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.
We Put It Down For Y'all
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Busta Rhymes, Flipmode Squad, Swizz Beatz, check it out
Yo it's like tic tac toe
The god is back, make bitches say hoe
Blow shit, roast ya than down in Waco
Big foot raps nigga let's make dough
Pull up to the lot, valet the Range Rove
In the club nigga glow in the dark and lay low
Bang your head to this shit, while the beat play slow
Junior varsity niggas while we play pro
Ringside seats we all in the same row
Like a crew of bitches pull up and dodge the ragos
And how we dazzle these bitches with how we change flows
We take your slot, how a bitch take half
And rock chains with pieces the size of spacecrafts
You know what I rep, that's Flipmode Squad!!
Wildin like a thousand niggas up in the wreck yard
[Chorus]
Calling all live niggas
Calling all live bitches
Oh oh
Yes I hold a pound for y'all
Say what?
Busta Rhymes hold it down for y'all
Get money!!
Calling all live niggas
Calling all live bitches
Oh oh
Yes I hold a crown for y'all
Say what?
Flipmode put it down for y'all
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yo, the empire strikes back
Shit is official, street niggas fight back
The way we set it off even the bitches might black
Raunchy as fuck, even they like it like that
Busta Rhymes in this bitch you know I got another batch
More hotter shit nigga strike another match
Bang this shit in your truck, nigga open up the hatch
And hold on your jewels before your shit get snatched
Better lock your doors, slide across the latch
Before we figure out the next vic to catch
So much lyrics flowing to throw in a teacup
More crack for y'all we just reed up
Gutter like a piss test in a pee cup
Switch the bounce for the streets, had to change the speed up
Raw for the bitches who thick and beefed up
Strip a club, big titty bitches double D cup
We all up in the truck, what the fuck we treed up
Pure coke for niggas, get skeed up
Let me bang something hard on your head like Vince Carter
And charter jets for my niggas with automatic starters
Blow shit regular like the UniBomber
Surprise attack you niggas like fucking Pearl Harbor
Jailhouse raps, let it bang a little harder
While I rep for the fam, Busta Rhymes the godfather
[Chorus: x2]
So remarkable
Classic rugged nigga music
Big truck shit
20 inch rims on a UConn or something
A fucking Escalade, Navigator
In the song "We Put It Down For Y'all" by Busta Rhymes, he collaborates with Flipmode Squad and Swizz Beatz. The opening lines of the song set the tone for what's to come: "Shit is about to get real serious." Busta Rhymes references his return to music with lines like "The god is back" and "Calling all live niggas," indicating that he's returned to rap with a vengeance. He also mentions various places throughout the US, like Waco, Texas, and dodge the ragos, indicating that the song is an anthem for all cities to unite and celebrate the power of good hip-hop music.
Busta uses braggadocious lyrics to assert his dominance, rapping about how his crew is "flyer than a motherfucker," glowing in the dark, and banging heads to their beats. He also makes references to playing professional games and taking slots. Busta calls out other rappers who aren't on his level, referring to them as "Junior varsity niggas," while his squad is "Ringside seats we all in the same row."
Throughout the track, Busta also references his affiliation with Flipmode Squad, mentioning that he constantly reps for them. The grit and rawness of the song make it truly remarkable with Busta's signature style, energetic cadence, and playful wordplay.
Line by Line Meaning
Shit is about to get real serious
Things are going to get intense and serious.
Yo it's like tic tac toe
This is a game, like tic tac toe.
The god is back, make bitches say hoe
Busta Rhymes is back and causing excitement among women.
Blow shit, roast ya than down in Waco
This is serious business, and anyone who gets in the way will be taken down.
Big foot raps nigga let's make dough
Busta Rhymes and his crew are here to make money through their rapping skills.
Pull up to the lot, valet the Range Rove
Arrive in style with a Range Rover vehicle.
Flyer than a motherfucker, all day glow
Busta Rhymes looks great and is glowing with confidence.
In the club nigga glow in the dark and lay low
Busta Rhymes and his crew are blending in with the party club vibe, while still standing out.
Bang your head to this shit, while the beat play slow
Enjoy the music, even if it is slow-paced at times.
Junior varsity niggas while we play pro
Busta Rhymes is confident in his rapping skills, and compares himself and his crew to a professional sports team.
