Busta Rhymes | |
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_(cropped).jpg) Busta Rhymes performing in 2022 | |
| Born | Trevor George Smith Jr. (1972-05-20)May 20, 1972 (age 52)[1] New York City, U.S. |
| Other names | Trevor Taheim Smith |
| Education | Uniondale High School |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1986–present[2] |
| Works | |
| Children | 6 |
| Relatives | Rampage (cousin) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Hempstead, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
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| Labels | |
| Member of | |
| Formerly of | |
| Website | bustarhymesuniverse |
Musical artist | |
Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally asBusta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer and actor.Chuck D ofPublic Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, afterNFL andCFL wide receiverGeorge "Buster" Rhymes. He has received 12Grammy Award nominations, making himone of the most-nominated artists without a win.Billboard andVibe ranked him among the50 Greatest Rappers of All Time, whileForbes listed him among the greatest rappers on their list of the "50 Top Rappers of All Time".[5][6]
Busta Rhymes was an original member ofLeaders of the New School, a group that attracted national attention while opening on tour for Public Enemy.[7] He gained further exposure for their guest appearance onA Tribe Called Quest's "Scenario". Shortly after, Leaders of the New School disbanded, leading Rhymes to become a sought-after solo artist, appearing on numerous tracks for other artists before his debut solo album,The Coming (1996). Critically acclaimed, the album debuted within the top ten of theBillboard 200, receivedplatinum certification by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
He has released eleven total solo albums, with the most recent beingBlockbusta (2023). His most notable singles include "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check", "It's a Party", "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See", "Dangerous","Turn It Up" (Remix)/"Fire It Up", "Gimme Some More", "What's It Gonna Be?!", "Pass the Courvoisier, Part II", "I Know What You Want" and "Touch It". He has guest appeared on the hit songs "Don't Cha" byThe Pussycat Dolls and "Look at Me Now" byChris Brown. In addition to his music career, he founded the record labelConglomerate (formerly Flipmode Entertainment) and its namesake hip hop collective (formerly known asFlipmode Squad).
Trevor George Smith Jr.[8][9][10] was born in theEast Flatbush neighborhood ofBrooklyn,New York City, on May 20, 1972, to Geraldine Green and Trevor Smith Sr., who both were immigrants fromJamaica.[11][12][13] At age 12, Smith's family moved toNassau County onLong Island, and settled inUniondale, New York.[14] For a short while, Smith attendedGeorge Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School in Brooklyn with future rappersChristopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace andShawn "Jay-Z" Carter,[15] and attendedSamuel J. Tilden High School withEdward "Special Ed" Archer and Roderick "Chip Fu" Roachford ofFu-Schnickens.[16] Smith eventually graduated fromUniondale High School in 1991.[17]
Busta also spent time inEngland during the early 1980s where he resided with his maternal aunt. She lived inMorecambe, and he spent two summers there with his mother and younger brother.[18] He went toSkerton Community High School while he was staying in the area.[19] He toldGQ in a 2020 interview, "One summer when we went down there I was 12, my brother was eight, so my aunt made sure that we actually went to school in England. Regular school and then we went to karate school too. We also were on somebreakdancing that was so crazy, we ended up actually getting work to breakdance in clubs as minors. And our cousins used to run us around and they used to advertise us as TJ and Paul."[18]
"They were performing with one mic, and it was three MCs, not four. Busta also did the beatbox. It was just ill. He was controlling the mic and certainly the star of the show. He was completely amazing."
In 1986, Smith, alongside fellowLong Island natives Charlie Brown, Cut Monitor Milo, and Dinco D, formed theEast Coast hip hop groupLeaders of the New School.[21]
Leaders of the New School released their debut album,A Future Without a Past..., in June 1991 onElektra Records.[22] Later that year, the group appeared onA Tribe Called Quest's critically acclaimedposse cut "Scenario".[23] In 1993, they releasedT.I.M.E. (The Inner Mind's Eye). Smith gained popularity from his advanced rhymes as well as his unique style that was not common of many New York rap artists at the time. Soon after, however, internal problems arose because of his increasing popularity, and the group broke up on the set ofYo! MTV Raps.[24][25]
"I was like the first artist to really start rhyming on everyone else's record. And I was doing that because it was a quick way to feed my kid. That's what was going on until, you know, I got to a place where I felt comfortable enough with doing a solo album."
