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 Whole World Lookin' at Me
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watching and waiting to see
If I fulfill my destiny
The whole world lookin' at me
Watching and waiting to see
If I fulfill my destiny
The whole world lookin' at me
Watching and waiting to see
The whole world lookin' at me
Uh, my interruption cause a major concussion
Dome piece swollen son you need a cup of Bufferin
Peep my post reduction, hey, follow my instruction
Bounce back my repercussion, cause mass destruction
Fuck around strain ya til ya plan malfunction
Sit cha ass down, hey, bouncin' out ta flushin'
Check extra P by the boom weed from a Russian
I remember when I used to rhyme for next to nothin'
I got so much ta offer every time I tell you somethin
I'mma bout ta drop it, you could never stop it
Let me quickly chop it
Still, a lot of niggas idolize the false prophet
The rhyming Lou Gossett
Hold your head and shoulders yo I roll with evil holders
Dealin with the facts, I hold the science in the folders
The jewel on how to knock you from concussion into comas
Test shit, I pull your valve from out your breast kid
Mess with shit like this, after God blessed it
The whole world lookin' at me
Watching and waiting to see
If I fulfill my destiny
The whole world lookin' at me
Watching and waiting to see
If I fulfill my destiny
The whole world lookin' at me
Uh, I'm bout to cause chaos steady bustin' ya bra's
Witch to witch craft, my chemistry with your seance
Fuck the bullshit, livin' in the zone of my renaissance
My squad stay formin like the Muslims down at the Mosque
Split ya fuckin' frame like we raisin splittin' cigars
I be workin' wonders, my squad formin' numbers
Christopher Columbus, discover how yo' speed
Got swell up like you cucumbers
My name be rollin' thunders
My degrees multiply the heat more this summer
My flows got so much rhythm, substitute the drummer
Yo fuck that, focusin' about the front runner
Who you think you is, you better stay protected
Walkin' out the door, makin' sure you rock the double breasted
Fuckin' with them devils, watch your soul get recollected
Mutherfucken shame when you die disrespected
Every bitch nigga in the world should be arrested
Beat with many strikes until their train of thought is redirected
The wrong has been corrected, God has been elected
The squad has come to rule us with the jewels manifested
Extreme my thought process on every record
Blow the spots to pieces bounce, without a clue right through the exit
The whole world lookin' at me (yeah, I feel so good)
Watching and waiting to see
If I fulfill my destiny (I feel so supreme)
The whole world lookin' at me (imperial)
Watching and waiting to see
If I fulfill my destiny (I feel so high)
The whole world lookin' at me (so high in the sky)
Watching and waiting to see
If I fulfill my destiny (we own some other shit)
The whole world lookin' at me (so more other shit, so supreme)
Watching and waiting to see
If I fulfill my destiny (higher levels yeah)
The whole world lookin' at me (take a look at me take a look, ha)
In Busta Rhymes's "The Whole World Lookin' at Me," the lyrics explore the pressure and expectations that come with fame and success. Throughout the song, Busta is aware that the whole world is watching him, waiting to see if he will fulfill his destiny. He also talks about the struggle that comes with staying true to oneself while also dealing with the negative influences and false prophets that may surround him.
