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.
It Ain't Safe No More
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Has determined, that the sounds you about to hear
Can be devastating, to your ear, to your mind
To your body, to your soul!
[Chorus]
You better, pack up your bags, better get out of town
'Cause when the God come you know he gon' be putting it down
It ain't safe no more, it ain't safe no more (nigga)
He keeps it wicked by creating the sound
That make the people want to spaz 'til they give him the crown
Fuck around you'll turn up missing just to never be found
It ain't safe no more, it ain't safe no more (nigga)
Bodies'll turn up missing, I promise you need to listen
Abolish the need for bitching, I polish and shine and glisten
Demolishing while I'm whistling, astonished while you're witnessed
Hardest to smash another artist son, regardless if it is
A nigga who think he the greatest son I'll lock him in the fridge
And hang him from both of his ankles when we drop him from the bridge
Blocking your paper really stopping that dude from getting his
Popping the safe and splurging, having the crew up in the crib
Block 'til these niggas having 'em rocking gargle with a bib
Shitting and farting, spitting and vomiting all in the crib
Falling into shock from the bullets we shot up in they ribs
Hot up the block and blew up the spot and got up out the mix
Tried it a couple stops and spotted the Squad up in they whips
Plotted and then I signed on the dotted line and made a wish
Return us even the hardest making you garbage niggas sit
The smartest now you a target only the heartless niggas win
[Chorus]
You can't believe can you, I'm calling my dog Nathaniel
And balling with all my mans you'll be blowing and all will hand you
Accordingly or disorderly bullets are sure to bang you
Considerably my 9 milli hit you at any angle
Shooting, shooting, shooting, high, low, vertical or horizontal
And if you were making plans I do think you gon' have to cancel
Sorry I had to ask you, save it I have to blast you
Taking a chance to laugh from you making the masses gas you
So now you thinking that you tough and that we can't get at you
Change up your mind and leave you stiffer than a massive statue
Tired of talking need to use all your precautionary measures
Washing off the blood hauling the water force of steady weather
You can handle it or you can't, it be only getting better
Like a candle, we burn your chandles and make you feel the pressure
Cocking it back, articulating the flow just like a lecture
Break it down and rebuilding the flow, now peep the architecture
[Chorus]
It ain't safe., in the current state, of our democracy
Terrorism, motherfuckers bombing New York, shit is crazy
It ain't safe no more!
All these rapping niggas going at other rapping niggas heads
Shit is crazy! But most importantly
The most unsafe thing, is that, niggas ain't seeing, the God coming
Watch where you walk!
In Busta Rhymes's "It Ain't Safe No More," the Surgeon General of the Flipmode Squad warns listeners that the sound they are about to hear can be detrimental to their bodies, minds, and souls. The chorus is a warning to pack up and leave town because the God is coming and he's going to put it down. As the song progresses, Busta Rhymes boasts his skills as an artist, claiming that he can demolish anyone who tries to stand in his way. He references violence and gunplay, warning that bodies will turn up missing if people don't listen. The song ends with a warning that it's not safe in the current state of the world, where terrorism and violence abound, and urges listeners to watch where they walk.
Throughout the song, Busta Rhymes uses shocking imagery and violent language to emphasize the danger that he sees in the world. He suggests that people need to be prepared to defend themselves or risk being taken down by the chaos around them. The chorus reminds listeners that it's not safe to get too comfortable in the world they live in and to always be on their guard.
Line by Line Meaning
The Surgeon General, of the Flipmode Squad
I am the leader of this group and what I'm about to say has been deemed important.
Has determined, that the sounds you about to hear
I am about to say something that is powerful and will stick with you.
Can be devastating, to your ear, to your mind
This message is going to be hard to handle and could potentially harm you mentally.
To your body, to your soul!
Not only mentally could it harm you, but your physical well-being and spirituality could also be affected.
You better, pack up your bags, better get out of town
I am warning you to leave while you still can.
'Cause when the God come you know he gon' be putting it down
When I come, I am going to bring something powerful and awe-inspiring.
Everything we do be blowing, better get on the ground
We will be so powerful that you will be struck and blown away if you're not careful.
It ain't safe no more, it ain't safe no more (nigga)
The situation is no longer safe and you need to recognize that.
He keeps it wicked by creating the sound
I create something powerful and dangerous.
That make the people want to spaz 'til they give him the crown
My creation can drive people to madness and obsession.
Fuck around you'll turn up missing just to never be found
You mess with me and you'll disappear entirely.
It ain't safe no more, it ain't safe no more (nigga)
I'm warning you again that things have become dangerous.
Bodies'll turn up missing, I promise you need to listen
People will disappear without a trace and you need to pay attention.
Abolish the need for bitching, I polish and shine and glisten
I'm telling you to stop complaining and take action to improve your situation.
Demolishing while I'm whistling, astonished while you're witnessed
I am causing destruction and chaos without a care in the world.
Hardest to smash another artist son, regardless if it is
I am the most skilled and powerful artist and can take down anyone who challenges me.
A nigga who think he the greatest son I'll lock him in the fridge
I will put anyone who thinks they are better than me on ice.
And hang him from both of his ankles when we drop him from the bridge
If you cross me, I will humiliate and punish you without mercy.
Blocking your paper really stopping that dude from getting his
By interfering with your work, I can stop you from making money.
Popping the safe and splurging, having the crew up in the crib
I can easily rob you of your riches and enjoy them with my friends.
Block 'til these niggas having 'em rocking gargle with a bib
I can make people so easily overwhelmed that they can't control their bodily functions.
Shitting and farting, spitting and vomiting all in the crib
People will become so overwhelmed with my power that they'll lose control of themselves.
Falling into shock from the bullets we shot up in they ribs
People will be shocked and traumatized by the things I do to them.
Hot up the block and blew up the spot and got up out the mix
I will destroy the places where I go and then disappear without a trace.
Tried it a couple stops and spotted the Squad up in they whips
I have tested my power in different places and always find success.
Plotted and then I signed on the dotted line and made a wish
I have made deals and partnerships to further my power and success.
Return us even the hardest making you garbage niggas sit
No one can compete with me and they will all fall at my feet.
The smartest now you a target only the heartless niggas win
Those with the most ambition and lack of morality are the ones who will win in a dangerous situation like this.
You can't believe can you, I'm calling my dog Nathaniel
I am preparing to do something that will shock you all.
And balling with all my mans you'll be blowing and all will hand you
I am going to achieve something so great that everyone around me will be overwhelmed.
Accordingly or disorderly bullets are sure to bang you
I am willing to use violence to achieve my goals.
Considerably my 9 milli hit you at any angle
My weapon is powerful and can hurt you from any angle.
Shooting, shooting, shooting, high, low, vertical or horizontal
I will shoot my gun in any way necessary to achieve my goals.
And if you were making plans I do think you gon' have to cancel
If you plan to go against me, you might as well give up now.
Sorry I had to ask you, save it I have to blast you
I am not sorry to use violence against you if it is necessary.
Taking a chance to laugh from you making the masses gas you
I find pleasure in watching others be overwhelmed by my power.
So now you thinking that you tough and that we can't get at you
Don't underestimate me and think you can't be hurt.
Change up your mind and leave you stiffer than a massive statue
I will cause you to freeze up and become paralyzed by fear.
Tired of talking need to use all your precautionary measures
It's time to stop talking and start taking action to protect yourself.
Washing off the blood hauling the water force of steady weather
After I use violence, I will clean up the mess and act like nothing happened.
You can handle it or you can't, it be only getting better
You need to either toughen up or get out of the way, because things are only going to get more dangerous.
Like a candle, we burn your chandles and make you feel the pressure
We will put you under pressure until you break.
Cocking it back, articulating the flow just like a lecture
I am precise and powerful in my actions and my words.
Break it down and rebuilding the flow, now peep the architecture
I can deconstruct and reconstruct things in a way that will amaze you.
It ain't safe., in the current state, of our democracy
The world is becoming increasingly dangerous and unstable.
Terrorism, motherfuckers bombing New York, shit is crazy
There are violent acts happening all over the world.
But most importantly
The most important thing to take away from this is that
The most unsafe thing, is that, niggas ain't seeing, the God coming
People are not prepared for someone as powerful as me.
Watch where you walk!
Be careful and aware of your surroundings at all times.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: J YANCEY, TREVOR SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind