Jamaican-American rapper Busta Rhymes is among a group of 36 game-changing entertainers who will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next year.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark located on Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, California. It consists of more than 2,700 brass stars embedded in the sidewalks, honoring notable personalities from various segments of the entertainment industry, including film, television, music, and radio.
The list of the Walk of Fame’s newest inductees was announced during a celebrity-studded press conference at Ovation Hollywood on Monday, June 24.
Music icon Prince and Country legend Keith Urban will both receive the honor posthumously, musicians Fantasia and The Isley Brothers, along with American ballet dancer Misty Copeland and actors Nia Long, Jane Fonda, and Colin Farrell are also on the list.
Reacting to the announcement, Busta Rhymes wrote on Instagram: “I WILL NEVER STOP TELLING YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY!! THE BLESSINGS DON’T STOP SO WE WON’T EVER STOP!! THE DRAGON 🐉 IS OFFICIALLY APART OF THE CLASS OF 2025 HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME AND I WILL BE OFFICIALLY RECEIVING MY HOLLYWOOD STAR!!”
He joins an elite group that includes Bob Marley, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Kerry Washington as Jamaicans/Jamaican-Americans who have been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Read: Jamaican actress Sheryl Lee Ralph to receive Hollywood Walk of Fame star
Busta Rhymes, or Trevor George Smith Jr., was born in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, in 1972, to Geraldine Green and Trevor Smith Sr., who both were immigrants from Jamaica.
At age 12, his family moved to Nassau County on Long Island and settled in Uniondale, New York. For a short while, he attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School in Brooklyn with future rappers Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace and Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter.
Busta Rhymes also said he grew up in a household where Jamaican culture was celebrated and embraced.
He began his career in the early 1990s as a member of the hip-hop group Leaders of the New School, gaining significant attention for his work on A Tribe Called Quest’s track “Scenario.”
Busta Rhymes also gained popularity from his advanced rhymes as well as his unique style which was not common among many New York rap artists at the time.
He spoke openly about his Jamaican heritage and the influence it has had on his music. In an interview with Complex magazine, he explained that he grew up listening to reggae music and was heavily influenced by Jamaican artists such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Buju Banton. He also noted that his use of patois in his music was a way to pay homage to his Jamaican roots and to connect with his fans in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
Going solo in the mid-90s, Busta Rhymes released his debut album “The Coming” in 1996, which included the hit single “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check.” His subsequent albums, such as “When Disaster Strikes…” and “Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front,” solidified his place in the hip-hop industry with hits like “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” and “Gimme Some More.”
Known for his distinctive rapid-fire delivery and innovative music videos, Busta Rhymes has collaborated with numerous artists across genres, including Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, and Chris Brown.
Over his career, he has received 12 Grammy Award nominations for his work, making him one of the most nominated artists without winning.
Last year, BET honored Busta Rhymes with a Lifetime Achievement Award and musical tribute featuring Jamaican artists Spice, Dexta Daps, Skillibeng, and Cutty Ranks.
In addition to his music career, Busta Rhymes has also appeared in films and television, showcasing his versatility as an entertainer.
Busta Rhymes identifies as a member of the Five-Percent Nation, an Afro-American Nationalist movement influenced by Islam. He has six children: three sons and three daughters.
