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. Bustaβs 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 βBorn Justice God Allahβ 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: βI used to work as a stock boy at a department store called Cheap Johnβs,β he says. βI knew that I couldnβt 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.β Why?
βThey 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 βthis is definitely not the thing for me to continue to be doing.ββ
Busta adds, βI 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 β¦ to just apply myself creatively, and the opportunity finally came one day when I was downtown.β 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: βMt. Airy Grooveβ 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 Bustaβs 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 βAll of sudden Iβm hearing people in the streets talking about hos Bustaβs back. In my mind, he never left, and thatβs why I wanted to fuck with in the first place. Heβs got that drive, and he never stops trying to top himself. Anybody who knows Busta knows that heβs 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.
Match The Name With The Voice
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Greatness, yeah, yeah
Hey yo, turn the beat up a little bit louder
Truck Volume
[Busta Rhymes]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
We bout to play a lil' game, match the name with the voice
SO WHO ARE YOU?
[Baby Sham]
Baby Sham, I'm known for the crud
First night pops off with a couple of slugs
[Busta Rhymes]
And how you doing?
[Baby Shaman]
You see what I'm workin' wit, it's beyond rap
Stick to the fact, that chapped lips get convexed
Palm that, look where the arm's at, nigga need to launch that
Now tell me what the problem be, is that I'm scorching them
To flood these streets, hot not partially, cock back the toast
Put your heart for free, so what it feels like to hear me crushin' a beat
[Busta Rhymes]
So who are you?
[Rah Digga]
The illest broad Digga, reppin' Brick City
If I'm lying may the Lord come strike my left tittie
[Busta Rhymes]
AND HOW YOU DOIN'?
[Rah Digga]
Undisputed metaphor rap queen, always cookin' up some shit
Like mom's a crack fiend, so what's the word
Strike a nerve when I'm speakin'
Any emcee whether black or white, or Puertorriquen
I'm the big dog, you just a cat stuck in a tree
Not one of y'all cocksuckers fuckin' wit me
[Chorus: Busta Rhymes]
So who are we? (Flipmode)
Got you gaspin' for air, hot shit motherfuckers
Throw your hands in the air
Watch how we do it
How we rep and yo we solemnly swear
To put it down until it's over and our time is up here
So who are you?
[Rampage]
Rampage, new tenant, pack big still
Fuck what ya heard, I'm ready to kill
[Busta Rhymes]
And how you doing?
[Rampage]
Day criminal, street thug material
Flipmode Imperial, top breakin' officer
Fuck around we warnin' ya, 21 gun salute
6 official conrads, ain't afraid to shoot
Niggas see us, we got them shakin' in they boots
Flipmode, the streets, bigger than Bayroots
[Busta Rhymes]
SO WHO ARE YOU?
[Spliff Starr]
Yeah, Spliff Starr, cunt-crusher, gun-busta
Hard-to-toucha, one bad motherfucker
[Busta Rhymes]
And how you doing?
[Spliff Starr]
Gangsta bitch, deadly like cancerous
I bring it where your parents live, show you what your status is
Steam-boil your cabbages, I can't take y'all niggas fagotness
You about to die, show him where his casket is
You wanted beans, I had your hood under siege
Guns get squeezed, and bullets hit your knees
[Busta Rhymes]
SO WHO ARE YOU?
Bus-A-Bus now, somethin' fo' sho'
Keep 'em whilin' till somebody's left a leak on the flo'
And how you doing?
We've been awaitin' the God, to make an under novel entry
Controllin' everything in the yard
Rugged like General Custard it seems
How we crush grapefruit, niggaz, and make a mustard out of your team
You know we hotter than the 4th of July
So sit back and watch the fireworks show light up my name the sky
[Chorus]
In "Match The Name With The Voice," Busta Rhymes and Flipmode Squad present themselves as powerful, confident rappers who are unmatched in their skills. The song is structured as a game, where each member of Flipmode Squad introduces themselves and their style. They urge the listener to pick their favorite emcee wisely because they are making a lifelong decision. Rampage and Spliff Starr, as well as Rah Digga and Baby Sham, all introduce themselves in rhymes that highlight their lyrical abilities and their tough-guy personas. Everybody emphasizes their gangster style, how they won't hesitate to kill someone and their overall toughness. Busta Rhymes also contributes to the track with his ferocious rhymes and effortless flow, reminding everyone why he is one of the best in the game.
