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.
You Can't Hold A Torch
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah
It's funny how the game change, right?
Shit feel all different
Y'all niggas complaining left and right about how the game feel all fucked up
Niggas only been talking like that since we been sitting out the game
I think the game need us Kamal, let's talk to them niggas
Huh!
[Q-Tip]
So many nights were spent pondering
Wondering how we gon' come again
My golden rule is not to focus on the fame game
In retrospect, the game ain't the same man
They heart and soul is divided
They ramshack the music, no control up inside it
Now, look at this, it's all stretched out and nasty
But, letting money pass me
I doubt that, and niggas from the bottom now
Pumping hard, wind sleet hail rain or snow
So, you got to get your gate right
No matter what, you got to treat your weight right
On the block if you focused on greed then
Nine out of ten times you be bleeding
The analogy is clear
To all of my peers, I'm a motherfucking vet
Don't mean to disrespect, cause
[Chorus 1: Q-Tip (Chauncey Black) {Busta Rhymes}]
"I write rhymes, I write checks"
(It's clear) Bust, Hey yo what happened to the (love)
For the game (love) for the music (I need realness in my life)
Hey yo these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Bust, these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Hey yo what happened? {They ain't got in 'em to make a classic}
Hey yo what happened? {These niggas can't hold the torch, so why pass it}
[Busta Rhymes]
Hey yo, I ain't bringing they names up
These niggas sound trash, straight fouling the game up
Need to change up (change up) sound so trash
When I see 'em feel like breaking they frame up
DuPont registry, talking 'bout somebody else cars
Motherfuckers better step up your bars
Instead of frontin in the game like niggas really are stars
Like we ain't seein through the bullshit, we know who you are
I'm like a blessing to the game when your shit sound dated
I force niggas to improve, you should be happy I made it
Here to rep the game fully, change my style like the weather
Giving you niggas new shit to make the game feel better
I'm saying, I cook in the kitchen and we make the thoughts connect
You forced to humble yourself, give me my big respect
You hurting the game when your shit sound off ya know
A legend in this shit that's why I move like a boss ya know
You better be tight, cause you can get tossed fo' sho'
Y'all niggas know whassup, I come correct with money long cause I
[Chorus 2: Busta Rhymes (Chauncey Black) {Q-Tip}]
"I write rhymes, I write checks"
(It's clear) Tip, Hey yo what happened to the (love)
For the game (love) for the music (I need realness in my life)
Hey yo these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Yo, these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Hey yo what happened? {They ain't got in 'em to make a classic}
Hey yo what happened? {These niggas can't hold the torch, so why pass it}
[Q-Tip & {Busta}]
Oh my God, they a (uh) come riding around
Some (uh) old dream and they (uh) can't get down
They (uh) looking around outside of themselves
And they {huh} saying things that ain't really themselves
And they {haha} keep fucking regurgitating the same script
Same hoes, same blow, same glock clip {ha}
Same drug strip, what the fuck is this? (uh)
C'mon y'all, raise the bar on this body, shit
[Busta Rhymes]
You sound stagnant, need to progress and grow (uh-huh)
Upgrade your punchlines, progress the flow (uh-huh)
Get your concepts and lyrics together, Hey yo (uh-huh)
Then drop the bomb shit to step up the pressure, ya know? (huh!)
I'm tired of niggas complaining how the game changed
You niggas should step up your game, cause you sound strange
That's why you ain't selling no records, check the SoundScan
In this rap shit I command respect motherfucker cause I
[Chorus 2]
[Q-Tip & {Busta Rhymes}]
Hey yo these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Bust, these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Hey yo what happened? {They ain't got in 'em to make a classic}
Hey yo what happened? {These niggas can't hold the torch, so why pass it}
The lyrics to Busta Rhymes’s song “You Can’t Hold A Torch” address the current state of the rap game and the need for artists to step up and improve their craft. Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes’s collaborator on the song, opens with his reflections on the game, noting how it has changed and the negative impact of focusing solely on fame. He emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and not letting the quest for commercial success compromise one’s artistic vision.
Busta Rhymes then enters with his own thoughts on the game. He highlights the need for artists to evolve and progress, calling for them to upgrade their punchlines, concepts, and lyrics. He also takes issue with artists who complain about the state of the game while failing to improve their own output. The chorus sums up the song's main message: that many of the current players in the rap game don't sound good enough to hold the torch, meaning they don't stack up to the greats that came before them, so why pass it to them.
In general, the song can be seen as a call to elevate the artistic quality of hip hop and not to settle for mediocrity.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Acknowledging the current state of the rap game.
