Busta Rhymes, the 52-year-old rapper born Trevor Smith Jr., has been charged with third-degree assault following an incident in Brooklyn, New York, earlier this month. He turned himself in at the 84th precinct on Tuesday night, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD). Rhymes was issued a desk appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment.
The charge stems from an altercation on January 10, when Rhymes allegedly punched a 50-year-old man multiple times in the face during a verbal dispute near Jay and Front streets in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood. The victim suffered swelling to the left side of his face and was taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Third-degree assault, a misdemeanor in New York, involves intentionally or recklessly causing physical injury. This is not Rhymes’ first legal issue, as he previously faced a second-degree assault charge in 2015 after allegedly throwing a protein drink at a gym employee. Recently, Rhymes was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the 2023 BET Awards. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
