Busta Rhymes' 6 Kids: All About the Hip-Hop Legend’s Sons and Daughters — And How They’re Following in His Footsteps

Mar. 15, 2025

Busta Rhymes, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award, poses with his five of his six children, T’Khi Wood-Smith, Cacie Smith, Mariah Smith, Trillian Wood-Smith, and T’ziah Wood-Smith at the Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023.Photo:Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

Busta Rhymesenjoys getting this whole family together, including his six kids: T’ziah Wood-Smith, Mariah Miskelly, T’khi Wood-Smith, Cacie Smith, Trillian Wood-Smith and Sacario Smith.

The rapper, whose real name is Trevor Smith, shares three sons — T’ziah, T’khi and Trillian — with his ex-girlfriend Joanne Wood. Rhymes was confirmed to be the father of Mariah after her mother, Jill Miskelly, filed a paternity suit in 1999, the Associated Press reported at the time. The names of Cacie and Sacario’s mothers are not public, but in 2023, he talked about the emotional difficulties of having children with four different women on the podcastThe Diary Of A CEO.

“I definitely live with guilt,” Rhymes said. “I feel like there was things that I could have done without to be there for my children … You’re dealing with four mothers all having you in court systems, all getting significant amount of money for child support, all not in the best place relationship-wise with you.”

He added, “Your kid didn’t ask to be put in a situation that you cannot do what you’re supposed to do for them. That’s not their problem. You have to find a solution. It’s a lot.”

From thanking them in award speeches to collaborating on a song as a family, here’s everything to know about Busta Rhymes' kids: T’ziah Wood-Smith, Mariah Miskelly, T’khi Wood-Smith, Cacie Smith, Trillian Wood-Smith and Sacario Smith.

T’ziah Wood-Smith

Busta Rhymes and his son, T’ziah Wood-Smith, at the 2015 BET Hip Hop Awards Show at the Atlanta Civic Center on October 9, 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia.Paras Griffin/BET/Getty Images

Paras Griffin/BET/Getty Images

Rhymes and Wood welcomed their son T’ziah Wood-Smith in February 1993, according toProballers.

Rhymes toldMen’s Healthin 2023 that he had his first child when he was starting in his career.

“I was the youngest in [Leaders of the New School] to have a child,” the rapper said, recalling how he first entered the music industry in the late ’80s. “That forced me to understand the seriousness of what becoming a man was. Hip-hop provided the means for me to be a man, a father.”

Rhymes expressed how pursuing a career in hip-hop took time away from raising T’ziah. He explained, “Being able to wake my son up, give him breakfast, dress him, take him to school, go to work, come home at five, help with his homework, read him a bedtime story — I didn’t have a skill set that allowed me to deliver in that way.”

Despite his occasional absences, T’ziah is proud of his father’s accomplishments. When Rhymesreceived the Lifetime Achievement Awardat the 2023 BET Awards, his eldest shared a heartfelt messageon Instagramcongratulating him.

“I am so proud of you Dad,” he wrote. “You have a huge heart and you love hard. Your passion is 1 of a kind and I’m happy I share that same trait … Thank you for your contribution to our family, to our community and to the world. If I have to share my father with the world then BEST BELIEVE YALL WILL HONOR THIS MAN.”

T’ziah is close with his siblings, too. He oftenposts about his younger brotherTrillian’s rap career, sharing his songs and concert dates.

According to hisLinkedIn, T’ziah attended Quinnipiac University, where he played basketball, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 2015. T’ziah currently works as an internal wholesaler for an investment management firm in New York City.

Mariah Miskelly

Busta Rhymes and his daughter Mariah Miskelly pose backstage for ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon’ on December 5, 2023,.Todd Owyoung/NBC/Getty Images

Todd Owyoung/NBC/Getty Images

Rhymes and Miskelly welcomed their daughter Mariah Miskelly in 1998. The rapper was confirmed to be her father when she was 1 year old, per Associated Press.

Although little is known about her childhood, she appears to be on good terms with her dad. In 2017, Mariahposted a photoon Instagram of her with Rhymes and T’ziah at her high school graduation.

“It’s been a long road but I did it and to see you two after two long years and being on good terms again feels so good,” she wrote in the caption. “I love you both and I only hope God further brings us joy and happiness.”

A few years later, the whole family went out together in January 2024, and Mariah posted about the occasionon Instagram. The crewgot together againin June for aChris Brownconcert.

The rapper also had his three kids join him onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonto perform the song later that same year.

Mariah plays piano on the track and is featured inthe music video.

