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.
conglomerate
Busta Rhymes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since we are the best and you agree with me, right?
No need to debate the way we bomb shit
See we're kind of like the government, so just respect my conglomerate
Just respect my conglomerate, just respect my conglomerate
Just respect my conglomerate, just respect my conglomerate
With the crack and the thugs and the drugs, nigga, I'm Black (oh)
The best to do it, we only deal with the facts, bitch
Blazing and I'm so amazing on the tracks, bitch
(Bounce on 'em) And I jump and I skip
And I hop and I flip over niggas like gymnastics (ayy)
Watch the way I'm comin', I'm givin' the streets acid
Bastards, niggas know I'm the king of the classics
Drastic measures, I'm spreadin' like a rash, bitch
Class is in session you 'bout to get your ass kicked (oh)
Emperor of every roundtable of the house (and when I speak)
Niggas respect me as leader of the councilman
God rap, God persona, God scrilla (uh)
God body in the flesh, call me Godzilla
Now you know you see we be the most prominent (ha)
Dominant, niggas respect my conglomerate (ah)
Since we are the best and you agree with me, right?
No need to debate the way we bomb shit
See we're kind of like the government, so just respect my conglomerate
Just respect my conglomerate, just respect my conglomerate
Just respect my conglomerate, just respect my conglomerate (alright Bus', uh, ahem)
Young Money in charge
Yes, it's Lil Wayne but the money's enlarged
Priorities, Young Money and God
Now they wanna know how I be gettin' money on Mars
'Cause I be gettin' paid like outta this world
Hip-hop is a bitch and I'm proud of this girl
But when the sharks come see how the fish curl
This is my Game, you gon' need a referral
I know more about tree than squirrel
Me no talk much, but the heat so verbal
Brand New Marc Jacob pea coat thermal
Gun outside of the gear, external
I'm so fly, y'all still at the terminal
I'll put you in the dirt just because I see the worm in you
Dirty South, bitch
Admire and acknowledge it and Respect My Conglomerate
Since we are the best and you agree with me, right?
No need to debate (uh-uh) the way we bomb shit (yeah)
See we're kind of like the government, so just respect my conglomerate (aha, yeah)
Just respect my conglomerate, just respect my conglomerate (aha, yeah, aha, yeah)
Just respect my conglomerate, just respect my conglomerate (uh, yeah, uh, yo)
Workers, bosses (bosses), Ferraris, Porsches
Dope fiends, nauseous, crack spot losses
Race track horses (uh), big meetings at the round table (yeah)
To discuss what the cost is
Money change you (yeah), devils, angels (uh)
We the ones who say what you can and what you can't do (uh-huh)
Respect, power (power), kush, sour (sour), haze, airy, pills, powder (uh)
Gangstas, varmints, ice, garments
Don shit, real niggas who I get it on with (uh)
When I'm around, my colleagues ain't comfortable (haha)
They all gotta sit with my verses for a month or two (yep)
Uh, wrong nigga to have a problem with
The blade first, then the bullet gon' follow it
Yeah, if you lucky, I might hollow it (lucky)
D-Block, just respect my conglomerate (what?)
Since we are the best and you agree with me, right?
No need to debate the way we bomb shit
See we're kind of like the government, so just respect my conglomerate
Just respect my conglomerate, just respect my conglomerate
Just respect my conglomerate, just respect my conglomerate
In "Respect My Conglomerate," Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, and Jadakiss assert their dominance and demand respect in the world of rap music. The lyrics suggest that just as the government has power to control and influence society, their collective of powerful artists also holds that same power in the realm of music.
Busta Rhymes sets the tone with boasts about his skills and accomplishments in the music industry, calling himself the "king of classics." He portrays himself as a leader and a force to be reckoned with, highlighting his authority over those around him. Lil Wayne joins in to proclaim his own success and talk about his wealth, both on Earth and even "on Mars." He suggests that he knows more than others about the "tree" (weed) that is so central to hip hop culture. Jadakiss adds his own contribution, referencing powerful and even dangerous elements like drugs, guns, and crime.
Overall, the lyrics of "Respect My Conglomerate" suggest that members of this collective are dominant and should be respected for their power and influence in the world of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Most people would consider this illegal (illegal, illegal, illegal)
We are so successful and powerful that some may see our actions as illegal, but we know that we are the best and therefore our conglomerate deserves respect.
Since we are the best and you agree with me right?
We know that we are the best and assume that everyone agrees with us.
No need to debate, (debate, debate, debate)
There is no point in arguing because we are already the best.
the way boss shit
We are in charge and our decisions are final.
See were kind of like the government,
We have the same power and influence as the government.
just respect my conglomerate
All we ask is for respect for our conglomerate and what we have achieved.
It's Bus Rhymes! (Huh!)
This is Busta Rhymes' song.
And I'm back
Busta Rhymes is back and ready to show off his success.
With the crack, and the thugs, and the drugs, nigga black! (Oh!)
Busta Rhymes has had a lot of success in illegal activities.
The best to do it we only deal with the facts bitch
Busta Rhymes is the best and only deals with the truth.
Blazing that I'm so amazing on the tracks bitch! (Bounce on 'em!)