In 1996, Busta Rhymes released his debut solo album,The Coming.[26] His single "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check" was a success, pushing the album into gold record status.[21] Later, he started work on his second album,When Disaster Strikes, which would not be released until September 1997.[21]
In 1998, Busta Rhymes recordedExtinction Level Event: The Final World Front.[21]
In 2000, Busta Rhymes released his final album for Elektra, titledAnarchy.[21][27] He releasedGenesis in 2001.[21] The album featured collaborations withMary J. Blige,P. Diddy,Kelis, and others.[28]
In 2002, Busta Rhymes released his sixth studio album,It Ain't Safe No More.[27][21]
His seventh studio album, titledThe Big Bang, became the first No. 1 album of his career. The album sold over 209,000 copies in its first week to earn the top spot on the U.S.Billboard 200.[29]
It was later revealed that Busta signed a deal withUniversal Motown, through which he released his eighth studio album,Back on My B.S., on May 19, 2009.[30] Due to controversial content, the United Arab Emirates has banned the album.[31]Back on My B.S. was released internationally, but because of one song, "Arab Money", it cannot be purchased as a CD there, although the album can still be purchased via iTunes.[31] According to the National Media Council, the lyrics were considered to be offensive to Arabs and to Islam because it quoted theQuran.[31]
In November 2008, when "Arab Money" was released as a single, DJ Dany Neville and the Iraqi rapperThe Narcicyst responded by recording a reply. Rhymes later apologized.[31] DJs in the country said they had not received an order banning the record from being spun in nightclubs, and they had mixed feelings on whether the record was offensive or not.[31] DJ Saif of Dubai said "I don't play 'Arab Money' because it's disrespectful [to] Arabs. I don't think there is a ban on playing it in clubs, but many here don't play it anyway."[31]
DJ Bliss, along with many other DJs in the UAE, refused to play "Arab Money" on Radio 1 in Dubai after it was banned in the UAE for offense to Arabs. He added, "I used to play the original version in the club, but out of respect for the laws here in my country, I haven't played it since."[31] In 2010 the track's producerRon Browz defended Busta Rhymes in a Dubai interview with journalist Awad Mustafa stating that the track was misunderstood.[32] "For us, having 'Arab money' is a compliment understood like having 'Oprah money' or 'Tiger Woods money' – it's just street slang, and we were appreciating the amazing wonders that have been created here," Browz said.[33] Browz added that he had produced the track in a moment of inspiration while experimenting in his studio. "Growing up in Harlem I was always surrounded by Arabs andMuslims, we embraced their culture and they embraced ours and we always joked with each other," he said.[34]
In September 2009, Busta Rhymes had announced that he was working on his ninth studio album, alongside Canadian producerBoi-1da, titledThe Chemo. At the time, he stated that the project was 80% finished.[35] In May 2010, Busta Rhymes had reportedly changed the title of his ninth album fromThe Chemo toExtinction Level Event 2, making his ninth effort a sequel to his 1998 albumExtinction Level Event (Final World Front).[36]
Busta Rhymes contributed to the 2011Tech N9ne albumAll 6's and 7's, performing vocals on the single, "Worldwide Choppers", released on May 31.[37] Canadian recording artistJustin Bieber featured Busta Rhymes on a song called "Drummer Boy" off Bieber's second studio album,Under the Mistletoe, released on November 1, 2011.[38] On November 11, 2011, aHeavy D tribute song titled "You Ain't Gotta Wait Till I'm Gone" was leaked.[39]
On November 16, 2011, it was announced that Busta Rhymes signed toCash Money Records.[40]
A song with Twista, titled "Can You Keep Up", was leaked. Busta Rhymes was featured onFat Joe's single "Pride & Joy" alongsideKanye West andJadakiss.[41] His ninth studio album,Year of the Dragon, was released for free onGoogle Play on August 21, 2012. The album features guest appearances fromLil Wayne,Rick Ross,Trey Songz,Robin Thicke,Maino,Gucci Mane and more. He also released a music video for the track "Doin' It Again" which featuresReek da Villian and includes a tribute to his managerChris Lighty, who committed suicide in 2012.[42]
He was later featured on YMCMB label mate Shannel's single "Last Time".[43] In 2011, it was announced that Universal Motown was going defunct, forcing Rhymes and other artists to move toUniversal Republic Records. In mid-2012, it was announced that Universal Republic Records was also going defunct, forcing artists on the roster to move toRepublic Records, reviving the label.[44]
On December 21, 2012, members of The Conglomerate Ent., Busta along with J. Doe and Reek da Villan released a mixtape titledCatastrophic, their first collective effort.[45] Busta Rhymes collaborated withPharrell Williams, who produced the first single off his Cash Money Records debut, "Twerk It", which was released on June 6, 2013. A video was shot inFlatbush on June 3, 2013. The official remix was released featuringNicki Minaj. On July 23, 2014, Busta Rhymes announced that he left Cash Money Records due to creative differences and he is no longer on Republic.[46]
He was featured on "Devil", featuringNeon Hitch andB.o.B, a song byCash Cash. It was released in August 2015.[47] In July 2014, it was announced that Rhymes had amicably departed Cash Money Records due to creative differences.[48]
In 2016, a movement to name a small, uninhabited lake island in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts after Busta Rhymes received viral publicity. The unofficial name ofBusta Rhymes Island was chosen by a town resident because the island has "rope-swinging, blueberries, and ... stuff Busta would enjoy".[49] A formal proposal was made to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to officially change the island's name, but it was not accepted due to regulations regarding the naming of geographic places after living people.[50]
Busta Rhymes was also a featured artist onThe Hamilton Mixtape, singing a remix of "My Shot", along withBlack Thought ofThe Roots andJoell Ortiz.[51] The trio performed the song onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[52] On February 2, 2018, Rhymes released a new single "Get It", featuringMissy Elliott andKelly Rowland, throughEpic Records.[53]
In February 2019, Busta Rhymes confirmed he's "finishing touches" of his new album with longtime collaborator, Dr. Dre.[54]
In 2020, Busta Rhymes competed inseason 4 ofThe Masked Singer as "Dragon". He was eliminated in the first episode.[55]
On October 30, 2020, Busta released his albumExtinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God.[27]
In 2021, Busta Rhymes released the 25th Anniversary Edition of his debut studio album,The Coming.[56]
In late 2023, his eleventh studio album,Blockbusta, which has many guest appearances, was released.[57]
Throughout late 2024, he made two major guest appearances on his idol,LL Cool J's "Huey in the Chair", a track from his fourteenth album,The FORCE, the pair's first collaboration in nearly 27 years since 1997's "Starsky and Hutch".[58][59] That November, he appeared on singerCiara's single, "Wassup".[60]
On January 17, 2025, Busta Rhymes released his EP,Dragon Season... The Awakening, a precursor to his upcoming studio album,Dragon Season.[61]
Busta Rhymes identifies as a member of theFive-Percent Nation and has been aMuslim since the age of 12.[62][63] He has six children: three sons (born in 1993, 1999, and 2001) and three daughters (born 1998, 1999, and 2006).[64][65][66]
During an interview forHip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, the rapper walked out when confronted with a question abouthomophobia in the rap community. Rhymes is quoted as saying: "I can't partake in that conversation," followed by, "With all due respect, I ain't trying to offend nobody. . . What I represent culturally doesn't condone [homosexuality] whatsoever." When asked if thehip hop culture would ever accept a homosexual rapper, Busta Rhymes then exited the interview.[67]
In a later interview withMTV News, Rhymes expressed his support forFrank Ocean upon his coming out, as well as general cultural acceptance of homosexuality.[68]
