)
Yo twelve, verse one is a slaughter
I pleaded my case
Face to face
It was a waste
And everyone was in place yo
He announced me guilty you have
(Three hundred sixty four days)
Of detention to serve
(Some nerve)
I felt this could be from (Pissed)
The head of the board said "case dismissed"
As I walk out the room I hear them say
(its just another case of that old PTA)
The song "Case Of The P.T.A" by Busta Rhymes is a classic case of intergenerational conflict. The lyrics discuss how parents, teachers, and other adults are always telling the younger generation what to do and how to behave. The lyrics convey a sense of frustration that many young people feel when they are being constantly monitored and restricted by the adults in their lives. The verses from Charlie Brown and Dinco D provide specific examples of this conflict, from being suspended for leaving a rotten apple to having to transform into an "educated lad" in order to impress a girl's parents.
The chorus, "It's just another case of that old P.T.A," emphasizes the sense of repetition and inevitability in these conflicts. The P.T.A., or Parent-Teacher Association, is the embodiment of adult rules and restrictions, and the fact that these conflicts are "just another case" of the P.T.A. highlights how these conflicts are a cyclical and never-ending part of growing up. Through their lyrics, Busta Rhymes and his collaborators suggest that these conflicts can be frustrating and even hindering to young people, suggesting a need for understanding and communication between the generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man
Expressing disbelief and confusion about the situation
Yo, yo, yo, I can't understand
Expressing frustration and difficulty in comprehending
Why the parents and the teachers
Questioning the actions of parents and teachers
And everybody trying to do the kids
Expressing concern over the actions and intentions towards the children
The young generation yo,
Referring to the younger generation
What's the deal bro, Charlie Brown, man
Asking for an explanation from Charlie Brown
I don't know what the deal is
Expressing uncertainty about the situation
You have to ask my partna Dinco D
Referring to Dinco D as someone who might have answers
Mass confusion g, I don't know what's up
Feeling overwhelmed by confusion and lack of understanding
In school I wrote notes and took quotes from Shakespeare
Using literary references to showcase efforts and dedication in education
And other types of rhymes to show you that I (care)
Using rhymes as a way to demonstrate care and passion
But things like together forever to you my only one (only one)
Referring to a special relationship and commitment
It was special I can say it was another one
Emphasizing the uniqueness and significance of the relationship
You would say someone's knocking at my window
Referring to a distraction or interruption
Someone's ringing my bell
Referring to another distraction or interruption
It's about two in the morning
Highlighting the late hour of the disturbance
Hey yo g, what the hell's going?
Expressing confusion and frustration about the situation
But never the less here goes to show my potential
Highlighting personal growth and capabilities
And even though our love was three-dimensional
Referring to a multi-faceted and deep connection
One (me) two (you) three (your pops) now what am I to do
Expressing confusion and uncertainty about the relationship dynamics
I had to transform into educated lad
Adapting and becoming more knowledgeable
Going around doing chores for your dad
Performing tasks to gain acceptance and approval
Playing a duck, wearing sweaters and shoes
Engaging in behaviors to fit in or please others
Chilling with pop just listen to the blues
Spending time with the father figure and engaging in contemplation
And talking to your mom about a love for her daughter
Discussing feelings and intentions with the mother
Suggesting to me that I just oughta
Receiving advice and recommendations
Watch myself
Being cautious and aware of one's actions
(Inch by inch)
Taking small steps towards improvement
Watch myself
Continuing to be mindful and self-aware
(And use some sense)
Applying common sense in decision-making
So I did
Acting in accordance with the advice given
It didn't do a damn thing
Expressing frustration and disappointment with the outcome
But a case to complain, so now I sing
Using music as an outlet to express dissatisfaction
Roar Busta Rhymes the mighty infamous
An introduction and declaration of Busta Rhymes' identity
Always misbehaving and mischievous
Describing a consistent pattern of behavior
Causing aggravation I'll never pause
Continuing to create trouble and irritation
Pushing out spit balls through plastic straws
Engaging in childish pranks and disruptions
(In class)
Referring to the location where the pranks occur
In gym I got caught at last
Getting caught after previous mischief
For lighting up the courtyard grass
Engaging in unauthorized activities and causing a disturbance
Teacher, teacher, go to the flesh
Calling out the teacher to confront the consequences
(Busta Rhymes liked to killed the complex)
Showing the extent of the disruption caused by Busta Rhymes
Hey yo
A call for attention or response
Kicked it to this girl Cheryl
Making advances towards the girl named Cheryl
(what?)
Expressing surprise or disbelief
The teacher try to tell me I was Pharaoh
Receiving a false accusation or label by the teacher
(NO NO NO)
Strongly denying the accusation
I'm not with detention no no with suspension
Rejecting the punishments and consequences
A child's wickedy wild the Calbridge Hill styles
Referring to one's rebellious and unruly nature
Teach us just a knowledge to go talk to my mommy
Suggesting the teacher's intention to inform the mother of misbehavior
Now when she gets home, she's gonna wear out the body
Anticipating punishment and scolding from the mother
I hate this relationship, the mom and teacher
Expressing dislike and frustration towards the dynamic between the mother and teacher
When she reaches home hey yo she knows that I reached ya
Assuming the mother is already aware of the situation
Ok, of today I am the new school, pray
Adopting a new mindset and approach
Between my momma, teacher, and my dad hey yo
Highlighting the influences and conflicts between parents and teacher
Yo teachers hate me the girls don't take me
Feeling disliked and ignored by teachers and girls
Because I'm C Brown
The reason being one's identity as C Brown
(Class clown)
Referring to the role of being the class clown
Getting still sometimes I chill yo
Occasionally finding peace and relaxation
Depending on the day and (HOW I FEEL)
Being influenced by emotions and mood
Sometimes I leave an apple that's rotten and (BROWN)
Engaging in prank-like behavior with a rotten apple
No where to be found
Leaving no trace or evidence of the prank
Poll tax on sheets, five days a week
Referring to the burdens of school work and routine
Arrive in the lunchroom, I gotta get some sleep
Feeling exhausted and in need of rest
But I didn't do it
Denying responsibility for a certain action
(You did it)
Others attributing the action to the person
I'm suspended
Facing the consequence of suspension
(You was with it)
Others acknowledging the person's involvement
And now it's time to pay for the crime
Accepting the consequences for the committed offense
That I never got caught like Judge Wapner
Contrasting the situation with not getting caught like Judge Wapner would decide
(Bam! take on the court)
Imagining a dramatic courtroom scene
A room of teachers, parents, and preachers
Depicting the setting for a disciplinary hearing
A principal and one kid dress in sneakers
Highlighting the distinction between the authority figures and the person
Case of brown versus the board
Referring to a case in which the person named Brown is being judged
(Order order)
Calling for order and attention in the courtroom
Yo twelve, verse one is a slaughter
Expecting an unfair trial situation with biased authority
I pleaded my case
Presenting one's arguments and defense
Face to face
Directly confronting the situation
It was a waste
Realizing the futility of the efforts
And everyone was in place yo
Acknowledging the presence and roles of everyone involved
He announced me guilty you have
Receiving a guilty verdict from the judge
(Three hundred sixty four days)
Receiving a significant duration of punishment
Of detention to serve
Being sentenced to detention
(Some nerve)
Expressing frustration and indignation
I felt this could be from (Pissed)
Attributing the punishment to being angry or upset
The head of the board said 'case dismissed'
The head of the board declaring the case closed
As I walk out the room I hear them say
Leaving the room while still hearing the comments
(It's just another case of that old PTA)
Recognizing the repetition and pattern of parental and teacher involvement in disciplinary cases
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRYAN HIGGINS, JAMES JACKSON, TREVOR SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RancidKari
This song was in the Boondocks Unaired Pilot !
@amuroray9115
Yup. People are probably trying to find the name of it
I just watched it
@RD-wg9em
Brought me here, glad it did
@person849
I love how happy these videos were.. No sexual distractions either. Just real lyrics, flow and beat.
@lateshiachilds3640
Same here
@amerokeewiya1320
Yessssss
@y3404
theyre literally talking about girls in the song
@nodnarb2151
@@y3404 they're not being vulgar of the point.
@frankromero965
This was better real music still lives on thank u no mumble rap keep it real!!
@johngarrett9418
Busta Rhymes really came into his own as a standout in this group. Hands down.