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. Bustaβs 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 βBorn Justice God Allahβ 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: βI used to work as a stock boy at a department store called Cheap Johnβs,β he says. βI knew that I couldnβt 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.β Why?
βThey 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 βthis is definitely not the thing for me to continue to be doing.ββ
Busta adds, βI 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 β¦ to just apply myself creatively, and the opportunity finally came one day when I was downtown.β 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: βMt. Airy Grooveβ 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 Bustaβs 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 βAll of sudden Iβm hearing people in the streets talking about hos Bustaβs back. In my mind, he never left, and thatβs why I wanted to fuck with in the first place. Heβs got that drive, and he never stops trying to top himself. Anybody who knows Busta knows that heβs 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.
CocaΓna
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Busta Rhymes ya gots to be the sure shot
Flipmode ya gots to be the sure shot
Aftermath ya gots to be the sure shot
My live niggas ya know, who be the sure shot?
Live bitches ya know, who be the sure shot?
Shit
I'm back in ya soul just like a minister
I'm big like a movie, I'm on the screen and at the cinema
While I'm in the process of slowly getting rid of ya
I'm back over bitches, and then I throw 'em in my video
Yeah, yeah, the God of the block
Ya know me killer had you spreading the spot wet and "Twist It" like Olivia
Oh shit, flow so sick in the committee
We know you a slouch duke, we don't even consider ya
Boss nigga, see or hear me in ya area
The more niggas, the murders, the more the money, the more the merrier
Smash shit 'til everything become mass hysteria
Hungry for street shit, see I be takin care of ya check nigga
Fuck all the talk, homey I'm daring ya
The lead from the shot'll poison ya blood like malaria
Made back and sell it over exotic
Worm skin interior, my swagger to my bitch the more money
It's all superior
[Chorus: Busta Rhymes]
When we in the spot ya know that we sure to shine (to shine)
It's all so holy and so divine
Analyze niggas 'til we can read ya mind
Sometimes a real live nigga is hard to find
We like, "drugs overdose niggas every time"
(Cocaina baby, cocaina baby, cocaina baby, cocaina baby)
(Cocaina baby, cocaina baby, cocaina baby, cocaina baby)
We like, "drugs overdose niggas every time"
(Cocaina baby, cocaina baby)
[Busta Rhymes]
Yo, I'm tired of telling ya
Back on my bullshit, fucking put a shell in ya
Gangster niggas respect it, salute me on the regular
When it comes to the street shit, define me as the emperor
Check it my nigga, most of you motherfucking amateur
I muster the nigga quick and damage any challenger
But now ya know, "Oh a nigga flow so spectacular"
Break niggas down and handle you motherfucking characters
Captain of this shit but most of you niggas is passengers
I'm taking it back to the hood, like '87 Maximas
Yeah, yeah ya know who the truth, no need for asking the, same question again
To get the same answer bruh, fasten ya seatbelt
Bitches fuck wit the bachelor
Wit' money like a thousand coke deals from here to Panama
Strike like a brightness, a light, I'm here to dazzle ya
Whole hood from the boroughs, to the niggas up in Attica
Soldiers in the streets, the Middle East, way down to Canada
When it comes to the block, ya know I'm the ambassador
Follow nobody's footsteps, but said it like a scavenger
Wanna talk money bitch!? Then holla at my manager
The way y'all niggas is trash, my crew'll get to blasting ya
Twelve shot clip, hollow tips, quick to plaster ya
All over the cement, spread ya like I'm mashing
Everything, Bus-a-Bus date, but check ya fuckin calendar!
[Chorus]
[Marsha & Busta]
Take me all the way, where you are (cocaina baby, cocaina baby, cocaina baby)
I really want to mate, take me now
Take us far away, to the sky (cocaina baby, cocaina baby, cocaina baby)
I really want to mate, some, time
In Busta Rhymes's song Cocaina, he raps about his superior status in the rap industry and on the streets. He uses vivid imagery of his power and influence to demonstrate his superiority over his competitors. Busta Rhymes states that he is big like a movie star, back in your soul like a minister, and he is slowly getting rid of his competition. He boasts of his influence over live bitches and live niggas, referring to his control over those in the rap industry.
Busta Rhymes's lyrics also include a nod to drug culture, with repeated references to cocaine. He commands attention from those around him, knowing that he can easily overdose others with drugs if he desires. He implies his dominance over others by suggesting that some live niggas are hard to find, while he is always present in the spot and sure to shine. Overall, Busta Rhymes's lyrics in Cocaina are a demonstration of his superiority in the rap industry, and his ability to control and manipulate those around him.
Line by Line Meaning
Busta Rhymes ya gots to be the sure shot
Busta Rhymes is confident in his skills and abilities as an artist.
Flipmode ya gots to be the sure shot
Busta Rhymes is calling out his crew, Flipmode Squad, to be the best.
Aftermath ya gots to be the sure shot
Busta Rhymes is referring to Dr. Dre's record label, Aftermath Entertainment, and challenging them to step up their game.
My live niggas ya know, who be the sure shot?
Busta Rhymes is asking his fellow artists who among them has what it takes to be successful on the music scene.
Live bitches ya know, who be the sure shot?
Busta Rhymes is posing the same question to the female artists in the industry.
Shit
Busta Rhymes uses this exclamation as an acknowledgement of the intensity of his lyrics.
I'm back in ya soul just like a minister
Busta Rhymes is back and delivering his message with the impact of a preacher.
I'm big like a movie, I'm on the screen and at the cinema
Busta Rhymes is comparing his presence as an artist to that of a major motion picture.
While I'm in the process of slowly getting rid of ya
Busta Rhymes is referring to his domination of the competition in the music industry.
I'm back over bitches, and then I throw 'em in my video
Busta Rhymes is boasting about his power over women and how he features them in his music videos.
Yeah, yeah, the God of the block
Busta Rhymes is referring to himself as the all-powerful figure in the music scene, specifically in the hip-hop genre.
Ya know me killer had you spreading the spot wet and "Twist It" like Olivia
Busta Rhymes is saying that instead of simply making you dance (as is the case with his song 'Twist It'), his music makes you sweat and feel as if you're in a dangerous situation.
Oh shit, flow so sick in the committee
Busta Rhymes is saying that his rhymes are so impressive and powerful that they cause people in the industry to lose their minds.
We know you a slouch duke, we don't even consider ya
Busta Rhymes is bragging about being on top and ignoring those who aren't even close to his level.
Boss nigga, see or hear me in ya area
Busta Rhymes is emphasizing his dominance in the music industry and presence in any location.
The more niggas, the murders, the more the money, the more the merrier
Busta Rhymes is saying that more competition means more opportunities for success and profit in the music industry.
Smash shit 'til everything become mass hysteria
Busta Rhymes is saying that his music has the power to create a frenzy and chaos amongst listeners.
Hungry for street shit, see I be takin care of ya check nigga
Busta Rhymes is saying that he is in control and taking care of his financial success through his music career.
Fuck all the talk, homey I'm daring ya
Busta Rhymes is daring his competition to try and keep up with him in the music scene.
The lead from the shot'll poison ya blood like malaria
Busta Rhymes is stating that the damage he inflicts on the competition is fatal and can bring them down like a deadly disease.
Made back and sell it over exotic
Busta Rhymes is talking about his luxury car, a Mercedes-Maybach, and how he can make money selling it as an exotic vehicle.
Worm skin interior, my swagger to my bitch the more money
Busta Rhymes is bragging about the high-end interior of his car and how it defines his persona as an artist, which in turn makes him more successful with women and money.
It's all superior
Busta Rhymes is saying that he is untouchable and has no equal in the music industry.
When we in the spot ya know that we sure to shine (to shine)
Busta Rhymes is confident that he and his crew will stand out in any situation or performance setting.
It's all so holy and so divine
Busta Rhymes is emphasizing the greatness and almost god-like nature of his music and performance abilities.
Analyze niggas 'til we can read ya mind
Busta Rhymes is saying that he and his crew are so adept at understanding the competition that they can predict their every move.
Sometimes a real live nigga is hard to find
Busta Rhymes is saying that true and authentic artists are a rarity in the industry.
We like, "drugs overdose niggas every time"
Busta Rhymes and his crew are using the metaphor of overdosing on drugs to describe their musical domination over the competition.
(Cocaina baby, cocaina baby, cocaina baby, cocaina baby)
Busta Rhymes is referencing cocaine, but is also using it as a metaphor for how his music is addictive and can bring the competition down.
Yo, I'm tired of telling ya
Busta Rhymes is becoming frustrated with the music industry and competition not being able to keep up.
Back on my bullshit, fucking put a shell in ya
Busta Rhymes is saying that he is back to his true and authentic self and will come at the competition with full force.
Gangster niggas respect it, salute me on the regular
Busta Rhymes is saying that even the toughest and most respected artists recognize his power and give him the respect he deserves.
When it comes to the street shit, define me as the emperor
Busta Rhymes is saying that he reigns supreme in the hip-hop game and is at the top of the hierarchy.
Check it my nigga, most of you motherfucking amateur
Busta Rhymes is highlighting the fact that most of his competition doesn't measure up to his level of skill and authenticity.
I muster the nigga quick and damage any challenger
Busta Rhymes is saying that he has the ability to take down any competition that comes his way with ease.
But now ya know, "Oh a nigga flow so spectacular"
Busta Rhymes is acknowledging his amazing talent and abilities as an artist.
Break niggas down and handle you motherfucking characters
Busta Rhymes is saying that he can deal with any type of competitor and come out on top.
Captain of this shit but most of you niggas is passengers
Busta Rhymes is once again emphasizing his dominance and authority in the hip-hop game and highlighting how most others are just riding a wave created by him.
I'm taking it back to the hood, like '87 Maximas
Busta Rhymes is referencing a popular car from the 80s and saying he is returning to his roots in terms of his music and where he is from.
Yeah, yeah ya know who the truth, no need for asking the, same question again
Busta Rhymes is saying that his authenticity and talent is not up for debate, and there's no need to keep questioning it.
To get the same answer bruh, fasten ya seatbelt
Busta Rhymes is warning the competition to prepare themselves for the domination he is about to inflict.
Bitches fuck wit the bachelor
Busta Rhymes is saying that his success with women is another aspect of his dominance and control in the music industry.
Wit' money like a thousand coke deals from here to Panama
Busta Rhymes is comparing his wealth to that of a drug lord with countless deals and profit spreads throughout the world.
Strike like a brightness, a light, I'm here to dazzle ya
Busta Rhymes is describing how his talent is like a shining light that attracts and impresses audiences.
Whole hood from the boroughs, to the niggas up in Attica
Busta Rhymes is saying that he has fans and followers from all walks of life, including those in prison.
Soldiers in the streets, the Middle East, way down to Canada
Busta Rhymes is saying that his fans and influence extend worldwide, from the streets of America to the Middle East and even Canada.
When it comes to the block, ya know I'm the ambassador
Busta Rhymes is saying that even though his success and influence spread beyond his hometown, he is still the representative and leader of the hip-hop scene.
Follow nobody's footsteps, but said it like a scavenger
Busta Rhymes is saying that he doesn't follow anyone else's style or path, but instead paves his own way to success through hard work and skill.
Wanna talk money bitch!? Then holla at my manager
Busta Rhymes is saying that he is so successful that he can't be bothered with money negotiations and instead refers people to his representatives.
The way y'all niggas is trash, my crew'll get to blasting ya
Busta Rhymes is saying that his crew will take care of any competition that is not up to par or worthy of his attention.
Twelve shot clip, hollow tips, quick to plaster ya
Busta Rhymes is once again using violent metaphors to describe how his music and domination can take down any competition.
All over the cement, spread ya like I'm mashing
Busta Rhymes is describing the violence and impact of his music on the competition.
Everything, Bus-a-Bus date, but check ya fuckin calendar!
Busta Rhymes is saying that when he is on the scene, everything else is irrelevant and the competition needs to be aware of when he is making his moves.
Take me all the way, where you are (cocaina baby, cocaina baby, cocaina baby)
The chorus, sung by Marsha, has little to do with the lyrics of the song and instead focuses on a romantic pursuit. The repeated use of "cocaina baby" may be interpreted as the addictive hold that one may have on another.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDRE YOUNG, C. POPE, M. BASTON, MICHAEL ELIZONDO, MARSHA AMBROSIUS, TREVOR SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Humphrey Cele
You know Dr. Dre a god behind the boards. That snare drum doesn't get faded by the kick, bass & melodies. It hits with the same force, snap and volume, throughout the whole track.
Very few of these young producers today, can achieve that level of engineering.
Dre is an alien.π½
Seyi Ajala
I loved the grand pianos on this π₯
~6AN9~
Flow so sublime!
How folks don't rate Busta is beyond me.
Kennosuke 88
Still to this day is one of my old time favourite rap songs.
Broderick Simpson
That second verse is one of the best verses you'll ever hear.
Nicholas Price
No lie at all...the Allen Iverson of rap...pound for pound goat π―
Ashkan Madi
One of the best Hip Hop tracks of all time! Lyrics, Beat Production, absolutely flawless!
mongrel
i heard it was freestyled too
Mil Bixby
This was a very underrated album. Should've done a lot better than what it actually did.
glyde69
blackman26 It was his only #1 album smh