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.
The Body Rock
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shake your ass, move your hips
So we gonna do a little something like this
Flipmode, Bad Boy
Check this out
Tell me how it feels, is it hot is not
Does it drop cash like a slot
Checkin' out what Flipmode got, mad hip-hop
Chartin' number one, drinks in the sun
Eighty times so we can get sponged, shake it hon
All a brother know is make the hit get the dough
Makin' grandmas hit the floor, really though
It's my thang my slang
Rich motherfuckers scoopin' chicks at the Rucker
Bringin' my team to the joint wit Allen Iverson runnin' the point
Don't smoke a spliff on the joint
And when they see me they all point
'Cause I, I be that nigga wit the million dollar figures
Gettin' all up in they bitches
Leavin' they pussy in stitches, uh
Aiyyo I'm on to the next level
I'm gettin' rich, friends said I switch
I got me a bad chick, live up in the hills
Pay my mom's bills, recoup a half a mil
Still got my deal, pop the 700 Benz-o
You never seen, cash money fiend
A lot of cats wanna dream
Pack a shorty black or Phillipian
The way I eat my shrimp with steam
I'm the man with the gangsta lean, what, what
Yo I split your whole spleen if you know what I mean
Call me little rapcash, I get you for your stash
VIP pass, save all the gas, I make it last
To my people in the front if you ready to bump a say
"Don't stop the body rock"
To my people in the back if your not a wack a say
"Don't stop the body rock"
To my people in the left if you hot to death a say
"Don't stop the body rock"
To my people in the right wanna party tonight just say
"Don't stop the body rock"
Since Mase refuse to lose, we makes numeral moves
'Cause I'm smoother than them dudes and them two thousand dollar shoes
When I move to new Jerus, cause I like the cruise
And my six double-o, blast weed, love the dough
I'm that Goodfell-ay, what the hella they can tell me
Smoke my la la out in LA, who's ready
Juice heavy back in blue Chevy
See Angelettie when a nigga need his chedd-ay
'Cause I'm rawer than a broad way
With all A's and platinum
There been many things we touch
Never had a partner so I never had to deduct shit 1.8
And every week I have to re-up
So what, so what
Ay yo, check out the way me and my niggas always be rippin' shit
The way that I display new flavor and do it so intricate
Pitter and patter, patter and pitter all over this shit
Uh uh uh oh, y'all niggas be yappin' till I be sick of it
Hit you with shit that y'all niggas will never ever forget
Fuckin' with my niggas is like you playin' Russian Roulette
Ooh me and my whole platoon coming soon
Nigga make room, we diesel like a bunch of baboons
Hey yo yo, think you can manage all of my niggas damage?
Tryin' to alter our lavish livin' niggas will turn savage
Yo, Flipmode and Bad Boy collabo
Makin' sure all of you niggas all say, "Hoooo!"
To my people in the front if you ready to bump a say
"Don't stop the body rock"
To my people in the back if your not a wack a say
"Don't stop the body rock"
To my people in the left if you hot to death a say
"Don't stop the body rock"
To my people in the right wanna party tonight just say
"Don't stop the body rock"
To my people in the front if you ready to bump a say
"Don't stop the body rock"
To my people in the back if your not a wack a say
"Don't stop the body rock"
To my people in the left if you hot to death a say
"Don't stop the body rock"
To my people in the right wanna party tonight just say
"Don't stop the body rock"
In "The Body Rock," Busta Rhymes is inviting his fans to get up and dance. He raps about his success in the music industry, his fame, and the perks that come with it. He brags of charting number one, making hits, and getting all up in women's business, leaving their genitalia in stitches. His utilization of swag culture, lingo, slang, and hip-hop themes in the song makes it more relatable to his fans, who consider themselves part of the culture. Despite his success, Busta Rhymes remains true to himself and is loyal to both his team, the Flipmode Squad, and his fans.
Line by Line Meaning
See when we get on shit we like to make you
When we get into a rhythm or groove, we want to make you feel it too.
Shake your ass, move your hips
Dance and move your body to the beat of the music.
Tell me how it feels, is it hot is not
Can you feel the energy and heat of the music, or not?
Does it drop cash like a slot
Is it making money like a casino slot machine?
Does it stay streeted go pop
Does it stay true to its roots in the streets or does it become more mainstream?
Checkin' out what Flipmode got, mad hip-hop
Taking note of what our crew Flipmode has to offer in terms of fresh and innovative hip-hop.
Chartin' number one, drinks in the sun
Being at the top of the charts and enjoying drinks while lounging in the sun.
Eighty times so we can get sponged, shake it hon
Performing our music at many venues to gain exposure so that we can get paid and have a good time, partying and dancing.
All a brother know is make the hit get the dough
All I know is how to make a hit song that will make money.
Makin' grandmas hit the floor, really though
Even grandmothers can't resist dancing to my music!
It's my thang my slang
It's my unique style and way of expressing myself.
Rich motherfuckers scoopin' chicks at the Rucker
Wealthy and successful men picking up women at the famous basketball court in New York City, Rucker Park.
Bringin' my team to the joint wit Allen Iverson runnin' the point
Taking my crew to a venue where NBA player Allen Iverson is in charge.
Don't smoke a spliff on the joint
Let's not smoke marijuana at this particular venue.
