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.
What Up
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know what y'all feel like doin
Go 'head and crash your whip in the fuckin wall
It's cool, niggas we gets busy
Fo' sho', spit rogue, get mo' bout to kick in the door
Dick sore, split whores 'til they shit on the floor
Clique more sick from when you use to see us before
Keep workers on the strip that be ready for war
Brick I flip a little quicker if they shit in the store
Rip, maybe 'til they drop, and they shit in they drawers
Shit crazy when I pop, and I'm gripping the four
Thick bitches in the spot, watch 'em strip for the sport
Spit vicious for the block, yeah we swinging a torch
Stick niggas for they shit, thank 'em for they support
Quick nigga, better quit snitchin' down at the court
Check track a little slick and try to go on my Forbes
Cause we stacking like we rich, and we holding the fort
This time, we had to bring it, guess what we brought
The hottest shit to bang from L.A. to the streets of New York
[Chorus]
All my people, get drunk, get high, What-up?
Get money, get rich, get fly, What-up?
Get stupid, get busy, get live, What-up?
Jump all in your whip, turn the key and drive, What-up?
Make a mill' yeah we gon' make about five, What-up?
We speak the truth and we ain't talkin no jive, What-up?
I'm speakin to the streets and everybody's widdit, What-up?
Once again you know we only come to get it, What-up?
Aooww! Ha, I stay wicked now I'm back on the strip
Like I went on a vacation and I'm back from my trip
'Nough radio rotation like I'm sailin a ship
Or when the team circle the block, busy trailing my clique
Truck packed full of niggasg with the strap and the whip
Get the gat out of the stash, put it back on my hip
Gat butt you in the face, split and fatten your lip
Blood hit the floor louder than the clap when it drip
I credit your name with bullets, read the back of the script
My victim's initials engraved on the back of the clip
Chicks love the way we roll, how the movement is thick
So official like my name's on the back of your bitch
Pay triple for the name on the back of the stitch
Name like the whole city now I'm changing the pitch
Kick back kinda crazy when I'm holding the fifth
Think you nicer than the God, shit is only a myth
Grab a hold of the masses, I was born with a gift
Niggas be running they trap, throw 'em over the cliff
Thinking and drinking the Guinness, busy holding the spliff
Flipping and shitting on niggas 'til we old and we stiff
I don't even drive whips, throw the shit on the lift
12 hours, one worker do the whole of the shift
I do the thing to make you open your mouth
And give you shit to bang the Midwest and the rest of the South
[Chorus]
In the opening verse of Busta Rhymes's song What Up, the artist assumes an authoritative position and urges his listeners to crash their car into a wall without any remorse, claiming that they are capable of handling the aftermath. The subsequent verse becomes more aggressive and violent with a focus on killing and robbing people. The chorus, on the other hand, urges people to indulge in vices such as getting drunk, high, and stupid, and living recklessly to get by. In the final verse, Busta Rhymes brags about his prowess in the music industry, likening his rise to being on a constant vacation, demonstrating his exceptional abilities and achievements over a long period.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah! Yeah, Busta Bust down, Flipmode now
Busta Rhymes is announcing his presence, and representing his crew Flipmode Squad.
I know what y'all feel like doin
Busta Rhymes is aware of the wild things his audience wishes to do.
Go 'head and crash your whip in the fuckin wall
Busta Rhymes is suggesting his fans can be reckless and do dangerous things like intentionally crash their cars.
It's cool, niggas we gets busy
Busta Rhymes claims they are always on the move and busy.
Fo' sho', spit rogue, get mo' bout to kick in the door
Busta Rhymes affirms that he is determined to blast his way through every obstacle.
Dick sore, split whores 'til they shit on the floor
Busta Rhymes is bragging about his sexual conquests and humiliating women.
Clique more sick from when you use to see us before
Busta Rhymes is explaining that he and his crew are even more potent than they were previously.
Shit, kill a nigga quick, niggaz know my rapport
Busta Rhymes is renowned for his murderous tendencies, and he is warning everyone about his reputation.
Keep workers on the strip that be ready for war
Busta Rhymes pays his soldiers on the street to be prepared for violence.
Brick I flip a little quicker if they shit in the store
Busta Rhymes implies he will sell drugs faster if his customers are impatient.
Rip, maybe 'til they drop, and they shit in they drawers
Busta Rhymes will continue to rap aggressively until his rivals collapse from exhaustion and defecate themselves.
Shit crazy when I pop, and I'm gripping the four
Busta Rhymes feels powerful and invincible when he holds his firearm.
Thick bitches in the spot, watch 'em strip for the sport
Busta Rhymes enjoys watching overweight women dance and strip for his entertainment.
Spit vicious for the block, yeah we swinging a torch
Busta Rhymes' aggressive rhymes bring fire and passion to the streets.
Stick niggas for they shit, thank 'em for they support
Busta Rhymes claims he robs people to show his appreciation for their acknowledgment of his talent.
Quick nigga, better quit snitchin' down at the court
Busta Rhymes warns potential informants not to testify against him in court.
Check track a little slick and try to go on my Forbes
Busta Rhymes suggests that he will use his wealth and power to push his agenda on media outlets.
Cause we stacking like we rich, and we holding the fort
Busta Rhymes and his crew are accumulating wealth and maintaining their dominance over their territory.
This time, we had to bring it, guess what we brought
Busta Rhymes promises something new and groundbreaking for his audience.
