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't Forget 'Em
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just tell 'em they're number one (El Captain partner)
You're a champion (yeah, the Ali of my day, you know me)
Don't believe 'em when they try to say it's over!
(I can't hear ya, I'm way up here, what you say?)
Just tell 'em they're number one (it's over for who, numero uno partner)
You're a champion (ha ha ha, let's go bust!)
With the hunger of a lion I secure another win (hey!)
So passionate, you might even misinterpret it as arrogant
I'm goin' in (hey!)
I'ma make the world feel my pain
While I'm showin' you my muscle and I hustle through the game
And even though they leave us in the hood like we ain't shit
We ain't got nothin but everything to gain
Look, even if a muh'fucker try to pop me
I'm so blessed, do anything that you could do to stop me (stop me)
Now I'm climbin up the ladder and I'm jumpin at the top
You might wanna call me, rocky
See there's more of us, ugly
You don't really wanna war with us, trust me
So glorious, that we from the bottom
Still we victorious, hug me
[Chorus]
I see it in your eyes, it ain't hard to tell
They're watchin' you (can't nobody ever stop what I'm doin')
They just tellin' you lies, they want you to fail
They're plottin' on you (and they can never stop my movement!)
So, don't believe 'em when they try to say it's over
(you know exactly what to tell 'em!)
Just tell 'em they're number one (number one)
You're a champion!
Hey, see the websites lyin', tryin' to block my shine
Don't you know you never will stop my grind?
In a drop-top flyin' like I don't got time
Got e'rybody surprised that I won't drop dimes
What's on yo' mind? best get me off it
At least quit lyin if you must keep talkin'
Go on with the nonsense, best keep walkin'
Boy how you sue us, send the lawyers to the office
A lot of y'all got sprung like that shawty
Couple months off, I'll be right back shawty
With a brand new swag and a brand new forty
And a brand new ride, give a damn who saw it
Nation-wide news, nigga yeah you saw it
Shawty need a bodyguard for his bodyguard, don't he?
Tip fallin' off sound kinda odd, don't it?
Y'all hate to see me ball? take it up with god homie
[Chorus]
Any situation where you might get fed up
Gotta stay focused, homie keep your head up
It don't really matter what the next one is doin'
Homie gotta handle your business and then you better step up
Live to the fullest for the dream you're pursuin'
Ain't nothin' in the work gon' really stop what you're doin' (ohh!)
Go hard no matter what they be sayin'
Nigga don't quit cause you know we gotta keep it movin' (ohh!)
Take a look and see yourself in me
Cause it's all about we (we)
Me and you securin' a win together
So we could be the best that we could ever be (ohh!)
Stay up on your grind, be the first one to, set it
People try to shut me down, I won't, let it
I'm so stubborn for the success
You know my motto, don't stop, get it, get it!
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Busta Rhymes Feat. Akon & T.I.'s song Don't Believe 'Em are about overcoming adversity and not letting others bring you down. When people tell you that you'll never get over something or that it's over for you, you should tell them that they're number one and that you're a champion. The song emphasizes the importance of belief in oneself, hard work, and perseverance in the face of obstacles. It also addresses the idea that others may try to bring you down or plot against you, but it's important to stay focused and keep pushing forward.
In the first verse, Busta Rhymes raps about his hunger and passion for success, even though others may interpret it as arrogance. He expresses his determination to make the world feel his pain and achieve victory despite being from the bottom. T.I. adds a verse about overcoming adversity and not letting others stop your grind. He also talks about how people may try to bring you down or spread lies about you, but it's important to stay focused and let your success speak for itself.
The chorus emphasizes the idea that people may watch you and plot against you, but you should never believe them when they say it's over. You should tell them that they're number one and that you're a champion. The song ends with Busta Rhymes rapping about the importance of staying focused and never quitting, even when others try to shut you down.
Line by Line Meaning
When they tell you that you'll never get over (ha ha ha)
Don't let anyone discourage you when they say you can't succeed.
Just tell 'em they're number one (El Captain partner)
Instead, tell them they're the best and that you're a champion.
You're a champion (yeah, the Ali of my day, you know me)
You have the spirit of a winner, like the great Muhammad Ali.
Don't believe 'em when they try to say it's over!
Don't listen to those who say your journey is done - it's not over yet.
(I can't hear ya, I'm way up here, what you say?)
You're on top now, so the negativity from others can't reach you.
Now, there's, nothin' you can do to stop a nigga from within
No one can hold you back when you're determined to succeed.
With the hunger of a lion I secure another win (hey!)
With a fierce passion and drive, you keep achieving success.
So passionate, you might even misinterpret it as arrogant
Your confidence in your abilities may be perceived as overconfidence by others.
I'm goin' in (hey!)
You're fully committed to achieving your goals.
I'ma make the world feel my pain
You'll use your struggles and challenges to motivate you to succeed.
While I'm showin' you my muscle and I hustle through the game
You'll demonstrate your mental and physical strength as you work hard to achieve success.
And even though they leave us in the hood like we ain't shit
Despite being overlooked and underestimated, you and your community have the potential for greatness.
We ain't got nothin but everything to gain
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by persisting in your quest for success.
Look, even if a muh'fucker try to pop me
Even if someone tries to attack or stop you in your tracks, you won't give up or give in.
I'm so blessed, do anything that you could do to stop me (stop me)
Your success is a blessing, so nothing can prevent you from achieving your goals.