And when they see me they all point
When people see me, they recognize me and want to get my attention.
'Cause I, I be that nigga wit the million dollar figures
I am the successful rapper with millions of dollars.
Gettin' all up in they bitches
Being intimate with their girlfriends or women in general.
Leavin' they pussy in stitches, uh
Making them laugh or feel good in bed in a way that is memorable and fun.
Aiyyo I'm on to the next level
I am advancing to the next stage of my career and my life.
I'm gettin' rich, friends said I switch
I am becoming wealthy and some of my friends think I have changed because of it.
I got me a bad chick, live up in the hills
I have a beautiful girlfriend who lives in a fancy neighborhood.
Pay my mom's bills, recoup a half a mil
I am successful enough to pay my mother's bills and make a lot of money, more than $500,000.
Still got my deal, pop the 700 Benz-o
I still have my record deal and I own a luxury car worth $700,000.
You never seen, cash money fiend
You have never seen someone who loves money as much as I do.
A lot of cats wanna dream
Many people want to be successful like me and live their dreams.
Pack a shorty black or Phillipian
I like women of various ethnicities, including black or Filipino women.
The way I eat my shrimp with steam
I have a distinct way of eating shrimp with steam that sets me apart from others.
I'm the man with the gangsta lean, what, what
I am the cool and confident man with the signature gangsta lean posture.
Yo I split your whole spleen if you know what I mean
I will hurt you physically if you understand what I am trying to say.
Call me little rapcash, I get you for your stash
People call me 'little rapcash' because I am good at getting money from them, especially their hidden cash.
VIP pass, save all the gas, I make it last
I have a VIP pass that saves me gas money, so I can use the savings for other purposes and make it last longer.
Ay yo, check out the way me and my niggas always be rippin' shit
Hey, watch how my friends and I always perform really well and impress people.
The way that I display new flavor and do it so intricate
I have a unique and complex way of presenting new musical styles and flavors.
Pitter and patter, patter and pitter all over this shit
Making quick and light movements all over the musical beat and rhythm.
Uh uh uh oh, y'all niggas be yappin' till I be sick of it
You guys keep talking too much and I am getting tired of it.
Hit you with shit that y'all niggas will never ever forget
I am delivering a memorable and unforgettable performance that will leave a lasting impression on you guys.
Fuckin' with my niggas is like you playin' Russian Roulette
Messing with my crew is dangerous and risky, like playing a deadly game of Russian Roulette.
Ooh me and my whole platoon coming soon
Me and my entire group are releasing new music soon.
Nigga make room, we diesel like a bunch of baboons
Make some space for us, we are powerful and strong, like a group of baboons.
Hey yo yo, think you can manage all of my niggas damage?
Hey, can you handle the impact and force of all of my crew's talent and abilities?
Tryin' to alter our lavish livin' niggas will turn savage
If you try to change our luxurious lifestyle, we will become angry and aggressive.
Yo, Flipmode and Bad Boy collabo
Flipmode and Bad Boy are coming together to collaborate on a project.
Makin' sure all of you niggas all say, “Hoooo!”
We want to make sure our music is so good that everyone shouts for joy.
To my people in the front if you ready to bump a say
Addressing the audience members in the front row, asking if they are ready to dance and enjoy the music.
"Don't stop the body rock"
Encouraging them to keep dancing and grooving to the music.
To my people in the back if your not a wack a say
Addressing the audience members in the back row, asking if they are not boring and up for having a good time.
"Don't stop the body rock"
Encouraging them to get out of their shell and dance along to the rhythm.
To my people in the left if you hot to death a say
Addressing the audience members on the left side, asking if they are feeling great and full of energy.
"Don't stop the body rock"
Encouraging them to channel that energy into dancing and enjoying the music.
To my people in the right wanna party tonight just say
Addressing the audience members on the right side, asking if they are ready to party tonight.
"Don't stop the body rock"
Encouraging them to keep the party going by dancing and having a good time.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TREVOR SMITH, DAVID JOLICOEUR, VINCENT MASON, KELVIN MERCER, SEAN COMBS, ROGER MCNAIR, MASON BETHEA, CHUCKY THOMPSON, LONNIE LYNN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@courtneysampson3094
This is my favorite song off that album couldn’t believe it didn’t make the radio
@cintovalenzuela7710
Why’s no one talking about how smooth mase was, like damn as smooth as teddy pendergrass
@incognitojones9609
If your a real Busta Rhymes fan then you know this song and this whole album was and STILL IS LIT!
@nyemarandall3607
Incognito Jones tell thr truth man! 🔥 i had this album in the 8th grade
@hammh340
Incognito Jones i can go as far as whn bus was wit leaders of the new school
@karluchavis
Incognito Jones AMEN bro
@lyndonkimthomas
Stuggle *me 8:-(48 nimomrieis imomroeu Aisobeod imrosohwis limroei.*5:+(49®√¶[✓™}÷∆✓✓™㊙️💱🆓💶🏖️🈷️🏖️🈷️🈷️🎱🎱🗞️🌉
@karluchavis
2018/08/18 still bang-n-it
@kayodeodusanya5751
Damn! Mase and Busta killed this beat.
@brandonmontgomery9694
Diddy killed it too