Overall, the song is a confident display of lyrical prowess and tough-guy posturing. Busta Rhymes and Flipmode Squad are proud of their abilities and want the world to know that they're not to be messed with lightly.
Line by Line Meaning
Greatness, yeah, yeah
Busta Rhymes begins by acknowledging the greatness of his rap crew Flipmode Squad with a cheerful 'yeah, yeah.'
Hey yo, turn the beat up a little bit louder
He asks for an increase in the volume of the background music that he then dubs 'Truck Volume.'
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
He surveys the group with a sense of excitement before announcing the start of a new game.
We bout to play a lil' game, match the name with the voice
Busta Rhymes introduces the premise of his game where the audience has to match the rapper's name with their witty voice before choosing a favorite emcee.
So when you pick your favorite emcee you makin' the right choice
He advises the audience to make the right choice while selecting their favored emcee.
SO WHO ARE YOU?
Busta Rhymes asks his team members to introduce themselves with confidence and attitude.
Baby Sham, I'm known for the crud
Baby Sham introduces himself emphasizing his street toughness, unlike most rappers.
First night pops off with a couple of slugs
He brags about his violent reputation, indicating that he gives his enemies a taste of their own medicine.
And how you doing?
Busta Rhymes asks Baby Sham how he is doing in his unique style.
You see what I'm workin' wit, it's beyond rap
Baby Sham boasts about his extraordinary skills that go beyond mere rapping.
Stick to the fact, that chapped lips get convexed
He warns his opponents to stay grounded, and not to underestimate his deadly rhyming skills.
Palm that, look where the arm's at, nigga need to launch that
He advises his rivals to avoid being beaten by him and to achieve something significant using their strengths.
Now tell me what the problem be, is that I'm scorching them
He challenges his foes by asking what their issue is, even when he is clearly dominating them.
To flood these streets, hot not partially, cock back the toast
He plans to dominate the music scene with his new releases, aiming to take over the streets completely, with superior flow and aggressive rhyming.
Put your heart for free, so what it feels like to hear me crushin' a beat
He asks his fans to give him their heart and soul as he promises to deliver and crushes the musical beats with his marvelous rhyming.
The illest broad Digga, reppin' Brick City
Rah Digga introduces herself with pride, stressing how veteran and skilled she is as a female rapper, representing Newark, New Jersey.
If I'm lying may the Lord come strike my left tittie
She challenges anyone doubting her reputation and success to face the wrath of God, putting forth an extreme example.
Undisputed metaphor rap queen, always cookin' up some shit
She proves herself to be the queen of metaphorical rap, always producing mind-blowing songs.
Like mom's a crack fiend, so what's the word
Her rap style is inspired by struggling people, such as her mother, who suffer from drug addiction.
Strike a nerve when I'm speakin'
She draws a reaction from her audience's feelings and emotions when she performs her songs with vigor and skill.
Any emcee whether black or white, or Puertorriquen
She does not differentiate or discriminate among different races, genders, or nationalities; all rappers are welcomed to compete with her.
I'm the big dog, you just a cat stuck in a tree
She considers herself the top dog of the rap game, leaving her competitors to struggle like a cat stuck in a tree.
Not one of y'all cocksuckers fuckin' wit me
She has such high esteem for herself that she looks down upon other rappers, pointing out their weak points in front of everyone.
So who are we? (Flipmode)
Busta Rhymes invites the whole Flipmode Squad to introduce themselves after Rah Digga's proud show-off.
Got you gaspin' for air, hot shit motherfuckers
He boasts about Flipmode bringing such a high level of energy and pressure that his listeners are gasping for air, overwhelmed by their rap skills.
Throw your hands in the air
Busta Rhymes calls out to his fans to show their love through their actions and excitement.
Watch how we do it
He asks the fans to witness and enjoy their rap session.
How we rep and yo we solemnly swear
Busta Rhymes promises that they are fully committed to their success and promise to keep giving their best in the future as well.
To put it down until it's over and our time is up here
Flipmode Squad will dominate the rap industry till the very end, and will not rest until they succeed.
Rampage, new tenant, pack big still
Rampage introduces himself as a new member of the squad, bringing in fresh air and big dreams with him.
Fuck what ya heard, I'm ready to kill
He dismisses any rumors or misconceptions about him, and declares that his intense energy and aggression will help him win.
