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.
Deep Thought
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well I want you too
You can have me
If I can have you too
Come to mommy
Let me relax you
Let me comfort you
In deep thought baby
Yo, yo, yo, yo
Smoking cigarettes, blow the smoke out
Can't believe the shit that's happening to me
When I need a place to tranquil, meditate, think about what really matter
Go and rest my head on my shawty booby
She run her fingers the new dread I'm growing
Peep the way my day might have been over while I'm tryna relax, nigga
If you listening and you catch the picture
You might see in between my shawty' legs holding a glass of liquor
And she keep rubbing my head, asking me to talk to her I don't even respond
Hold my hand, middle finger, tickle my palm
My shawty stay relaxed she understand a nigga going through something
When I'm at home I don't ever need for the fronting
My voice going, I'm sounding like a frog
Doing shows back to back, partially why niggas reluctant to talk
They get their way when niggas start rubbing my hand, massaging my back
They start confessing to all the shit I was taught
Applying what I was taught to the point of you ain't right
I will slap you, I'm becoming your favorite rapper's favorite rapper
Then it all feels like the shit was in vain but I'm bringing it harder
Losing Chris Lighty and then losing my father
I'm bittersweet so I promised my momma I'mma become her martyr
And everyday that pass, I move a little smarter
That's why I work so hard, I try expanding business a little larger
To get my son a Range and my daughter a Charger
But I feel cheated 'cause Chris and my father, they ain't right here to see it (wow son)
Well like I said, 'cause they ain't right here to see it
Despite my heart was suffered, I'm undefeated
I give 'em what they need and got 'em wildin' 'til this niggas is cuckoo
We ain't screaming "Violator" like we used to
You ask me what's on my mind, baby we'll I'mma serve you
There ain't no statue of limitation when it comes to murder
You ever heard of?
Nigga like me stay on top of shit
We won't let it rest 'til we get to the bottom of it
Yeah, and they know who I'm talking to
Because they Busta Rhyme fans, they're probably not after this song is through
Well, fuck I'm 'posed to do
When this be the shit that I be thinking when I'm supposed to be honest when I talk to my boo
My shawty probably mad
'Cause I ain't supposed to share these conversations when we sharing moments like this out the blue
But then I got a blessing so that I can share this with y'all
Because she feel the way I feel, a lot of us too
In any event, this the shit I'm thinking
Some of the many things I've got on my mind shawty
That's probably why I smoke and I keep on drinking
'Cause I need closure for my mind, soul and my body
Good days and bad days is part of the process
Build it with my shawty escaping the nonsense
And though I continue to keep it honest, thorough process is complex
Keep your balance and focus on progress
That be the concepts
Despite the freight's internally four
Those who were there for daddy, thanks for your support
And when my long term thinking, see these terms these niggas thinking on is short
They hate when I spot 'em, now they throwing me salt
That's how my mind travel like I'm in a Caribbean resort
Pondering on shit when I'm in deep thought
The lyrics to Busta Rhymes's song "Deep Thought" address a moment of introspection and vulnerability. The singer is in a state of reflection, seeking solace and comfort from their partner. They describe smoking cigarettes as a way to calm themselves and find clarity. The singer's partner understands their need for emotional release and offers support by rubbing their head and encouraging them to open up.
The lyrics also touch upon the singer's struggles and achievements in their career. They mention the pressure of constantly performing and how it affects their voice. Despite the challenges, they assert their status as a respected rapper and express their determination to work harder. The loss of influential figures in their life, such as industry executive Chris Lighty and their father, has left them feeling bittersweet. They see their success as a way to honor their mother and continue evolving as an artist and entrepreneur.
Furthermore, the lyrics capture the singer's unfiltered thoughts and feelings. They mention their frustrations with the music industry, feeling cheated by not having their father and Chris Lighty there to witness their accomplishments. The singer acknowledges their dedication to their craft and their desire to solve problems and seek justice. They address their fans directly, acknowledging their loyalty and expressing gratitude.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby you want me?
Are you interested in me?
