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.
Harsh
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One day I got a call from the ghost who told me I had to get on this conference call
To discuss a little business with him and the homey rozay
Know the situation transpired where a nigga had to get dealt with a little harshly
Yeah!
Root for the villian and shoot with no feelin
Like audio two yeah the crew is "top billin"
Invisible bully like the gooch when I'm illin
Cash too green, it's taped to the toilet
Like I'm michael corleone in the bathroom scene
Young black vito, chopped and wrapped kilos
Clap torpedos, stack, doritos
We in the mexico sippin the mojito
Discussin perico, green weed and diesel
Ak, nozzle air holes you can see through
Ridin the bulletproof five, yeah, I'm lethal
Yo! when niggas hear this shit they say it's (harsh!!!)
Type of shit that make you wanna handle a nigga (harsh!!!)
Act hostile, aggressive and kinda (harsh!!!)
And like a rothchild with money I'm kinda (harsh!!!)
How we dealin with 'em!!! (harsh!!!) how we dealin with 'em!!! (harsh!!!)
How we handlin 'em!!! (harsh!!!) how we mandlin 'em!!! (harsh!!!)
Stop bitchin you the one who done 'cause me to act!!! (harsh!!!)
And if I'm itchin and you front it's my duty to act!!!
Style is infectious, actress in a lexus
Sunroof open had cheese for breakfast
Beef never settled I'm lyor to the ghetto (huh!)
Russell with the hustle rick rubin with the metal
When I lick a shot I'm aimin at ya top floor (wooo!!!!)
Blocks like stock everybody bought more (huh!)
Birds fell out the sky, rats could drop dead
Flyin through bed-stuy, white drop head
Sticky green twist, guillotine click (huh!)
Dapper dan three piece suit for the trip
Link with dominicanos, straight pesos fritos
Three point range hit free throws with kilos
Yo! when niggas hear this shit they say it's (harsh!!!)
Type of shit that make you wanna handle a nigga (harsh!!!)
Act hostile, aggressive and kinda (harsh!!!)
And like a rothchild with money I'm kinda (harsh!!!)
How we dealin with 'em!!! (harsh!!!) how we dealin with 'em!!! (harsh!!!)
How we handlin 'em!!! (harsh!!!) how we mandlin 'em!!! (harsh!!!)
Stop bitchin you the one who done 'cause me to act!!! (harsh!!!)
And if I'm itchin and you front it's my duty to act!!!
Shine like brightenin sure but I'm the titan
Hard like when customato was trainin tyson
Gun we react in the car but no license
Life on top of the city could touch lightenin
Cocaine wave, dollar bill slave
Rangler is tough but the inside is suede
Ride with louch and 'kiss until I see a grave
One third of a legacy
Pedigree is I can make a don a don 'cause of integrity
Rap like a phenomenom sleep for a better dream
Nine is for better things smoke for medicine
Big is the only rapper I don't think that I'm better than
Yo! when niggas hear this shit they say it's (harsh!!!)
Type of shit that make you wanna handle a nigga (harsh!!!)
Act hostile, aggressive and kinda (harsh!!!)
And like a rothchild with money I'm kinda (harsh!!!)
How we dealin with 'em!!! (harsh!!!) how we dealin with 'em!!! (harsh!!!)
How we handlin 'em!!! (harsh!!!) how we mandlin 'em!!! (harsh!!!)
Stop bitchin you the one who done 'cause me to act!!! (harsh!!!)
And if I'm itchin and you front it's my duty to act!!!
Yo! I rub stones together and cast a spell quick like
Like a zoe hittin voodoo blessings 'fore I move bricks
I beat you like the number eleven with two sticks
Money from the door and then when I bop with two chicks (come on!!!)
It won't stop never stop there he go again (huh!)
Together watch the coke and have the bakin soda sort of blend (ha!)
Fredricka kinda pure see how we make the fiends flock
And watch the lines for the coke a quickly wrap around the block
They say we bad for business 'cause the coke price dropped
How we flooded and we bubble white 'til it's white hot (what!)
Pot purchases we chop it up to pieces
'til only the shake is left countin the profit and a bezel (wooo!!!!)
Eight million dollar yacht, scotch, a little refer
Diamonds so big they call it obnoxious little creature (oh!)
Money to cop original paintings of mona lisa
High the way I feel a cloud sittin on my caesar
Yo! when niggas hear this shit they say it's (harsh!!!)
Type of shit that make you wanna handle a nigga (harsh!!!)
Act hostile, aggressive and kinda (harsh!!!)
And like a rothchild with money I'm kinda (harsh!!!)
How we dealin with 'em!!! (harsh!!!) how we dealin with 'em!!! (harsh!!!)
How we handlin 'em!!! (harsh!!!) how we mandlin 'em!!! (harsh!!!)
Stop bitchin you the one who done 'cause me to act!!! (harsh!!!)
And if I'm itchin and you front it's my duty to act!!!
The lyrics to Busta Rhymes's song "Harsh" depict a confident and assertive persona who is unapologetic about his actions and lifestyle. The song opens with a reference to a mysterious call from a ghost, setting the tone for the unpredictability and harshness that follows. Busta Rhymes uses vivid imagery and metaphors to describe his persona as a villain, someone who is ruthless and unfeeling in their pursuits. He compares himself to notorious figures like Michael Corleone and Young Black Vito, emphasizing his dangerous and powerful presence.
The lyrics also touch on themes of wealth and success, with references to cash, luxury cars, and extravagant lifestyles. Busta Rhymes portrays himself as a figure of authority, someone who is respected and feared in his community. He exudes a sense of strength and confidence, using his style, hustle, and connections to maintain his position.
