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.
Make It Clap
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We make it clap
(Huh) yeah, yeah, yeah
(Flipmode) Busta Rhymes (Busta Rhymes)
Sean-a-paul (Sean Paul)
One more time (ha) kill 'em with a rhyme (huh)
Remix time (remix) ah dutty yeah, yo
Spliff Star (Spliff), Flipmode squad (ha) Kill dem with a rhyme (come on), ah dutty yeah
Cah me seh jump up, clap unnuh hand and siddung
Get up again and wig out mek everybody flip out unnuh fi carry on
She get tired and wan chillout, all ah di gyal ah spread out
Mek your body keep clappin on
Flipmode ah roll wid all di hottest set ah gyal dem inna di dance
And Dutty Cup we deh 'ya mek di gyal dem jump up and prance
Busta Rhymes and Sean-A-Paul di lyrical magicians
There fi mek dem switch, jump up, wave up dem hands
Flipmode ah roll wid all di hottest set ah gyal dem inna di dance
And Dutty Cup we deh 'ya mek di gyal dem jump up and prance
Busta Rhymes and Sean-A-Paul di lyrical magicians
There fi mek dem switch, jump up, wave up dem hands
So push it up deh
Back with the remix with Spliff and Sean-A-Paul on the corner
Can't believe when we do it we smack it down how we wanna
Keepin' it comin', keepin' it goin' 'cause we ain't playin'
I'm talkin to all my people 'cause what I'm sayin' is
In case you ain't know and in case you ain't heard
And if you want us to set it just give me the word
This one goes out to my soldiers that be flippin' them birdsTo all my shorties wigglin', they shakin' they curves
We make it clap
We make it clap
We make it clap
We make it clap
Poor snapper, look at shorty shakin' it and makin' it clap
Booty big pokin' out like twenties on the lap
When I give it to her shorty know how to throw it back
Booty bangin' to the beat some times we overlap, sing
Gyal peel out your blouse and your tight jeans
Let me lick you down, dip you with some icecream
Gyal holla holla my name when I slide in
Thunderstorm, rain, sleet, and lightning
Hold me tight, feel the Triniman grinding
And grinding and grinding
Gyal dip and bounce start whining
You see Spliff, Sean Paul and Busta Rhymes, Zeen
(We got dough) You could tell by what we driving
(Lookin at the jewels) How it's different and blinding
And blinding and blinding
It's like that make it clap now (come on)
In case you ain't know and in case you ain't heard
And if you want us to set it just give me the word
This one goes out to my soldiers that be flippin' them birds
To all my shorties wigglin', they shakin' they curves
We make it clap
We make it clap
We make it clap
We make it clap
Flipmode ah roll wid all di hottest set ah gyal dem inna di dance
And Dutty Cup we deh 'ya mek di gyal dem jump up and prance
Busta Rhymes and Sean-A-Paul di lyrical magicians
There fi mek dem switch, jump up, wave up dem hands
Flipmode ah roll wid all di hottest set ah gyal dem inna di dance
And Dutty Cup we deh 'ya mek di gyal dem jump up and prance
Busta Rhymes and Sean-A-Paul di lyrical magicians
There fi mek dem switch, jump up, wave up dem hands
We make it clap deh, keep it ah clap gyal wiggle yuh body
Me wan fi see all ah di style weh you ah pop deh
Listen di lyrics ah weh di dutty all ah chat seh
Rotate yuh body deh non-stop like a battery
Dawn and Karyn all Angie and Patsy
Inna di videolight just like a big Sunday matinee
Stop fi gimme di light me blow di smoke like a factory
Mashin' up di dance and me flatten it, we make it clap
Women call me di Abominable Snowman
Put it down make 'em say it's such a phenomenal show man
Unbelievable how you be stackin' the dough man
Like we rollin' a thousand headcracks in a row man
The way we start the show and how we constantly flow man
Regular paper comin watch me properly blow man, come on
Keepin' it comin', keepin' it goin' 'cause we ain't playin'
I'm talkin' to all of my people because what I'm sayin' is, ah
In case you ain't know and in case you ain't heard (come on)
And if you want us to set it just give me the word
This one goes out to my soldiers that be flippin' them birds
To all my shorties wigglin', they shakin' they curves
We make it clap
We make it clap
We make it clap
We make it clap
We make it clap
We make it clap
We make it clap
We make it clap
The lyrics of Busta Rhymes's song "Make It Clap" are all about a party atmosphere and the desire to make women dance and shake their bodies. He uses references to attractive clothes, jewelry, and symbols of wealth and success to attract the attention of his audience. The lyrics are also about the camaraderie among his crew, Flipmode, and how they set new standards when they come to control and command the party. The chorus "just make it clap" emphasizes the importance of shaking one's body and making a lively party atmosphere.
