rap musician; actor
Personal Information
Born Trevor Smith, Jr., on May 20, 1972, in Brooklyn, NY; son of Trevor Sr. and Geraldine Smith; children: Tahiem (deceased) and T'ziah.
Career
Cofounded rap group Leaders of the New School and released Elektra Records debut, A Future Without a Past..., 1991; made guest appearances on recordings by A Tribe Called Quest, Boyz II Men, Craig Mack, Bounty Killer, and others, 1993-96; appeared on Smokin' Grooves concert tour, 1996; solo albums: The Coming, Elektra, 1996; When Disaster Strikes, Elektra, 1997; Extinction Level Event (The Final World Front), Elektra, 1998; Anarchy, Elektra, 2000; signed with J Records, 2001; film roles: Who's the Man, 1993; Higher Learning, 1995; The Rugrats Movie, 1998; Shaft, 2000; Finding Forrester, 2000; Narc, 2001; Halloween: The Homecoming, 2002.
Life's Work
Elektra executive Sylvia Rhone said of Busta Rhymes in Billboard, "You can never underestimate Busta; just when you think you've figured him out, he will surprise you even more." The unpredictable rapper first achieved success as a teenager in the group Leaders of the New School. But it was his 1996 solo debut, The Coming, and its lead single, "Woo hah!! Got You All in Check" that catapulted him to stardom. Rhymes has since released three more albums, commenced an acting career, and launched his own record and fashion companies.
Rhymes--born Trevor Smith to a Jamaican mother and U.S.-born father in Brooklyn, New York--moved with his family to the suburbs of Long Island during his adolescence. While his deep, booming voice came from his father, the rapper reported to the Los Angeles Times, "when it came down to discipline in my family, the true barker was Moms. That's where my real energetic side comes from." Only after he arrived in "Strong Island," as fellow natives and rap revolutionaries Public Enemy called the borough, did Rhymes began to dream of rhyming. "I was mad small," he recollected in Elektra Records press materials, "but I would start entering rap contests, lip synch contests, anything to show my skills." Fortunately, he claimed, hailing from Brooklyn stood him in good stead, since "Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens was where all the good hip hop was coming from at that time."
Found Mentor in Chuck D
Rhymes was still in junior high school when he hooked up with another rapper, Charlie Brown. The pair eventually caught the attention of Public Enemy leader Chuck D. as well as the group's producers, Eric Sadler and Hank Shocklee. Sadler and Shocklee--known in the rap world as The Bomb Squad--helped the young Rhymes and his friends to refine their approach. As Rhymes noted in his Elektra Records biography, "Eric used to repeat this phrase to remind us what to concentrate on: C.L.A.M.P., which stood for Concept-Lyrics-Attitude-Music and Performance. He used to say when you get that down to a science, then you'll be there."
Refining this blend took some time, but Rhymes, Charlie, and their friend Dinco D. worked hard on their unison raps and choreography. After adding Rhymes's cousin, Custmaster Milo, as a DJ, they found their identity as Leaders of the New School. With the assistance of Chuck D., the quartet landed a deal with Elektra in 1989. The group's debut album, A Future Without a Past..., appeared in 1991 and was hailed by Spin as "high-energy hip hop" that "recaptures some of the giddy joys of rap." Their 1993 follow-up, T.I.M.E., also enjoyed critical raves. The Source deemed it "a rarity in hip- hop: a sophomore album that's better than the debut," and singled out Rhymes's work for special praise. "Busta get[s] buttnaked and wild," the magazine proclaimed; "he growls, grunts, chants and basically continues to break all musical rules." According to Los Angeles Times writer Cheo Hodari Coker, "the group brought a lively energy to its shows and recordings by performing singsong routines in unison rather than the normal rap pattern of just one or two main voices. The music was accompanied by lively choreographed stomps." The group also appeared as guests on an album by "Godfather of Soul" James Brown.
Rhymes has cited as influences not only old-school funk master George Clinton and rock guitar icon Jimi Hendrix, but some other figures that are, if anything, even more animated. "Secret Squirrel, Tom and Jerry, Courageous Cat," he enumerated in Spin, adding some other cartoon favorites: "A lot of the old s--t, too--Popeye, Mighty Mouse. That s--t just stays on at my crib 24 hours [a day]." He was able to demonstrate the range of his own cartoonish funkateer persona after Leaders took a hiatus in 1993. He put in guest appearances with R&B hitmakers Boyz II Men, hip hop explorers A Tribe Called Quest, and many others. "The rapper has proved virtual nitroglycerin as a guest star," noted Spin writer Chris Norris.
Rhymes also lent his presence to several films, including the 1993 rap comedy Who's the Man and John Singleton's university drama Higher Learning (1995). "He was such a scene stealer, " Singleton told Newsweek of Rhymes's Higher Learning performance. "Busta could be standing there, doing nothing, and when he turns around it's pure energy."
