Busta Rhymes Digital Biography
Trevor Taheim Smith, Jr. (born on May 20, 1972), better known as Busta Rhymes, is an American hip hop musician and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the name Busta Rhymes (from former NFL football player George “Buster” Rhymes) after watching him perform.
Trevor John Smith was born in Brooklyn, New York, and is of Jamaican heritage. At the age of 12, his family moved to Uniondale, a suburb of New York City on Long Island, where he was raised and eventually met up with other rappers from the growing New York area hip hop community. He graduated from George Westinghouse High School Downtown Brooklyn, the same high school attended by famous MC’s Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z.
After finishing his schooling years at George Westinghouse High School he family moved England after a rival gang from another school ran them out of the area. Busta Rhymes (Trevor John Smith) became a big swimming fan and attempted to set new records in the 100 meters at Liverpool university. He then finished university in trade, performing arts, and a b-tech in sports.
Trevor then moved up north to a county called Lancashire were he got a part time life guard job at a local swimming pool near his home town of Lancaster. In 1990 Busta decided to move back to the U.S.A to become a rapper as he become talented on the streets of Liverpool and a small town called Morecambe.
Leaders of the New School: Busta Rhymes’ musical career began as a member of the Hip Hop crew Leaders of the New School along with fellow Long Island, natives C. Brown, Dinco D and Cut Monitor Milo. They began recording in 1991 with the album A Future Without a Past (Elektra Records), and soon gained fame.
Native Tongues Posse: Many influential and successful Hip Hop crews of the early 90′s with styles comparable to The Leaders of The New School were located in and around the border between the Queens borough of New York City and counties of Long Island. Soon after their debut The leaders of The New School became associated with the Native Tongues Posse, which led to the group’s collaboration with A Tribe Called Quest on the single “Scenario.”
Busta Rhymes’ performance on “Scenario” is thought of by some as the performance which led to his becoming a fan favorite and eventually going solo. The Leaders Of The New School released their last album T.I.M.E. in 1993, after which Busta Rhymes began his solo career.
Busta Rhymes’ debut solo album The Coming was released by Elektra Records in 1996. The album was a mix of reggae and hip hop, and it included the US and UK top 10 single “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check.” His follow-up, When Disaster Strikes… was successful in the US and sold well overseas.
The album produced two hugely popular singles and videos in America, “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” and “Dangerous”. The same year he released The Imperial as part of the Flipmode Squad, a collaborative project with rappers Rampage, Lord Have Mercy, Spliff Star, Rah Digga and Baby Sham.
1998 brought Extinction Level Event (Final World Front), the theme of which was an assertion that the world would end in the year 2000. Its single, “Gimme Some More”–which sampled Bernard Herrmann’s theme from Psycho reached number 5 in the UK singles chart in January, 1999.
Rhymes enjoyed further transatlantic success in April when the single “What’s It Gonna Be?!’, featuring Janet Jackson, reached the US and UK Top 10. In 2000 he worked on several movie projects, including the remake of Shaft, and released his final album for Elektra, Anarchy.
After leaving Elektra, Rhymes signed to J Records, a new label started by recently ousted Arista chief and founder Clive Davis. In 2001 he released a greatest hits record alongside a new album of original work. Continuing the apocalyptic theme of his previous albums, he titled his record Genesis. This album featured a hit by The Neptunes called “Pass the Courvoisier,” and the first work Busta did with Dr. Dre.
In 2002, Busta Rhymes released his sixth studio album It Ain’t Safe No More. The album was moderately successful, with a hit song featuring Mariah Carey called “I Know What You Want,” though fans claimed that his music was becoming more club-oriented and watered down. After its release, he left J Records. In 2004, he signed with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment.
In November of 2005, Busta Rhymes cut off his trademark dreadlocks during a photo shoot in a New York barbershop owned by producer Cory Rooney. The shop is featured on an MTV show titled The Shop. “I started growing [my hair] in December ’89. I was 17,” he said. “I signed my [record] deal and said I ain’t combing my hair no more. I don’t have to.” He says the haircut was symbolic of a change in his music and the new record deal.
2006 has seen the release of his seventh studio album, The Big Bang. The cd became his first #1 album of his entire career. The CD sold over 209,000 copies in its first week to earn the top spot on the charts. The album also became his highest charting album in the UK, peaking at #19 there. Some of the album was leaked on the internet, and as a result several songs were left off the album and new ones added.
The Big Bang featured more production by Dr. Dre than Busta’s previous releases and appearances by Raekwon and Nas. Three singles from the album have been released so far, “Touch It”, “I Love My Chick”, featuring Kelis and Will.I.Am of The Black Eyed Peas and New York Shit.
Style: Rhymes has an atypical and distinguishable style. He is known by fans for versatility in flow, delivery and subject matter. Probably his most well known trademark is the roars and grunts such as “Woo-Hah”, “Ha!”, “Bwah!” that serve as his adlibs, along with his distinguishable voice.
Busta has made a habit of appearing on other artists’ songs to do only the hook, bridge or chorus; he has done this for artists such as Big Pun (“Parental Discretion”), Black Moon (“The Onslaught”), Nas (“Suicide Bounce”), Puff Daddy and Notorious B.I.G. (“Victory”), The Game (“Like Father, Like Son”) and Obie Trice (“Oh!”).
Busta released his eighth studio album Back on My B.S. on May 19, 2009 via Universal Motown. The album debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200, selling 56,000 copies, and was his first album to not receive an RIAA certification, selling 122,000 copies to date. The singles that have been released from the album are, “Arab Money”, featuring Ron Browz, “Hustler’s Anthem ’09″, featuring T-Pain and “Respect My Conglomerate”. The song “World Go Round”, featuring British singer Estelle, was released in France on April 6, 2009 due to the heavy rotation of a leaked version. The single was released in the UK on July 13, 2009.
Busta announced that he is working on his upcoming ninth studio album entitled The Chemo. He says that his next project is 80 percent finished. Canadian producer Boi-1da is currently working on the album. New York rapper Busta Rhymes has reportedly changed the title of his forthcoming Chemo album to Extinction.Level.Event.2.
The trend of album sequel continues with Busta Rhymes as the New York staple plans another chapter from his 1998 opus E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front. Busta’s manager Chris Lighty sent out the message via Twitter. Lighty simply said, “Extinction.Level.Event 2 ……prepare yourself.” Like the first, E.L.E. 2 is inspired by movies of impending destruction and doom on planet Earth, Lighty said. “From the Intro of the new Busta Album your going to know your in trouble and you just turned on 2012 the movie on warp speed,” he said.
DJ Premier, in a recent Aug 6th 2010 interview on Conspiracy Worldwide Radio said Busta Rhymes has received over eight beats which he didn’t want to use but Premier hoped his next beat would be chosen for inclusion on the album.
2010–present: Cash Money Records, Mixtapes departure from Cash Money Records and Extinction Level Event 2
In September 2009, Busta Rhymes had announced that he was working on his ninth studio album, alongside Canadian producer Boi-1da, entitled The Chemo. At the time, he stated that the project was 80% finished. In May 2010, Busta Rhymes had reportedly changed the title of his ninth album from The Chemo to Extinction Level Event 2, making his ninth effort a sequel to his 1998 album Extinction Level Event (Final World Front).
In an August 6, 2010 interview on Conspiracy Worldwide Radio, American hip hop producer DJ Premier said Busta Rhymes received over eight beats which he did not want to use but Premier hoped his next beat would be chosen for inclusion on the album. On DJ Premier's Live from Headqcourterz radio show, Premier confirmed that one of his beats were to be included in E.L.E. 2. In 2010, Busta Rhymes formed his new label, The Conglomerate Entertainment (later on, the label would have artists such as N.O.R.E., and Spliff Star on its roster). He was also featured on "C'mon (Catch 'Em By Surprise)" by Tiësto and Diplo.
In 2011, Rhymes recorded "Look at Me Now" with Chris Brown and Lil Wayne on Brown's fourth album, F.A.M.E.; the song received favorable reviews regarding Rhymes guest verse on the song, and is his highest chart entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 6, while reaching No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming his first No. 1 on that chart. On September 7, 2011, Rhymes received six nominations for the BET Hip Hop Awards, held on October 11, 2011.
