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.
Get High
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smoke a little lye
Get high tonight
Get high tonight
Buy a nickel bag
Smoke a little lye
Get high tonight
Buy a nickel bag
Smoke a little lye
Get high tonight
Get high tonight
Buy a nickel bag
Smoke a little lye
Get high tonight
Get high tonight
Before I set it off and show what I'm gonna do to ya
Possess the bomb chocolate from off Lynden and Utica
My real live niggas in the place and no queen
Wave your splif high son
Fuck the bullshit
When your arms are open
My palms release the bomb
Reviving the alarm
My word is bond
Scream at niggas through the intercom
Up to date, let's roller skate
Yo my whole squad smoking aint straight unless we smoking at eight
High rate, I always produce the potion
Weed smoking got me moving slow motion like we floatin on relax ocean
All my peeps who feel high
Dont want you darkin shades, there's to much smoke up in your eye
Keep it swingin listen to all of my bells ringin
My get high has niggas wantin to start singin
And this goes out to those that smoke out the bong
And all my bitches in the place who roll they own draws
Buy a nickel bag
Smoke a little lye
Get high tonight
Get high tonight
Buy a nickel bag
Smoke a little lye
Get high tonight
Get high tonight
Yo, bounce back you just caught the contact African black overreact
Charge
I'm bout to bench the whole wack must interact on every track
Blow this spot down niggas break fool and smoke across the world almanac
My sons that don't smoke and get high
Drinkin Cognac, Hennesey, Cristal but wait
What's goin on with dat?
With the deal done sometimes I sip Jamaican white rum
Taste with a little milk, I know y'all niggas want some
Represent where you from needing some tic tacs and gum
So a nigga breath don't blah!
Get high, then i get fly
When i be shopping at the atrium
Smoking in the center of Yankee stadium
Stand strong, yes we rock on and on
The Flipmode stamps all of my songs
They get a place them niggas must perfrom
Smoke till your brain fry
So high you can't open your eye
My niggas need to just
Buy a nickel bag
Smoke a little lye
Get high tonight
Get high tonight
Buy a nickel bag
Smoke a little lye
Get high tonight
Get high tonight
Buy a nickel bag
Smoke a little lye
Get high tonight
Get high tonight
Buy a nickel bag
Smoke a little lye
Get high tonight
Get high tonight
Buy a nickel bag
Smoke a little lye
Get high tonight
Get high tonight
Buy a nickel bag
Smoke a little lye
Get high tonight
Get high tonight
The lyrics of Busta Rhymes's song Get High Tonight primarily revolve around the experience of getting high by smoking weed. The song begins with the repetition of the phrase "Buy a nickel bag, smoke a little lye, get high tonight" which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The refrain serves as a reminder to listeners that even a small amount of weed can be enough to get high. The second verse introduces the location where the smoking takes place, as well as the notion of unity among smokers. The line "My real live niggas in the place and no queen" indicates that only men are present in the room. Busta then encourages everyone to smoke together and ignore the "bullshit" that goes on around them. The remainder of the song comprises of different statements that underscore the effects of smoking weed, such as feeling high and lethargic at the same time.
Overall, Busta Rhymes's Get High Tonight highlights how weed can serve as a bonding experience among friends. The song celebrates the simple pleasures of smoking together and enjoying the moment without any worries or stress. While the lyrics do not touch upon any profound topics or offer life-changing insights, they succeed at embodying the carefree, laid-back mood that often accompanies smoking weed.
