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.
Slow Flow
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna do more smooth rhymes and shit, man
Know what I'm sayin'? I don't know them shits
Yeah
Come on
It's that shit, oh, shit
That's that Wu-Tang shit, my nigga
Check it, yo, this to all them fuckin' MC's out there in the world
You know what I'm sayin'?
Yeah, come on, come on
What? What? What? What?
What? What? What? What?
What? What? What? What? (Yo)
I'm here to shock your dome piece real quick (yo, yo)
Know what I'm sayin'? (yo, check)
Shit get cataclysmic how I mastered the wicked division of spittin' nigga, past what you wishin'
It's super surpassing your vision in whatever you thinking of course
Bags are sickening, make 'em gag when I'm shittin' type of flow
See, the fact is I'm back and I'm stackin' 'em up
How I'm heatin' the planet, niggas be callin' me solar maximum
So effortless in how I'm attackin' 'em
Even when I'm restin', I'm Black and niggas see the results and next
Count them like checkin' the pulse of a corpse when I show 'em no reaction
Ignoring you, nigga (you borin' me, nigga)
Back to stacking this paper exactly, the lyrical impact is so literal
Criminal (priceless), as in every valuable mineral
Super subliminal, becomin' the future like digital data
Pivotal moments, shit get critical, haters
See what I make the DJ do to the fader, rest in peace to Roc Raida
Body niggas now or later, traumatically major
Dramatically cater to niggas that want it and eat it
And live it and fart it just to open they vein and bleed it
I superseded the situation every time it's hard to defeat it
The unstoppable, you need it
Whoa-ho-ho, let me, like, slow up with the flow
If I move too quick, oh, ya just won't know
Whoa-ho-ho, let me, like, slow up with the flow
If I move too quick, oh, ya just won't know
Introducing, yo, fuck that nigga's name
My hip hop drops on your head like rain
And when it rains, it pours 'cause my rhymes hardcore
That's why I give you more of the raw (yo, yo)
The tables is turnin', I'm enjoying just burning you niggas
And schooling and tutoring and learning you niggas
So peep the way that I come and weed 'em out beyond a reasonable doubt
I ain't rushin', I'm taking the scenic route
On my paper trail to unveil and just derail all irrelevant traffic
And clear the lane and deliver that Illmatic
While keepin' you hyper and keep you ecstatic while I'm bringin' shit harder
Especially when it's dark, I'm a midnight marauder
Now, baby, bye little bitch, hope you know I'm ready to die as the best
Appreciatin' this nigga life after death
But in the meantime, while I poison you niggas with the heat for the blocks
Scratchin' and fiendin', needing a detox
While you screaming, I'm shining, gleamin' and cleaning up the game in a mink
While I give you what's only built for Cuban link, niggas
Incredible Hulk's America's most wanted
Hole in the fort, documented report in the war report
Givin' you the crack, nigga, new jacks
They need that Carter V for the niggas that got appetites bigger than dinosaurs
Like, every time I spit, I get rid of a few
This is Extinction Level Event 2
Whoa-ho-ho, let me, like, slow up with the flow
If I move too quick, oh, ya just won't know
Whoa-ho-ho, let me, like, slow up with the flow
If I move too quick, oh, ya just won't know
Introducing, yo, fuck that nigga's name
My hip hop drops on your head like rain
And when it rains, it pours 'cause my rhymes hardcore
That's why I give you more of the raw
The lyrics to Busta Rhymes's song "Slow Flow" are a powerful showcase of his lyrical prowess and confidence in his skills as an MC. In the song, Busta asserts his dominance in the rap game, challenging any other MCs who think they can compete with him. He references Ol' Dirty Bastard from Wu-Tang Clan, acknowledging his iconic status and warning others not to underestimate him. Busta showcases his ability to deliver rapid-fire rhymes, effortlessly switching flows and styles while maintaining control and precision.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of perseverance and overcoming obstacles. Busta describes how he effortlessly stacks up his rhymes and has an impact on his listeners, comparing his lyrical prowess to the power of the sun. He emphasizes his ability to consistently deliver impactful verses, even in his downtime. Busta refuses to give attention to those who try to bring him down, dismissing them as boring and irrelevant.
The chorus of the song, "Whoa-ho-ho, let me, like, slow up with the flow / If I move too quick, oh, ya just won't know," serves as a reminder that Busta's skills are unparalleled, and if he were to slow down, his true abilities would never be fully realized or appreciated. The song showcases Busta Rhymes at his best, delivering rapid-fire rhymes, showcasing his technical skills, and asserting his dominance as a legendary MC.
Line by Line Meaning
Shit get cataclysmic how I mastered the wicked division of spittin' nigga, past what you wishin'
I am extremely skilled and impactful in my rap style, surpassing anything you could imagine.
Bags are sickening, make 'em gag when I'm shittin' type of flow
My rap flow is so impressive that it shocks and astounds listeners.
See, the fact is I'm back and I'm stackin' 'em up
I have returned with even more success and achievements to my name.
How I'm heatin' the planet, niggas be callin' me solar maximum
I am so hot and influential in the rap game that people compare me to the sun's maximum heat.
Even when I'm restin', I'm Black and niggas see the results and next
Even in moments of relaxation, my impact and success continue to grow.
Count them like checkin' the pulse of a corpse when I show 'em no reaction
I disregard and ignore those who try to provoke a response from me, treating them as lifeless.
