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• 1. From Tilden Houses to Global Stardom: A Look at a Notable Former Resident

     The Tilden Houses in Brownsville, Brooklyn, have been the starting point for many stories, but one of the most famous is that of Trevor Smith Jr., known worldwide as the dynamic and influential rapper, Busta Rhymes. While the development has housed thousands of New Yorkers since it opened in 1961, Busta Rhymes stands out as its most prominent alumnus to achieve global fame.

     Busta Rhymes spent a significant part of his formative years at the Tilden Houses.1 He has credited the East Flatbush/Brownsville neighborhood with shaping his identity, creativity, and unique style that would later make him a hip-hop icon.1 The resilience and determination of the Tilden Houses community are qualities that can be seen throughout his long and successful career.1

     His journey to stardom began in the late 1980s as a member of the hip-hop group Leaders of the New School. With his energetic, boisterous, and complex rhyming style, he quickly became the group’s breakout star.

     In 1996, Busta Rhymes launched his solo career with the platinum-selling album The Coming. This was the start of a string of hits that defined the sound of late 90s and early 2000s hip-hop, including “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check,” “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See,” and “Gimme Some More.” His music was instantly recognizable for its high-energy, intricate flows, and often humorous and visually creative music videos, which became staples on MTV.

     Throughout his career, Busta Rhymes has been celebrated for his lyrical prowess and his larger-than-life persona. He has released multiple gold and platinum albums, received numerous Grammy nominations, and collaborated with a vast array of artists across different genres, from Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey to Ozzy Osbourne. His ability to constantly reinvent himself while staying true to his roots has solidified his status as a legendary figure in the music industry.

     While many individuals have passed through the Tilden Houses, Busta Rhymes’s journey from the Brooklyn housing project to international fame is a powerful story of talent and perseverance, making him the most notable and celebrated individual to have come from that development.

     About Tilden Houses

     3 Tilden Houses is named after Samuel J. Tilden (1814-1886), an attorney who went on to be Governor of New York. 3 Tilden Houses has eight, 16-story buildings with 998 apartments. Completed June 30, 1961, 10.69-acres.

     Notable People from Tilden Houses

     1. Sharon Jones (1956–2016) — Soul and Funk Singer

     11 Ms. Jones, who grew up in Tilden Houses, went on to record eight albums and toured the world with her Grammy-nominated band, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. She died from pancreatic cancer on November 18, 2016 at the age of 60. 11 Soul singer Sharon Jones’ success was a lesson in holding fast to your dreams: singing was her passion but not her day job until she got her break at age 40. 11 In 2013, Ms. Jones spoke to journalist Rico Washington about how her mother raised six children at the Brooklyn development as part of the “We The People: The Citizens of NYCHA in Pictures + Words” project with photographer Shino Yanagawa. 11 Before her success, Ms. Jones worked as a corrections officer on Rikers Island, an armored car guard for Wells Fargo, and as a member of an Italian wedding band.

     Career Highlights:

     1. • 12 In 2014, Jones was nominated for her first Grammy, in the category Best R&B Album, for Give the People What They Want.
        • 16 A young Translatlantic DJ and producer, Mark Ronson, then hired the Dap-Kings to back a beehived, tattooed, mouthy singer with a Camden drawl named Amy Winehouse on her sophomore album in 2006. The Dap-Kings were a crucial part of Back to Black’s success.
        • 17 With those releases, Jones was credited with spearheading a twenty-first century soul and funk revival and was tagged the female James Brown. In 2007 Jones played the part of a Lila, a juke joint singer in the movie, The Great Debaters. She also collaborated with The Rolling Stones, Phish, Michael Buble, and performed in 2013 in the 87th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
     2. Busta Rhymes (b. 1972) — Rapper, Record Producer, and Actor

     1 Rapper and record producer Busta Rhymes spent part of his formative years at Tilden Houses and has credited the neighborhood with shaping his sense of identity, creativity, and style. 21 Trevor George Smith Jr. was born in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, on May 20, 1972, to Geraldine Green and Trevor Smith Sr., who both were immigrants from Jamaica. At age 12, Smith’s family moved to Nassau County on Long Island, and settled in Uniondale, New York. 21 For a short while, Smith attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School in Brooklyn with future rappers Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace and Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, and attended Samuel J. Tilden High School with Edward “Special Ed” Archer and Roderick “Chip Fu” Roachford of Fu-Schnickens.

     Career Highlights:

     1. • 21 Trevor George Smith Jr., known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. He has received 12 Grammy Award nominations, making him one of the most-nominated artists without a win. Billboard and Vibe ranked him among the 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time.
        • 21 Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after NFL and CFL wide receiver George “Buster” Rhymes. Rhymes was an original member of Leaders of the New School, a group that attracted national attention while opening on tour for Public Enemy. He gained further exposure for their guest appearance on A Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario”. Shortly after, Leaders of the New School disbanded, leading Rhymes to become a sought-after solo artist.
        • 22 He has released nine studio albums, with the first being the 1996 platinum-selling album The Coming. His list of hit singles include “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check”, “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See”, “Dangerous”, “Turn It Up (Remix)/Fire It Up”, “Gimme Some More”, “What’s It Gonna Be?”, “Pass the Courvoisier, Part II”, “I Know What You Want” and “Touch It”.

     Summary

     Tilden Houses in Brooklyn has produced at least two major figures in music:

     Name	Career	Notable Achievements
     Sharon Jones	Soul/Funk Singer	Grammy-nominated, led Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, credited with 21st-century soul revival
     Busta Rhymes	Rapper/Producer/Actor	12 Grammy nominations, platinum-selling albums, founding member of Leaders of the New School

     Both artists rose from humble beginnings at Tilden Houses to achieve international acclaim in their respective genres!

     Is there anything else you’d like to know about Tilden Houses or these notable residents?

     Good day… Can you give me the famous or notable people that
     came from the NYCHA development “Tilden houses” in New York City . And
     can you give brief info about them and what careers made them popular.