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.
On Your Marks Get Set Ready Go
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go! what be going on over here?
Coming through top speed you better stand clear
Oh! you better beware or step somewhere
We 'bout to blast outta here excitement!
Yes I hope you know we come through
To cause chaos like Darth Vader
Turn on your radar
The situation that we parel on the torset
I am reptar hear me roar!
I am reptar the king of dinosaurs!
Oh ya but sure I done but dirty
Still racing downhill like we doing a buck thrity
Ha! oh my name is herby (herby)
The race car going inside the demolition derby (derby)
Reptar you must be really losing a screw
Because I think we losing control so what we gonna do?
Tell me what we gonna do
Check it!
[Chorus: x2]
What are we doing and where we gonna go!
So fast its gonna blow dry your ass hole!
Get out the fast dreamer says your moving to slow!
On your marks, get set, ready, go!
I told panic
We don't get no static from downhill
Crazy rides running through 50 traffic
Ha! made it dramatic
Plus I'm not really had it with situations like these
I better make it a habit
I am reptar the perfect children's toy!
For every girl every boy
I know they overly joyed
So fast I hear the wind whistling
Faster than a missile then
Ha is you listening?
No
In a minute we'll be soon to be arriving
Strive to put an end to all this reckless drinving
I don't mean to bore you but
I am reptar and I will destroy you!
Just like an image
Before we end up diminished
I hope that we can slow the pace down before the ride finish
Reptar you must be really losing a screw
Because I think we losing control so what we gonna do?
[Chorus]
Hold it!
Where we going?
What's happening here?
Where we going?
What's going on reptar?
What's going on reptar?
I'm losing control here!
What happening?
Everybody put on your seat belts
We need to angle this situation the right way
So that we can handle the situation the right way
What does it take?
Wonder what will happen if we press this button
Press the stop reptar
He started shooting fire
How many things are there around for us to destroy?
Maybe fire isn't the best idea for a children's toy
Reptar I think you really losing a screw
Cause we losing control again so what we gonna do?
Check it!
[Chorus]
On your marks, get set, ready, go!
On your marks, get set, ready, go!
On your marks, get set, ready, go!
The lyrics to Busta Rhymes's song "On Your Marks Get Set Ready Go" are characterized by their energetic and fast-paced delivery, reflecting the theme of speed and racing. The first verse portrays the excitement and chaos of the experience, where Busta Rhymes compares himself to the powerful villain Darth Vader, and introduces the character of Reptar, the king of dinosaurs. The chorus repeats the question of what they are doing and where they are going, emphasizing the high speed and risk of the situation. The second verse describes the challenges and dangers of downhill racing, with Reptar and his team losing control and potentially causing destruction. The final part of the song sees the characters attempting to regain control and bring the situation to a safe end, while acknowledging the thrill and exhilaration of the ride.
Overall, the lyrics to "On Your Marks Get Set Ready Go" celebrate the adrenaline-fueled excitement of racing and the desire for speed and adventure. The use of references to pop culture and children's toys adds a playful and nostalgic element to the lyrics, while the fast pace and intense delivery capture the adrenaline and danger of the experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Go!
Let's begin!
Go! what be going on over here?
What's happening here?
Coming through top speed you better stand clear
We are going very fast, you should move out of the way
Oh! you better beware or step somewhere
Be cautious or move out of the way
We 'bout to blast outta here excitement!
We're about to take off and have fun!
Yes I hope you know we come through
We're letting you know we're here
To cause chaos like Darth Vader
To create chaos like Darth Vader did
Turn on your radar
Be alert and aware of us
On the downhill racing I'm holding my head
I'm racing downhill and feeling the intensity
The situation that we parel on the torset
We're in a dangerous situation and need to be careful
I am reptar hear me roar!
I am Reptar and I'm powerful
I am reptar the king of dinosaurs!
I'm the king of all dinosaurs
Oh ya but sure I done but dirty
I've done some bad things in the past
Still racing downhill like we doing a buck thrity
We're still racing downhill at high speed
Ha! oh my name is herby (herby)
My name is Herby (like the car)
The race car going inside the demolition derby (derby)
The race car is going into a demolition derby
Reptar you must be really losing a screw
Reptar, you must be going crazy
Because I think we losing control so what we gonna do?