In December 1998, Rhymes was arrested and charged with possession of an unregistered gun after being pulled over during a routine traffic stop in New York City.[69] On October 6, 2000, he received five years' probation after pleading guilty earlier in the year.[70]
On August 20, 2006, Rhymes was arrested and arraigned for charges of third-degree assault after attacking a man who reportedly spat on his car in New York City on August 12 after the AmsterJam Music Festival onRandall's Island.[71]
On October 24, 2006, Rhymes appeared at Manhattan Criminal Court as the district attorney's office attempted to amend previous charges against him to include weapons possession for a machete found in his car. The judge refused to add the charge and adjourned the case.[72][73]
On February 20, 2007, Rhymes refused a plea deal offered by the prosecutor's office for the assault of his former driver, Edward Hatchett. The deal would have entailed his being in jail for six months andpleading guilty to two assaults, the attack on Hatchett, and the attack on the former fan. The dispute with Hatchett is believed to have originated over back pay Hatchett felt he was owed. Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Becki Rowe offered Busta another option, pleading guilty to third-degree assault. The conditions of the proposed sentence would include five days of community service, two weeks of youth lectures and six months of anger management classes, as well as three years of probation.[73][74]
On May 3, 2007, Rhymes was arrested in Manhattan for driving without a license and for driving while impaired. On March 18, 2008, a judge in New York City sentenced Rhymes to three years of probation, 10 days community service, $1250 in fines (plus court costs), and to enroll in a drunken driving program.[75]
On September 25, 2008, Rhymes was temporarily refused entry to the UK due to "unresolved convictions".[76]
In 2018, Busta Rhymes was accused of plagiarism by Bernardo Lanzetti and his groupAcqua Fragile, who alleged that Rhymes' 2001 song "Genesis" used an uncredited sample of the group's "Cosmic Mind Affair".[77] After negotiations with Rhymes' publishers broke down, Lanzetti and Acqua Fragile opted to move forward with a lawsuit.[78]
On January 10, 2025, Rhymes was involved in assaulting one of his assistants, Dashiel Gables, after an argument due to a food delivery dispute near the corner of Jay and Front streets in Brooklyn's Dumbo neighborhood.[79] The victim suffered injuries to his face with visible swelling.[80] Rhymes turned himself in to the police. He was arrested and charged with third degree assault and had given a desk appearance ticket, which requires him to make an appearance in criminal court for an arraignment. The investigation is still ongoing.[81][82]
Busta Rhymes' favorite rapper as a teenager wasLL Cool J, who was the inspiration and reason for Busta Rhymes writing his first raps.[83]
He was creatively inspired by American singer and record producerGeorge Clinton for "being over the top and outlandish and brave as far as his showmanship." Rhymes has also stated that he was taught by Clinton about the music industry and numerous challenges people in it have to face.[20]
Rhymes' work has influenced artists such asEminem,Talib Kweli,[84]Ski Mask the Slump God,[85][86]Kendrick Lamar,[87]Tyler, the Creator,[88]Doja Cat,[89][90][91][92] andCiara.[93] Fellow American rapperBig Daddy Kane has stated that Rhymes has the best flow inhip hop, alluding to the original version of "Turn It Up".[94]
About.com included him on its list of the 50 GreatestMCs of Our Time (1987–2007),[95] and Steve Huey ofAllMusic called him one of the best and most prolific rappers of the 1990s.[96] In 2012,The Source placed him on its list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.[97]MTV has called him "one of hip-hop's greatest visual artists".[98]
Studio albums
Collaborative albums
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Who's the Man? | Jawaan | |
| Strapped | Buster | TV movie | |
| 1995 | Higher Learning | "Dreads" | |
| 1998 | The Rugrats Movie | Reptar Wagon (voice) | |
| 2000 | Shaft | Rasaan | |
| Finding Forrester | Terrell Wallace | ||
| 2002 | Narc | Darnell "Big D Love" Beery | |
| Halloween: Resurrection | Freddie Harris | ||
| 2004 | Full Clip | Joshua Pope | |
| 2009 | Breaking Point | Al Bowen | |
