What’s it gonna be on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? A star-studded star ceremony for hip-hip artist Busta Rhymes.
Rhymes was joined by Chris Rock, LL Cool J and Chuck D at the Friday ceremony in front of the Eastown apartments at 6201 Hollywood Blvd. Radio show host Big Boy was the emcee.
“When I think about Busta Rhymes, awe-inspiring power, commitment to his craft, commitment to excellence as an artist and performer,” rapper L.L. Cool J said.
Rhymes, a 12-time Grammy Awards nominee, thanked his mom, calling her his “greatest superhero.” He also talked about what the star represents.
“I really worked so hard, and I never asked for a shortcut,” he said be the star’s unveiling. “I think this is like one of the first tangible examples outside what I worked so hard to be every single day, and that is a symbol of timeless greatness, and that’s what this means to me, first and foremost.”
The ceremony comes the same day as the release of the film comedy, “The Naked Gun,” in which Rhymes portrays a bank robber.
The star is the 2,818th since the completion of the Walk of Fame in 1961 with the initial 1,558 stars.
How to watch Busta Rhymes’ Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony
Click here or use the player below to watch the star ceremony.
About Busta Rhymes’ path to the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Born Trevor George Smith Jr. on May 20, 1972, in the East Flatbush neighborhood of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, Smith was 12 years old when he moved with his family to Uniondale, New York in Nassau County.
In 1986, Smith, his cousin Sheldon Scott, Bryan Higgins and James Jackson formed a hip-hop group that would become known as Leaders of the New School. A late-1980s performance for fellow Long Island-based hip-hop group Public Enemy got Smith his stage name from frontman Chuck D, inspired by Minnesota Vikings receiver Buster Rhymes.
The group was discovered by Dante Ross, an artists and repertoire representative with Elektra Records, which signed the group in 1990.
The group released its first album, “A Future Without a Past…” in 1991, which reached 53rd on Billboard’s R&B/hip-hop chart and 128th on the Billboard 200. Its second and final album, “T.I.M.E.” released in 1993, reached 15th on the R&B/hip-hop chart and 66th on the Billboard 200.
The group split in 1994.
Rhymes released the first of his 11 solo albums, “The Coming,” in 1996. It sold 797,000 copies, was certified as platinum by the trade organization, Recording Industry Association of America, topped the R&B/hip-hop chart and rose to sixth in the Billboard 200.
“The Coming” included “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check,” which earned Rhymes his first Grammy nomination, for best rap solo performance. LL Cool J won in the category for “Hey Lover.”
Rhymes received at least one Grammy nomination each of the next four years.
- Best rap solo performance in 1998 for “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See.”
- Best rap solo performance in 1999 for “Dangerous.”
- In 2000 for best rap solo performance for “Gimme Some More,” best rap performance by a duo or group for “What’s It Gonna Be?!” and best rap album for Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front.”
- In 2001 for best short form music video for “Fire.”
- Best rap performance best rap performance by a duo or group in 2003 for “Pass the Courvoisier, Part II.”
- Best rap solo performance in 2006 for “Touch It.”
- Album of the year in 2008 for “Tha Carter III.”
- In 2011 for best rap performance and best rap song, both for “Look at Me Now.”