Well I want you too
I also have feelings for you
You can have me
I am willing to be with you
If I can have you too
As long as you feel the same way
Come to mommy
Come to me for comfort
Let me relax you
Allow me to provide relaxation for you
Let me comfort you
Let me bring you comfort
In deep thought baby
I am in a pensive state, contemplating
Tell me what's on your mind
Share your thoughts with me
Yo, yo, yo, yo
Expressing enthusiasm or excitement
Smoking cigarettes, blow the smoke out
Engaging in a habit to unwind
Can't believe the shit that's happening to me
Feeling overwhelmed by life's challenges
When I need a place to tranquil, meditate, think about what really matter
Seeking solitude to reflect on important matters
Go and rest my head on my shawty booby
Finding comfort in the presence of my partner
She run her fingers the new dread I'm growing
She caresses my hair, symbolizing intimacy
Peep the way my day might have been over while I'm tryna relax, nigga
Observing how my day could have taken a negative turn while I am attempting to unwind
If you listening and you catch the picture
If you pay attention and understand the situation
You might see in between my shawty' legs holding a glass of liquor
You may notice my partner holding a drink between her legs
And she keep rubbing my head, asking me to talk to her I don't even respond
She massages my head and wants me to open up, but I remain silent
Hold my hand, middle finger, tickle my palm
She holds my hand and playfully tickles my palm
My shawty stay relaxed she understand a nigga going through something
My partner remains calm and comprehends that I am dealing with challenges
When I'm at home I don't ever need for the fronting
When I am in my safe space, I don't have to pretend
My voice going, I'm sounding like a frog
My voice is strained and sounds hoarse
Doing shows back to back, partially why niggas reluctant to talk
Performing consecutive shows and that's why people are hesitant to have conversations
They get their way when niggas start rubbing my hand, massaging my back
They manipulate me when they offer physical gestures of care
They start confessing to all the shit I was taught
They begin admitting things they were taught not to do
Applying what I was taught to the point of you ain't right
Following my teachings to the extent of realizing someone's wrongdoing
I will slap you, I'm becoming your favorite rapper's favorite rapper
I am becoming highly regarded and influential in the rap industry
Then it all feels like the shit was in vain but I'm bringing it harder
Sometimes it feels like my efforts have been wasted, but I am pushing even harder
Losing Chris Lighty and then losing my father
Experiencing the deaths of Chris Lighty and my father
I'm bittersweet so I promised my momma I'mma become her martyr
Feeling a conflicting mix of emotions, I made a promise to my mother that I will become a symbol of sacrifice
And everyday that pass, I move a little smarter
Every day that goes by, I gain more wisdom
That's why I work so hard, I try expanding business a little larger
That's why I put in so much effort, striving to grow my business
To get my son a Range and my daughter a Charger
To provide luxury vehicles for my son and daughter
But I feel cheated 'cause Chris and my father, they ain't right here to see it (wow son)
I feel a sense of loss because Chris and my father are no longer alive to witness my success
Well like I said, 'cause they ain't right here to see it
As I mentioned before, they are not here to witness it
Despite my heart was suffered, I'm undefeated
Even though my heart has endured pain, I remain unbeatable
I give 'em what they need and got 'em wildin' 'til this niggas is cuckoo
I provide what they desire and it drives them crazy until they become irrational
We ain't screaming 'Violator' like we used to
We are not shouting 'Violator' like we did in the past
You ask me what's on my mind, baby we'll I'mma serve you
You inquire about my thoughts, well, I will fulfill your curiosity
There ain't no statue of limitation when it comes to murder
There are no time limits for seeking justice in cases of murder
You ever heard of?
Do you know about that?
Nigga like me stay on top of shit
Someone like me always stays informed
We won't let it rest 'til we get to the bottom of it
We won't stop until we uncover the truth
Yeah, and they know who I'm talking to
Yes, and those who are mentioned know it's about them
Because they Busta Rhyme fans, they're probably not after this song is through
Since they are Busta Rhymes fans, they likely won't stop listening after this song ends
Well, fuck I'm 'posed to do
Well, what am I supposed to do?
When this be the shit that I be thinking when I'm supposed to be honest when I talk to my boo
These are the thoughts occupying my mind when I should be open and honest with my partner
My shawty probably mad
My partner is probably annoyed
'Cause I ain't supposed to share these conversations when we sharing moments like this out the blue
Because I am not supposed to disclose these conversations while we are having intimate moments unexpectedly
But then I got a blessing so that I can share this with y'all
But then I received a blessing so I can share this with all of you
Because she feel the way I feel, a lot of us too
Because she shares the same emotions as me, as do many others
In any event, this the shit I'm thinking
In any case, these are the thoughts occupying my mind
Some of the many things I've got on my mind shawty
These are just a few of the many thoughts I have, baby
That's probably why I smoke and I keep on drinking
That's likely the reason why I smoke and continue to drink
'Cause I need closure for my mind, soul and my body
Because I seek resolution and peace for my mind, soul, and body
Good days and bad days is part of the process
Experiencing both good and bad days is a normal part of life
Build it with my shawty escaping the nonsense
I'm building a life with my partner, escaping the foolishness
And though I continue to keep it honest, thorough process is complex
Although I remain truthful, the journey is intricate
Keep your balance and focus on progress
Maintain your equilibrium and concentrate on moving forward
That be the concepts
That's the idea
Despite the freight's internally four
Despite the burdens I carry internally
Those who were there for daddy, thanks for your support
Those who were there for me, thank you for your backing
And when my long term thinking, see these terms these niggas thinking on is short
And when I consider the future, I realize that others have limited perspectives
They hate when I spot 'em, now they throwing me salt
They despise when I expose their flaws, so now they are showing resentment
That's how my mind travel like I'm in a Caribbean resort
That's how my thoughts wander, as if I am in a relaxing Caribbean resort
Pondering on shit when I'm in deep thought
Contemplating deeply about various matters
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Trevor Smith Jr., Diane Warren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ArbitrageBetter
I feel you busta. . .This song isn't a banger, it's a message.
Christopher Yaw
This joint has a mellow jazz lounge feel to it. Real vibes when chilling with the real woman, deep thought boom!!!
Nipplez
I love how refreshing this was. Nothing has changed. Still a killer on the mic π₯
Wayne Hollimon
ππ½
John Guillory
The ELE albums are legendary to me, from on the best rappers ever, this why he has always been my favorite rapper, Always brought bangers and meaningful music. Thanks Busta, a real one!
Michal Mularczyk
Love that old school sound of voice Busta! 30years in game still on top undefeated legend
Timeless!
One love Hip-HopβοΈ
PantherCrane
@Will do song with Drake One day Trash!
Billy Pope
Busta Rhymes will and will always be a HIP HOP LEGEND
Requena April
I Had to show my respect. Busta never disappoints!!! Letβs go!!!! π₯π₯π₯π₯
Wayne Hollimon
ππ½