| 2011 | The Unforgiven | "Lick" Wilson | |
| 2015 | Club Life | Himself | |
| 2016 | King of the Dancehall | Allestar "All Star Toasta" | |
| 2024 | Piece by Piece | Himself (voice) | |
| 2025 | The Naked Gun† | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | In Living Color | Himself/Musical Guest | Episode: "Green Eggs and the Guvment Cheese" |
| 1996 | New York Undercover | Himself | Episode: "Kill the Noise" |
| 1996–97 | Soul Train | Himself | Episode: "Episode #25.26" & "#27.9" |
| 1997 | Cosby | Phillip | Episode: "Dating Games" |
| 1998 | The Wayans Bros. | Himself | Episode: "Busta Saves the Day" |
| The Steve Harvey Show | Zack | Episode: "Everybody Loves Regina" | |
| 1998–02 | Top of the Pops | Himself | Episode: "Episode #35.16" & "#39.22" |
| 1999 | All That | Himself | Episode: "All That Live! (100th Episode)" |
| Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards | Himself/Co-Host | Main Co-Host | |
| Mad TV | Himself | Episode: "Episode #5.2" | |
| Rugrats | Reptar Wagon (voice) | Episode: "Wrestling Grandpa/Chuckie Collects" | |
| 2000 | Making the Video | Himself | Episode: "Busta Rhymes: Fire" |
| 2000–01 | Source Hip-Hop Music Awards | Himself/Co-Host | Main Co-Host |
| 2000–02 | Showtime at the Apollo | Himself | Episode: "Episode #13.20" & "#15.14" |
| 2001 | Space Ghost Coast to Coast | Himself | Episode: "Flipmode" |
| 2002 | WWE SmackDown | Himself | Episode: "The Undertake & John Cena vs. Kurt Angle & Chris Jericho" |
| 2003 | Players | Himself | Episode: "Daredevilin'" |
| Chappelle's Show | Himself/Musical Guest | Episode: "Reparations & NY Boobs" | |
| Punk'd | Himself | Episode: "Episode #1.8" | |
| Interscope Presents 'The Next Episode' | Himself | Episode: "Detroit" | |
| 2004 | And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop | Himself | Episode: "Back in the Day" |
| 2005 | Unique Whips | Himself | Episode: "Lincolns, Strippers and Bentleys, Oh My" |
| Access Granted | Himself | Episode: "Busta Rhymes: Touch It" | |
| 2007–08 | The Boondocks | Flonominal (voice) | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
| 2015 | Master of None | Himself | Episode: "Indians on TV" |
| 2016 | Fresh Off the Boat | Himself | Episode: "Hi, My Name Is ..." |
| 2018 | Big City Greens | Fish (voice) | Episode: "Fill Bill" |
| 2020 | The Masked Singer | Dragon | Eliminated in first episode |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Himself | Season 8, episode 1339 | |
| 2024 | Everybody Still Hates Chris | Graffiti "Orbit" (voice) | Season 1 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Def Jam Fight For NY | Magic | Voice role and likeness[99] |
| 2006 | Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover | Magic | Voice role and likeness[100] |
| 2009 | Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad Of Gay Tony | Himself | Voice only |
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Rhyme & Reason |
| 2000 | Backstage |
| 2001 | Xzibit: Restless Xposed |
| 2002 | Slip N'Slide: All Star Weekend |
| 2003 | Hip Hop Uncensored Vol. 1: Network Stars |
| Superhuman | |
| Fromage 2003 | |
| 2004 | Strong Arm Steady |
| DJ Domination: World Domination | |
| 2005 | The Game: Documentary |
| 2006 | Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes |
| Pimpalation: Return of the Trill | |
| Lockdown, USA | |
| Jim Jones: A Day in the Fast Life | |
| Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops[101] | |
| 2007 | Public Enemy: Where There's Smoke |
| 2008 | Orange Rockcorps at the Royal Albert Hall |
| 2010 | SOS Saving OurSelves: Help for Haiti |
| 2011 | Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest |
| 2013 | Generation Iron |
| 2014 | Nas: Time Is Illmatic |
| 2015 | Stretch and Bobbito: Radio that changed Lives |
| 2017 | Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A Bad Boy Story |
| 2018 | Survivors Guide To Prison |
| 2023 | Another West Side Story |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Trevor G. Smith Sr. ... Love you very much Dad.
Jay Z, who attended Brooklyn's George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School with Busta Rhymes and Notorious B.I.G.
Rapper Busta Rhymes ... graduated from Uniondale High School in 1991.
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