Ignoring you, nigga (you borin' me, nigga)
I don't pay attention to the boring individuals who try to engage with me.
Back to stacking this paper exactly, the lyrical impact is so literal
I focus on accumulating wealth while also making a literal impact with my powerful lyrics.
Criminal (priceless), as in every valuable mineral
My rap style is criminal in its value and rarity, akin to precious minerals.
Super subliminal, becomin' the future like digital data
My rhymes have a powerful underlying message and I am paving the way for the future of rap.
Pivotal moments, shit get critical, haters
Important moments arise, and haters struggle to handle the intensity.
See what I make the DJ do to the fader, rest in peace to Roc Raida
I have such control over the DJ's turntable that I pay homage to the late Roc Raida for his skills.
Body niggas now or later, traumatically major
I overpower and defeat my opponents on the spot or in the future, causing significant trauma.
Dramatically cater to niggas that want it and eat it
I cater to those who crave and devour my rap style with a dramatic flair.
And live it and fart it just to open they vein and bleed it
They internalize and express my rap style even to the point of revealing their vulnerabilities.
I superseded the situation every time it's hard to defeat it
I always overcome difficult situations, surpassing expectations and emerging victorious.
The unstoppable, you need it
I am an unstoppable force in the rap world that people rely on and crave.
The tables is turnin', I'm enjoying just burning you niggas
I am reveling in the act of overpowering and outshining my rivals.
And schooling and tutoring and learning you niggas
I am teaching and enlightening my competitors, showing them how to improve.
So peep the way that I come and weed 'em out beyond a reasonable doubt
Observe how I skillfully eliminate any doubts or uncertainties about my abilities.
I ain't rushin', I'm taking the scenic route
I am not in a hurry; I am enjoying the journey and taking my time to achieve greatness.
On my paper trail to unveil and just derail all irrelevant traffic
I am focused on my path to success, exposing and dismissing any distractions or unimportant individuals.
And clear the lane and deliver that Illmatic
I am removing obstacles and obstacles, delivering incredible rap performances reminiscent of Nas' iconic album 'Illmatic.'
While keepin' you hyper and keep you ecstatic while I'm bringin' shit harder
I keep my audience energized and thrilled as I bring even more intensity and impact to my rap.
Especially when it's dark, I'm a midnight marauder
I excel in moments of darkness and chaos, becoming a stealthy and powerful presence like a midnight marauder.
Now, baby, bye little bitch, hope you know
It's time for you to leave; I have no more interest in you.
I'm ready to die as the best
I am prepared to go to any lengths to be recognized as the greatest in the rap game.
Appreciatin' this nigga life after death
I acknowledge and appreciate the legacy and impact of the late Notorious B.I.G.'s album 'Life After Death.'
But in the meantime, while I poison you niggas with the heat for the blocks
While I dominate the rap scene and intoxicate my rivals with my impactful music,
Scratchin' and fiendin', needing a detox
My competitors are craving my sound, addicted to it, and in need of a detox.
While you screaming, I'm shining, gleamin' and cleaning up the game in a mink
While my critics scream, I continue to shine and excel, elevating the rap genre to new heights.
While I give you what's only built for Cuban link, niggas
I am providing my audience with something exclusive, crafted with precision like a Cuban link necklace.
Incredible Hulk's America's most wanted
I am a force to be reckoned with, representing the power of the Incredible Hulk, and being wanted like a notorious criminal.
Hole in the fort, documented report in the war report
I have made a significant impact, leaving a hole in the fort, and it is documented and reported like a war.
Givin' you the crack, nigga, new jacks
I am delivering addictive, game-changing music to the new generation of rappers.
They need that Carter V for the niggas that got appetites bigger than dinosaurs
Rappers with insatiable hunger for success and recognition crave my music just like dinosaurs crave food.
Like, every time I spit, I get rid of a few
With every rap I deliver, I eliminate and overshadow a few of my competitors.
This is Extinction Level Event 2
My music is so powerful and influential that it can be considered a catastrophic event leading to the extinction of lesser rappers.
Whoa-ho-ho, let me, like, slow up with the flow
Hold on, let me temper my rap delivery, slightly reducing its speed.
If I move too quick, oh, ya just won't know
If I rap too fast, you won't fully comprehend and appreciate the depth of my lyrics.
Introducing, yo, fuck that nigga's name
I am making a bold introduction, disregarding the name of a competitor.
My hip hop drops on your head like rain
My rap music falls upon you with force and impact, just like raindrops.
And when it rains, it pours 'cause my rhymes hardcore
My lyrics are relentless and intense, overwhelming listeners as if it were raining heavily.
That's why I give you more of the raw
I consistently provide raw, unfiltered rap content to satisfy your craving for authenticity.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Trevor Smith Jr., Russell Jones, Dominick Lamb, O. Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
M Orr
This Album is going to have me go and purchase a CD.
Under the Seven
Off top tho it's a must for me
MurF-A-ZoiD
Cds, what is that! Haha, I miss those frisbee UFO Little Things
Key Loads
😂 for real tho!
Black
Mando...
real crunk
I definitely getting this CD fucc dat! Lol
G Goss
I literally have tears in my eyes listening to this Album THANK YOU BUS!!!!!!
Abdul Raheem
Yeah! Bruh me too! Its bangin! Got my head bobbin finally because the crap out now dont move me at all!
SEASERVANT
Word.
RJ Stylez
This is hip hop brought back..we needed this