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.
Fire
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whether it's from all of us
You best believe Busta rhymes more flavor than all the rest
From all the mess, hardcoreness from all the stress
Gotsta get this flawless flow from off my chest
Whose impossible folding impossible flow
Ain't a thing in the world that ain't culpable so so
I make you anticipate great
To the utmost I pack toast, keep the gat closed
Run niggas to the island I pack most
After the gun burst quench my blood thirst
We will be leavin' you much worse so one hearse
Yo, now we embellish fuck the jealous
And they mark on niggas now what you gon' tell us
Skydiver, short circuit just like a live wire
And give it the niggas because we got the fire!
All my people in the place
Just put your hands up in the air
And while we blow the spot and keep it hot
You got that fire!
Jump, shake, bounce when we come to you turn you out
It's Flipmode Squad that keeps on right your rightest place
We got that fire!
Hey yo
Rock until I'm gone
Till the party's over and he start turnin' the lights on
Type of shit, right inside your whole crew be on
Be the bullshit, so keep movin' on
No I ain't havin' it
Why you grabbin' it, my flow is immaculate
Passionate when it comes to the fire that you have to get
Then I tackle it and kill like we Jackal and Jaffolit
Rob niggas and give it to the church so they can raffle it
Now you can distinguish how
Afro-English flowin' broke in English
Witness how we stay hot and how we keep us goslin'
Women flawsin' blow the spot often
(WHAT) niggas say (what) you need to calculate
Re-evaluate the shit off so we retaliate
Marinate, when I give the hustle and carry weight
And bust up niggas like you would have the Bleat Estate
It's the niggas like y'all I hits for only when it counts
Black on the set and make motherfuckers bounce
Connected the raw types of shit
To make your bitch bug and make niggas pull out cake
Hey I think it's whack yo, I stack dough, and pack a rap show
And then let all of my niggas in the back door
And let the spot short circuit just like a live wire
And give it the niggas because we got the fire!
All my people in the place
Just put your hands up in the air
And while we blow the spot and keep it hot
You got that fire!
Jump, shake, bounce when we come to you turn you out
It's Flipmode Squad that keeps on right your rightest place
We got that fire!
Fire!
The lyrics of "Fire" by Busta Rhymes speak about his uniqueness as a rapper, his impeccable flow, and his ability to create anticipation and awe in real-life people who appreciate his work. He starts off by saying that he is better than all the other rappers out there, with his hardcoreness and flawless flow. He talks about how he can fold impossible flows like it's nothing and make great music, that people will anticipate and appreciate. The lyrics then talk about how he packs heat, carries guns, and runs people to the island. The chorus talks about the energy and hype that he brings in a performance and how this is what sets him and his crew, Flipmode Squad, apart from the rest.
The second verse talks about how Busta Rhymes is always in the game until the party is over and the lights go on. He is passionate when it comes to producing music that will light a fire in people, and he tackles everything head-on. He then talks about how his music and energy inspire women flawsin and blow the spot often, which is when everyone takes notice of his work. The lyrics then go on to say that he retaliates when people hate on his success or try to bring him down. He calls out his detractors, telling them to re-evaluate their positions and marinate on their negative thoughts. Ultimately, Busta Rhymes and his crew take everything in stride, and their raw types of music make everyone, including women, bug out and want more.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, come on, hey
Let's get going and bring some energy to this party
Whether it's from all of us
No matter who's contributing, we're gonna bring the heat
You best believe Busta Rhymes more flavor than all the rest
Busta knows his flavor can't be matched by anyone else
From all the mess, hardcoreness from all the stress
Even with all the chaos and pressure, Busta keeps it hardcore
Gotsta get this flawless flow from off my chest
Busta needs to release this perfect flow from within him
Whose impossible folding impossible flow
Busta's flow is so complex, it seems impossible for anyone else to replicate it
Ain't a thing in the world that ain't culpable so so
Everything can be held accountable, even the smallest detail
I make you anticipate great
Busta's skills make people expect greatness from him
Type shape real live niggas appreciate
Busta's style is something that real people can appreciate
To the utmost I pack toast, keep the gat closed
Busta keeps his gun concealed until it's time to use it
Run niggas to the island I pack most
Busta is so intimidating, people run away when they see him coming
After the gun burst quench my blood thirst
Once the violence starts, Busta's thirst for blood is satisfied
We will be leavin' you much worse so one hearse
If you mess with Busta, you'll end up in a hearse
Yo, now we embellish fuck the jealous
Busta doesn't care about the haters, he's gonna show off his skills
And they mark on niggas now what you gon' tell us
The haters may try to judge Busta, but he's not listening
Skydiver, short circuit just like a live wire
Busta is unpredictable, like a short circuiting wire
And give it the niggas because we got the fire!
