Rapper Busta Rhymes has been charged with assault for allegedly beating up his assistant for being on his phone while working, law enforcement sources have told the New York Post.Â
The 12-time Grammy Award nominee, whose real name is Trevor Tahiem Smith Jr., turned himself in over the incident, which is said to have happened on January 10 – the day he dropped teasers for his upcoming album, Dragon Season.Â
Rhymes, 52, was previously charged with assault in 2015 for allegedly throwing a protein drink at a staff member in a Manhattan gym, according to the Post.
The Brooklyn-born musician is famous for his fast rapping style, with hits including Look At Me Now and Break Ya Neck.
He’s set to drop his latest album, called Dragon Season, on March 28, 2025. On the day of the alleged assault, Rhymes posted teasers for the album on his social media accounts.Â
It comes after Rhymes was recorded throwing a drink at a woman when she touched him in Las Vegas in February 2023.
The music artist was accompanied by a posse when the overzealous fan grabbed him from behind and touched his butt.
Footage filmed by a bystander has been circulating online and shows the moment the star — real name Trevor George Smith Jr. — reacts.
Rapper Busta Rhymes has been charged with assault for allegedly beating up his assistant for being on his phone while working, law enforcement sources have told the New York PostÂ
The snippet features Busta, dressed in a dark track jacket and light pants, turning and hurling the beverage.
The Sun reported that he was leaving after attending the MAGIC Fashion Trade Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
A representative for Rhymes did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment at the time.
The woman, identified as Nikita Mathis, confirmed to The Shade Room that she was the person who touched Busta.Â
‘I didn’t mean to touch his behind, honestly. I was just happy to meet him and wanted a picture,’ the fashion boutique owner admitted.
Mathis also noted that she had attended the conference, where Busta ‘gave a very encouraging speech to entrepreneurs.’Â
She added, ‘I have been a long-time fan. I admit I shouldn’t have touched him at all, but he’s Busta. I just felt like I could possibly get a pic.’
The drink thrown was reportedly an open plastic cup of water that Rhymes swiftly used in his defense.
One Twitter user named Nichelle tweeted her reaction to viewing the clip as she wrote, ‘A lot of women feel like they have free range to grope and touch people simply because they’re women.Â
‘Along with the fact that society has created this narrative that any sexual attention towards a man is welcomed and it’s not. Men get uncomfortable just like we do!’
Powerful moment: Busta took the stage earlier this month at the 2023 Grammy Awards to perform in a 50th anniversary hip-hop tribute
DJ Kameron Bennett also weighed in on the drama, typing, ‘Busta was not feeling that. had to throw the drink on her.. I don’t blame him,’ while another person chimed in and said, ‘Mf got some good aim tho.’Â
The rap artist has been publicly physically violated before.
In August he was on stage performing to a crowded audience when a woman reached up and tried to grope him.
The scene went viral and showed the entertainer halting the show as he told the DJ to ‘stop the music.’
He then gave fans a mouthful as he said into his microphone, ‘Back up, back up. I dropped my ring down here.Â
‘Hey shorty, you with your man, right? That’s your girl? What kinda sh*t you on letting her continue to grab me up. I’m a grown man. I’ll f*ck your girl, bro.’
He continued, ‘I don’t wanna f*ck your girl. I got a good one at home. This is a weird thing. Weird times. She touched me and sh*t. She might do some police sh*t. I’m not with it.’