Released Solo Album
Shortly after Leaders of the New School took a break, Rhymes--a member of the Five Percent sect of Islam--saw the birth of his son, T'ziah. He dedicated his album to the memory of another, now deceased, son, Tahiem, but has not discussed this loss in the press. He spent the next few years in Brooklyn experiencing what he described to Spin as "normal, middle-class, standard-living s--t like how I came up." By the time he'd completed his solo album, The Coming, T'ziah was three years old and--according to his proud papa--a delight. "That's the coolest age to be around kids," he told Spin. "They don't bicker, they're not looking for their moms, they just want to chill." It was the arrival of T'ziah, he insisted in the Los Angeles Times, that made the solo effort a necessity "I would never have done a solo record voluntarily," he claimed. "I love the group, and we're still gonna record albums. But now that I've had the chance to flourish and to blossom, I'm gonna capitalize on the best of both worlds."
Working with a variety of producers, Rhymes was able to expand his range on The Coming. "Usually when I'm rhyming," reads a quote from his Elektra biography, "I only get to rhyme 16 bars. Here I get to show other things. The record is energized on many different levels, including the Rhymes wild [s--t]." In addition to the massive "Woo hah!!," which was complemented by a frenetic, stylized video that earned heavy rotation on MTV, the album also features "It's a Party," a duet with female soul divas Zhane. Reviews of the album were mixed from a musical standpoint, but tended to celebrate Rhymes's vocal skills. Rolling Stone complained that "the mixes are simple, droopy and slow," but added that the rapper's "quavering rips and verbal acrobatics liven up the joint. He hurdles beats and measures in a single bound." Reviewer Eric Berman concluded, "Despite his musical shortcomings, Rhymes is a master MC and one of hip-hop's most jovial and vivid personalities, whose creativity on the mike may give rap a much needed shot in the arm." Coker, reviewing the disc for the Los Angeles Times, found it "short on deep themes but long on dazzling displays of rhyme skill." He cited the recording as proof "that there are still compelling hip-hop records to be made without dramatic narratives or weighty social politics."
Rhymes toured behind The Coming in an omnibus rap show that also boasted the Fugees, Cypress Hill, and A Tribe Called Quest. He promised a reunion with his LONS mates before long, but in the short time expressed nothing but gratitude. "Every time my voice is recorded," he told the Los Angeles Times, "I'm extremely happy. Hip-hop is paying my bills and feeding my family." Rather than cop an "arrogant attitude and mad face," he added, he wanted to emphasize his accessibility: "I want the whole world to feel like they can approach and embrace me."
Rhymes released his second solo album, When Disaster Strikes, in 1997. People Weekly called his sophomore effort "seriously great" and praised the single, "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See," for its "tightly controlled and surprisingly subdued stream of unconsciousness." The album earned multi-platinum sales status.
Headed Own Record Label
Rhymes stated his won record label, FlipMode Entertainment, in May of 1998. The FlipMode Squad, a group of which Rhymes was a member, released the label's first album, Imperial. Rhymes told Billboard that, although "being an artist is my first love," FlipMode Entertainment would allow him "to do things with music that I don't do myself, from alternative to the hottest R&B."
When Rugrats the Movie hit the big screen in November of 1998, Rhymes not only contributed to the animated film's soundtrack, but he also took on the role of Reptar Wagon. A month later, Rhymes's third album, Extinction Level Event (The Final World Front), was released. He told Billboard, "I had a lot of intense emotional experiences during the recording process, so I recorded it with those emotions in detail." One of Rhymes's chief concerns while making the record was the upcoming millennium. "In every holy scripture," Rhymes told Entertainment Weekly, "you find [references] to the significance of this time frame." In particular, Rhymes was worried about the Y2K computer bug. In preparation for possible disaster, Rhymes told Entertainment Weekly, "I'm gonna store up on some food, some land, some loot--in particular, gold and silver, because it's probably gonna go back to some trade [s--t]. I'm gonna be ready."
However, Rhymes's fascination with the possibility of armageddon in 2000 was nothing new to fans of his music. "I've always been thinking about time and the end of the century," Rhymes told Newsweek. "The first album was called The Coming. The second album was called When Disaster Strikes. Now after disaster strikes, it's an extreme level. An extinction level."
Two of the albums highlights--for both Rhymes and his listeners--stemmed from collaborations with Janet Jackson and Ozzy Osbourne. Jackson joined Rhymes on "What's It Gonna Be," and the video for the song received heavy air play on MTV. Rhymes worked with Osbourne on a remake of Osbourne's "Iron Man," which Rhymes called "This Means War." Rhymes had always admired the Osbourne's powerful vocals on that song. "The intensity, the effect," Rhymes told Imusic.com, "it's the same way I approach my [s--t]."
