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 Get Carried Away
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doctor, yeah
I think we got some shit for 'em (Flipmode!)
Yeah I'ma rub these sticks together
Check it, and start a bonfire
[Chorus: Busta Rhymes]
And if you don't see it y'all niggas can't fuck with our
Y'all get stupid, don't try to fuck with us
Because you will get carried away, yeah you'll get carried away
[Busta Rhymes]
Now I'm subtle, once I pick up my metal
Put my foot on the pedal, riding through every ghetto
Analyze the shit I'm seeing when I sip Amaretto
A lot of bitches on the strip, strutting in they stilettos
Then they wave and say hello, when my Lambo' is yellow
Everything they got a jingle when they walk like ah-Jello
See the niggas on the corner and I never forget it
And I never regret because I see how you get it
Now because of you niggas, I'm a hustler nigga
'Gnac guzzler nigga, rip your jugular nigga
In the night I become the type to love when it's dark
Cause when I pull up and park, is when I'm making my mark
See the fact's that I'm trying to strive and capitalize in
Start to maximize and b-build a enterprise
And while I'm stocking this bread, keep ah-stocking the lead
And leave a permanent dot, on the top of your head
[Chorus]
[Nas]
I'll Will, Flip-mode!
I'm the enigma, there is none harder, smarter
Martyr, Godfather, my interest, your departure
Pardon Dre this beat is a monster, catchy
Like sleeping under open windows that's drafty
Then waking up my throat scratchy, that's how I spit it nasty
They short, a few inches North of a dwarf
My flow's Murcielago, ghosting them narcos
Toast in the ways of the original Pablos
Still a pyramid architect, mix liquors like a chemist
Killer lyricist, poetical tyrant
Sneaker store terrorist, Mt. Everest I climbed it
Heat is drawn, no creeping on me whenever I'm bent
My mind spray, my nine spray
And freak styles like 3000 Andre
To keep piling, keep pushing them drops
Nas, runnin with hot Busta Bust, we don't stop
[Chorus]
[Busta Rhymes]
Now I'm hot, and we running the block
Watch me run in your spot, fiends coming in flocks
Add a little cut to the coke when I'm cooking the pot
Drugs, bitch! I got what you want come and get what I got
Now I almost forgot, I come to close up your shop
I love to fold up a knot, love toting the glock
Helps me feel safer when niggas try to scheme on my plot
Try to steal paper from me you gotta deal with a lot
See I will leave you to rot, only defending my stock
Niggas know they pussy and struggle to pretend that they not
Lose your life in the drop, while I harvest the crop
My hot shit, bust a cannon have you run in your socks
See we live on the edge, bang shit with a sledgehammer
Split up your head, kill a snitch for the feds
Let's go, for the streets I'm always spitting a gospel
Get Nas holding a barrel size of elephant nostril
[Chorus]
Busta Rhymes's "Don't Get Carried Away" is a powerful track that explores the idea of being carried away by success and the desperation that comes with maintaining one's dominance. In the opening lines of the song, Busta Rhymes talks about his ability to spark a fire, and how he's about to cause a commotion. The chorus is repetitive, emphasizing the theme of the song, which is that the Flipmode Movement is successful and in control.
The first verse, performed by Busta Rhymes, is about his experiences in the ghetto. He speaks about the things he's seen, including the women on the strip, and the guys on the corner. He notes that he's never forgotten what he's seen, and that he doesn't regret it because he knows how to hustle. The second verse, performed by NAS, is about his journey as a rapper. He calls himself the "enigma," and says there is nobody smarter or more skilled than he is. He describes how he's climbed the ranks, becoming a "poetical tyrant." He spits his verses with quick-fire precision, expressing his skill as a rapper.
The final verse, performed again by Busta Rhymes, reinforces the theme of the song. Busta Rhymes raps about his success and how he will do anything to keep it. He talks about carrying guns to keep himself safe, and how he feels the need to defend his business aggressively. The song ends with Busta Rhymes saying that he's the king of the streets, and that nobody can stop him.
Line by Line Meaning
Doctor, yeah
Addressing the listener in a manner that's both authoritative and friendly
I think we got some shit for 'em (Flipmode!)
Implying that they have something impressive and noteworthy to share
Yeah I'ma rub these sticks together
Using a metaphor to describe starting something great
Check it, and start a bonfire
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement for the potential outcome
And if you don't see it y'all niggas can't fuck with our
Challenging others to recognize the value and worth of their Flipmode movement
Flipmode movement, bounce in your truck to us
Encouraging people to listen and dance to their music in a way that's fun and enthusiastic
Y'all get stupid, don't try to fuck with us
Asserting their dominance and warning people not to mess with them
Because you will get carried away, yeah you'll get carried away
Implying that those who underestimate or underestimate them will ultimately face defeat
Now I'm subtle, once I pick up my metal
Describing a shift in demeanor from calmness to aggression
Put my foot on the pedal, riding through every ghetto
Driving with purpose and determination
Analyze the shit I'm seeing when I sip Amaretto
Using alcohol as a means of contemplation and reflection
A lot of bitches on the strip, strutting in they stilettos
Observing and commenting on the presence of women in a particular area
Then they wave and say hello, when my Lambo' is yellow
Noticing how people react differently to him based on his car and social status
See the niggas on the corner and I never forget it
Remembering where he came from and the people who helped him get there
And I never regret because I see how you get it
Accepting his past and understanding the hustle and struggle it took to succeed
Now because of you niggas, I'm a hustler nigga
Attributing his success to those who motivated and inspired him
'Gnac guzzler nigga, rip your jugular nigga
Making violent threats towards those who oppose or challenge him
In the night I become the type to love when it's dark
Enjoying the secrecy and danger of nighttime activities
Cause when I pull up and park, is when I'm making my mark
Asserting dominance and leaving a lasting impression
See the fact's that I'm trying to strive and capitalize in
Acknowledging his ambition and desire to succeed and make money
Start to maximize and b-build a enterprise
Using his success to create and build a business
And while I'm stocking this bread, keep ah-stocking the lead
Focusing on accumulating wealth and power while also staying armed and prepared
And leave a permanent dot, on the top of your head
Imagining violent and permanent consequences for those who oppose him
I'll Will, Flip-mode!