We're losing control, what should we do?
What are we doing and where we gonna go!
What are we doing and where will we end up?
So fast its gonna blow dry your ass hole!
We're going so fast it's like we're drying your bum!
Get out the fast dreamer says your moving to slow!
The fast dreamer is telling you to speed up!
I told panic
I warned you about panicking
We don't get no static from downhill
We're not getting any resistance while going downhill
Crazy rides running through 50 traffic
We're driving crazily through slow traffic
Ha! made it dramatic
We're making everything more exciting
Plus I'm not really had it with situations like these
I don't like being in situations like this
I better make it a habit
I need to get used to it
I am reptar the perfect children's toy!
I am the perfect toy for children
For every girl every boy
Every child will love me
I know they overly joyed
I know they're extremely happy
So fast I hear the wind whistling
We're going so fast you can hear the wind whistling
Faster than a missile then
We're going faster than a missile
Ha is you listening?
Are you listening?
No
No, you're not listening
In a minute we'll be soon to be arriving
We'll be arriving soon
Strive to put an end to all this reckless drinving
We're trying to stop reckless driving
I don't mean to bore you but
I don't want to be boring, but
I am reptar and I will destroy you!
I am Reptar and I will overpower you
Just like an image
Just like a picture
Before we end up diminished
Before we lose our power
I hope that we can slow the pace down before the ride finish
I hope we can slow down before the ride ends
Hold it!
Stop!
What's happening here?
What's going on?
Where we going?
Where are we headed?
What's going on reptar?
What's happening, Reptar?
I'm losing control here!
I can't control what's happening!
Everybody put on your seat belts
Everyone should put on their seat belts
We need to angle this situation the right way
We need to handle this situation correctly
So that we can handle the situation the right way
So we can handle it well
What does it take?
What should we do?
Wonder what will happen if we press this button
I wonder what will happen if we push this button?
Press the stop reptar
Stop, Reptar!
He started shooting fire
He began shooting fire
How many things are there around for us to destroy?
How many targets are around for us to attack?
Maybe fire isn't the best idea for a children's toy
Maybe we shouldn't have fire in a toy for children
Reptar I think you really losing a screw
Reptar, you're really going crazy
Cause we losing control again so what we gonna do?
We're losing control again, what should we do?
On your marks, get set, ready, go!
Get ready for the race!
On your marks, get set, ready, go!
Get ready for the race!
On your marks, get set, ready, go!
Get ready for the race!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TREVOR SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Colin Miller
If I had my way, the soundtrack tracklist would be different
01. Take Me There
02. Witch Doctor
03. Dil a Bye
04. A Baby is a Gift from Bob
05. On Your Marks Get Set Ready Go
06. I Throw My Toys Around
07. One Way or Another
08. This World is Something New to Me
09. Take The Train
10. Wild Ride
11. All Day
12. Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Yum
Jesse V
I was 5 when my father bought this movie on Pay-Per-View and recorded it on VHS in 1998. I'm 28 now. It's crazy how time flies by so fast
Ineffable Mars
I saw this in the theater and this song especially was so awesome to me
Nicolay Pastore
@Ineffable Mars same here
Daniel Smith
I wasn’t even alive when it was released until a year ago, but I got a chance to see it
Angelina Camacho
Ahhhhh piracy at its peak 😂
YVNG P00T
Busta did not have to go this hard for the rugrats movie
Casey Thomas
He had to. He played the voice of the Reptar Wagon.
kyliee
@Casey Thomas theyre complimenting him.. lol
MusicLover_KB
Exactly, he didn't have to but he gave it his all and it was SO DAMN GOOD. This is for a kids movie and it was so energetic, I love it. I AM REPTAR, HEAR ME ROAR. I AM REPTAR, KING OF DINOSAURS
Colin Miller
@MusicLover_KB Dude, it's Busta. Of course it's gonna be good.