Now I'm climbin up the ladder and I'm jumpin at the top
You're making progress and working your way up to the top of your field.
You might wanna call me, rocky
Like the famous movie character Rocky Balboa, you're a determined fighter who won't quit.
See there's more of us, ugly
There are many others like yourself who have faced adversity and struggle to succeed.
You don't really wanna war with us, trust me
You and your community are a force to be reckoned with and should not be underestimated.
So glorious, that we from the bottom
Your success is even more impressive because it comes from a place of starting at the bottom.
Still we victorious, hug me
Despite the challenges and obstacles, you and your community will embrace your triumphs and celebrate your success.
I see it in your eyes, it ain't hard to tell
Others can see your motivation and drive to succeed.
They're watchin' you (can't nobody ever stop what I'm doin')
Others are keeping an eye on your progress, but they can't interfere with your success.
They just tellin' you lies, they want you to fail
Others may try to sabotage your success by feeding you lies and negativity.
They're plottin' on you (and they can never stop my movement!)
Despite their efforts, you'll continue moving forward and overcoming any obstacles.
Hey, see the websites lyin', tryin' to block my shine
Even internet trolls and negativity won't stop you from achieving your goals.
Don't you know you never will stop my grind?
Regardless of what others may say or do, you'll keep working hard and hustling.
In a drop-top flyin' like I don't got time
You may appear to be going too fast or taking too many risks, but it's all part of your work ethic.
Got e'rybody surprised that I won't drop dimes
You're succeeding without compromising your integrity or sacrificing your principles.
What's on yo' mind? best get me off it
Others may be distracted or envious of your success, but you don't have time for their negativity.
At least quit lyin if you must keep talkin'
If others continue to spread lies or negativity, at least be honest about it.
Go on with the nonsense, best keep walkin'
If someone is being disruptive or negative, it's better to just ignore them and keep moving forward.
Boy how you sue us, send the lawyers to the office
If anyone tries to sue or take legal action against you, you'll be ready to defend yourself.
A lot of y'all got sprung like that shawty
Others may be impressed or jealous of your success, but it doesn't faze you.
Couple months off, I'll be right back shawty
Even if you take a break, you'll be back to working hard and achieving success.
With a brand new swag and a brand new forty
You'll come back even stronger and more confident than before.
And a brand new ride, give a damn who saw it
You'll enjoy your success and won't worry about what others think or say.
Nation-wide news, nigga yeah you saw it
Your success will be noticed and celebrated by many.
Shawty need a bodyguard for his bodyguard, don't he?
Others may be jealous or envious of your success, and might cause trouble.
Tip fallin' off sound kinda odd, don't it?
Others may be spreading rumors or negativity about you, but it's not true.
Y'all hate to see me ball? take it up with god homie
Those who dislike your success can take it up with a higher power if they have a problem with it.
Any situation where you might get fed up
You may encounter challenges that make you want to give up or stop working hard.
Gotta stay focused, homie keep your head up
Despite these challenges, you'll remain focused on your goals and stay positive.
It don't really matter what the next one is doin'
You won't be distracted or discouraged by what others are doing - you'll stay focused on your own success.
Homie gotta handle your business and then you better step up
You'll take care of your responsibilities and then work even harder to succeed.
Live to the fullest for the dream you're pursuin'
You'll live your life to the fullest while pursuing your dreams and working hard.
Ain't nothin' in the work gon' really stop what you're doin' (ohh!)
Nothing can prevent you from achieving your goals and succeeding in your work.
Go hard no matter what they be sayin'
Regardless of what others may say or think, you'll work harder than ever to succeed.
Nigga don't quit cause you know we gotta keep it movin' (ohh!)
You won't give up, because you know that you and your community have to keep pushing forward to achieve success.
Take a look and see yourself in me
Others can look at you and see themselves, knowing that they too can achieve success.
Cause it's all about we (we)
Your success is not just about yourself, but also about your community and those who support you.
Me and you securin' a win together
Together, you and your supporters are working hard to achieve success.
So we could be the best that we could ever be (ohh!)
Your goal is not just to succeed, but to be the best that you and your community can be.
Stay up on your grind, be the first one to, set it
You'll work hard and stay focused on your goals, setting the bar high for others to follow.
People try to shut me down, I won't, let it
Despite the negativity or obstacles you encounter, you won't let it stop you from achieving success.
I'm so stubborn for the success
You're determined and not willing to give up on your path to success.
You know my motto, don't stop, get it, get it!
Your motto is to never give up and keep working hard to achieve your goals.
[Chorus]
The chorus of the song repeats the message to not listen to negativity or discouragement from others, but to stay focused and work hard towards success.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLIFFORD HARRIS, ANDRE LYON, MARCELLO ANTONIO VALENZANO, ALIAUNE THIAM, TREVOR SMITH, EDDIE MONTILLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mardoss1490
Who here in 2024?
@extraordinariamentemaravillosa
Yo aquí desde España 🇪🇦
@richard.monroee
Mr.T baby!!
@mr.kyo-Y4511
Here my boi
@Tsu_Flash
Currently hitting the "alvin Johnson" Everytime this comes on
@trelamontgames
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@CandidlyToni
Busta used to have the BEST videos. 🤣🤣🤣
@Sunshine134chick
TONI WIGGINS big facts
@AngelLopez-wm9sw
He n MISSYYY
@robertchambers369
Busta, Missy, and Ludacris