Introducing himself using his nickname and referencing his group
I'm the enigma, there is none harder, smarter
Asserting his intelligence and skill set
Martyr, Godfather, my interest, your departure
Painting himself as a powerful figure with the ability to control outcomes
Pardon Dre this beat is a monster, catchy
Acknowledging a collaborator and emphasizing the quality of the beat
Like sleeping under open windows that's drafty
Using a simile to compare the beat to a cold draft of air
Then waking up my throat scratchy, that's how I spit it nasty
Describing the rough, edgy nature of his rapping style
They short, a few inches North of a dwarf
Diminishing those who oppose him and emphasizing his own stature
My flow's Murcielago, ghosting them narcos
Comparing his rapping style to a brand of expensive, exotic car, and describing his ability to evade law enforcement
Toast in the ways of the original Pablos
Referencing a famous drug lord while implying his own success in the drug trade
Still a pyramid architect, mix liquors like a chemist
Portraying himself as a mastermind and expert in multiple fields
Killer lyricist, poetical tyrant
Using alliteration and imagery to emphasize his rap skills and powerful presence
Sneaker store terrorist, Mt. Everest I climbed it
Describing himself in a paradoxical way, and asserting his own ability to overcome obstacles
Heat is drawn, no creeping on me whenever I'm bent
Emphasizing his tough, dangerous persona and ability to handle any situation
My mind spray, my nine spray
Using wordplay to compare his thoughts and ideas to ammunition
And freak styles like 3000 Andre
Drawing inspiration from another rapper and implying his ability to innovate and push the boundaries
To keep piling, keep pushing them drops
Continuing to create and profit from his music
Nas, runnin with hot Busta Bust, we don't stop
Representing unity and determination with his collaborator Nas
Now I'm hot, and we running the block
Acknowledging his current success and control over his surroundings
Watch me run in your spot, fiends coming in flocks
Asserting his power and influence over his customers and clients
Add a little cut to the coke when I'm cooking the pot
Imagining his own involvement in drug production and distribution
Drugs, bitch! I got what you want come and get what I got
Plainly stating his involvement in the drug trade and inviting customers to buy from him
Now I almost forgot, I come to close up your shop
Threatening those who oppose or challenge him in any way
I love to fold up a knot, love toting the glock
Enjoying the profits from his success and feeling a sense of power and control
Helps me feel safer when niggas try to scheme on my plot
Using violence as a means of maintaining his sense of control and safety
Try to steal paper from me you gotta deal with a lot
Warning those who try to take his money that they'll face serious consequences
See I will leave you to rot, only defending my stock
Reinforcing the idea that he's not afraid to resort to violence to protect his businesses and wealth
Niggas know they pussy and struggle to pretend that they not
Calling out those who pretend to be tough or successful without putting in the work
Lose your life in the drop, while I harvest the crop
Painting a violent and ruthless picture of what happens to those who oppose him
My hot shit, bust a cannon have you run in your socks
Claiming his music is powerful enough to make people run away in fear
See we live on the edge, bang shit with a sledgehammer
Portraying himself as bold and daring, willing to take risks and be aggressive
Split up your head, kill a snitch for the feds
Using violent language to assert his dominance and loyalty to his crew
Let's go, for the streets I'm always spitting a gospel
Using religious imagery to emphasize the importance of his music and message
Get Nas holding a barrel size of elephant nostril
Describing his collaborator Nas in a playful and humorous way
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDRE YOUNG, NASIR JONES, D. PARKER, L. HOLOMAN, TREVOR SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yeezus Price
“I'm the Enigma, there is none harder, smarter
Martyr, Godfather, my entrance, your departure
Pardon Dre this beat is a monster, catchy
Like sleepin under open windows that's drafty
Then wakin' up my throat scratchy, that's how I spit it nasty” Nas killed it
Florian J
Nas absolutely killed this song. Nas the GOAT.
Escobar600GOAT_NODEBATING.
...no debating.
Aaron Thompson
Agreed! Nas = 🐐
cjewelz
I can think of at least 50 MCs that would come ahead of N'ass in a list of GOATs. How did he kill this song? N'ass uses complex wordplay that seems complex but there's very little depth to it. A little bit like Gay-Z's witty lyrics. They are witty. Nothing more, nothing less.
Nasir Jones
cjewe1z no bro u can't name no mcs
Matthew Mcafee
This beat is one of the best beats I ever heard in my life! every time I listen to it I get gosbomps!
William Cooper
Not at all!!
Kombs Combizzle
Still Dr Dre
Mduduzi Mbambo
Sho thing url know music i see,thanks guys