Rapper Busta Rhymes, born Trevor George Smith Jr., was arrested on January 14 following an alleged assault incident in Brooklyn. The 52-year-old artist faces third-degree assault charges after he reportedly punched a 50-year-old man multiple times during a verbal confrontation.
According to police reports, the incident occurred inside a building at the intersection of Jay Street and Front Street in the Dumbo neighborhood. Officers from the 84th Precinct responded to the scene shortly after 7 p.m. and found the victim with swelling on his left cheek. The victim was subsequently transported to NYC Health and Hospitals/Woodhull, where he was listed in stable condition.
Rhymes has since been given a desk appearance ticket, allowing him to avoid police custody but requiring him to appear in court. Investigations into the altercation are ongoing.
The alleged victim, identified as Rhymes’ assistant Dashiel Gables, declined to comment on the incident, citing legal counsel. This is not the first time Rhymes has faced legal troubles. In 2015, he was accused of assaulting a gym employee in Chelsea, and in 2007, he was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Manhattan.
The arrest comes just days after the release of Rhymes’ new EP, Dragon Season… The Awakening, on January 17. Known for his hit singles such as “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check,” Rhymes made a name for himself in the late 1990s. He has earned 12 Grammy nominations throughout his career.
Rhymes’ representatives have yet to comment on the recent arrest.