Busta Rhymes getting star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Busta Rhymes, the iconic Long Island-raised hip-hop artist, is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame later this week.

Rhymes, born Trevor George Smith Jr. in Brooklyn and raised in Uniondale, will be recognized for his career as a musical "trailblazer" for accolades including a dozen Grammy nominations and seven top 10 albums on the Billboard 200.

He's one of the "most enduring and electrifying voices" in hip-hop, Ana Martinez, the producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, said in a news release.

Friday's ceremony will be held on Hollywood Boulevard, near the Pantages Theater and the Capitol Records Building, according to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. It will be the 2,818th star on the famed strip.

Fellow Long Islanders and hip-hop stars LL Cool J and Chuck D will take part in the ceremony, along with radio DJ Big Boy and comedian Chris Rock. The event will be livestreamed starting at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time at walkoffame.com.

Rhymes, 53, was born in Brooklyn's East Flatbush neighborhood and moved to Uniondale with his family when he was 12. He graduated from Uniondale High School in 1991.

The artist emerged from a robust hip-hop scene on Long Island, first with the collective Leaders of the New School and then as a solo artist, beginning with 1996's "The Coming."

"He burst onto the national scene with a distinctive vocal style, kinetic stage presence, and visually groundbreaking music videos that helped redefine the genre," the Walk of Fame news release said. 

He's also a Guinness World Record holder for most words in a single (2001's "Break Ya Neck"), according to the Walk of Fame, and a veteran actor who'll next appear in "The Naked Gun" reboot opening in theaters Aug. 1.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.