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Summary

"Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr." (born on May 20 1972), better known as "Busta Rhymes", is an American hip hop musician 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. He is also a follower of Nation of Islam. 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.'

Early life

Smith was born in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, and is of Jamaican heritage. When he was 12, his family moved to Uniondale, New York, a suburb of New York City on Long Island, where he was raised and eventually met up with other artists from the growing area hip hop community, including rappers Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G.. He graduated from Uniondale High School in 1991.

Early Career

Leaders of the New School

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. (The Inner Mind's Eye)". Soon after, however, internal problems arose within the group, and the group broke up on the set of "Yo! MTV Raps". Rumors persisted that Busta clashed with Charlie Brown over creative control of the groups direction.

Native Tongues Crew

Soon after their debut, The Leaders of The New School became associated with the Native Tongues Posse, which led to the group's collaboration with A Tribe Called Quest on the single 'Scenario.'

Smith's live performance of 'Scenario' with A Tribe Called Quest on "The Arsenio Hall Show" led to a solo contract with Elektra after an A&R representative saw the program. The Leaders of the New School released their second and final album "The Inner Mind's Eye" (T.I.M.E.) in 1993, after which Smith began his solo career.

Elektra Years (1996-2000)

"The Coming" (1996)

Smith's debut solo album, "The Coming", was released by Elektra Records in 1996. The album was a mix of reggae and hip hop, and it included the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) top 10 single 'Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check. It was Busta's first release on his label, Flipmode Records. The album was met with commercial and critical success and ended up going Platinum.

"When Disaster Strikes" (1997)

' His follow-up, "When Disaster Strikes" was successful in the US and sold well overseas. The album produced two hugely popular singles and videos in America, 'Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See' and 'Dangerous'. The third single 'Turn It Up/Fire It Up' reached as high as number 2 on the UK singles chart. The same year he released "The Imperial Album" as part of the Flipmode Squad, a collaborative project with rappers Rampage, Lord Have Mercy, Spliff Star, Rah Digga, and Baby Sham. It, like its predecessor would sell very well being a multi-platinum success.

"Extinction Level Event (Final World Front)" (1998)

In 1998, Smith recorded "Extinction Level Event (Final World Front)", the theme of which was an assertion 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.

"Anarchy" (2000)

In 2000, after he worked on several movie projects, including 'Full Clip', with Xzibit, the remake of "Shaft", Busta Rhymes released his final album for Elektra, "Anarchy". In between album releases, Smith had a falling out with longtime label, Elektra Records. He rushed the album into stores and it had a thrown-together sound. Despite this, the album did moderately well, but did not sell on the level of his previous releases, due to his rush to get the album out there to end his contract with Elektra.==J/Arista/BMG (2000-2004)==After leaving Elektra, Smith signed to , a new label started by recently ousted chief and founder . In 2001 he released a greatest hits record alongside a new album of original work.==="Genesis" (2001)===Continuing the theme of his previous albums, he titled his record ". The album featured collaborations with , , , and many more. Genesis was powered by the hit single with Kelis, 'What It Is,' and his solo hit single released in November of 2001, 'Break Ya Neck.' The final single was the summer smash 'Pass The Cosuvier,' which featured and . Despite the two powerful singles, this album did not sell as well as his previous releases. ==="It Ain't Safe No More" (2002)===In 2002, Smith released his sixth studio album ". The album was moderately successful, with a hit song featuring and the Flipmode Squad called '.' 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 's .==Aftermath/Interscope/Universal (2004-present)==In , Smith cut off his trademark during a photo shoot in a New York barbershop owned by producer . The shop is featured on an show titled "The Shop". 'I started growing in December '89. I was 17,' he said. 'I signed my 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.==="The Big Bang" (2006)===His seventh studio album, ", 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 album also became his highest charting album in the UK, peaking at #19 there. Some of the album was leaked on the , 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 and . The singles that have been released from the album are, ',' ',' featuring and , 'New York Shit,' and 'In The Ghetto.' Smith also had a stint opening for Mariah Carey's . Also, Smith performed with on 'Touch It Remix Part 5'. Others such as and appeared as well.==Controversies==On , he was arraigned for charges of third-degree 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 , he appeared at Criminal Court as the 's office attempted to amend previous charges against him to include weapons possession for a found in his car. The judge, ShawnDya Simpson, refused to add the charge and adjourned the case.On , , 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 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 Tanya Kennedy offered Smith another option, pleading guilty to third-degree assault. The conditions of the proposed sentence would include: five days of , two weeks of youth lectures and six months of anger management classes, as well as three years of . On , according to the UK's TXU news broadcast, Smith was arrested on a charge in New York City. Officers stopped him at about 12:40 a.m. because the he was driving had overly tinted windows, officers then smelled alcohol on his breath and he was subsequently arrested. An arraignment was expected later that day.==Discography==*1996: "*1997: "*1998: "*2000: "*2001: "*2002: "*2006: "*2007: "==Filmography==*"Busta Rhymes: Everything Remains Raw" (2004) (V) *" (2003) (V) *" (2004) .... Pope*" (2003) *"The Neptunes Present: Dude We're Going to Rio!" (2003) (V) .... Rhymes*" (2002) .... *" (2002) .... Darnell 'Big D Love' Beery*" (2001) (TV) .... Himself*" (2000) .... Terrell Wallace*" (2000) .... Rasaan*" (1998) (voice) .... Reptar Wagon*" (1998).... Himself *" .... Zack (1 episode, 1998)*" .... Philip (1 episode, 1997)*" (1995) .... Dreads (as 'Busta Rhymez')*"Strapped" (1993) (TV) .... Buster*" (1993) .... Jaween==See also==***==References==* by Shaheem Reid, "MTV News', ==External links==*** * at

Credit

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Busta Rhymes.