Busta Rhymes, born Trevor George Smith Jr. on May 20, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York, is a prominent American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He grew up in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn before moving to Uniondale, Long Island, at the age of 12.

Busta Rhymes attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School in Brooklyn, where he was classmates with future rap legends such as The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z. He later graduated from Uniondale High School in Long Island in 1990.

He began his music career as a member of the East Coast hip hop group Leaders of the New School. The group gained national attention when they opened for Public Enemy on tour. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, inspired by NFL and CFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes.

After the group disbanded, he embarked on a successful solo career, releasing his debut album "The Coming" in 1996. The album reached the top ten on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Throughout his career, he has released eleven solo albums, with hit singles such as "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check," "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See," "Dangerous," "Turn It Up (Remix)/Fire It Up," "Gimme Some More," "What's It Gonna Be?," "Pass the Courvoisier, Part II," "I Know What You Want," and "Touch It."

His energetic style, intricate rhyming technique, and innovative music videos have earned him a reputation as one of hip-hop's greatest visual artists. He has received twelve Grammy Award nominations, making him one of the most-nominated artists without a win.

In addition to his music career, Busta Rhymes has ventured into acting, appearing in films such as "Higher Learning," "Shaft," "Finding Forrester," and "Halloween: Resurrection." His dynamic presence and versatility have made him a sought-after actor in both film and television.

He has six children and has been involved in various business ventures, including founding the record label Conglomerate (initially Flipmode Entertainment) and the production crew The Conglomerate (formerly Flipmode Squad).

Throughout his career, Busta Rhymes has been recognized for his contributions to the music industry. About.com included him on its list of the 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987–2007), and Steve Huey of AllMusic called him one of the best and most prolific rappers of the 1990s.

In 2012, The Source placed him on its list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.