Day criminal, street thug material
He is not just a rapper but also a criminal, with a dangerous streak in his character, fitting perfectly in the rap world.
Flipmode Imperial, top breakin' officer
He motivates the whole team as the top-ranking officer of Flipmode, ready to lead and break records.
Fuck around we warnin' ya, 21 gun salute
Busta Rhymes and his squad are powerful, warning their enemies to prepare for the ultimate fight.
6 official conrads, ain't afraid to shoot
Flipmode SQUAD is a team composed of 6 powerful members who are not afraid of anything and are ready to face any challenge head-on.
Niggas see us, we got them shakin' in they boots
They inspire fear and admiration from their competitors who are wary of the Flipmode's growing prowess.
Flipmode, the streets, bigger than Bayroots
Busta Rhymes and his team are the undisputed kings of the streets, known throughout the area by everybody, even more significant than the Bayroots in New York City.
Yeah, Spliff Starr, cunt-crusher, gun-busta
Spliff Starr introduces his explosiveness and skill as a part of the Flipmode crew, with violent lyrics and powerful rhymes.
Hard-to-toucha, one bad motherfucker
He is tough, hard to touch or retaliate against, and demands respect for his abilities as a rapper, fighter, and general badass.
Gangsta bitch, deadly like cancerous
Spliff Starr turns aggressive and introduces himself as a gangster, deadly like cancerous tumors, who is not afraid to kill with his powerful rhymes.
I bring it where your parents live, show you what your status is
He threatens his opponents by inviting them to visit their parent's residence as he demonstrates what their place in society is and how much potential they lack.
Steam-boil your cabbages, I can't take y'all niggas fagotness
He reveals the extremity of his aggression, boiling people's cabbages means even his language is dangerous, depicting his level of disgust with suckers, weaklings, and cowards.
You about to die, show him where his casket is
He shows his forceful side, giving his enemies warning, challenging them to confront their death, and meet their fate.
You wanted beans, I had your hood under siege
He declares that he does much more than what people ask of him. As the king of his hood, he can and will change things at his will, putting entire neighborhoods under siege.
Guns get squeezed, and bullets hit your knees
He uses a chilling example about guns and bullets to amount his power and force as he threatens his enemies.
Bus-A-Bus now, somethin' fo' sho'
Busta takes his turn to introduce himself with his well-known nickname, Bus-A-Bus, indicating that something spectacular is about to occur.
Keep 'em whilin' till somebody's left a leak on the flo'
He plans to keep the crowd energized till they are out of breath, having such an enjoyable time, resulting in an accident of some kind on the dancefloor.
We've been awaitin' the God, to make an under novel entry
He is the God of Rapping and announces himself as the leader of Flipmode Squad, who is making a stunning entrance into the rap world.
Controllin' everything in the yard
Busta Rhymes declares himself as the king of the rap industry and the Flipmode's strong control of the rap industry, with all musicians bowing to their command.
Rugged like General Custard it seems
He braces himself like the General Custard in the Battle of Little Big Horn, portraying himself as a ruffian who is not afraid to get into warfare if needed.
How we crush grapefruit, niggaz, and make a mustard out of your team
When he takes the stage, he crushes the competition, comparing his forceful nature to the crushing of grapefruit, turning his opponents into something insignificant and irrelevant, much like mustard in front of his team.
You know we hotter than the 4th of July
Busta compares the heat and spark created by his rap crew's music to the fireworks of the fourth of July, noting how legendary and impact-full it is.
So sit back and watch the fireworks show light up my name the sky
He asks his listeners to sit back and witness his brilliant rhyming skills, resulting in fireworks that light up his name and persona across the sky.
So who are you?
Busta Rhymes concludes the game by asking once again for everyone to introduce themselves one last thrilling time.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: FISHER, JONES, LEWIS, MCNAIR, ME, SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AdamHazelden1984
The youth today just donβt know how raw what we had was! Went with the times sadly. π₯
mattia
Greatness
Raphael Ortiz
Yesss... Fuckin awesome
ricky Pinnock
HARD....πͺπΌπ£
luyanda abrahams
I remember how Rah Diggah flow and I really miss here π₯
Zodiac martnio
π―
Bruno Bazz
πβ€οΈπΌππΌβ€οΈπ
Illmatic
Rah Digga β€βπ₯β€βπ₯β€βπ₯
Patrizia Tondi
π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯
Krasimir Kanev
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