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.
Don
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah
This shit feel like we flowing down the Milkyway, nigga!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I smash the beat one time
See your resume like this the shit that be hard to find
I do have a tendency to do what's great and leave
Lyrically, I'm undefeatable, respect the logo
Still beat if you think you can test me, that's a no-no
Effective with the hits especially when I'm on solo
And aggressive with the spit, I think you niggas know the cape and nana
Let's take this shit back to the real side
The shit that you could really feel, right
See I do this for the people, all my ladies and gents
Had 'em breaking down a barricade and jumping a fence
Leader of the newest shit, I let 'em see who the best
Harder to find a Toledo manifest in the flesh
Every time I touch a microphone, you know I'mma bless
Niggas with the shit that you feel in your gut and your chest
Now I'm 'bout to knock the building, leave this shit in a mess
I'm finished fucking up the spots so now it's back to the rest
See how we kill 'em with the slow flow
And we got the game in a chokehold
I'm where I'm going, you won't go
I'm leaving the game, they begging him "Nigga, don't go"
See I'mma hit these niggas this time (La-la, la, la-la, da, da-da)
Try to explain to you buds, this shit is circumstantial
I am your friend, as sure as you have plaques up on your mantle
So now they got your man, come on with the extended hand
The only thing I ask of you is just to understand
We indie ones, your fam
So keep the cool, king of worry not
I'm with your nigga, let's get chicken rocks
Let's split the chicken in the kitchen like the coco rocks
I fake a dead eye, my fellow Jedi
Have a moment of clarity with courtesy, I spit candidly
I am your brother, my brother, so don't move angrily
Let the music grab you, why don't you take it back to
The times that Busta Rhymes used to engage in battle
Niggas used to shake like dice
Catch an L and pick a fight
The cypher used to get the destroyed
The opponent was then devoid
The cheering section was in ploy
So boys and girls say "He's nice!"
I know my nigga I'm just stomp around in every hall
Let's channel all that good energy into now, that's all
The Rollie hands are moving rapidly around the stones
The abstract and the dragon in the Game of Thrones
The 7 kingdoms are connected by the microphones
We got the glow, bro, ain't no time for beef, bro
If your time came before mine, I be like "Don't go"
If your time came before mine, I be like "Don't go"
See how we kill 'em with the slow flow
And we got the game in a chokehold
I'm where I'm going, you won't go
I'm leaving the game, they begging him "Nigga, don't go"
See I'mma hit these niggas this time (La-la, la, la-la, da, da-da)
I'm where I'm going, you won't go
I'm leaving the game, they begging him "Nigga, don't go"
See I'mma hit these niggas this time (La-la, la, la-la, da, da-da)
He-he-he-he ha-ha-ha
And if you are just joining us, welcome to the moment of truth, Extinction Level Event 2
Do you understand what I'm talking about? It's the end of the world!
Take notes from a real emcee
It's about how the record feel
The niggas like bottles and James
Like McDonalds, like Popeyes, like KFC
You been knowing this motherfucker for a long ass time
Yes there's niggas out there that-that can say they've done a little this, a little that
But do any of those niggas wanna follow Busta Rhymes?
Hell motherfucking no!
In Busta Rhymes’ song “Don,” the rapper declares his lyrical prowess, noting that he leaves behind a hard-to-duplicate legacy. He boasts about being unbeatable, and anyone who tries to test him will be beat. Busta Rhymes also mentions his effective hits, indicating that he knows how to create a hit song. He does this for his fans, including both men and women, and by doing so, he has encouraged them to break barricades and jump fences just to see him perform. He reminds his audience that he is still the leader of the newest sounds in the industry, and he always delivers the best lyrics. As he raps, the musicians produce slow and smooth beats that pair well with the flow and delivery of his lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement
Yeah
Continuing the expression of enthusiasm and excitement
This shit feel like we flowing down the Milkyway, nigga!