T’khi Wood-Smith

Busta Rhymes with his son, T’Khi Wood-Smith at the Culture Creators Innovators and Leaders Awards brunch on June 24, 2023.

Rhymes and Wood welcomed their son, T’khi Wood-Smith, in September 1999.

His hometown is listed as Baldwin, N.Y., onhis biofor the Pace University football team, where he played and majored in computer science.

During a 2023 show in Minnesota,Rhymes brought T’Khi on stageto wish him a happy belated birthday and told the crowd that he had just graduated college and did so on a full football scholarship.

“This is one of my grown, incredibly hardworking sons,” the rapper announced. “I love you, kid.”

His older brother also congratulated him: T’ziahshared a few imagesof T’khi on Instagram in May 2023, including a throwback of them both dressed up as Batman for Halloween.

“I am very proud of your accomplishments and I’m very proud of you!” he wrote in the caption. “I love you more than I can put into words! To more accomplishments & blessings! 🤞🏾… now let’s get to it Gotham needs us! 😂.”

T’khi, along with four of his other siblings, attended the 2023 BET Awards to witness Rhymes' Lifetime Achievement honor. The rapper shouted out all his kids whileaccepting the award.

“My oldest child was a 3-year-old in the ‘Woo-Hah!!’ video back in ’96,” he said at the event. “He’s 30. He’s right here. I went on, and I had five more kids after that. So, I got six beautiful children. Five out of the six of them is here, T’ziah, Mariah, Cacie, T’khi, Trillian and the young boss who’s home.”

Cacie Smith

Busta Rhymes with his daughter Cacie Smith.Busta Rhymes/Instagram

Busta Rhymes/Instagram

Rhymes welcomed his daughter Cacie Smith around the time of his own birthday, and over the years, the father-daughter havecelebrated each other.

“Happy Birthday to you King❤️. What a gift it is to be an extension of greatness such as yourself,“Cacie wrotealongside a photo of them. “Thank you for being the prime example of listening to your calling and using your gifts for the world. … I LOVE YOU POP! NOW & ALWAYS! 💋.”

Caciealsoheld her first solo show in May 2024 andposted a collageof images and videos from the event on Instagram, thanking her loved ones for spoiling her “in every way.”

The singer also attended the 2023 BET Awards with her siblings. After the event, Rhymes spoke withEntertainment Tonightabout how happy he was to have most of his kids in one room.

“I’m looking at my kids for the first time all together at such a prestigious moment in my life, and …  there was a lot of times that I had to leave home to do this s—,” the rapper said.

He continued, “I might have missed a graduation, I might have missed a birthday, I might have missed teaching my kid to ride a bike but as they got older they understood. I’m super grateful … and I still feel like I got work to do to make them happier.”

Trillian Wood-Smith

Gilbert Flores/Billboard/Getty Images

Rhymes and Wood welcomed their youngest son, Trillian Wood-Smith, in 2001.

According to hisLinkedIn, he graduated from Lincoln University in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in communications, and now, he works part-time for the school as a social media marketing consultant.

Blavityreported in 2023 that both Trillian and T’ziah are members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, a predominantly Black fraternity that’s been active since 1911.

Since graduating, Trillian has followed in his dad’s footsteps and pursued a music career. He’s featured on “LEGACY” with his sisters Cacie and Mariah and has released a few of his own singleson Spotify.

Rhymes supports his son’s music and frequentlypromotes his songson his Instagram. Trillian is just as proud of his dad andposted a trio of photoson Instagram honoring him on his birthday in 2024.

“You have become such a powerful figure to my life, my siblings lives, and everyone else’s lives around you,” he penned. “You put on for us each and everyday and make sure that we know who we are as kings and queens … you have made endless sacrifice and have made sure we were always good and never needed or wanted for anything, and i thank you and appreciate you for that king.”

Sacario Smith

Rhymes' youngest child, Sacario, has been out of the spotlight for most of his life.

In June 2022, Rhymes posted onX (formerly Twitter)about his bond with him. “My young King Sacario I love you sooooooo much!!” he wrote. “I’m so over protective I wait to share what’s most important to me with the World.”

In the rapper’s acceptance speech at the 2023 BET Awards, Rhymes said he has six kids, but only five were in attendance. Later, Rhymes said in an interview thatSacario couldn’t make the occasionbecause of a “prior obligation.”

The following year, Sacario made a cameo in his dad’s August 2024 music video for the family-centric song “LEGACY.”

In the video, Sacario appears wearing a basketball jersey and a crown as his dad’s voiceover announces, “[I] wanna bring up all the kids,” and lists his children’s names.

source: people.com