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.
I'm A Go And Get My...
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a number runner
And I just wanna let you know that
I'm gettin' that Arab money
I'm gettin' that Chinese money
I'm gettin' that mother fucking British Columbia money
Nigga basically what I'm sayin' is yo dolla ain't shit you feel me
And bullshit ain't nothing but chewed up grass
So the next time you see that anointed bitch you know
Bend her spin and go up in her and let her know
Bitch there is no dinner
These are the reason and these are the number I got for ya and is
13, 20, 27, 38
25, 27, 13, 20, 27th, 38's dododo dodo
[Chorus: x2]
I'm a go and get my 25 over on 27th
Be back in 13 minutes or either 20
Get back with 27 niggas with them 38's dododo dodo
See there was this situation with a couple niggas I was peepin'
The way they was movin' analyzin' the shit they was doin' in the club
Grillin' and screwin' their faces up
Felt like they chilled and moved a couple places up laying me close
But I'm sayin we mostly be in a spot celebratin' somethin' and probably makin' a toast
Party to we Probably shakin the coast and hardly ever start a problem unless you gotta
I'm sayin' we suppose to be enjoyin' ourself nigga
'Cause entrepreneur and gwap connesuirs Employin ourself niggas
Explotin' my wealth with the company and people
Until a hater got to anointin himself too be the one to come in
And had a couple dudes to support him actin all like sure like he had the thing on him
And then after we finish beatin' on him now he know we ain't playin'
That's when he walked away sayin'
[Chorus: x2]
Shit is really bug to me
How some of these niggas they be comin' and settin' theyself up to you hit them
And gettin' theyself up in the altercations they don't really be needin'
Until it's to late and they realize that a body part is bleedin'
Instead of bein out and enjoyin the people they be actin all tough yappin' and bluffin'
Instead of bein all peaceful the partially thugs be spreadin' like cancer
Frontin' like gangsters until you bust their head and they lookin' like dancers
While they leanin and the rockin with after
You could've avoided beef! This shit is annoying chief!
'Cause now you got the bouncer stoppin the door
Can't let nobody else is gettin' in 'cause we moppin the floor with ya
Instead you could have came to party and be?
Bag you a chick while you sipin' on somethin' but
Instead you chose to do somethin' that made us
Fuck yo shit up for playin' now what the fuck is he sayin'.
[Chorus: x2]
In the first verse of Busta Rhymes's song "I'm A Go And Get My..." P-Shake, a number runner, boasts about his success in making money. He asserts that he is getting money from multiple sources, including Arab, Chinese, and British Columbia money, and suggests that anyone who is not making the same amount of cash as him is inadequate. P-Shake then goes on to compare bullshit to "chewed up grass," and a "big black ball that comes out of a cow's ass," insinuating that anything less than money-making is worthless. He then talks about having a message for someone and recites a series of random numbers that he wants to communicate to this person. He ends the verse by saying that he will be back with 27 men carrying 38s.
In the chorus, Busta Rhymes talks about needing to go somewhere and giving precise instructions regarding the time and location for his return. The verse then moves on to describe a situation where Busta and his friends were minding their own business and enjoying themselves until some aggressive people showed up. Busta explains how he and his crew handled the situation, including beating up a group of men who had antagonized them. The verse ends by criticizing people who act tough unnecessarily and end up causing trouble for themselves and others.
Line by Line Meaning
My name is P-Shake
Introducing oneself as P-Shake.
I'm a number runner
A person who takes bets on numbers.
And I just wanna let you know that
P-Shake wants to inform or make aware of something.
I'm gettin' that Arab money
Making money from the Arab market or source.
I'm gettin' that Chinese money
Making money from the Chinese market or source.
I'm gettin' that mother fucking British Columbia money
Making money from the British Columbia market or source.
Nigga basically what I'm sayin' is yo dolla ain't shit you feel me
The dollar is worth nothing compared to what P-Shake is making.
And bullshit ain't nothing but chewed up grass
False information or lies are worthless.
And that's a big black ball that come out of a cows ass
A metaphor for the uselessness of bullshit.
So the next time you see that anointed bitch you know
Referring to a person who thinks they are superior or special.
Bend her spin and go up in her and let her know
To dominate or show superiority over this person.
Bitch there is no dinner
There is no benefit or reward for this person.
