Busta Rhymes

Fun Fact: Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the name Busta Rhymes (from former NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes) after watching him perform.

Claim to Fame: 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". He is known for his often high-speed rhyme-delivery, as heard on his hits "Gimme Some More" and "Break Ya Neck".

Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known as Busta Rhymes, is a Grammy-nominated American rapper, songwriter, and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the name Busta Rhymes. Smith was born in East Flatbush, Brooklyn to Jamaican parents Cherry Green and Trevor Smith, Sr.


Smith's musical career began at the age of 17 as a member of the hip hop crew Leaders of the New School along with fellow Long Island natives Charlie Brown, Dinco D, and Cut Monitor Milo. They began recording in 1989 and released their debut album A Future Without a Past in 1991 on Elektra Records. In 1993, they released T.I.M.E. . Busta Rhymes' standout performance in A Tribe Called Quest's 'Scenario' propelled him into the cultural conscience. Soon after, however, internal problems arose because of Busta's increasing popularity, which created fierce jealousies, and the group broke up on the set of Yo! MTV Raps.

Smith broke 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 . 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 Smith has yet done, on a song called "Iz They Wildin Wit Us & Gettin' Rowdy Wit Us?", featuring a guest appearance by Mystikal.


After Smith signed to J Records, a label started by the then recently ousted Arista Records chief and founder Clive Davis, he released a greatest hits collection alongside a new album of original work.

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