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.
Gimme so more
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As a shorty playing in the front yard of the crib
Fell down, and I bumped my head
Somebody helped me up and asked me if I bumped my head
I said, "Yeah"
So then they said, "Oh, so that mean we gon', you gon' switch it on em'?"
I said, "Yeah, Flipmode, Flipmode is the greatest"
Knowing as a shorty, I was always told
I gotta be the greatest myself
Come on come on, yeah, come on
Yeah nigga what, what a surprise
Get ya sumn', make a nigga close both of your eyes
All my niggas gettin' money capitalize
Die little small guy, we on the rise
Everything a nigga touch platinumize
Fully equipped, you know we come wit' all the supplies
Got a big gun, and I'ma show you the size
You fuck wit' any of my Flipmode family ties
Me and my niggas be comin' through stalkin' you out
Killin' off any and everything you talkin' about
See you in the club, now we walkin' you out
Shoulda' thought twice 'fore you went and opened your mouth
Yo, anyway we stay keepin it movin'
Fuckin' with the wrong nigga, hope you know what you doin'
Now blame me, all the same niggas is lame
It's not a game, makin' names still splittin' your frames
Y'all niggas had enough?
Gimme some more
Y'all niggas want the wild shit?
Gimme some more
Yo Spliff, where the weed at?
Gimme some more
I know ya'll niggas need that
Gimme some more
Even though we getting money you can
Gimme some more
With the cars and the big crib
Gimme some more
Everybody spread love
Gimme some more
If you want it let me hear you say
Gimme some more
Flash with a rash gimme my cash flickin my ash
Runnin' with my money son go out with a blast
Do what you want, a nigga's cuttin' the corner
You fuckin' up, oh to go ahead and meet the reporter
Yo, she tellin' news on how you switch to a bitch
Little fake funny style, nigga chill with a snitch
So now I pass and trait over your blood and to ask you
Make a little room for me and all my niggas to pass through
Cartier, Sidney Poitier, hooray shit
What with all my niggas from around the way shit
When I come through y'all niggas know I do my thing
Bring more shit that generate money, chi-ching
Arrest you lyrically flow and caress you
Bless you, then a nigga come to your rescue
While you assume a nigga blossom and bloom
I'm comin' soon hit you with a boom gimme some room
Y'all niggas had enough?
Gimme some more
Y'all niggas want the wild shit?
Gimme some more
Yo Spliff, where the weed at?
Gimme some more
I know ya'll niggas need that
Gimme some more
Even though we getting money you can
Gimme some more
Cars and the big crib
Gimme some more
Everybody spread love
Gimme some more
If you want it, let me hear you say
Gimme some more
Yo, live nigga shit know what I mean
I represent while we gettin' money and reign supreme
Hope you niggas know we comin' through full steam
Can't see, you better turn on your high beam
All my niggas while I'm ringing the sireen
Flipmode be the glory niggas on my team
Never should you ever try to fuck wit' my cream
I OD when my shit get all in your bloodstream
Everytime we be rippin' it be blowing it down
Blowing you off fuckin' wit' the hottest niggas around ('round)
Like it's when me and my people run through your town
Holdin' it down takin' a while and then gimme my crown
Ayy, yo, all my people need to come and surround
A nigga be hittin' so much it make you fall on the ground
Sure to make you shout that's what I be all about
Turnin' you out makin' all you niggas fall out
Y'all niggas had enough?
Gimme some more
Y'all niggas want the wild shit?
Gimme some more
Yo Spliff, where the weed at?
Gimme some more
I know ya'll niggas need that
Gimme some more
Even though we getting money you can
Gimme some more
With the cars and the big crib
Gimme some more
Everybody spread love
Gimme some more
If you want it let me hear you say
Gimme some more
In "Gimme Some Mo," Busta Rhymes reflects on his childhood, where he was encouraged to aspire to be the greatest. He references the idea that if one cannot be part of the greatest, they should aim to be the greatest themselves. The song then transitions into disses against those who step to Busta and his crew, Flipmode Squad. Busta rhymes, for instance, boasts about all of the things that his squad has achieved, including touching everything to turn it to platinum, being fully equipped with all supplies, and killing off anyone who would cross them. He sends a message that the wrong people should not mess with him or his people because they will either get hurt or even receive their names split and frames broken. The chorus is a call to action for people to give more of everything that Busta and his squad have ever needed, such as weed, money, or love.
Line by Line Meaning
As a shorty playing in the front yard of the crib
When I was young, I played outside my house
Fell down, and I bumped my head
I fell and hurt myself
Somebody helped me up and asked me if I bumped my head
Someone picked me up and checked if I was okay
I said 'Yeah'
I said 'yes, I fell and hurt myself'
So then they said 'Oh so that mean we gon, you gon switch it on em'?'
