Busta Rhymes

Artist Image: Busta Rhymes
Attribution
Image Credit: Lipstar & Frederic Lippe (Fred Production) (Own work), CC BY-SA 2.5

Biography

Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., (born May 20, 1972), better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes. Early in his career, he was known for his wild style and fashion, and today is best known for his intricate rapping technique, which involves rapping at a fast rate with lots of internal rhyme and half rhyme, and to date has received eleven Grammy nominations for his musical work. About.com included him on its list of the 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987–2007), while Steve Huey of Allmusic called him one of the best and most prolific rappers of the 1990s. In 2012, The Source placed him on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time. MTV has called him "one of hip-hop's greatest visual artists." He was both a member of Leaders of the New School and a founding member of the label and group Flipmode AKA the Conglomerate. Busta was born in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn, to Jamaican parents Geraldine Green and Trevor Smith, Sr. in 1972. At age 12 he moved to Uniondale, Long Island, and later attended Uniondale High School, graduating in 1991. Smith attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, alongside Jay-Z, DMX and The Notorious B.I.G.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1972
Number of Albums 49
Record Label
Website
Wikipedia Busta Rhymes on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

What group did Smith join?

Leaders of the New School

...Buster Rhymes. Smith began his career as a member of the group Leaders of the New School and became the standout member of the group. He launched a so...
When did Smith launch a solo career?

1994

...nd became the standout member of the group. He launched a solo career in 1994 and released his debut album, The Coming in 1996. Smith founded the reco...
What was Smith's debut album called?

The Coming

...roup. He launched a solo career in 1994 and released his debut album, The Coming in 1996. Smith founded the record label Flipmode Entertainment in 199...
When was the label Flipmode Entertainment founded?

1993

...Coming in 1996. Smith founded the record label Flipmode Entertainment in 1993 but changed the label's name to Conglomerate in 2011. He has been the le...
In 2011, what did Smith change the label's name to?

Conglomerate

...label Flipmode Entertainment in 1993 but changed the label's name to Conglomerate in 2011. He has been the leader of two collectives consisting of art...
How many albums has Smith released?

nine

...e label in 2014 after having only released one album. Smith has released nine studio albums, with five certified platinum in sales and another two gol...
How many platinum albums did Smith release?

five

...ing only released one album. Smith has released nine studio albums, with five certified platinum in sales and another two gold. His list of hit single...
What was the name of the two collectives signed to the labels?

Flipmode Squad and The Conglomerate

...o collectives consisting of artists signed to the labels: Flipmode Squad and The Conglomerate . In November 2011, Smith signed a deal with Cash Money R...
What is one of Smith's hit singles?

Woo Hah!!

...atinum in sales and another two gold. His list of hit singles includes Woo Hah!! Early in his career, Smith was known for his wild style and fashion, ...
What is Smith known for?

his intricate rapping technique

... his wild style and fashion, and today he is best known for his intricate rapping technique , which involves rapping at a fast rate with the use of int...
How many Grammy nominations has Smith received for his music?

eleven

...hich involves rapping at a fast rate with the use of internal rhyme and half rhyme. Smith has received eleven Grammy nominations for his musical work....
Which single was Busto's lead single?

Woo hah!! Got You All in Check

... with his 1996 solo debut, The Coming, and its lead single, Woo hah!! Got You All in Check . Busta's frantic delivery, explosive energy and outrageous ...
Busta's explosive energy and outrageous attire cut through hiphop's cool demeanor like a hot knife through what?

butter

...eous attire cut through hiphop's cool demeanor like a hot knife through butter . And unlike the gangstaleaning MCs who dominated the first half of the ...
Where does his deep, booming voice come from?

his father

...t. I represent the universe. While his deep, booming voice comes from his father , the rapper reported to Coker, when it came down to discipline in my ...
Who was the true barker in my family?

Moms

...Coker, when it came down to discipline in my family, the true barker was Moms . That's where my real energetic side comes from. Only after he arrived i...
What was the borough called by Public Enemy?

Strong Island

...'s where my real energetic side comes from. Only after he arrived in Strong Island , as fellow natives and rap revolutionaries Public Enemy called the ...
What was Busta Rhymes nicknamed after?

George Buster Rhymes

...ve him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after NFL and CFL wide receiver George Buster Rhymes . He is best known for his outlandish style and fashion sense dep...
How many Grammy nominations has he received for his work?

11

...gh speed with heavy use of internal rhyme and half rhyme. He has received 11 Grammy Award nominations for his work. About.com included him on its list...
Who called him one of the best and most prolific rappers of the 1990s?

Steve Huey

... him on its list of the 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (19872007), while Steve Huey of AllMusic called him one of the best and most prolific rappers of t...
What year did The Source place him on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time?

2012

...ic called him one of the best and most prolific rappers of the 1990s. In 2012 , The Source placed him on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time...
Rhymes announced that he left Cash Money Records due to what?

creative differences

...ash Money Records. On July 23, 2014, Busta Rhymes announced that he left Cash Money Records due to creative differences and was no longer on Republic....
When was Busta's debut album released?

1996

...Busta then released his debut album, The Coming, in 1996 . He has since released 1997's When Disaster Strikes, 1998's E.L.E. His ninth studio album, Th...
What was his ninth studio album called?

The Chemo

...ed 1997's When Disaster Strikes, 1998's E.L.E. His ninth studio album, The Chemo , will be released early 2010 and is said to be 80 completed. His pare...
What radio show influenced busta?

Zulu Beats Radio Show

... years old. He discovered hip hop music through listening to the Zulu Beats Radio Show , something influenced him from that show and three years later ...
In what city in the U.K. did Busto go to school?

Blackpool

...up. Busta also went to school in the United Kingdom, where he lived in Blackpool , Preston and Morecambe. Ended up graduating from George Westinghouse ...
Where did he live in the United Kingdom?

Blackpool, Preston and Morecambe

...so went to school in the United Kingdom, where he lived in Blackpool, Preston and Morecambe . Ended up graduating from George Westinghouse High School ...
Where was George Westinghouse High School?

downtown Brooklyn

...cambe. Ended up graduating from George Westinghouse High School in downtown Brooklyn . As a youngster he played basketball, football and soccer. His Pa...
Who gave Trevor the name Busta Rhymes after watching him perform?

Chuck D

...etter 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 footba...
What is Trevor John Smith's nationality?

Jamaican

...m 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...
Where was Trevor Smith born?

Brooklyn, New York

...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 ...
What is the name of the suburb of New York City on Long Island?

Uniondale

...rk, 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 ev...
Who is the real name of busta rhymes?

Trevor John Smith

... high school attended by famous MCs Notorious B.I.G. Busta Rhymes ( Trevor John Smith ) became a big swimming fan and attempted to set new records in th...
John Smith attempted to set new records in the 100 meters at what university?

Liverpool

...big swimming fan and attempted to set new records in the 100 meters at Liverpool university. He then finished university in trade, performing arts, an...
John Smith completed university in trade, performing arts, and a btech in what?

sports

.... He then finished university in trade, performing arts, and a btech in sports . Leaders of the New School: Busta Rhymes musical career began as a memb...
What borough of New York City were Hip Hop crews from the early 90s located in?

Queens

...arable 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....
Who broke out solo in 1996 with a massive hit?

WooHah!! Got You All in Check

...ool, Busta broke out solo in 1996 with a massive hit single, WooHah!! Got You All in Check . Throughout the '90s and 2000s, he was a force to be reckon...
In what decade and era did busta become a force to be reckoned with?

'90s and 2000s

...a massive hit single, WooHah!! Got You All in Check. Throughout the '90s and 2000s , he was a force to be reckoned with, topping the charts with his al...
Who released his seventh studio album in 2006?

The Big Bang

...d even debuting at number one in 2006 with his seventh studio album, The Big Bang . Born of Jamaican heritage (a definite influence on his rapping styl...
When did Busto move to Long Island?

1983

... definite influence on his rapping style), Busta moved to Long Island in 1983 and, at Uniondale High School, met up with MCs Charlie Brown, Dinco D., ...
How old was Busta when he signed a record deal with Elektra Records?

17

...ed a deal with Elektra Records right out of the gate, when Busta was only 17 years old. Much respected in the hiphop underground for their Afrocentric...
What label did Brown, Dinco D., and Cut Monitor Milo. & Rakim sign a deal with?

Elektra Records

...foursome united as Leaders of the New School and signed a deal with Elektra Records right out of the gate, when Busta was only 17 years old. Much resp...
In what year did Leaders of the New School debut?

1991

...hilosophy and tough rapping styles, Leaders of the New School debuted in 1991 with Future Without a Past... T.I.M.E., before breaking up the following...
What film did Busta appear in in 1995?

Higher Learning

... up the following year. He appeared in the 1995 John Singleton film Higher Learning and earned a solo contract with Elektra. Busta's first album, The ...
Where was the legendary rapper born?

Brooklyn

...n the late 1980s. Childhood and youth The legendary rapper was born in Brooklyn on May 20, 1972. Trevor Smith was named after his father who came from...
What was the name of the rapper's father?

Trevor Smith

...and youth The legendary rapper was born in Brooklyn on May 20, 1972. Trevor Smith was named after his father who came from Jamaica. The teenager was f...
What sport did Trevor Smith enjoy?

basketball

...amed after his father who came from Jamaica. The teenager was fond of basketball and proved to be a talented athlete; coaches expected him to fly high...
Who expected Trevor Smith to fly high?

coaches

...he teenager was fond of basketball and proved to be a talented athlete; coaches expected him to fly high soon. Rhymes mentioned in his interviews he w...
Where did Trevor move to when he was 12?

Long Island

...the passion for music. When Trevor turned twelve, the family moved to Long Island ; the rapper met new people and took his first steps in music. Music ...
Who was Busta's future friend and colleague?

Charlie Brown

...as he learned something, Busta went to a rappers competition and met Charlie Brown , his future friend and colleague. The young men wanted to overcome ...
What was the name of the follow-up album?

When Disaster Strikes...

...ic) after leaving the Leaders of the New School. The followup, When Disaster Strikes... was less successful in the US but sold well overseas. The albu...
How many hugely popular singles and videos were produced by the album when released?

two

...cessful in the US but sold well overseas. The album did, however, produce two hugely popular singles and videos in America, 'Put Your Hands Where My E...
What was his third single called?

Turn It UpFire It Up

...nds Where My Eyes Could See' and 'Dangerous'. The third single, ' Turn It UpFire It Up ' was less popular, but only just failed to top the UK charts and...
In what country was 'Turn It UpFire It Up' a top 10 hit?

Germany

...ular, but only just failed to top the UK charts and was a top 10 hit in Germany , establishing Rhymes as an international star. The same year he releas...
What was the name of the collaborative project Rhyme released with rappers?

Flipmode Squad

...ational star. The same year he released The Imperial as part of the Flipmode Squad , a collaborative project with rappers Rampage, Lord Have Mercy, Spl...
What label did Rhymes sign to after leaving Elektra?

J Records

...he disaster movie Deep Impact. After leaving Elektra, Rhymes signed to J Records , a new label started by recently ousted Arista chief and founder Cliv...
Who is considered one of hiphop's greatest visual artists?

MTV

... The Source placed him on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time. MTV has called him one of hiphop's greatest visual artists. Busta Rhymes was...
Who was the production crew called?

The Conglomerate

...tures, he founded the record label Conglomerate (initially Flipmode Entertainment) and the production crew The Conglomerate (formerly Flipmode Squad)....