The song's lyrics heavily emphasize Busta's appreciation for women's bodies and their movements, especially when shaking their backsides. The song's message is one of lust and sexuality, with Busta and his crew inviting women to "just make it clap." The song's upbeat tempo and catchy chorus further reinforce this message, encouraging listeners to dance and join the party.
The chorus of "just make it clap" is frequently used in other pieces of media, such as television shows or movies, as a way to get people excited and involved in the action. The song is a popular dance tune and is frequently played at parties and clubs. Furthermore, Busta Rhymes has been a respected rapper in his genre for decades, and his unique style and delivery have influenced many other artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Just make it clap
Encouragement to dance provocatively
Ayo, we 'bout to take everybody from every street
Invitation to all people in all neighborhoods to come dance
And throw a party in the Grand Canyon (come on)
Metaphorical idea to host an expansive and energetic dance party
Uh uh, yeah yeah
Casual expression of excitement
See y'all know what it is
Acknowledgement of shared understanding and expectation
Flipmode baby, check it
Introduction of the music group Flipmode Squard
Hey, hey
Casual expression
Ain't no fakin' the fluid
Authentic and effortless movement
Water drippin' off asses of women that's shakin' it to it
Description of provocative dance moves by women
While I'm takin you through it
Guiding listeners through the song and dance
No mistakin' my crew, it's Flipmode baby
Proud declaration of the music group 'Flipmode Squad'
I got you actin' all stupid
Effect of the beat on listeners
Now I'm back in the coupe and just to tell you the truth
Personal commentary on lifestyle
It's them niggas that be havin' you back and then ready to lose it
Warning of false friends
Pushin' Lambos and Harleys, rockin' Roberto Cavalli
Boastful declaration of wealth and style
Now I got a new hobby, diamonds and tattooing body
Personal commentary on lifestyle
Watch me crash through the party, go 'head and spaz girl
Promise to liven up a party with exciting energy
Tattooin' the name of my click across your ass girl
Provocative and sexual offer to tattoo a woman's body
We 'bout to blast girl, from here to Albuquerque
Promise to deliver high-energy and energetic music
Like Jamaican niggas, rockin' big chains and soccer jerseys
Comparison of self and group to energetic and stylish Jamaican men
Take you on hotter journeys
Promise to deliver exciting experiences
The way we put it down and be hittin'
Confidence in musical skills
Be havin' you shittin' more than a box of Hershey's
Excitement and energy will cause listeners to dance and move excessively
We come to control it, we come to command it
Purpose to control and lead the party
And just for the record, we always come to set a new standard
Commitment to excellence
Act like you know
Challenge to listeners to keep up with the energy and skill level
In case you ain't know and in case you ain't heard
Clarification of the group's reputation
And if you want us to set it, just give me the word
Offer to take control and energize the party
This one goes out to my soldiers that be flippin' them birds
Dedication to a group of people who sell drugs
To all my shorties wigglin' and shakin' they curves
Acknowledgement and appreciation of women dancing provocatively
See you's a hot little mama, it's only right that I holla
Compliment and flirtation with a woman
Love your face, love your smile, love that ass in that Prada
Appreciation of a woman's appearance and style
Make it bounce up and down like the '64 Impala
Request to dance provocatively
Turn around, wiggle it like you shakin' it for dollars
Directed provocation for women to dance even more energetically
Girl your skin tone pretty and you love to wear Vickey
Appreciation of a woman's skin ton and shoe preference
Sport Gucci and Gabbana when you love the world is sticky
Assumption that women who wear expensive clothes like to party and have sex
Got a crib in the city with a cherry 850
Personal commentary on wealth
We could cruise down the avenue and shop 'til you dizzy
Proposal for a date
Throw some karats in your pinky, have your neck and wrist blingy
Promise to buy a woman expensive jewelry
I could bless you with it all, boo, but never say "gimme"
Will provide for a woman generously but doesn't want her to expect it
We can pop yellow bottles push whips in all models
Promise to have a good time with a woman
Vroom vroom on the Calisport instead of Gucci goggles
Preference for activities involving sports and wealth
I'm a fly little nigga, boo, enough for you to dig it, boo
Self-referential refrain
Hit me up later, we can go somewhere and kick it boo
Proposal for a romantic hookup with a woman
The name is Spliff, baby, I'll make you man hate me
Introducion of artist's name and intention to woo another person's significant other
'Cause my shit's steak and gravy plus my pipe gettin crazy, baby
Confident declaration of sexual prowess
I said "come on" if you're ready, we wilin' all night
Request for dance and energy all night long
We make you feel good, make you feel right
Promise to provide enjoyable music and experience
See they drunk off of the Henny, niggas wanna fight
Observation of drunk and aggresive men at a party
Shit these bitches be wearin' be fittin' real tight
Commentary on women's clothing choice and body type
Niggas up in the club, niggas outside
Observation of who is at the party and who is not
Bag a couple bitches, bring 'em inside
Proposal to bring more women to the party
Shorty dodgin' and dippin', shorty tryna hide
Commentary on a woman trying to avoid attention and men
Busy dodgin' a nigga because she wanna ride
Accusation that a woman is deliberately avoiding a man's advances because she wants to sleep with him
Come on if ya
Invitation for listeners to continue dancing with the song
All ready, we come to muscle y'all women
Intimidating and sexually aggressive attitude towards women
Come on, rassle and try to hassle and hustle y'all women
Dehumanizing and aggressive act towards women
Come on (you, you)
Invitation to keep dancing and partying
See how we bubble y'all women, come on
Boastful declaration of sexual prowess and attention towards women
Dibble and dabble, how we be lovin' y'all women, come on
Casual description of attention towards women
Let's get it on and let me hit it with my fitted on
Request for sexual encounter with a particular hat on
Never mind a slow jam, pump one of Biggie's songs
Preferenece for energetic and upbeat music instead of slow and essentially romantic songs
Strip, yell or pull it off, show me that butter soft
Command for a woman to remove her clothing and demonstrate her body
Open up wide ma, swallow when I let it off, yo
Aggressive proposition for oral sex
Lyrics © YELL MUSIC LTD, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ricardo Thomas, Trevor Smith, Sean Henriques, William Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FreshlySnipes777
1:32 Here from The JBP Episode this morning 😂😂 Big M4…. “Her Sh*t Was Phat back then”😂😂😂😂😂
@reecem477
🤣🤣 Shout out the patronies fr
@Mr_Residual
Yurrr
@mrrome
I promise it was 😂😂😂😂
@obamaruntz9272
"Gurl u shaped like a cinnabon"😂😂😂😂
@Koduhhhh
Damn we all early lmao
@kingtim_ade
Spliff Starr verse was my favorite part of the song 🔥🔥🔥
@HasanNamouhi
❤❤❤🎉🎉😮😮😊😊😊
@iamright3501
Because of Spliff Starr’s verse, I’m gonna come back here to listen to this mad tune every year. His flair with the rap is just catchy and hilarious ☺️TbH Busta was the rap beast in the 90s coming🎶🔥 Sean was super awesome too👌🏻This trio was/is lit✨🔥
@nmendez14
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