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.
Choose A Side
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
I'm back on my Beethoven shit now yeah
J-Doe!
Cops and robbers cowboys and Indians
How we get it in see them boys live for you
If they let 'em in it's gon' be problems
For a nigga if I get 'em in
Cause when the smoke clears
You prolly wonder what you lookin' at
It's either my side or your side
Nigga, what you gon' do?
I apply direct pressure to stop the bleeding
You probably should tighten the cloth
We blow to rupture arteries
Undescribable force
Niggas be lookin more bitch
Than a dyke in a Porsche
Cannons'll cut your whole click
Like I'm slicin' a pork
Retaliation's at it's best
When you challenge a boss
Know what side you're on cause it could cost
(It's either my side or your side
Nigga what you gon' do?)
Ok, no need to wonder who one of the best be
To tell the truth if you ain't wit' me
You must be against me
But I got that thing for Mo'fuckers
So go 'head and tempt me and have 'em saying
"Damn, the Devil has sent you to get me!"
From how temperature change
From squeezing the metal empty
Until you make a pussy squirt
Like the back of a jet ski
And if you wanna know how stupid get
You can meet him first
If you don't properly choose
Who you movin' wit'
Cops and robbers cowboys and Indians
Better choose a side cause you know
How we get it in see them boys live for you
If they let 'em in it's gon' be problems
For a nigga if I get 'em in
Cause when the smoke clears
You prolly wonder what you lookin' at
It's either my side or your side
Nigga, what you gon' do?
I'm on a pill drinkin' Duce
Million in the suitcase
Ten-thousand hundreds all blue-faced
Wrist gold, whip game, VMV
Whatchin' Busta on TMZ
Rubber banded B-U-N-D-L Es till we CMB
Conglomerate money bitch I'm G-O-D
Jack Thriller keep one eye on niggas
Plottin' on me (It's either my side
Or your side nigga what you gon' do?)
No-Limit vision i see murda in the booth
Feel like Remy, Higher Learning
Hittin' models on the roof thousand Cuban
Hangin' like Mr cooper
Drippin in the Michael J fox Shearling’
And I'm the future
Snatch yo ghost out yo face
That Killer B shit ste-vie shit
Keys move you just ain't see shit
Spikes on Louis Vuittons that LOD shit
Came up off coco s W-V shit
Cops and robbers cowboys and Indians
Better choose a side cause you know
How we get it in see them boys live for you
If they let 'em in it's gon' be problems
For a nigga if I get 'em in
Cause when the smoke clears
You prolly wonder it's either my side
Or your side nigga, what you gon' do?
Security levels should heighten
Being that I got the license
To silence I'm bullish
With appetites for bitin' the curb
And bitin' the bullet bright in the moment
Like a light and it's strikin' the footage
Like bluffin' a bastard wit'a ratchet
To excite him then pull it
Now nigga could it end up being that nigga
That's what you talkin bout
Poppin' but couldn't (It's either my side
Or your side nigga what you gon' do?)
Alright, Most of the time
I know this shit's annoyin'
Cause when you can't beat 'em
See most you niggas try to join 'em
I'm Def Leppard
And I ain't tryin' to hear the noise, and
Most of you dudes don't have a choice
When I hit 'em with the poison
Get reacquainted with the ones you lost
So you can join 'em
My pen extremely dangerous the way
Ha, and while most of you better hide
Or either slide, make a proper choice
Before picking a side nigga
Cops and robbers cowboys and Indians
Better choose a side cause you know
How we get it in see them boys live for you
If they let 'em in it's gon' be problems
For a nigga if I get 'em in
Cause when the smoke clears
You prolly wonder what you lookin' at
It's either my side or your side
Nigga, what you gon' do?
The song "Choose A Side" by Busta Rhymes is about the importance of making a decision and choosing the right side in life. In the first verse, he mentions "cops and robbers," which are opposing sides, and states that you must choose one because there will be problems if you do not. He applies direct pressure to stop the bleeding, implying that you have to act quickly when making decisions. Busta suggests that you need to be careful when choosing your allies because it can lead to victory or defeat. He also alludes to how his enemies try to mimic him but with little success.
In the second verse, J-Doe raps about his lavish lifestyle and his dangerous nature. He boasts about his wealth and how he is ready to defend his position. He warns people not to underestimate him, and if they do, he will take them out. He suggests that people need to make a proper choice before picking a side because there are consequences to their actions.
Overall, the song emphasizes that you need to choose your side carefully, and it is not easy to make such decisions. It is about being proactive when making choices and defending your decisions regardless of the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Translate yeah
Acknowledgment of agreement or understanding
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Repetitive acknowledgment of agreement or understanding
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Continuing repetitive acknowledgment of agreement or understanding
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Further repetitive acknowledgment of agreement or understanding
I'm back on my Beethoven shit now yeah
Returning to an inspired state of creativity
J-Doe!
Acknowledgment of another artist
Cops and robbers cowboys and Indians
Reference to children’s games
Better choose a side cause you know
Decision needs to be made
How we get it in see them boys live for you
Aggressive and competitive behavior
If they let 'em in it's gon' be problems
Potential conflict
For a nigga if I get 'em in
Warning of harm if provoked
Cause when the smoke clears
Aftermath of conflict
You prolly wonder what you lookin' at
Confusion over situation
It's either my side or your side
Reinforcement of need to choose a side
Nigga, what you gon' do?
Challenge to choose a side
I apply direct pressure to stop the bleeding
Confrontational intervention
You probably should tighten the cloth
Suggestion of preparation for conflict
We blow to rupture arteries
Intention to cause harm
Undescribable force
Extreme physical power
Niggas be lookin more bitch
Lack of toughness
Than a dyke in a Porsche
Metaphor for feminine appearance
Cannons'll cut your whole click
Threat of violence
Like I'm slicin' a pork
Metaphor for ease of causing harm to a group
Retaliation's at it's best
When provoked, strong response is typical
When you challenge a boss
Confrontation with dominant or powerful figure
Know what side you're on cause it could cost
Awareness of potential consequences for decision
(It's either my side or your side
Reinforcement of need to choose a side
Nigga what you gon' do?)
Challenge to choose a side
Ok, no need to wonder who one of the best be
Acknowledgment of own skill and talent
To tell the truth if you ain't wit' me
Others who do not support may be lying
You must be against me
Assumption of opposition
But I got that thing for Mo'fuckers
Ability to cause harm
So go 'head and tempt me and have 'em saying
Challenge being issued
"Damn, the Devil has sent you to get me!"
Exaggerated response to conflict
From how temperature change
Physical response to threat
From squeezing the metal empty
Weapon being used
Until you make a pussy squirt
Metaphor for causing harm
Like the back of a jet ski
Comparison for forceful impact
And if you wanna know how stupid get
Consequence for poor decision-making
You can meet him first
Implication of harm if wrong choice is made
If you don't properly choose
Importance of correct decision-making
Who you movin' wit'
Choose your associates carefully
I'm on a pill drinkin' Duce
Intoxication being consumed
Million in the suitcase
Large sum of money
Ten-thousand hundreds all blue-faced
Money in hundred-dollar bills
Wrist gold, whip game, VMV
Luxury lifestyle indicators
Whatchin' Busta on TMZ
Celebrity watching
Rubber banded B-U-N-D-L Es till we CMB
Handling money with care
Conglomerate money bitch I'm G-O-D
Pride in wealth and success
Jack Thriller keep one eye on niggas
Being aware of potential threats
Plottin' on me (It's either my side
Further warning of conflict
Or your side nigga what you gon' do?)
Reinforcement of need to choose a side
No-Limit vision i see murda in the booth
Creative intimidation
Feel like Remy, Higher Learning
Empowerment through knowledge
Hittin' models on the roof thousand Cuban
Luxury lifestyle indicators
Hangin' like Mr cooper
Metaphor for being in control
Drippin in the Michael J fox Shearling’
Luxury clothing indicator
And I'm the future
Confidence in personal success
Snatch yo ghost out yo face
Expression of ability to harm
That Killer B shit ste-vie shit
Confidence in personal identity
Keys move you just ain't see shit
Ability to move silently
Spikes on Louis Vuittons that LOD shit
Luxury indicator with group association
Came up off coco s W-V shit
Success from illegal activity
You prolly wonder it's either my side
Reinforcement of need to choose a side
Or your side nigga, what you gon' do?
Challenge to choose a side
Security levels should heighten
Warning of danger
Being that I got the license
Expression of authority
To silence I'm bullish
Expression of ability to intimidate
With appetites for bitin' the curb
Metaphor for violent behavior
And bitin' the bullet bright in the moment
Willingness to take a risk
Like a light and it's strikin' the footage
Expression of intensity
Like bluffin' a bastard wit'a ratchet
Bringing a weapon to a confrontation
To excite him then pull it
Threat of violence
Now nigga could it end up being that nigga
Potential for becoming a victim of violence
That's what you talkin bout
Acknowledgment of discussion
Poppin' but couldn't (It's either my side
Reinforcement of warning of harm
Alright, Most of the time
Qualification of previous statement
I know this shit's annoyin'
Expression of irritation
Cause when you can't beat 'em
Unable to overcome opposition
See most you niggas try to join 'em
Attempts to align with opposition
I'm Def Leppard
Reference to a successful band
And I ain't tryin' to hear the noise, and
Unwillingness to tolerate opposition
Most of you dudes don't have a choice
Expectation of compliance
When I hit 'em with the poison
Expression of intention to harm
Get reacquainted with the ones you lost
Acknowledgment of death and consequences of conflict
So you can join 'em
Implication of own violence
My pen extremely dangerous the way
Expression of creativity's power
Ha, and while most of you better hide
Warning of danger
Or either slide, make a proper choice
Importance of correct decision-making
Before picking a side nigga
Reinforcement of need to choose a side
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
martin 4 life
You're killing it man so nice sweet sound beats
Derek Greathouse
Dope ass Beat...still nobody like Busta Bust!!!
Haitham Hamid
This shot straight fire ! Beat is on fleek
prod. griiingo starr
aaron cooks hard af. his new shi smoov as hell. shout out stove god cooks cookin that raw shit comin back point for point no cut
Dhiya Dhia
bloody beat <3
lol
This is Amasing😍
Acin101
This song is so hard 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
lol
ich liebe diesen song es passt perfekt zu mir
-
lol
😍 i love song
qinghao jia
i want the lyrics of this song, thanks.