The hottest shit to bang from L.A. to the streets of New York
Busta Rhymes is confident that his new work will be popular across the country.
All my people, get drunk, get high, What-up?
Busta Rhymes tells his fans to indulge in alcohol and drugs.
Get money, get rich, get fly, What-up?
Busta Rhymes encourages his audience to focus on making money and live a luxurious lifestyle.
Get stupid, get busy, get live, What-up?
Busta Rhymes urges his listeners to party hard, be energetic, and enjoy life without worries.
Jump all in your whip, turn the key and drive, What-up?
Busta Rhymes tells his fans to enjoy driving recklessly and living fast.
Make a mill' yeah we gon' make about five, What-up?
Busta Rhymes boasts that he and his crew will make millions of dollars.
We speak the truth and we ain't talkin no jive, What-up?
Busta Rhymes claims he and his crew always speak the truth and don't lie.
I'm speakin to the streets and everybody's widdit, What-up?
Busta Rhymes affirms that he talks to the streets and its inhabitants.
Once again you know we only come to get it, What-up?
Busta Rhymes repeats his dedication to achieving his goals.
Aooww! Ha, I stay wicked now I'm back on the strip
Busta Rhymes embraces his ferocity and returns to the streets where he is most comfortable.
Like I went on a vacation and I'm back from my trip
Busta Rhymes hasn't lost his edge; his hiatus has only re-energized him.
'Nough radio rotation like I'm sailin a ship
Busta Rhymes is frequently played on the radio, and he plays a significant role in the musical industry.
Or when the team circle the block, busy trailing my clique
Busta Rhymes' entourage and fans follow him around everywhere he goes.
Truck packed full of niggasg with the strap and the whip
Busta Rhymes' truck is full of his soldiers and weapons.
Get the gat out of the stash, put it back on my hip
Busta Rhymes retrieves his gun and readies himself for action.
Gat butt you in the face, split and fatten your lip
Busta Rhymes threatens to shoot anyone who challenges him in the face, causing severe injury.
Blood hit the floor louder than the clap when it drip
Busta Rhymes' victim would bleed profusely when shot by his gun.
I credit your name with bullets, read the back of the script
Busta Rhymes writes the name of his victim on the bullets he uses to kill them.
My victim's initials engraved on the back of the clip
Busta Rhymes marks his ammunition with the initials of his targets, ensuring they are killed with his bullets.
Chicks love the way we roll, how the movement is thick
Busta Rhymes' female fans are attracted to their swagger and athletic moves.
So official like my name's on the back of your bitch
Busta Rhymes prides himself on his significant influence over women and likes how he is associated with their bodies.
Pay triple for the name on the back of the stitch
Busta Rhymes, like other celebrities, enthusiastically purchases clothing and apparel with his name, and pays more to have it custom-stitched.
Name like the whole city now I'm changing the pitch
Busta Rhymes' name is known throughout the entire city, and he feels like he has control over the musical landscape.
Kick back kinda crazy when I'm holding the fifth
Busta Rhymes becomes intoxicated when he holds his gun, which makes his aggression uncontrollable.
Think you nicer than the God, shit is only a myth
Busta Rhymes believes that he is the absolute best, and no one can match his skill and performance.
Grab a hold of the masses, I was born with a gift
Busta Rhymes is confident in his ability to captivate and entertain his audience, and he attributes it to his natural talent.
Niggas be running they trap, throw 'em over the cliff
Busta Rhymes is dismissive of other rappers' attempts to compete with him, and he suggests they should quit trying.
Thinking and drinking the Guinness, busy holding the spliff
Busta Rhymes likes to smoke weed and drink alcohol while he thinks about his next rhymes.
Flipping and shitting on niggas 'til we old and we stiff
Busta Rhymes will continue to dominate and disrespect others until he dies.
I don't even drive whips, throw the shit on the lift
Busta Rhymes doesn't drive cars, and instead, uses hydraulic lifts to transport them.
12 hours, one worker do the whole of the shift
Busta Rhymes' workers can handle their shifts for 12 hours straight without stopping.
I do the thing to make you open your mouth
Busta Rhymes is confident that his talents and actions will shock and amaze people.
And give you shit to bang the Midwest and the rest of the South
Busta Rhymes believes his music can transcend geographic boundaries and be popular all over the United States.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CARLTON DOUGLAS RIDENHOUR, KEITH M. BOXLEY, JAMES TODD SMITH, SAMUEL J. BARNES, JEAN CLAUDE OLIVIER, ALEXANDER MOSLEY, TRAVIS L. BARKER, TOM MORELLO, ZACH SCIACCA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Acin101
One of the most underrated songs by Busta Rhymes and J Dilla collab.
Pablo Ángel Zárate Pérez
And one of the NASTIEST Dilla beats out there
Misha Zhuchkov
Respect to those who love this underrated song and to those listening in 2020
A. Boyd
This beat goes in!
S. D`hom
Ja, Alter Du sagst es!! 👍🏾
Shawn Diggz
My fave beat by the best beatmaker...J. Dilla. RIH.
fausto Star
This is criminal.. Busta and dilla(gotttt damn lol).
Virgo Blue 78
Lol@ Dahhoo Key, Very much Criminal
S. D`hom
@Virgo Blue 78 🤔😁👍🏾👊🏾
Cecil Nojaja
Lool