"Busta Rhymes" Was Inspired By NFL/CFL Player

Published on May 6th, 2024 5:21 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


Trevor George Smith Jr. will forever be known as "Busta Rhymes".

The legendary hip-hop artist, however, started out his career with names that he didn't particularly like.

The artist now known as "Busta Rhymes" was using the name "Chillo Ski" when he happened to have a conversation with Chuck D of Public Enemy.

Chuck D pointed out a football player named George "Buster" Rhymes and said:

"Now that would be a good name."

The "Buster" was changed to "Busta", and the rest is history.

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George "Buster" Rhymes was born in Miami, Florida in 1962.

Rhymes was a sensational athlete in high school, and earned himself a scholarship from the University of Oklahoma.

Rhymes played his first two years at Oklahoma as a running back before switching to wide receiver in his junior and senior years at the school.

While his senior year was a disappointment, Rhymes turned enough heads in his junior year to catch the eyes of NFL scouts.

The Minnesota Vikings selected Rhymes in the fourth round of the 1985 NFL Draft.

Rhymes would play for the Vikings for two seasons, where most of his time would be spent returning kicks.

In total, Rhymes caught 8 passes for 149 yards in the NFL, while adding 1,558 kick return yards.

Rhymes would move to the CFL in 1988 and 1989, where he would play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Rhymes would finish his career as a champion, as the Blue Bombers won the Grey Cup in 1989.