Busta Rhymes
Biography
Trevor George Smith Jr., known professionally as Busta Rhymes, was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 20, 1972. His parents are from Jamaica, and this heritage has influenced his rapping style. At the age of 12, his family moved to Uniondale, Long Island. He attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, where his classmates included future rap icons The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z. He later graduated from Uniondale High School in 1991.
Career Beginnings: Leaders of the New School
In 1989, Busta Rhymes, along with Charlie Brown, Dinco D, and Cut Monitor Milo, formed the hip hop group Leaders of the New School. The group's break came when they opened for the pioneering group Public Enemy. It was Public Enemy's Chuck D who gave him the moniker "Busta Rhymes," after NFL player George "Buster" Rhymes. The group signed with Elektra Records and released their debut album, "A Future Without a Past...," in 1991. They gained significant exposure with a guest appearance on A Tribe Called Quest's acclaimed track, "Scenario". Internal conflicts, particularly between Rhymes and Charlie Brown, led to the group's disbandment in 1993 after their second album, "T.I.M.E. (The Inner Mind's Eye)".
Solo Stardom
Following the group's split, Busta Rhymes quickly became a sought-after featured artist. He launched his solo career with the 1996 album "The Coming," released on Elektra Records. The album was a commercial success, driven by the hit single "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check," and was certified platinum. His second album, "When Disaster Strikes..." (1997), continued his success with the popular single "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See". His third album, "Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front" (1998), featured the hit duet with Janet Jackson, "What's It Gonna Be?!".
Continued Success and Evolution
Throughout the 2000s, Busta Rhymes continued to release a string of albums, including "Anarchy" (2000) and "Genesis" (2001). The album "Genesis" included the popular track "Pass the Courvoisier, Part II," a collaboration with P. Diddy and Pharrell Williams. His 2002 album, "It Ain't Safe No More," featured the hit single "I Know What You Want" with Mariah Carey. In 2006, he released "The Big Bang," which became his first number-one album. He has released a total of eleven solo albums, with the most recent being "Blockbusta" in 2023.
Other Ventures
Acting
Busta Rhymes has also established a career as an actor, appearing in a variety of films. His credits include roles in John Singleton's "Higher Learning" (1995), "Shaft" (2000), and "Halloween: Resurrection" (2002). He has also made appearances in television shows.
Business
He founded his own record label, Conglomerate (initially Flipmode Entertainment), which has released music from artists like Rah Digga and O.T. Genasis. He also launched a clothing line called Bushi Sport in the late 1990s.