This experience feels like we are floating down the Milkyway, a metaphor for a euphoric and out-of-this-world feeling
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Continuing the expression of enthusiasm and excitement
I smash the beat one time
I make an impact on the beat and leave a lasting impression with my skills
See your resume like this the shit that be hard to find
I see your skills and experience and recognize that it is hard to find someone with the same level of talent
I do have a tendency to do what's great and leave
I tend to achieve greatness and leave a lasting legacy
A legacy is hard to duplicate, see
My impact and legacy are so unique and exceptional that they cannot be easily replicated
Lyrically, I'm undefeatable, respect the logo
I am unbeatable when it comes to lyrics and should be respected as such
Still beat if you think you can test me, that's a no-no
I still come out on top if you try to challenge me, and that is not advisable
Effective with the hits especially when I'm on solo
I have a successful track record of hits, especially when performing solo
And aggressive with the spit, I think you niggas know the cape and nana
I have an aggressive and powerful delivery when rapping, and I think you all are aware of that
Let's take this shit back to the real side
Let's return to the raw and authentic side of hip hop
The shit that you could really feel, right
The type of music that you can really connect with
See I do this for the people, all my ladies and gents
I create music for all people, regardless of gender
Had 'em breaking down a barricade and jumping a fence
My music is so powerful it can get people to overcome obstacles and barriers to see me perform
Leader of the newest shit, I let 'em see who the best
I am the leader in the newest trends in hip hop and I show everyone who the best is
Harder to find a Toledo manifest in the flesh
It is rarer to find someone with my level of talent and experience than finding a mythical creature
Every time I touch a microphone, you know I'mma bless
Every time I perform, I am going to provide an outstanding and unforgettable experience
Niggas with the shit that you feel in your gut and your chest
My music has a powerful and emotional impact on listeners
Now I'm 'bout to knock the building, leave this shit in a mess
I am going to deliver an unforgettable performance that will literally knock the building down
I'm finished fucking up the spots so now it's back to the rest
I have finished delivering an outstanding performance, so now it is time to move on to the next one
See how we kill 'em with the slow flow
We are dominating with our slow and deliberate rap style
And we got the game in a chokehold
We have complete control over the game of hip hop
I'm where I'm going, you won't go
I am headed towards greatness and success that others cannot reach
I'm leaving the game, they begging him "Nigga, don't go"
I am retiring from the game of hip hop, and others are begging me not to leave
Try to explain to you buds, this shit is circumstantial
I am trying to explain to you that the situation is dependent on specific circumstances
I am your friend, as sure as you have plaques up on your mantle
I am your friend and ally, just as sure as you have achieved success in your career
So now they got your man, come on with the extended hand
The people have recognized my talent and success, and now they want to work with me
The only thing I ask of you is just to understand
All I ask is for you to understand my perspective and situation
We indie ones, your fam
We are independent artists and part of your family
So keep the cool, king of worry not
Keep calm and do not worry, I am in control
I'm with your nigga, let's get chicken rocks
I am with your friend, let's go get some chicken rocks (a type of food)
Let's split the chicken in the kitchen like the coco rocks
Let's share the chicken and enjoy it together like we would with cocoa rocks (a type of food)
I fake a dead eye, my fellow Jedi
I have a tired and sleep-deprived appearance, like a fellow Jedi from Star Wars
Have a moment of clarity with courtesy, I spit candidly
I will be honest and direct with my words, while still being polite and respectful
I am your brother, my brother, so don't move angrily
I am your friend and ally, so do not react angrily
Let the music grab you, why don't you take it back to
Let the music inspire and move you, take it back to the roots of hip hop
The times that Busta Rhymes used to engage in battle
The times when Busta Rhymes would battle and compete with other rappers
Niggas used to shake like dice
Other rappers would be nervous and shaken in a battle against Busta Rhymes
Catch an L and pick a fight
To lose in a battle against Busta Rhymes and then still try to challenge him
The cypher used to get the destroyed
Busta Rhymes would dominate and win in cyphers (a type of rap battle)
The opponent was then devoid
The opponent would be left with nothing and defeated
The cheering section was in ploy
The audience would be biased towards Busta Rhymes and cheering him on
So boys and girls say "He's nice!"
The crowd would acknowledge Busta Rhymes' talent and skill
I know my nigga I'm just stomp around in every hall
I am confident and respected in all areas of hip hop
Let's channel all that good energy into now, that's all
Let's focus on using our energy and talent to create something great in the present moment
The Rollie hands are moving rapidly around the stones
The hands on my Rolex watch are moving quickly around the timepiece
The abstract and the dragon in the Game of Thrones
A combination of abstract, poetic lyrics and the ferocity of a dragon in the fantasy series Game of Thrones
The 7 kingdoms are connected by the microphones
The different kingdoms in the show are connected through the power of music and the microphones used to create it
We got the glow, bro, ain't no time for beef, bro
We are shining and successful, so there is no need for conflict or drama
If your time came before mine, I be like "Don't go"
If someone else achieves success before me, I would encourage them to stay and continue to create great music
He-he-he-he ha-ha-ha
Expressing amusement and laughter
And if you are just joining us, welcome to the moment of truth, Extinction Level Event 2
Welcome to the moment of truth, a significant and pivotal event in the world
Do you understand what I'm talking about? It's the end of the world!
Do you understand the significance of this moment? It feels like the end of the world
Take notes from a real emcee
Learn from a true master of hip hop
It's about how the record feel
Music is about the feeling and emotion it creates within the listener
The niggas like bottles and James
Other rappers are generic and basic, like bottles of wine and champagne
Like McDonalds, like Popeyes, like KFC
Other rappers are like fast food chains, offering cheap and unhealthy options
You been knowing this motherfucker for a long ass time
You have been aware of my talent and presence in hip hop for a significant amount of time
Yes there's niggas out there that-that can say they've done a little this, a little that
There are others who claim to have some experience and talent in hip hop
But do any of those niggas wanna follow Busta Rhymes?
None of those rappers can compare to the level of talent and success that I have achieved in hip hop
Hell motherfucking no!
Absolutely not, they cannot compare to me
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Trevor Smith Jr., Kamaal Fareed, Bernard Edwards Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Busta voice so heavy that whatever he spits slaps hard.
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Me a tell you 😃😃😃😬🤣🤣😁
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