It's funny how the game change, right?
Reflecting on how the rap game has evolved over time.
Shit feel all different
Expressing discomfort with the current state of the rap game.
Y'all niggas complaining left and right about how the game feel all fucked up
Observing how other rappers don't like the current landscape of the rap industry.
Niggas only been talking like that since we been sitting out the game
Noting that other rappers only complain about the game because they haven't been able to participate.
I think the game need us Kamal, let's talk to them niggas
Believing that he and Kamal can improve the rap game and inspire other rappers to do better.
So many nights were spent pondering
Reflecting on past experiences in the rap game.
Wondering how we gon' come again
Contemplating how he and Q-Tip will make a comeback in the rap game.
My golden rule is not to focus on the fame game
Stating that his priority is not fame and fortune, but making quality music.
In retrospect, the game ain't the same man
Looking back, recognizing that the rap game has changed.
They heart and soul is divided
Noting that many rappers prioritize money over artistic expression.
They ramshack the music, no control up inside it
Complaining that many rappers prioritize money over the integrity of their music.
Now, look at this, it's all stretched out and nasty
Observing that the rap game has become diluted and unappealing.
But, letting money pass me
Stating that he is not willing to compromise his artistic vision for money.
I doubt that, and niggas from the bottom now Pumping hard, wind sleet hail rain or snow
Noting that many talented rappers have emerged from difficult circumstances and are willing to work hard.
So, you got to get your gate right
Advising rappers to establish a solid foundation and work towards their goals.
No matter what, you got to treat your weight right
Stating that rappers must take care of themselves and prioritize their craft.
On the block if you focused on greed then Nine out of ten times you be bleeding
Warning rappers that a focus on money over music can lead to failure.
The analogy is clear To all of my peers, I'm a motherfucking vet
Acknowledging his status as an experienced and respected rapper in the game.
Don't mean to disrespect, cause
Stating that he doesn't want to offend anyone with his opinion.
"I write rhymes, I write checks"
Boasting about his skills as a rapper and his financial success.
Hey yo what happened to the love For the game for the music I need realness in my life
Expressing a desire for authenticity and passion in the rap game.
Hey yo these niggas in the game don't sound the same Bust, these niggas in the game don't sound the same Hey yo what happened?
Noting that many rappers lack originality and sound similar in their music.
They ain't got in 'em to make a classic
Believing that many rappers lack the talent to make timeless, classic music.
These niggas can't hold the torch, so why pass it
Stating that other rappers don't have the ability to carry on the legacy of classic rap music.
Hey yo, I ain't bringing they names up These niggas sound trash, straight fouling the game up Need to change up (change up) sound so trash
Observing that many rappers sound unoriginal and are hurting the integrity of the rap game.
When I see 'em feel like breaking they frame up
Noting that he is frustrated with the lack of originality in the rap game and wants to shake things up.
DuPont registry, talking 'bout somebody else cars
Expressing disdain for rappers who constantly flaunt wealth in their music.
Motherfuckers better step up your bars
Challenging other rappers to improve the quality of their lyrics and music.
Instead of frontin in the game like niggas really are stars
Noting that many rappers act like they are famous and successful, but in reality, their music is lacking.
Like we ain't seein through the bullshit, we know who you are
Stating that listeners can see through the artifice in some rappers' music and recognize their lack of talent.
I'm like a blessing to the game when your shit sound dated
Believing that his music brings a fresh, updated sound to the rap game.
I force niggas to improve, you should be happy I made it
Arguing that his success motivates other rappers to improve the quality of their music.
Here to rep the game fully, change my style like the weather
Dedicating himself to improving the rap game and adapting his style as needed.
Giving you niggas new shit to make the game feel better
Stating that he is constantly innovating and providing fresh music to improve the rap game.
I'm saying, I cook in the kitchen and we make the thoughts connect You forced to humble yourself, give me my big respect
Boasting about his skills as a rapper and expecting respect from his peers.
You hurting the game when your shit sound off ya know A legend in this shit that's why I move like a boss ya know
Stating that rappers who make low-quality music are hurting the integrity of the rap game while he, as a respected rapper, maintains a professional demeanor.
You better be tight, cause you can get tossed fo' sho'
Warning other rappers that they must improve their music or risk being cast aside.
Y'all niggas know whassup, I come correct with money long cause I
Asserting his dominance in the rap game and his financial success.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES DEWITT YANCEY, LEON WARE, TREVOR SMITH, MINNIE RIPERTON, RICHARD J. RUDOLPH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind