Name at birth: Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr.

Busta Rhymes started his music career in the 1990s with the rap group Leaders of the New School. He released a solo album in 1996, The Coming, featuring the hit single "Woo-Ha! (Got You All in Check)." The album and single both went platinum, as did his second release, When Disaster Strikes. Known for distinctive low growl and his innovative videos on MTV, Rhymes has teamed with other artists, including Janet Jackson and T-Pain. He's also appeared in movies, including the Gus Van Sant film Finding Forrester (2000, starring Sean Connery) and the action films Full Clip (2004) and Breaking Point (2009). His other recordings include Extinction Level Event -- The Final World Front (1998), Anarchy (2000), It Ain't Safe No More (2002), Big Bang (2006) and Back on My B.S. (2009). He collaborated with Missy Elliott and Mary J. Blige on the 2006 single "Touch It," but temporarily made bigger headlines with separate assault charges from August and December of that year.