On May 1, 2011, Rhymes appeared on the launch show for MNET's Big Brother Africa 6: Amplified and performed some of his songs. In 2011, Busta Rhymes performed at the Gathering of the Juggalos. Busta Rhymes contributed to the 2011 Tech N9ne album All 6's and 7's, performing vocals on the single, "Worldwide Choppers", released on May 31. Canadian recording artist Justin Bieber featured Busta Rhymes on a song called "Drummer Boy" off Bieber's sophomore studio album, Under the Mistletoe, released on November 1, 2011. On November 11, 2011, a Heavy D tribute song titled "You Ain't Gotta Wait Till I'm Gone" was leaked.
On November 16, 2011, it was announced that Busta Rhymes signed to Cash Money Records. For his debut single on the Cash Money label and his Conglomerate Records, he reunited with Chris Brown on the single "Why Stop Now". In 2012, Busta collaborated with Jodie Connor, featuring on her single "Take You There", but he did not appear in the music video.
A song with Twista, titled "Can You Keep Up", was leaked. Busta Rhymes was featured on Fat Joe's single "Pride & Joy" alongside Kanye West and Jadakiss. His ninth studio album, Year of the Dragon, was released for free on Google Play on August 21, 2012. The album features guest appearances from Lil 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 features Reek da Villian and includes a tribute to his manager, Chris Lighty, who committed suicide in 2012.
He was later featured on YMCMB label mate Shannel's single "Last Time". In 2011, it was announced that Universal Motown was going defunct, forcing Rhymes and other artists to move to Universal Republic Records. In mid-2012, it was announced that Universal Republic Records was also going defunct, forcing artists on the roster to move to Republic Records, reviving the label.
On December 21, 2012, members of The Conglomerate Ent., Busta along with J. Doe and Reek da Villan released a mixtape titled Catastrophic, their first collective effort. Busta Rhymes collaborated with Pharrell Williams, who produced the first single off his Cash Money Records debut, "Twerk It", which was released June 6, 2013. A video was shot in Flatbush on June 3, 2013. The official remix was released featuring Nicki 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. On November 7, 2013, he released "Thank You", a song featuring Q-Tip, Kanye West and Lil Wayne.
He was featured on "Devil", featuring Neon Hitch and B.o.B, a song by Cash Cash. It was released in August 2015. In July 2014, it was announced that Rhymes had amicably departed Cash Records due to creative differences.
In 2016, a movement to name a small, uninhabited lake island in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts after Busta Rhymes received viral publicity. The unofficial name of Busta Rhymes Island was chosen by a town resident because the island has "rope-swinging, blueberries, and ... stuff Busta would enjoy". 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.
Busta Rhymes was also a featured artist on The Hamilton Mixtape, singing a remix of "My Shot", along with Black Thought of The Roots and Joell Ortiz. The trio performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. On February 2, 2018, Rhymes released a new single "Get It", featuring Missy Elliott and Kelly Rowland, through Epic Records. In 2018, he was announced to be a featured artist on Azealia Banks’ album Fantasea II: The Second Wave, on the song "Tastes State".
In February 2019, Busta Rhymes confirmed he's "finishing touches" of his new album with longtime collaborator, Dr. Dre.
Busta Rhymes was among hundreds of artists whose material was destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.
In 2020, Busta appeared on season 4 of The Masked Singer as the "Dragon". He was eliminated in the first episode.
On October 30, 2020 Busta released his album Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God, featuring Kendrick Lamar, Rakim, Mariah Carey, Q-Tip, Mary J Blige, and MOP, among others.
Personal life
Busta Rhymes identifies as a member of the Five-Percent Nation. He has six children: three sons (born in 1993, 1999, and 2001) and three daughters (born 1998, 1999, and 2006).
Legal issues
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 on Randall's Island.
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.
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 six months in jail and pleading 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.
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.[66]
On September 25, 2008, Rhymes was temporarily refused entry to the United Kingdom due to "unresolved convictions".
On October 14, 2009, a Brooklyn judge ordered Rhymes to pay a concert goer $75,000 in compensation for an assault which occurred in 2003.
(sources: westlord.com, Wikipedia)
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