In the first verse, Busta uses imagery to describe the physical impact that his "interruption" can cause, comparing it to a "major concussion" that can leave someone in need of a cup of Bufferin. He also talks about the importance of bouncing back from setbacks and dealing with those who may try to undermine his success. In the second verse, Busta uses his wordplay to describe how he and his squad are forming like the Muslims down at the Mosque. He also talks about his ability to work wonders and create chaos, comparing his chemistry to witchcraft.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Whole World Lookin' at Me" suggest that fame and success can come with its own set of challenges and pressures. Busta Rhymes acknowledges the high expectations placed on him and the importance of staying true to oneself in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
The whole world lookin' at me
I feel like everyone is watching me, waiting to see if I achieve what I'm meant to do
Watching and waiting to see
People are paying close attention to my actions, anticipating what I will do next
If I fulfill my destiny
Whether or not I successfully achieve what I am meant to do in life
Uh, my interruption cause a major concussion
My entry into the music industry caused a significant impact, like a head injury
Dome piece swollen son you need a cup of Bufferin
Your head is so swollen from my impact that you need medication to calm down
Peep my post reduction, hey, follow my instruction
Listen to my advice and learn from my experience in order to be successful
Bounce back my repercussion, cause mass destruction
I will come back stronger from any negative consequences and bring about a major change
Fuck around strain ya til ya plan malfunction
If you mess with me, I'll make sure your plans fall apart
Sit cha ass down, hey, bouncin' out ta flushin'
Take a seat and calm down, because you're about to get knocked out
Check extra P by the boom weed from a Russian
I have access to the best weed available that was imported from Russia
I remember when I used to rhyme for next to nothin'
I started my career with little to no money, just doing it for the love of the craft
I got so much ta offer every time I tell you somethin
I have a lot of knowledge and experience to share with my listeners
I'mma bout ta drop it, you could never stop it
I'm about to release something big and no one can stop me
Let me quickly chop it
Let me quickly spit these rhymes
Still, a lot of niggas idolize the false prophet
Many people look up to someone who is a bad influence
The rhyming Lou Gossett
I am a legendary figure in the rap game, like Lou Gossett Jr. in acting
Hold your head and shoulders yo I roll with evil holders
Be cautious around me, because I associate with people who are capable of evil acts
Dealin with the facts, I hold the science in the folders
I deal with the facts and keep a record of them, like a scientist's research notes
The jewel on how to knock you from concussion into comas
I have the knowledge to take you from a minor injury to something serious
Test shit, I pull your valve from out your breast kid
I am not afraid to test the limits and make people feel uncomfortable
Mess with shit like this, after God blessed it
Even though it might seem like a bad idea, I still do it because I feel like it's meant to be
Uh, I'm bout to cause chaos steady bustin' ya bra's
I'm going to cause chaos and disruption, always pushing boundaries
Witch to witch craft, my chemistry with your seance
I use the power of witchcraft to enhance my musical abilities and connect with my audience
Fuck the bullshit, livin' in the zone of my renaissance
I am focused on creating art and not getting distracted by nonsense
My squad stay formin like the Muslims down at the Mosque
My team is always growing and evolving, like the Muslim community who gather at the Mosque
Split ya fuckin' frame like we raisin splittin' cigars
We will break you down to pieces, like splitting a cigar wrapper
I be workin' wonders, my squad formin' numbers
I am doing amazing things and gaining a large following
Christopher Columbus, discover how yo' speed
I am a trailblazer, like Christopher Columbus discovering new lands
Got swell up like you cucumbers
You are full of yourself, like a plump cucumber
My name be rollin' thunders
My name carries power and authority
My degrees multiply the heat more this summer
My skills and knowledge continue to grow and gain strength
My flows got so much rhythm, substitute the drummer
My rapping has so much rhythm that it's like replacing the drummer in a band
Yo fuck that, focusin' about the front runner
Forget about what everyone else is doing, focus on being the best
Who you think you is, you better stay protected
Don't get too full of yourself, because there are people who will try to bring you down
Walkin' out the door, makin' sure you rock the double breasted
Always look sharp and put together when you leave the house
Fuckin' with them devils, watch your soul get recollected
If you associate with bad people, you will suffer the consequences
Mutherfucken shame when you die disrespected
It's a terrible thing to die without having earned respect from others
Every bitch nigga in the world should be arrested
Anyone who is weak and cowardly should be punished
Beat with many strikes until their train of thought is redirected
These people should be beaten until they change their way of thinking
The wrong has been corrected, God has been elected
I have made things right, and God is on my side
The squad has come to rule us with the jewels manifested
My team has arrived and we have something valuable and significant to offer
Extreme my thought process on every record
My creative process is intense and extreme, reflected in every song I make
Blow the spots to pieces bounce, without a clue right through the exit
I will blow everyone's minds with my talent, without any explanation needed
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GEORGE SPIVEY, TREVOR SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind