Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes, born Trevor George Smith Jr. on May 20, 1972, is an American rapper, producer, and actor. He grew up in New York City and on Long Island. An early member of the group Leaders of the New School, he gained national attention after signing with a major label and appearing on A Tribe Called Quest’s song “Scenario.”
His solo career took off with The Coming (1996), which featured the hit “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check.” He followed with several albums in the late 1990s and 2000s, including When Disaster Strikes, Extinction Level Event, Genesis, and It Ain’t Safe No More. His 2006 album The Big Bang became his first No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He released Back on My B.S. in 2009.
Busta later joined Cash Money Records (2011–2014) and released music through that label, including Year of the Dragon. He returned with Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God in 2020 and Blockbusta in 2023. In 2025 he released the Dragon Season… The Awakening EP and performed at the MTV VMAs, where he received the first-ever Rock the Bells Visionary Award.
Busta Rhymes is known for fast, energetic rap and memorable videos. He’s collaborated on big songs like “Don’t Cha” with the Pussycat Dolls, “Look at Me Now” with Chris Brown, and “Rumble in the Jungle” with the Fugees. He also founded the Conglomerate record label and collective.
His honors include numerous nominations for Grammy Awards (12 in total) without a win. He’s been praised by critics and peers as one of the greatest rappers of all time and has influenced many newer artists. He’s respected for his showmanship and has spoken about his inspirations, including LL Cool J and George Clinton.
On the personal side, Busta Rhymes has six children. He identifies with the Five-Percent Nation and has practiced Islam since he was 12. He’s had various legal issues over the years, including arrests and probation, and in 2025 he faced a third-degree assault charge involving an assistant.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 04:53 (CET).