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.
Hop
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We 'bout to bring it to you kid like we never ever did
My nigga Al G in it, my nigga Shaheed in it
We got the girl Kristine in it, got my man Big G in it
A-yo, inside the ghetto or in a sunny meadow
I'mma make you move whether woman or fellow
Yo, I got the medals in the warfield of respectLike an ill porno make ya body get wet
Just a ghetto child trying to live a straight and narrow
Hoping that my shit will pierce your dome like an arrow
I'm sure it will, especially if it's God's will
MC's you ready to die cause I'mma kill
All you negative feelings standing on two feet
While I make the hotties move to the hip-hop beat
You know it's realer killer, realer than you can imagine
Using every source of pain in my range to make it happen
If I make it happen, that means I'm making motion
And I'm doing my thing causing an ill commotion
Everybody do the hop, make it smooth like lotion
I lay up in the piece on a incognotion
You gotta do the hop, you move to the beat, you don't stop
Now everybody here, you do the hop
You going up to cop, Uptown for a brick, don't stop
You gotta come back and do the hop
Yo, fuck the cops, you gotta come back and do the hop
Move till your body won't stop
You gotta do the hop, non-stop motion, non-stop
You gotta come back and do the, do the
You see you, your career is done like Johnny Carson's
Get me vexed, I do like Left Eye, start an arson
Now that I got that out my systemWatch me stab up the track as if my name was OJ Simpson
I packs it in like Van Halen
I work for mine, you, you're freeloading like Kato Kaelin
I'm representing with my crew
Mess around, bite my rhymes, I'll beat that ass with my shoe
C'mon, you know I'm crazy nice
Brothers can't deal with the shorty named Phife
You must be mad in the head
I bust his ass and leave 'im bloodclot for dead
Niggas sound like Das EFX
If it ain't Das EFX then they sounding like Meth
You might as well do Megadeth
Y'all punk MCs better save your freaking breath
You's a corny motherfucker
You must be high smoking dust with Chris Tucker
Y'all faggot asses don't want this
I pull more peeps than the peeps at the premier of Pocohantas
Word is bond I am the baddest
And all you honies out there, word is bond, you know my status
So come and pull your panties down
This ain't the Barnum Bailey show, I don't get down with the clowns
So why don't you and your friends get with me and my friends
But don't bring your ass by and you ain't got no ends
Word is bond it don't stop
Just ease your mind, come along and do the hop
You gotta do the hop, you move to the beat, you don't stop
Come on everybody, do the hop
Even if you cop, you gotta come back and do the hop
You move to the beat, you don't stop
You smoking jub rocks, you gotta just stop and do the hop
Then you come back and do the hop
You know we don't stop, we on the ghetto prize on the top
You know we come back and do the hop
Shorties in the place, all the shorty rocks, do the hop
You gotta come back and do the hop
We never go on pop, you know we come back, we do the hop
This is how it is, we do the hop
You move to the beat, then come on everybody, don't...
The lyrics of Busta Rhymes's song "Hop" are a combination of boastful rhymes, sexual innuendos, and dance commands. The opening lines call on listeners to move their bodies inside a party, promising to bring something new: "We 'bout to bring it to you kid like we never ever did." He then lists the people who are "in it," including Al G, Shaheed, Kristine, and Big G. The second verse speaks about being a "ghetto child" who wants to make people move with his music. Busta Rhymes then talks about his ability to make music that makes people dance and move "like lotion." The final verse is a mix of threats, taunts, and sexual advances, directed at opponents.
The song "Hop" was released in 1996 as part of Busta Rhymes's second album, "The Coming." The song was produced by Easy Mo Bee, a renowned producer who has worked with hip-hop legends like Big Daddy Kane and Miles Davis. The song was not released as an official single, but it still received significant airplay on rap radio stations. The song's catchy chorus and danceable beat made it a popular choice at parties and clubs.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, move your body, inside the party
Let's get this party started and make sure we're all dancing.
We 'bout to bring it to you kid like we never ever did
We're going to bring our best performance like we've never done before.
My nigga Al G in it, my nigga Shaheed in it
We got the girl Kristine in it, got my man Big G in it
Introducing the members of the team who will make this performance happen.
A-yo, inside the ghetto or in a sunny meadow
I'mma make you move whether woman or fellow
I can make anyone, regardless of their background or gender, start dancing no matter where they are.
Yo, I got the medals in the warfield of respect
Like an ill porno make ya body get wet
I've earned my respect as a top performer, and my performance is as good as an arousing adult movie.
Just a ghetto child trying to live a straight and narrow
Hoping that my shit will pierce your dome like an arrow
I grew up in a disadvantaged area but am trying to succeed and hope that my music will resonate with you deeply.
I'm sure it will, especially if it's God's will
MC's you ready to die cause I'mma kill
I'm confident my music will connect with you, and other performers better watch out because I'll outperform and outshine them.
All you negative feelings standing on two feet
While I make the hotties move to the hip-hop beat
I'm here to bring positivity and get everyone, especially the attractive women, moving to the beat of my music.
You know it's realer killer, realer than you can imagine
Using every source of pain in my range to make it happen
My performance is going to be exceptional, and I'll use my emotional pain to add depth and authenticity to the experience.
If I make it happen, that means I'm making motion
And I'm doing my thing causing an ill commotion
If I succeed in making this performance happen, I'll be making waves and causing a frenzy.
Everybody do the hop, make it smooth like lotion
I lay up in the piece on a incognotion
Everyone needs to dance to the beat of the music, and I'll be in a luxurious, low-profile vehicle after the performance.
You gotta do the hop, you move to the beat, you don't stop
Now everybody here, you do the hop
Everyone needs to keep dancing and moving to the rhythm without stopping.
You going up to cop, Uptown for a brick, don't stop
You gotta come back and do the hop
Even if you're going on a drug run, you need to keep dancing and come back to keep the energy going.
Yo, fuck the cops, you gotta come back and do the hop
Move till your body won't stop
Ignore the police and keep dancing until you can't dance anymore.
You gotta do the hop, non-stop motion, non-stop
You gotta come back and do the, do the
Everyone needs to keep moving and dancing without stopping, and keep doing it repeatedly.
You see you, your career is done like Johnny Carson's
Get me vexed, I do like Left Eye, start an arson
Your career is as good as over, like that of retired TV show host Johnny Carson. If you anger me, I'll set fire to something like the late rapper Left Eye did.
Now that I got that out my system
Watch me stab up the track as if my name was OJ Simpson
I've expressed my frustration, and now I'm going to attack the music like OJ Simpson did to his alleged victims.
I packs it in like Van Halen
I work for mine, you, you're freeloading like Kato Kaelin
I'm a prolific performer like Van Halen, and I work hard for what I've achieved. In contrast, you're freeloading and sponging off others, like Kato Kaelin did while OJ Simpson's alleged murder occurred.
I'm representing with my crew
Mess around, bite my rhymes, I'll beat that ass with my shoe
I'm here with my team, and if anyone disrespects my lyrics, I'll beat them up with my shoe.
C'mon, you know I'm crazy nice
Brothers can't deal with the shorty named Phife
I know I'm an excellent performer, and others can't measure up to the skills of Phife Dawg.
You must be mad in the head
I bust his ass and leave 'im bloodclot for dead
You must be insane to compete with me, and if you try, I'll make sure you're defeated and hurt badly.
Niggas sound like Das EFX
If it ain't Das EFX then they sounding like Meth
Other rappers sound like the group Das EFX or Method Man, and it's not unique or original.
You might as well do Megadeth
Y'all punk MCs better save your freaking breath
You might as well make metal music like Megadeth because your rap is terrible. Save your breath and don't even try to compete.
You's a corny motherfucker
You must be high smoking dust with Chris Tucker
You're a lame, dull person who acts stupidly like the character Chris Tucker played in the movie "Friday".
Y'all faggot asses don't want this
I pull more peeps than the peeps at the premier of Pocohantas
You other terrible performers don't stand a chance against me, especially since I have a bigger following than the audience at the premiere of "Pocahontas".
Word is bond I am the baddest
And all you honies out there, word is bond, you know my status
I'm the best, and all the ladies out there know that for sure.
So come and pull your panties down
This ain't the Barnum Bailey show, I don't get down with the clowns
Come and get intimate with me, but don't act like a clown. I don't tolerate foolishness.
So why don't you and your friends get with me and my friends
But don't bring your ass by and you ain't got no ends
Why don't we all hang out together, but if you're broke and have no money, don't bother.
Word is bond it don't stop
Just ease your mind, come along and do the hop
We'll keep this party going without stop, and just relax and dance to the music.
Shorties in the place, all the shorty rocks, do the hop
You gotta come back and do the hop
All the young women in the space need to keep dancing and come back to keep the party going.
We never go on pop, you know we come back, we do the hop
This is how it is, we do the hop
We'll never stop the party or the dancing, and this is how it always will be.
You move to the beat, then come on everybody, don't...
Just keep dancing and moving to the music without stopping.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ALJONI MUSIC COMPANY, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KAMAAL IBN JOHN FAREED, ALI SHAHEED JONES-MUHAMMAD, MALIK IZAAK TAYLOR, AL JR. HALL, RASHAD SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind