Busta Rhymes
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1972-05-20
    • Born Place: Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York, USA
  • Also Known As:

    Basta Rayms, Busta Remo, Busta Rhymez, Trevor Smith, Trevor Tahiem Smith Jr., Bus-a-Bus

Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes (born Trevor George Smith Jr., May 20 1972, in Brooklyn, New York) is an acclaimed American rapper, actor, record producer, and entrepreneur known for his explosively fast-paced delivery, innovative visuals, and charismatic stage presence . Rising to fame as a member of Leaders of the New School, he gained early recognition on A Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario,” before launching a hugely successful solo career with his 1996 debut album The Coming—which went platinum and spawned the Billboard Top 10 hit “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check” . His subsequent albums, including When Disaster Strikes…, Extinction Level Event, and Blockbusta (2023), showcased a unique blend of apocalyptic themes, rapid-fire internal rhymes, and eclectic beat production . Rhymes earned twelve Grammy nominations across his career, becoming a perennial critical favorite and appearing on prestigious lists like Billboard’s and Vibe’s “50 Greatest Rappers of All Time” and Forbes’s “Top 50 Rappers” . He is also a visual icon—a “one of hip‑hop’s greatest visual artists,” per MTV—renowned for wild outfits, bold music videos (especially the Hype Williams–directed “Gimme Some More”), and unforgettable stage presence . In addition to music, Busta has acted in several films—including Higher Learning, Finding Forrester, Shaft, Narc, and Halloween: Resurrection—and lent his voice to characters in animation like The Boondocks and Rugrats . A proud member of the Five‑Percent Nation turned Muslim, he has six children and continues to influence hip‑hop culture while receiving accolades like the 2023 BET Lifetime Achievement Award .

Person History