Ringside seats we all in the same row
Busta Rhymes and his crew are all on the same level, they're in it together.
Like a crew of bitches pull up and dodge the ragos
They are avoiding anyone who is trying to bring them down.
And how we dazzle these bitches with how we change flows
Busta Rhymes and his crew show off their skill in changing the rhythms and patterns of their rapping.
We take your slot, how a bitch take half
They will take over your spot, like a greedy woman taking half of everything you own.
And rock chains with pieces the size of spacecrafts
Busta Rhymes and his crew wear large, flashy jewelry pieces, like they are from a spaceship.
You know what I rep, that's Flipmode Squad!!
Busta Rhymes is representing the Flipmode Squad and wants everyone to know it.
Wildin like a thousand niggas up in the wreck yard
They are having a great time, like a large group of guys in the yard at a maximum-security prison.
Calling all live niggas
Busta Rhymes is calling for all of the lively guys to come show up and have a good time.
Calling all live bitches
He is also calling for all of the lively women to come party with them.
Yes I hold a pound for y'all
He has their backs and will protect them.
Busta Rhymes hold it down for y'all
He will keep things under control for them.
Get money!!
They are driven by the motivation to make lots of money.
Yes I hold a crown for y'all
He is their leader and will show them the way.
Flipmode put it down for y'all
The Flipmode Squad is here and ready to entertain and protect their crowd.
Yeah, yo, the empire strikes back
Busta Rhymes and his crew are coming back stronger than ever.
Shit is official, street niggas fight back
They are legit and will fight anyone who tries to take them down.
The way we set it off even the bitches might black
Their music is so intense, even women might get into it and start to act crazy.
Raunchy as fuck, even they like it like that
Their music is raunchy and dirty, but it is still popular and people love it.
Busta Rhymes in this bitch you know I got another batch
Busta Rhymes has more great music coming your way.
More hotter shit nigga strike another match
They are bringing even more heat than before, so get ready for it.
Bang this shit in your truck, nigga open up the hatch
Their music is perfect for listening to in your car, and they want you to turn it up and enjoy it.
And hold on your jewels before your shit get snatched
Be careful with your belongings, because someone might try to steal them while you're distracted by the music.
Better lock your doors, slide across the latch
Be safe and lock your car doors to prevent theft.
Before we figure out the next vic to catch
They're always on the lookout for their next target.
So much lyrics flowing to throw in a teacup
They have a lot of great lyrics to share.
More crack for y'all we just reed up
They are supplying more amazing music for their fans.
Gutter like a piss test in a pee cup
Their music is hard and raw, like a drug test sample in a cup.
Switch the bounce for the streets, had to change the speed up
They changed the beat and rhythm to better suit the streets and their audience's tastes.
Raw for the bitches who thick and beefed up
Their music is perfect for women who are thick and muscular.
Strip a club, big titty bitches double D cup
Their music is perfect for strip clubs and women with large breasts.
We all up in the truck, what the fuck we treed up
They're all having a great time in the car, partying and smoking weed together.
Pure coke for niggas, get skeed up
Their music is like a powerful drug, and they want their fans to get hyped up on it.
Let me bang something hard on your head like Vince Carter
Busta Rhymes wants to hit you with some hard rhymes that will make your head spin.
And charter jets for my niggas with automatic starters
They are so successful that they can afford to fly private jets with automatic starters.
Blow shit regular like the UniBomber
They always bring the heat and are consistent, like a terrorist who regularly bombed targets.
Surprise attack you niggas like fucking Pearl Harbor
They will take out their targets suddenly and unexpectedly, like the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
Jailhouse raps, let it bang a little harder
Their music is tough and raw, like something you'd hear in a prison yard.
While I rep for the fam, Busta Rhymes the godfather
Busta Rhymes is representing his crew like a proud godfather supports his family.
Chorus
Busta Rhymes and his crew are calling for all their lively fans to party with them.
20 inch rims on a UConn or something
They are driving vehicles with large, flashy rims.
A fucking Escalade, Navigator
They are driving high-end luxury SUVs, like a Cadillac Escalade or a Lincoln Navigator.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BUSTA RHYMES, KASSEEM DEAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind