• Busta Rhymes is one of the most famous rappers
  • He has been on the scene since the '90s
  • Learn more about his life and career here

Trevor George Smith Jr. A.K.A. Busta Rhymes was born May 20th, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York City to a humble Jamaican family. Busta earned his big career start opening for the Kings of Hip Hop Public Enemy. Chuck D of Public Enemy is actually the one who gave him his famous name. 

In 1992 Busta was being featured on songs of all the greats like Big Daddy Kane, Notorious B.I.G., A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One, and even TLC. His incredible tongue got him spots with Puff Daddy, LL Cool J, Nas, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. In 1994 Busta found himself in a freestyle rap battle with the Wu-Tang Clan's Ol' Dirty Bastard which led to his first chart-topping single "Woo-Hah!! (Got You All In Check)."

Busta Rhymes' Rise To Fame

This song solidified his spot as one of Hip Hops greatest and showed the world his incredible speed that no one could match. By the end of the '90s, he had released 3 albums The Coming, When Disaster Strikes, and Extinction Level Event and his singles had even broken through to the top 10 in the US and the UK. Busta was becoming more and more popular through his hilarious antics, absurdly distinct style, and insane rapping talent.

Once Busta Rhymes hit the 2000's he had broken through as a titan of the music industry. His 2006 album The Big Bang became the number 1 album in the US and number 19 in the UK. The album had featured Nas, Swizz Beats, Dr. Dre, and the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am.

In 2011, Busta produced his infamous "Look at Me Now" song with Chris Brown and Lil Wayne which ended up hitting #1 on the Hip Hop Billboard Hot 100!

Since then he has continued to produce amazing non-stop music with greats like Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliot, and B.o.B.! 

Five Fun Facts About Busta Rhymes:

  • He went to High School with Notorious B.I.G. and Jay Z!
  • Busta has been in some Hollywood films and Television shows like Halloween Resurrection alongside Tyra Banks and Jamie Lee Curtis and Aziz Ansari's Master of None!
  • One of his albums Back on My B.S. is banned in the United Arab Emirates!
  • Busta once headlined the Gathering of the Juggalos in 2011!
  • One of Busta's songs "My Shot" is featured on the Hamilton Soundtrack!

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