What is Busta Rhymes' Net Worth?
Busta Rhymes, an American rapper, has a net worth of $20 million. He is very famous in the hip-hop world for his fast rapping and complex lyrics. He has been nominated for 11 Grammy awards and is also known for his acting skills.
Early Career
Busta Rhymes started his career in the late 1980s with the hip-hop group Leaders of the New School. He became really famous with his solo work. His first solo album, "The Coming," came out in 1996 and had the hit song "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check." His fast rapping and energetic music videos became his signature style. His next albums, "When Disaster Strikes..." (1997) and "E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front" (1998), made him even more popular with songs like "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" and "What's It Gonna Be?!" featuring Janet Jackson.
Continued Success
In the 2000s, Busta kept making successful albums like "Genesis" (2001) and "The Big Bang" (2006), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. After a long break, he released "Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God" in 2020, and it was well-received by critics.
Financial Issues
In May 2014, Busta Rhymes was reported to owe $789,577 in back taxes. The IRS said he did not pay $611,000 in taxes for 2008 and $178,000 for 2012. Busta Rhymes did not say if this was a mistake or a bigger financial problem.
Early Life
Busta Rhymes' real name is Trevor George Smith Jr. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on May 20, 1972, to Jamaican parents. He moved around a lot during his childhood. When he was 12, his family moved to Long Island. Later, they moved to Liverpool, England, and then back to the United States. Trevor went to George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, where he studied with The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z. He graduated from high school in Long Island in 1991.
Beginning in Music
Before he graduated high school, Trevor joined the hip-hop group Leaders of the New School in 1990. The group became known for opening shows for Public Enemy. Chuck D from Public Enemy gave Trevor the name "Busta Rhymes" after a famous football player. Busta Rhymes became the most popular member of the group because of his unique rapping style and image.
Solo Success
In 1992, the group split up, and Busta Rhymes started his solo career. He worked with famous artists like Notorious B.I.G., KRS-One, and A Tribe Called Quest. His debut album, "The Coming," featured the hit "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check" and made him a star. His next album, "When Disaster Strikes," had the hit "Fire It Up." He continued to release popular albums like "Extinction Level Event."
After leaving Elektra Records, Busta Rhymes signed with J Records and released the album "Genesis" in 2001. This album had many famous artists but didn't do as well as his earlier work. His 2002 album, "It Ain't Safe No More," had moderate success. In 2007, he released "The Big Bang," which was his first album to reach number one on the charts.
Busta Rhymes then signed with Universal Motown and released "Back on My B.S." This album was banned in some countries because it quoted the Shahada. In 2011, he had a hit single "Look at Me Now" with Lil Wayne and Chris Brown. He later signed with Cash Money Records and released his album "Year of the Dragon" for free on Google Play in 2012.
Acting Career
Busta Rhymes started acting soon after his music career took off. His first role was in the 1993 movie "Strapped." He acted in other movies like "Higher Learning," "Finding Forrester," "Halloween: Resurrection," and "Breaking Point."
Personal Life
Busta Rhymes has six children, born between 1993 and 2006. He is a member of The Five-Percent Nation, a group with unique beliefs, including that white people were created by a black scientist named Yakub.
Legal Issues
Busta Rhymes has faced many legal problems over the years. In 2006, he was arrested for assault in New York City. In 2007, he was charged with assaulting his former driver over a payment dispute. That same year, he was arrested for driving while impaired and not having his driver's license. He received three years of probation, community service, fines, and had to attend a drunk driving program.
Busta Rhymes' life and career have had many ups and downs, but his impact on hip-hop and music, in general, is undeniable.