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.
Never Leave
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Yeah)
Ayo, Tedsmooth
It look like it's gonna be another one of them hot summers (yeah)
Busta-bust down
Uh, uh, uh, oh (here we go)
Uh, uh, uh, oh (Flipmode)
Uh, uh, uh, oh (ayo, y'all know why she going "uh oh," right?)
Check it
Yo, Prada hotter all on my Copacabana, mama
Gotta lotta shit with you and I love the persona mama
Always love to get with you, ever needin' me? Mama, holla
How you check me and give me the oochie-walla-walla
Swallow a couple shots of the 'yac and make a dolla
Lil' mama in the crib with the focus to be a scholar
Type of example other shorties might need to follow
Now the chick in a bug, it come with a little shop of horrors
Take you to the Caribbean down to Caribana
Sail the Mediterranean and enjoy the water (c'mon)
When the road is rocky, you keepin' me stocky
Takin' care niggas who don't like when you check on your papi
We alright, baby, hug me with all your might
And put it on a nigga, 'cause you know that it's on tonight
Break up to make up, you know that we gone
I'm finding if we ridin' together
Let's stay with it, sho' you're right
Never ever, ever wanna let you go
Tell me what you're feeling, 'cause I want to know
If you're around, you know I'm down
I'll be that girl keeps you on ground
I'm only here just because
It feels good, sayin' us
Keep you right, believe your love
I never thought you'd be the one
Make me shine brighter than the sun
There ain't no ups and downs
No in and outs, you're here right now
If you want me to stay, I'll never leave
If you want me to stay, we'll always be
If you want me to stay, love endlessly
If you want me to stay, if you want me to stay
I'll never leave you
Uh, uh, uh, oh
Uh, uh, uh, oh
Uh, uh, uh, oh (Fabolous, uh)
Uh, uh, uh, oh (Lumidee)
I ain't never gon' believe
You ever gonna leave
You feel so good on my arm
Somethin' like them baseball jackets
With the leather on the sleeve
Or a flooded timepiece that cost several hundred G's
Your lovin' ain't the type of love everyone receive
Baby girl go down like she never wanna breathe, woo
(Uh, oh) I got a play you right
'Cause this kid don't usually let 'em stay the night
And when I know you wrong, I say you're right (yeah)
And when I wanna say no, I say I might (yeah)
This is real talk, you know it ain't another (uh-uh)
And anytime I'm gone, you know I'm thinkin' of you (uh-huh)
And anytime you need, you know I got you covered (uh-huh)
You know none of the others do what I does (uh, uh)
I keep your rocks bluer than hers (uh-huh)
Keep your shoes newer than hers
And I do it because, uh
If you want me to stay, I'll never leave
If you want me to stay, we'll always be
If you want me to stay, love endlessly
If you want me to stay, if you want me to stay
I'll never leave you
Uh, uh, uh, oh
Uh, uh, uh, oh
Uh, uh, uh, oh
Uh, uh, uh, oh
Uh, uh, uh, oh
Uh, uh, uh, oh
Uh, uh, uh, oh
Uh, uh, uh, oh
The lyrics to Busta Rhymes's song "I'll Never Leave" depict a deep and committed love between two individuals. Busta expresses his admiration for his partner, describing her as hot and captivating, with a strong presence and personality. He acknowledges her loyalty and support, highlighting her intellect and ambition, and sees her as a role model for others. He compares their relationship to a rollercoaster ride, with its ups and downs, but ultimately realizes that they are better off together. Busta assures his partner that he will never leave, emphasizing his unwavering dedication and love.
The chorus further emphasizes the unbreakable bond between the couple. Busta acknowledges that he never expected to find someone who would have such a profound impact on his life, making him shine brightly like the sun. There are no uncertainties and fluctuations in their relationship; they are fully committed to each other in the present moment.
The second verse reinforces Busta's commitment and devotion to his partner. He expresses his disbelief that she would ever want to leave, describing how good she feels in his arms, comparing her to valuable and timeless possessions. He acknowledges her unique and incredible love, describing her passionate nature. Busta promises to treat her right, willing to compromise and make her happy. He also affirms that he thinks about her even when he is not physically present, and he is always there to support her.
Overall, "I'll Never Leave" is a love song that celebrates a strong and committed relationship. It portrays a deep connection between two individuals who are willing to go through ups and downs together and demonstrate unwavering loyalty and love for each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, Prada hotter all on my Copacabana, mama
I'm showing off my expensive Prada clothing on the famous Copacabana beach, mama.
Gotta lotta shit with you and I love the persona mama
I have a lot of things going on with you, and I love your personality, mama.
Always love to get with you, ever needin' me? Mama, holla
I always enjoy being with you, do you ever need me? Mama, let me know.
How you check me and give me the oochie-walla-walla
How do you examine me and make me feel so good?
