RAPPER BUSTA RHYMES 'BUSTED'

Busta Rhymes

RAPPER Busta Rhymes was released on almost 5 thousand bail today after being charged overnight with misdemeanor assault over accusations he beat up a man during a dispute over money. The 34-year-old recording star, whose real name is Trevor Smith, is accused of punching and kicking the man in front of a lower Manhattan building on December 26, requiring the man to go to the hospital, police said. "Busta adamantly denies the allegations," said his lawyer, Scott Leemon, after Rhymes had avoided the media by leaving a state courthouse in Manhattan in a prison bus. He was was due back in court on February 20. The rapper, whose hits include "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" and "Dangerous," had been touring in Africa and Portugal and turned himself in after returning to the United States on Wednesday, Mr Leemon said. "He learned about being wanted in New York when he was away, and as soon as he got back we turned him in," he said. In August, Rhymes was arrested and charged with kicking a 19-year-old man in the head because the man had spit on the rapper's vehicle.
Rhymes also has been criticized in the media by New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly for staying silent about the shooting death of his bodyguard last February.