Overall, the album received positive reviews. Newsweek's Veronica Chambers noted, "He heralds doomsday with a danceable beat." Entertainment Weekly called it "a characteristically bombastic tour de force." Imusic.com noted that Rhymes "commands the listener's attention ... unleashing thought provoking verses one minute, and spitting out euphoric hailstones of hectic, teeth clenching rhymes the next."
Also in December of 1998, Rhymes found himself embroiled in legal problems when police discovered a loaded and unregistered gun in his Mercedes. The rapper was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Rhymes's manager, Gerald Odom, who was also in the car at the time, was arrested for marijuana possession.
Launched Clothing Line
Joining the ranks of other hip-hop stars who have ventured into the fashion industry, Rhymes launched Bushi Designs in 1999. The company's name was derived from the Japanese for warrior--"bushido." Initially, the company produced a line of footwear, but this was soon followed by a line of men's clothes. A women's clothing line was added a year later. Rhymes, along with partner Rashib Boothe, designed all the clothing himself. "Hip-hop is a culture like ... any other," Rhymes told Billboard. "There's a dress code that goes with the spirit and cultural significance."
In the summer of 2000 Rhymes released Anarchy. "This album feels a little more extreme from a personal standpoint," Rhymes told Billboard. "... because I'm in a place now where I'm comfortable enough to express that level of my creative ability." The personal nature of Anarchy was evident in "How Much We Grew." This song chronicles Rhymes's life. "It looks back at the struggle that was so worth going through because of how rewarding it is today," Rhymes explained in Billboard. The album also featured a collaboration with Lenny Kravitz entitled "Make Noise."
Rhymes also returned to movie theaters in the summer of 2000, appearing alongside Samuel L. Jackson in Shaft. Rhymes played Rasaan, a character who helps Shaft. "I'm pretty much the guy Shaft can't be because he's a cop," he explained in Jet. "Shaft has to ... follow the legal procedure to solve crimes and deal with thugs. Rasaan can assist him in a very unorthodox street way." Also in 2000, Rhymes was featured in Finding Forrester, starring Sean Connery. The following year, Rhymes was busy filming Narc, an action-packed thriller which starred Jason Patrick and Ray Liotta. Rhymes also signed on to play the Cowardly Lion in a remake of The Wizard of Oz for Fox television. In addition, he completed several television commercials for Mountain Dew.
When Rhymes's contract with Elektra Records ended in 2001, he decided to sign with Clive Davis at J Records. "In every area of your life, you grow to a certain level," Rhymes told Billboard. "The bottom line is, I don't want to people to just be in Busta Rhymes' business. I want people to be in business with Busta Rhymes. I think J Records will be the machine that can do that." Rhymes's record label became an imprint of J Records.
A man of numerous talents, Busta Rhymes has set himself up to conquer the worlds of music, film, and fashion. Yet, despite his varied interests and abilities, one thing remained constant. Rhymes told Essence, "As long as I can represent what I am, which is hip-hop, in whatever genre of entertainment I'm doing, then that's as real as it's going to get with Busta Rhymes. Fake isn't even an option."
Works
Selected discography
- (With Leaders of the New School)
- A Future Without a Past..., Elektra, 1991.
- James Brown, Universal James (appears on "Can't Get Any Harder"), Scotti Brothers, 1992.
- T.I.M.E., Elektra, 1993.
- (Solo)
- The Coming, Elektra, 1996.
- When Disaster Strikes, Elektra, 1997.
- Extinction Level Event (The Final World Front), Elektra, 1998.
- Anarchy, Elektra, 2000.
Selected filmography- Who's the Man, 1993.
- Higher Learning, 1995.
- The Rugrats Movie, 1998.
- Shaft, 2000.
- Finding Forrester, 2000.
- Narc, 2001.
- Halloween: The Homecoming, 2002.
Further Reading
Books
- Contemporary Musicians, Vol. 18, Gale, 1997.
- Contemporary Theatre, Film, and Television, Vol. 29, Gale, 2000.
Periodicals- Billboard, November 7, 1998; October 2, 1999; May 27, 2000; July 8, 2000; February 24, 2001.
- Business Wire, September 7, 2001.
- Entertainment Weekly, December 18, 1998.
- Essence, November 2000.
- Hollywood Reporter, January 29, 2001.
- Jet, June 12, 2000.
- Los Angeles Times, April 21, 1996; May 26, 1996; July 25, 1996.
- Newsweek, November 23, 1998; December 14, 1998.
- People Weekly, November 10, 1997; January 18, 1999.
- Rolling Stone, May 2, 1996.
- Source, November 1993.
- Spin, July 1991; August 1996.
- Vibe, September 1996.
Online- All Music Guide, http://www.allmusic.com.
- IMusic, http://imusic.artistdirect.com/showcase/urban/busta.htm (September 20, 2001).
- Internet Movie Database, http://us.imdb.com.
Other- Additional information was provided by Elektra Records publicity materials, 1996.
— Simon Glickman and Jennifer M. York