Swallow a couple shots of the 'yac and make a dolla
I take a few shots of cognac and make money.
Lil' mama in the crib with the focus to be a scholar
The young lady in the house is determined to become an educated person.
Type of example other shorties might need to follow
She sets an example that other young girls might need to emulate.
Now the chick in a bug, it come with a little shop of horrors
Now the girl is driving a Beetle car that resembles 'Little Shop of Horrors'.
Take you to the Caribbean down to Caribana
I'll take you on a trip to the Caribbean, specifically to Caribana festival.
Sail the Mediterranean and enjoy the water (c'mon)
We'll travel to the Mediterranean Sea and have a great time on the water.
When the road is rocky, you keepin' me stocky
When things get difficult, you keep me emotionally strong.
Takin' care niggas who don't like when you check on your papi
You're taking care of guys who dislike when you show concern for me, your man.
We alright, baby, hug me with all your might
We're doing fine, baby, give me a tight hug.
And put it on a nigga, 'cause you know that it's on tonight
And make me feel loved, because you know tonight is going to be special.
Break up to make up, you know that we gone
We sometimes argue, but we always come back together, you know it.
I'm finding if we ridin' together
I've realized that if we're together on this journey.
Let's stay with it, sho' you're right
Let's stick with each other, surely you're correct.
Never ever, ever wanna let you go
I never, ever want to let you go.
Tell me what you're feeling, 'cause I want to know
Please share your emotions with me, because I want to understand.
If you're around, you know I'm down
If you're with me, you know I'll always support you.
I'll be that girl keeps you on ground
I'll be the woman who keeps you grounded.
I'm only here just because
I'm here solely because of our connection.
It feels good, sayin' us
It feels good to label our relationship.
Keep you right, believe your love
I'll always support you and believe in your love.
I never thought you'd be the one
I never expected you to be the one.
Make me shine brighter than the sun
You make me radiate with happiness and joy.
There ain't no ups and downs
Our relationship doesn't have any significant problems.
No in and outs, you're here right now
No on-and-off, you're here with me in the present.
I ain't never gon' believe
I will never believe.
You ever gonna leave
That you'll ever leave me.
You feel so good on my arm
You make me feel proud and happy to have you by my side.
Somethin' like them baseball jackets
Similar to those baseball jackets.
With the leather on the sleeve
That have leather on the sleeves.
Or a flooded timepiece that cost several hundred G's
Or a luxurious wristwatch that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Your lovin' ain't the type of love everyone receive
The love you give is unique and not something everyone experiences.
Baby girl go down like she never wanna breathe, woo
Baby girl performs oral sex with enthusiasm and passion.
I got a play you right
I know how to treat you properly.
'Cause this kid don't usually let 'em stay the night
Because I don't usually allow people to stay overnight.
And when I know you wrong, I say you're right (yeah)
Even when I know you're incorrect, I pretend you're right.
And when I wanna say no, I say I might (yeah)
And when I want to refuse, I say I might consider it.
This is real talk, you know it ain't another (uh-uh)
This is honest conversation, you know there's no one else like you.
And anytime I'm gone, you know I'm thinkin' of you (uh-huh)
Whenever I'm away, you know I'm constantly thinking about you.
And anytime you need, you know I got you covered (uh-huh)
And whenever you need something, you know I will provide for you.
You know none of the others do what I does (uh, uh)
You know none of the others can do what I do for you.
I keep your rocks bluer than hers (uh-huh)
I make your jewelry shine brighter than anyone else's.
Keep your shoes newer than hers
I always ensure your footwear is more fashionable and newer than hers.
And I do it because, uh
And I do it because I care about you and want to make you happy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: Edwin Perez, John Jackson, Lumidee Cedeno, Steven Marden, Teddy Mendez, Trevor Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexxmaraj
Thank you Nicki Minaj for bringing this classic back
@olwethunkambule3275
Yes like I even forgot it
@danai.4239
💯💯🔥🔥
@derrickcanady4322
This was the joint brings back so many memories Nicki Minaj gonna bring the new generation to this song who never heard it before 😁
@lazosims7908
thanks for making sure i was in the right place before the adds
@chrisonikatingz6246
YASSS
@brooklynballer6682
Being from Brooklyn, as a kid in 2003 a warm day in the summer before the Puerto Rican day parade, lumidee brought NYC ppl together with this anthem. No matter the race, everyone came together as one ! Now I’m 24 wishing I just can just go back in time when I first heard it. This was my childhood
@djcashmoneyifeanyichukwu8644
❤️💜❤️💜❤️
@roubybaptiste5456
You ain't alone and 41 now remembering these great moments and bless to still around to see and hear it didn't vanish in time
@dontgetaboveyourreason
It was such a cool time, wish we could get those vibes back