They asked if I'm going to retaliate for getting hurt
I said 'Yeah, Flipmode, Flipmode is the greatest'
I replied, 'yes, I am part of the great Flipmode crew'
Knowing as a shorty, I was always told
I learned from a young age
That if I ain't gon' be part of the greatest
If I can't join the best group
I gotta be the greatest myself
Then I must become the best on my own
Y'all niggas had enough?
Have you had your fill?
Gimme some more
Give me more
Y'all niggas want the wild shit?
You guys want the crazy stuff?
Gimme some more
Give me more
Yo Spliff where the weed at?
Hey Spliff, where's the marijuana?
Gimme some more
Give me more
I know ya'll niggas need that
I know you guys need that
Gimme some more
Give me more
Even though we getting money you can
Even though we're making money
Gimme some more
Give me more
With the cars and the big crib
With the cars and big house
Gimme some more
Give me more
Everybody spread love
Everyone show love
Gimme some more
Give me more
If you want it let me hear you say
If you want it, tell me
Flash with a rash gimme my cash flickin my ash
I'm flashy and quick with my money, flicking ash from my cigarette
Runnin' with my money son go out with a blast
I'll protect my money with violence if necessary
Do what you want, a nigga's cuttin' the corner
Do what you want, but I'll take shortcuts
You fuckin' up, oh to go ahead and meet the reporter
You're messing up, better talk to the journalist
Yo, she tellin' news on how you switch to a bitch
She's spreading rumors about you being disloyal
Little fake funny style, nigga chill with a snitch
Don't hang out with liars or traitors
So now I pass and trait over your blood and to ask you
I offer you mercy but also question your loyalty
Make a little room for me and all my niggas to pass through
Let me and my crew through
Cartier, Sidney Poitier, hooray shit
We wear expensive jewelry and celebrate like Sidney Poitier
What with all my niggas from around the way shit
With all my friends from the neighborhood
When I come through you niggas know I do my thing
You know I do well when I arrive
Bring more shit that generate money, chi-ching
Bring more things that make money
Arrest you lyrically flow and caress you
I'll captivate you with my flow
Bless you, then a nigga come to your rescue
I'll bless you and also save you
While you assume a nigga blossom and bloom
While you think I'll succeed
I'm comin' soon hit you with a boom gimme some room!
I'm coming strong, give me space!
Yo, live nigga shit know what I mean
Real, raw stuff, you know what I'm saying
I represent while we gettin' money and reign supreme
I represent while we're successful and on top
Hope you niggas know we comin' through full steam
I hope you know we're coming hard
Can't see you better turn on your high beam
Can't see you, turn on your bright light
All my niggas while I'm ringing the sireen
My crew is with me as we make noise
Flipmode be the glory niggas on my team
My team is awesome
Never should you ever try to fuck wit' my cream
Don't mess with my money
I O.D when my shit get all in your bloodstream
I overdose you with my style and influence
Everytime we be rippin' it be blowing it down
Every time we perform, we're blowing people away
Blowing you off fuckin' wit' the hottest niggas around
We're beating you, messing around with the best
Like it's when me and my people run through your town
If you see me and my crew in your town
Holdin' it down takin' a while and then gimme my crown
We're in charge, wait for the king
Ay, yo! All my people need to come and surround
Hey! Everyone come and support
A nigga be hittin' so much it make you fall on the ground
We hit so hard, it knocks you down
Sure to make you shout that's what I be all about
We'll make you shout, that's what our music is all about
Turnin' you out makin' all you niggas fall out!
Making you all go wild and lose control!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: George Spivey, Bernard Herrmann, Trevor Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SaltpeterTaffy
Whoever had the idea to freeze every shot with Busta in it for just a moment before the cut deserves an Oscar. It's so subtle but it adds so much tension.
@MangaSword8
Real shit. Its also a dope technique because it always keeps focus on Busta
@hardcoreblanco
It's genius.
@VDOTU5
I consider whoever made the choice to do those freeze frames was inspired by one of the Resident Evil games in the 1990s, in which you couldn't walk into another area without everything freezing for like half a second. Wouldn't be surprising since it's a Horror game, and this samples that violin from 'Psycho'.
@hardcoreblanco
@@VDOTU5 True. It could be.
@justcord7114
I can’t wrap my head around exactly why but the freeze frames are amazing
@Rosabel_Believe
22 years later and not many videos can even come close to touching this masterpiece.
@nathanmoody2661
Surge-dababy
@jdouce6074
Flip Mode confirmed
@mcniesh1
It's sooo original!!!