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Busta Rhymes
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Trevor Smith, Jr., better known as Busta Rhymes (born May 20, 1972), is a Grammy-nominated Jamaican–American rapper, songwriter, and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the name Busta Rhymes (from former NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes) after watching him perform.
a Rhymes was a member of Leaders of the New School and released two albums with the group before breaking out with a 1996 solo hit single, "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check" from his platinum record album The Coming.
His second album, When Disaster Strikes, released in 1997, produced the hit singles "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" and "Dangerous".
In 1998, Smith recorded Extinction Level Event (Final World Front), further expressing his view that the world would end in the year 2000.
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Encyclopedia
Trevor Smith, Jr., better known as Busta Rhymes (born May 20, 1972), is a Grammy-nominated Jamaican–American rapper, songwriter, and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the name Busta Rhymes (from former NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes) after watching him perform.
Early career – Elektra
Busta Rhymes was a member of Leaders of the New School and released two albums with the group before breaking out with a 1996 solo hit single, "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check" from his platinum record album The Coming.
His second album, When Disaster Strikes, released in 1997, produced the hit singles "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" and "Dangerous".
In 1998, Smith recorded Extinction Level Event (Final World Front), further expressing his view 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. Smith enjoyed further transatlantic success in April when the single "What's It Gonna Be?!", featuring Janet Jackson, reached the US and UK Top 10. The album received prominent notice for featuring the fastest rapping Busta has yet done, on a song called "Iz They Wildin Wit Us & Gettin' Rowdy Wit Us?", featuring a guest appearance by Mystikal.
1999 was a challenging year for Smith. He paid a visit to a courthouse regarding confusion involving child support. Police at one point pulled over his car and found an unregistered gun, which he received 5 years of probation for. Elektra- not fond of bad publicty- increasingly began to shut him down, offering less studio time and promotion for his forthcoming album "Anarchy". Busta didn't like that and transferred Flipmode Squad to J Records after fufilling his contract with Elektra.
J/Arista/BMG (2000-2004)
After defecting from Elektra, Smith signed to J Records, a label started by the then recently ousted Arista Records chief and founder Clive Davis. In 2001 he released a greatest hits collection alongside a new album of original work.
Continuing the Biblical theme of his previous albums, he titled his record Genesis. The album featured collaborations with Mary J. Blige, P. Diddy, Kelis, and others. Genesis was powered by the hit single with Kelis, "What It Is," and his solo single released in November 2001, "Break Ya Neck." The final single was the summer smash "Pass The Courvoisier Part 2," which featured Pharrell and P. Diddy. Despite the two powerful singles, this album did not sell as well as previous releases.
In 2002, Smith released his sixth studio album It Ain't Safe No More. The album was moderately successful, with a hit song featuring Mariah Carey and the Flipmode Squad called "I Know What You Want." Another hit song was "Make It Clap", featuring Spliff Starr. The remix of "Make It Clap" featured Sean Paul. After its release, he left J Records. In 2004, he signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment.
Aftermath/Interscope (2004-2008)
In November 2005, Smith 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.
His seventh studio album, The Big Bang, became the first #1 album of his career. The CD sold over 209,000 copies in its first week to earn the top spot on The Billboard Top 200.
The album also became his highest charting album in the UK, peaking at #19. 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 Smith's previous releases, as well as appearances by Raekwon and Nas. The singles that have been released from the album are, "Touch It," "I Love My Chick," featuring Kelis and Will.I.Am, "New York Shit," and "In The Ghetto." Smith also had a stint opening for Mariah Carey's The Adventures of Mimi Tour. Also, Smith performed with Eminem on "Touch It Remix Part 5". Others such as Jae Millz and Ne-Yo appeared as well.
On July 17, 2008, Rhymes left Interscope/Aftermath due to a creative clash with Interscope head Jimmy Iovine. It was later revealed that Rhymes inked a deal with Universal Motown, who will be releasing his 8th studio album Back on My B.S. on May 19, 2009.
Legal issues
On August 20, 2006, he was 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 Randalls Island.
On October 24, 2006, he 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, ShawnDya Simpson, refused to add the charge and adjourned the case.
On February 20, 2007, Smith refused a plea deal offered by the prosecutors 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 been originated over back pay Hatchett felt he was owed. Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Becki Rowe offered Smith 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 March 18, 2008 a judge in New York City sentenced Smith to 3 years' probation, 10 days' community service, $1250 in fines (plus court costs), and to enroll in a drunken driving program.
On September 25, 2008, he was temporarily refused entry to the UK due to "unresolved convictions".
Discography
Filmography
- Who's the Man? (1993), Jaween
- Strapped (1993), Buster
- Higher Learning (1995), Dreads
- Cosby (1997), Philip
- The Steve Harvey Show (1998), Zack
- The Wayans Bros (1998), himself
- The Rugrats Movie (1998), Reptar Wagon – voice
- Shaft (2000), Rasaan
- Finding Forrester (2000), Terrell Wallace
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast (2001), himself
- Narc (2002), Darnell 'Big D Love' Beery
- Halloween: Resurrection (2002), Freddie Harris
- The Neptunes Present: Dude We're Going to Rio! (2003), Rhymes
- Death of a Dynasty (2003)
- Full Clip (2004), Pope
- Busta Rhymes: Everything Remains Raw (2004)
- The Boondocks (2007), Flonominal
- Order of Redemption (2009), Al Bowen
- The Jamie Foxx Show, Himself
See also
External links
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