Busta Rhymes is incredible on the microphone and will show off his skills.
And I jump, and I skip, And I hop, and I flip over niggas like gymnastics (Hey!)
Busta Rhymes is so talented that he can effortlessly outdo his competition.
Watch the way I'm coming I'm giving the streets acid
Busta Rhymes is making a strong impression on the streets and leaving a lasting impact.
Bastards niggas know I'm the king of the classics
Busta Rhymes is legendary and beloved in the hip hop world.
Drastic measures, I'm spreading like a rash bitch
Busta Rhymes is rapidly expanding his empire.
Class is in session you 'bout to get yo' ass kicked
Busta Rhymes is about to show his competition how it's done.
Emperor, of every round table of the house
Busta Rhymes controls everything and has the final say.
(And when I speak)
Busta Rhymes' words are law.
Niggas respect me as leader of the councilman
Busta Rhymes is the undisputed leader of the group.
God rap, God persona, God-scrilla (Huh!)
Busta Rhymes is like a god in the hip hop world and has a lot of money.
God body in the flesh call me Godzilla!
Busta Rhymes is a powerful figure and commands a lot of respect.
Now you know you see we be the most prominent
Busta Rhymes and his group are the most successful and influential in the game.
Dominant niggas respect my conglomerate (Ah!)
People know that Busta Rhymes' conglomerate is the most important and successful in the hip hop world.
Young Money in charge, Yes It's Little Wayne, but the moneys enlarge.
Young Money has a lot of money and Lil Wayne is the leader.
Priorities Young Money and God,
Young Money and God are the most important things to Lil Wayne.
Now they wanna know how I be getting money on Mars,
Lil Wayne's wealth is so vast, people are curious about how he makes his money.
Cause I be getting paid like outta this world,
Lil Wayne makes an incredible amount of money.
Hip-Hop is a bitch and I'm proud of this Girl.
Lil Wayne is successful in a competitive industry and is proud of his accomplishments.
But when the sharks come, see how the fish curl,
When Lil Wayne's competition comes after him, they will wither away in fear.
This is my Game you Gonna need a referral,
Lil Wayne is in charge and only those who he approves of can enter the game.
I know more about tree than squirrel,
Lil Wayne knows more about drugs than any of his competition.
Me no talk much ,but the heat so verbal,
Lil Wayne doesn't say much, but his music speaks for itself.
Brand New Marc Jacobs pea-coat thermal,
Lil Wayne is wealthy enough to afford expensive clothing.
Gun outside of the gear, external.
Lil Wayne carries a gun at all times for protection.
I'm so fly y'all still at the terminal.
Lil Wayne is so successful that he has surpassed his competition.
I'll put you in the dirt just because I see the worm in you.
Lil Wayne will take down anyone who he sees as a threat.
Dirty South bitch.
Lil Wayne is from the southern United States and embraces the lifestyle.
Admire and acknowledge it.
People should recognize and appreciate Lil Wayne's success.
Yeah, uh, yeah, yo
Jadakiss is starting his verse.
Workers, bosses, Ferrari's, Porches
Jadakiss is describing the different types of people he is involved with.
Dope fiends nauseous, crack spot
Jadakiss is involved with illegal drug activity and its effects.
Race track, horses, big meetings at the round table, to discuss what the cost is
Jadakiss is involved with gambling and high-level business deals.
Money, change you, devils, angels
Money can have a profound impact on a person's character.
We the ones who say what you can and what you can't do
Jadakiss is in a position of power and can dictate what is allowed and what isn't.
Respect, power, kush, sour
Jadakiss values respect, power, and marijuana.
Haze, airy, pills, powder
Jadakiss is involved with a variety of drugs.
Gangstas, varmints, ice, garments
Jadakiss is connected to the criminal underworld and enjoys expensive clothing and jewelry.
Don shit, real niggas who I get it on wit
Jadakiss associates with dangerous and successful individuals.
When I'm around, my colleagues ain't comfortable
Jadakiss' presence makes his associates nervous.
They all got a-sick with my verses for a month or two (Uh)
Jadakiss' rhymes are so impressive that they leave a lasting impact on his competition.
Yep, wrong nigga to have a problem with
Jadakiss is not someone to be messed with.
The blade first, then the bullet gon' follow it
Jadakiss is not afraid to use deadly weapons to defend himself.
Yeah, if you lucky, I might hollow it
Jadakiss is capable of killing someone with a single shot.
D-Block, just respect my conglomerate
Jadakiss is part of D-Block and should be respected for his success.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bernard Edwards Jr., Jason Phillips, Jay Jenkins, Trevor Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thanos Tassipetris
Lovin the fact that despite being aware of the existence of this music video almost since its initial release, I just now realized that our boys Tyrese and Idris are in there too lmao
Matthew Mordi
Is that Idris? I thought the fellow looked like him but wasn't sure
Gesus elsaviour
Stringer Bell
JP JP
As we gather to find this hidden gem lol
Kristoffer Fluge
@Matthew Mordi yes
Gidget
And Delko from CSI Miami!
D- Jones
This used to be my shit back in 09
Tom M
Still hype after all these years
Insta Spy
me 2
Ted Kaczynski, American Hero
Is it me or the bass distorted real bad on this version?