These are the reason and these are the number I got for ya and is
These are the reasons and numbers P-Shake has for making so much money.
13, 20, 27, 38
The numbers P-Shake is using for his betting business.
25, 27, 13, 20, 27th, 38's dododo dodo
Repeating the same set of numbers for effect.
[Chorus: x2] I'm a go and get my 25 over on 27th Be back in 13 minutes or either 20 Get back with 27 niggas with them 38's dododo dodo
P-Shake's plan to make money using his betting business and returning with a group of people armed with guns.
See there was this situation with a couple niggas I was peepin'
Describing a situation P-Shake was observing or investigating involving some people.
The way they was movin' analyzin' the shit they was doin' in the club Grillin' and screwin' their faces up
Describing how the people P-Shake was observing were acting in the club.
Felt like they chilled and moved a couple places up laying me close
P-Shake felt like he was being closely observed or threatened by these people.
But I'm sayin we mostly be in a spot celebratin' somethin' and probably makin' a toast
P-Shake's usual business is celebrating something and making a toast with his customers.
Party to we Probably shakin the coast and hardly ever start a problem unless you gotta
P-Shake's business is all about having fun and causing no trouble unless provoked.
I'm sayin' we suppose to be enjoyin' ourself nigga
Reiterating the point that P-Shake's business is all about having a good time.
'Cause entrepreneur and gwap connesuirs Employin ourself niggas Explotin' my wealth with the company and people
P-Shake is an entrepreneur, employing people and using his wealth to benefit his business.
Until a hater got to anointin himself too be the one to come in And had a couple dudes to support him actin all like sure like he had the thing on him
Someone jealous of P-Shake's success tried to challenge him, recruiting some people to support him.
And then after we finish beatin' on him now he know we ain't playin'
P-Shake and his people beat up the challenger, showing that they are not to be messed with.
That's when he walked away sayin'
The challenger left after realizing he was no match for P-Shake.
[Chorus: x2]
Repeating the chorus about P-Shake's plan to make money through his betting business.
Shit is really bug to me
Something is really bothering P-Shake.
How some of these niggas they be comin' and settin' theyself up to you hit them
People purposely provoke others to fight them, putting themselves in harm's way.
And gettin' theyself up in the altercations they don't really be needin'
People start unnecessary fights, getting themselves into problems they could avoid.
Until it's to late and they realize that a body part is bleedin'
People don't realize the consequences of their actions until it is too late and they are injured.
Instead of bein out and enjoyin the people they be actin all tough yappin' and bluffin'
People who act tough and pick fights do not enjoy the company of others.
Instead of bein all peaceful the partially thugs be spreadin' like cancer
People who pick fights ruin the peace and enjoyment of others around them.
Frontin' like gangsters until you bust their head and they lookin' like dancers
People who act like gangsters are stopped when they are physically beaten and look helpless.
While they leanin and the rockin with after
After being beaten, these people become submissive and are no longer a threat.
You could've avoided beef! This shit is annoying chief!
People could avoid conflict and make everyone's experience more enjoyable, but they choose not to.
'Cause now you got the bouncer stoppin the door Can't let nobody else is gettin' in 'cause we moppin the floor with ya
After a fight, the bouncer has to stop anyone else from coming in because the establishment now has to clean up the mess caused by the fight.
Instead you could have came to party and be? Bag you a chick while you sipin' on somethin' but Instead you chose to do somethin' that made us Fuck yo shit up for playin' now what the fuck is he sayin'.
People could come and enjoy themselves, meet someone new and drink, but they choose to start fights, causing trouble for everyone and making P-Shake wonder why they would do that.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: George Spivey, Trevor Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Reggie Janey
Classic if you still listen to this your a legend 💯💯💯
Xavier Williams
this song bring back memories! love this joint
Miami 808
The “doo doo do dooooo” fits so good with the beat
GTHD
never gets old
Joshua Satterwhite
Most underrated song I swear
RYANxMISFITxFIEND
Hell yeah. this shit is beast.I bump in my car DurDur Dur Dur Durrrr!!!
rnewson1
this has been one of my fav childhood songs until i realized i live like this :/
Blanco
could be worse bro
Alicia Dotsey
Everytime i see all about the benjamins,i think about this song.
Jonathan Machado
Said " I got medicade, that's all I got" 😂