Line by Line Meaning
Buy a nickel bag
Purchase a small amount of marijuana
Smoke a little lye
Inhale marijuana smoke
Get high tonight
Achieve an altered mental state due to marijuana consumption
Get high tonight
Repetition of previous line
Before I set it off and show what I'm gonna do to ya
Introducing the song, setting the scene for upcoming lyrics
Possess the bomb chocolate from off Lynden and Utica
Referencing the high quality marijuana he has obtained
My real live niggas in the place and no queen
Acknowledging his male friends present and making sure there are no females around
Wave your splif high son
Inviting his friends to smoke marijuana
Fuck the bullshit
Disregard unnecessary drama
When your arms are open
When you're ready to smoke
My palms release the bomb
Referring again to the high quality marijuana he has obtained
Reviving the alarm
Indicating that the marijuana is very potent
My word is bond
My word is true and trustworthy
Scream at niggas through the intercom
Communicating with his friends via intercom, indicating he is in a secure location
Up to date, let's roller skate
Enjoy the present moment, let's have fun
Yo my whole squad smoking aint straight unless we smoking at eight
Implies that his whole group of friends prioritize smoking marijuana at 8pm
High rate, I always produce the potion
Stating that he is always able to obtain high quality marijuana
Weed smoking got me moving slow motion like we floatin on relax ocean
Marijuana consumption induces a relaxed and slow-moving state
All my peeps who feel high
Reference to his like-minded friends
Dont want you darkin shades, there's to much smoke up in your eye
Reminding his friends to not wear sunglasses due to the smoke from the marijuana
Keep it swingin listen to all of my bells ringin
Enjoy the good times, listen to the music he is playing
My get high has niggas wantin to start singin
Marijuana consumption induces a happy and carefree mood
And this goes out to those that smoke out the bong
Acknowledging and addressing his friends who prefer smoking marijuana from a bong
And all my bitches in the place who roll they own draws
Addressing the women present who can roll their own marijuana cigarettes
Yo, bounce back you just caught the contact African black overreact
Addressing a friend who is complaining about a contact high they have just experienced
Charge
Start the song's next verse with energy
I'm bout to bench the whole wack must interact on every track
Implies that he is going to outperform other artists on each song he creates
Blow this spot down niggas break fool and smoke across the world almanac
Suggesting that they should smoke as much marijuana as possible until they pass out
My sons that don't smoke and get high
Implies he has younger friends who do not smoke marijuana
Drinkin Cognac, Hennesey, Cristal but wait
Listing other alcohols they are consuming
What's goin on with dat?
Commenting on the situation
With the deal done sometimes I sip Jamaican white rum
Commenting that the marijuana purchase is complete and he is now drinking rum instead
Taste with a little milk, I know y'all niggas want some
Offering his friends some of his rum, and suggesting it be mixed with milk
Represent where you from needing some tic tacs and gum
Encourages his friends to represent their hometowns proudly
So a nigga breath don't blah!
Implies that someone's breath may smell bad due to the marijuana and alcohol consumption
Get high, then i get fly
Marijuana consumption then feeling confident and uplifted
When i be shopping at the atrium
Shopping at a clothing store
Smoking in the center of Yankee stadium
Joking that he is smoking marijuana in the middle of a baseball stadium
Stand strong, yes we rock on and on
Indicating that no one can bring them down
The Flipmode stamps all of my songs
A reference to his record label
They get a place them niggas must perfrom
Implying that his label is highly respected
Smoke till your brain fry
Suggesting excessive marijuana consumption
So high you can't open your eye
Indicating the extreme level of being 'high'
My niggas need to just
Referring back to the first lines of the song: to buy marijuana and smoke it
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: HARRY WAYNE CASEY, RICHARD RAYMOND FINCH, TREVOR SMITH, GEORGE L SPIVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@afrothundajenkins257
20 years from the original release and this joint still makes my neck sore...
@smallworldceo8448
Facts
@doamnefereste9249
Dude....you know it.
@beskepcret77
Only Busta could’ve pulled this off... pure energy!
@hristoyordanov6756
this track will never die
@wolfblizz6455
Aww mann..Classic! one of my favs by Busta..used to always listen to this joint , getting dressed to go out, Friday nights in Nyc, 1997 🌿💨💨
@mrstaylor1563
Did you move from NYC?
@jowefasolutions4791
Right
@wolfblizz6455
@Mrs Taylor sorry but I've never seen your question till just now..smh..but to answer it,, Noooope! 🌃🌉🌃
@Musicallizard86
Haven't stopped bumping this since I first heard it, had the cd when I was 12 way before I could really appreciate the words in full