Busta and his crew have the fire and are gonna give it to the crowd
All my people in the place
Everyone in the party
Just put your hands up in the air
Getting the energy up and showing excitement
And while we blow the spot and keep it hot
Busta and his crew are gonna keep the party going and exciting
You got that fire!
The crowd is bringing their fire and energy as well
Jump, shake, bounce when we come to you turn you out
When Busta and his crew come to you, get ready to dance your heart out
It's Flipmode Squad that keeps on right your rightest place
Busta's crew keeps the party going and makes sure everyone is in the right place
Hey yo
Hey, check it out
Rock until I'm gone
Busta's gonna rock the party until the end
Till the party's over and he start turnin' the lights on
Busta's gonna keep the party going until it's officially over and the lights come on
Type of shit, right inside your whole crew be on
Busta's style is something that everyone in the crowd can enjoy
Be the bullshit, so keep movin' on
If you don't like it, move on and don't ruin the party for others
No I ain't havin' it
Busta won't tolerate anyone trying to mess with him or his crew
Why you grabbin' it, my flow is immaculate
Busta questions why anyone would try to copy his style, when it's already perfect
Passionate when it comes to the fire that you have to get
Busta is passionate about his skills, and knows the crowd wants to see his fire
Then I tackle it and kill like we Jackal and Jaffolit
Busta takes on the challenge of performing and dominates, like the predatory animals Jackal and Jaffolit
Rob niggas and give it to the church so they can raffle it
Busta takes from those who are undeserving and helps the community by giving it to the church, who can then auction it off
Now you can distinguish how
Now you can see clearly how
Afro-English flowin' broke in English
Busta's style of rapping is a unique blend of Afro and English, and he's broke down the language barrier
Witness how we stay hot and how we keep us goslin'
See for yourself how Busta's crew stays hot and keeps people dancing
Women flawsin' blow the spot often
Busta loves when the ladies are dancing and having fun, and it makes the party even better
(WHAT) niggas say (what) you need to calculate
Busta doesn't care what the haters are saying, they need to re-evaluate and calculate their words
Re-evaluate the shit off so we retaliate
Busta will take action if someone tries to come at him or his crew
Marinate, when I give the hustle and carry weight
Busta's rhymes are so good that you need to take a moment to let them sink in, and they have a lot of weight behind them
And bust up niggas like you would have the Bleat Estate
Busta will take down anyone who tries to mess with him or his crew, just like he's taking down an entire estate
It's the niggas like y'all I hits for only when it counts
Busta only goes after certain people who mess with him or his crew when it really matters
Black on the set and make motherfuckers bounce
Busta is taking over and making the crowd bounce with his rhymes
Connected the raw types of shit
Busta's rhymes are raw and connected to the streets
To make your bitch bug and make niggas pull out cake
Busta's rhymes are so good that it makes people go crazy and even pulls out their wallets to support him
Hey I think it's whack yo, I stack dough, and pack a rap show
Busta thinks the haters are whack, but he's making money and packing shows regardless
And then let all of my niggas in the back door
Busta is sneaking his crew into the show through the back door, showing he can do what he wants
Fire!
Busta and his crew have the fire and energy to light up any party
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: ADEBENGA ADEJUMO, NIOMI DALEY, OLIVER JONES, ARTHUR SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mia Oliver
One of the best beats Busta EVER did!
Busta goes so hard on this, never disappointed. he is not like other rappers who are going viral by using AUTHENTIC viewS to get the views up. Thumbs up who agree
SeanInProgress
Busta tore up every mic he ever touched for over 25 years, this man deserves way more respect when "the greats" are talked about.
Cedric Soul
444 and he do give Busta icon award
Rafa Domi
He is my #1 favorite
Yinzer Clips
YES!!!!
Isaiah O
Look a fan BA RESPECT!!!!!
Mc001Rem002
https://youtube.com/shorts/1gBZgts2V8w?feature=share
Angelo Beatz
Busta always had the trippiest music videos.
Cami Caim & went Bonkers
@Adam Phillip she was clearly influenced by this pioneer
Fujisama Sensei
Yep....he learned from the greatest of all time. RIP MJ....I love Busta's vid..