The vibrant, articulate, and Caribbean accented Busta Rhymes was born Trevor George Smith, Jnr. to Jamaican parents, Trevor George Smith, Sr. and Geraldine Green in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York on May 20, 1972. His father was an electrical contractor and his mother was a homemaker. A couple years later another son, Paul Smith, was born. His parents divorsed when he was 10. He started rapping and moved to Long Island at the age of 12. Tall and angular, the future rapper showed great promise as a basketball player during his years at Uniondale High School, but it was music that captured his heart. While not in class or on the courts, BUsta fled to nearby Queens or Bronx, areas of music that inspired him. In the 10th grade he entered a contest sponcered by Chuck D of Public Enemy and won. He dropped out of high school at the age of 17, and with the help of Chuck D, Busta started a rap group with three of his friends, Charlie "the freestyle wizard" Brown, Dinco "the Rhyme scientist" D, and Milo In De Dance (aka the Cut Monitor) called the Leaders of the New School. They started rapping demos at the Public Enemy studio and were signed to Elektra Records in the fal lof '89. Busta's first name as a rapper was Chill-o-ski, but he thought it was corny, so Chuck D gave hima a new name, Busta Rhymes. He got the name from an American Football player named Buster Rhymes, because everybody always wanted him to Bust-a-Rhyme. They released their first album "A Future without a Past" on June 14, 1991. On October 5, 1993, their second album T.I.M.E. hit stores. Also, Busta's girlfriend, Joanne Wood became pregnant. Busta was away on tour when Joanne went into early labor in her fifth month on May 4, 1993. The two-pound baby boy, who was christened Tahiem, survived for only three hours. Tahiem's death left Busta deeply wounded. He had alot of problems with his feelings after that but got great support from his group members. The Leaders of the New School went their separate after that, and Busta became a solo artist. In the Spring of '94, and to help ease the pain of Tahiem's death, Joanne had the couple's second son they named T'ziah.
Three years after Tahiem's death, On March 26, 1996, Busta released his first solo album "The Coming", which went platinum, with the hits "Woo hah! Got yall all in check" and "It's a party." Busta was nominated for the Best Solo Rap at the 1996-97 Grammies. Busta's second solo album, "When Disaster Strikes" was released on September 16, 1997, went two times platinum, with the hits, "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes See", "Dangerous", and "Fire It Up" (Turn it Up [remix]). After this album, Busta became really popular. 1998 was a really good year for Busta. He started his own clothing line BUSHI. He also started his own recording label, Flipmode Entertainment, and hired his mother and brother to manage Flipmode. He released his third solo album, "Extention Level Event" (E.L.E) (The Final World Front) on December 15, 1998, but sucess didn't come so sweet. On December 27, 1998, Busta was arrested for unlawful weapon possesstion. After stopping the rapper for driving unusually, New York City Police discovered a loaded unregistered .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun in his Mercedes-Benz. Also his passenger, Gerald Odom, who was his manager, was charged with unlawful possesstion of marijuana and unlawful weapons possesstion. To make matters worse on March 17, 1999, Busta was charged with violating a restraining order, a result of making threats to his ex-girlfriend, Joanne (the mother of his son T'ziah). Butsa made the comment, "I speak to my son everyday regardless of where I am, but I feel guilty because even though I'm providing for him financially, I just want to be with him, you know? Busta's fourth solo album, "Anarchy", hit stores on June 20, 2000. Also, problems started to arise with his recording label Elektra Entertainment. Busta ended up leaving Elektra and was signed to J Records, started by Clive Davis, who founded Arista in 19775. Clive started a lot of artists such as Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Santana, and more, he alson had a part in the birth of Bad Boy and LaFace Records.
"Genesis", Busta's first album with J Records and fifth solo album was released on November 27, 2001, with the hits, "Break Ya Neck" and "Pass the Courvoiser Pt. 2." On November 26, 2002, "It ain't safe no more", Busta's secind album with J Records and sixth solo album hit stores, with the hits "Make it Clap" (original version and remix), and "I know what you want."
Today, Busta Rhymes is still a phenominal artist. He has worked with artists such as Mary J. Blige, TLC, MAriah Carey, Sean Paul, Spliff Star, and P. Diddy. My favorite songs by him are "Put your hands where my eyes cans see", "Dangerous", "Make it Clap"(original version and remix), and "Light your a** on fire". Other achievements: in 2002 he had movie roles in "Halloween:Ressurection" and "Narc", he also appeared on "Halloween:Ressurection", "Narc", "Finding Forrester", "Shaft", "Rugrats: The MOvie", and "Higher Learning" soundtracks. Through thick and thin, BUsta comes out prooving himself still on top and better than others. So far "Make it Clap", "I know what you want", and "Light your a** on fire" have been his biggest hits.
"Keep doin' whatcha doin, Busta, Keep up the good work"
Bio written by: lilmzqtpi |
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