Line by Line Meaning
You know!
I want it to be known!
One day I got a call from the ghost who told me I had to get on this conference call
I received a call from a powerful figure who informed me that I had to participate in a conference call
To discuss a little business with him and the homey rozay
To talk about some business matters with him and my friend rozay
Know the situation transpired where a nigga had to get dealt with a little harshly
A certain situation occurred where someone had to be dealt with in a harsh manner
Yeah!
Absolutely!
Root for the villian and shoot with no feelin
Support the bad guy and shoot without any emotion
Like audio two yeah the crew is 'top billin'
Just like Audio Two, my crew is at the top and making big moves
Blowin the dutch in the coupe with no ceilin
Smoking marijuana in the car without a roof
Invisible bully like the gooch when I'm illin
Like a hidden bully, I become intimidating when I'm feeling angry
Cash too green, it's taped to the toilet
My money is so fresh and new that I have to tape it to the toilet
Like I'm michael corleone in the bathroom scene
Similar to Michael Corleone from The Godfather in the iconic bathroom scene
Young black vito, chopped and wrapped kilos
I'm like a young black version of Vito (character from The Godfather), dealing with chopped and wrapped kilograms of drugs
Clap torpedos, stack, doritos
Fire guns, stack money, and enjoy Doritos snacks
We in the mexico sippin the mojito
We are in Mexico, enjoying mojitos
Discussin perico, green weed and diesel
Talking about cocaine, marijuana, and high-quality diesel strain
Ak, nozzle air holes you can see through
Using an AK (assault rifle) with a nozzle that has visible air holes
Ridin the bulletproof five, yeah, I'm lethal
Driving a bulletproof car (probably a BMW 5 Series) and being extremely dangerous
Shine like brightenin sure but I'm the titan
I shine like a lightning but I'm also a powerful figure
Hard like when customato was trainin tyson
I'm as tough as when Cus D'Amato was training Mike Tyson
Gun we react in the car but no license
We carry guns in the car and react quickly, even without a license
Life on top of the city could touch lightenin
My life on top of the city is electrifying and influential
Cocaine wave, dollar bill slave
Riding the wave of cocaine's popularity, being controlled by money
Rangler is tough but the inside is suede
My Jeep Wrangler may seem tough, but the interior is luxurious with suede materials
Ride with louch and 'kiss until I see a grave
Rolling with Louch (Jadakiss) and riding until I'm buried
One third of a legacy
Being a significant part of a powerful legacy
Pedigree is I can make a don a don 'cause of integrity
My distinguished background allows me to turn someone into a boss due to my integrity
Rap like a phenomenom sleep for a better dream
Rapping exceptionally well, while also dreaming of a better future
Nine is for better things smoke for medicine
Using guns (nines) for achieving better things and using smoking as medicine
Big is the only rapper I don't think that I'm better than
I don't consider myself better than Biggie, the only rapper I acknowledge as superior
I rub stones together and cast a spell quick like
I perform rituals by rubbing stones together and casting spells quickly
Like a zoe hittin voodoo blessings 'fore I move bricks
Similar to a Haitian (zoe) performing voodoo rituals before engaging in drug trafficking
I beat you like the number eleven with two sticks
I defeat you mercilessly, like playing pool with two sticks and aiming for the number eleven ball
Money from the door and then when I bop with two chicks
Earning money at the entrance, and then having fun with two attractive women
It won't stop never stop there he go again
It never ends, I keep going and going
Together watch the coke and have the bakin soda sort of blend
We watch over the cocaine and ensure that the baking soda blends perfectly
Fredricka kinda pure see how we make the fiends flock
Fredricka (probably referring to high-quality cocaine) is pure, and we attract many addicts
And watch the lines for the coke a quickly wrap around the block
Observing the lines of people waiting for cocaine, which quickly wrap around the block
They say we bad for business 'cause the coke price dropped
They claim that our actions negatively affect the cocaine market due to reduced prices
How we flooded and we bubble white 'til it's white hot
We flooded the market with cocaine and made it so popular that it became extremely profitable
Pot purchases we chop it up to pieces
We buy large quantities of marijuana and chop it into smaller portions
'til only the shake is left countin the profit and a bezel
Continuously counting the profit and keeping only the leftover marijuana shake, while also monitoring a luxury watch
Eight million dollar yacht, scotch, a little refer
Enjoying an eight million dollar yacht, sipping scotch, and smoking a little marijuana
Diamonds so big they call it obnoxious little creature
Wearing diamonds that are so large they are considered obnoxious, like small creatures
Money to cop original paintings of mona lisa
Having enough money to buy original paintings of the Mona Lisa
High the way I feel a cloud sittin on my caesar
Feeling so high that it's as if a cloud is resting on top of my head
Stop bitchin you the one who done 'cause me to act!!!
Stop complaining, you are the one who caused me to take action!
And if I'm itchin and you front it's my duty to act!!!
If I'm feeling the urge to take action and you try to act tough, it becomes my duty to respond!
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PHONIX BEATS, RICK ROSS, TREVOR SMITH, DAVID STYLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kohatenclave
Very underrated song.
@-live8659
Very… Heavy 💪🏽
@ciarandaley6
I agree styles p is on 🔥
@roberttange805
100trash. no beat no lyrics no nothing
@fresh2cool957
Very smh
@rassolo4286
7 the head ✨
@IndigeniousTaino
Styles IS underrated! Busta always comes through!
@roberttange805
styles P is a legend . how can he beunderrated kid
@moedub1023
This classic shit is Harsh 2019 still rockin
@blakehammerpack4710
& beyond......
#Official 💯