Busta Rhymes places great importance on family gatherings, especially when it comes to his six children: T’ziah Wood-Smith, Mariah Miskelly, T’khi Wood-Smith, Cacie Smith, Trillian Wood-Smith, and Sacario Smith.
The rapper, born Trevor Smith, has three sons—T’ziah, T’khi, and Trillian—whom he shares with his ex-girlfriend Joanne Wood. His paternity to Mariah was established after her mother, Jill Miskelly, initiated a legal case in 1999, as reported by the Associated Press.
Although the identities of Cacie and Sacario’s mothers are not publicly known, Rhymes discussed the challenges of having children with four different women in a 2023 episode of The Diary of a CEO, reflecting on the emotional toll it has taken.
Busta Rhymes Discusses His Desire to Be Present for His Kids
“I definitely carry a sense of guilt,” Rhymes confessed. “I often think about the things I could have done differently to be present for my kids… You’re dealing with four mothers navigating legal systems, all requiring substantial child support, and none of the relationships being in a great place with you.”
He continued, “It’s not the child’s fault that they find themselves in a situation where you can’t fulfill your responsibilities. It’s your duty to find a solution, which is no small task.”
From expressing gratitude during award speeches to collaborating musically as a family, here’s a closer look at Busta Rhymes’ children: T’ziah Wood-Smith, Mariah Miskelly, T’khi Wood-Smith, Cacie Smith, Trillian Wood-Smith, and Sacario Smith.
T’ziah Wood-Smith
In February 1993, T’ziah Wood-Smith was born to Rhymes and Wood, as reported by Proballers. Rhymes shared in a 2023 Men’s Health interview that he became a father early in his career.
“When I was part of Leaders of the New School, I was the youngest to have a child,” he recalled about entering the music scene in the late 1980s. “That experience taught me what it truly means to be a man. Hip-hop provided me with the means to fulfill my role as a father.”
Despite his frequent absences due to work, T’ziah expresses pride in his father’s achievements. When Rhymes was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 BET Awards, T’ziah conveyed a heartfelt message on Instagram celebrating his father’s success.
“I am incredibly proud of you, Dad,” he wrote. “Your generosity and love are unmatched. Your passion is unique, and I am thrilled to have inherited that trait… Thank you for everything you do for our family, our community, and the world. If I must share you with the world, know that everyone will respect this man.”
T’ziah shares a close bond with his siblings and often promotes his younger brother Trillian’s music career, showcasing his songs and concert information. According to his LinkedIn profile, T’ziah studied at Quinnipiac University, where he played basketball, graduating with a degree in marketing in 2015. He currently serves as an internal wholesaler for an investment management firm in New York City.
Mariah Miskelly
Mariah Miskelly was born in 1998, and Rhymes was confirmed as her father when she was just one year old, as reported by the Associated Press.
Though little is known about her upbringing, she appears to have a strong relationship with her dad. In 2017, Mariah shared a photo on Instagram featuring herself, Rhymes, and T’ziah celebrating her high school graduation.
“It’s been a long journey, but I did it, and seeing you two after two challenging years feels wonderful,” she wrote in her post. “I love you both and pray that God continues to bring us joy and happiness.”
The family reunited again in January 2024, an event Mariah shared on Instagram, and they enjoyed a Chris Brown concert together in June.
Mariah identifies as a pianist, writer, and artist, according to her Instagram bio. In 2023, she collaborated with her father, T’ziah, and Cacie on the song “LEGACY,” featured on Rhymes’ eleventh studio album, BLOCKBUSTA.
She even joined Rhymes and her siblings on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform the song later that year. Mariah plays the piano on the track and appears in the accompanying music video.
T’khi Wood-Smith
T’khi Wood-Smith was born in September 1999 to Rhymes and Wood. His bio on the Pace University football team lists Baldwin, N.Y., as his hometown, where he played football and majored in computer science.
During a performance in Minnesota in 2023, Rhymes surprised T’khi on stage with birthday wishes and announced to the audience that he had just graduated college on a full football scholarship.
“This is one of my hardworking sons,” the rapper declared. “I love you, kid.” T’ziah also celebrated T’khi’s accomplishments, sharing photos on Instagram in May 2023, including a nostalgic Halloween shot of them dressed as Batman.
“I’m so proud of you and all you have achieved!” he wrote in the caption. “My love for you is beyond words! Here’s to more achievements and blessings! 🤞🏾… Now let’s get to work; Gotham needs us! 😂.”
T’khi, along with four siblings, attended the 2023 BET Awards to support Rhymes during his Lifetime Achievement recognition. In his acceptance speech, the rapper expressed gratitude for all his children.
“My oldest was just three years old in the ‘Woo-Hah!!’ video back in ’96,” he reminisced at the event. “Now he’s 30 and right here with me. I went on to have five more children after that. So I am blessed with six beautiful kids, and five of them are here tonight: T’ziah, Mariah, Cacie, T’khi, and Trillian, along with the little one at home.”
Cacie Smith
Around the same time as Rhymes’ birthday, he welcomed his daughter Cacie Smith into the world, and they have celebrated each other over the years. “Happy Birthday to you, King❤️. It’s a gift to be connected to such greatness,” Cacie wrote alongside a picture of them together. “Thank you for exemplifying the importance of following your calling and sharing your talents with the world. I LOVE YOU POP! NOW & ALWAYS! 💋.”
Like her father, Cacie, also known as Cie, is an artist. She contributed her vocals to their collaborative track “LEGACY” and performed it alongside Rhymes, Mariah, and Trillian on The Tonight Show.
In May 2024, Cacie held her first solo performance and later shared a collage of images and videos from the event on Instagram, expressing gratitude for the support she received.
She also joined her siblings at the 2023 BET Awards. Afterward, Rhymes spoke with Entertainment Tonight about the joy of having most of his kids present. “For the first time, I got to see my kids together at such a prestigious moment in my life. There were many times I had to leave home for work,” he reflected.
“I might have missed a graduation, a birthday, or teaching my child to ride a bike, but as they grew older, they came to understand. I’m extremely grateful… and I know there’s still more I can do to make them happy.”
Trillian Wood-Smith
Trillian Wood-Smith, born in 2001 to Rhymes and Wood, is the youngest son in the family. His LinkedIn profile reveals that he graduated from Lincoln University in 2024 with a degree in communications and currently works part-time for the school as a social media marketing consultant.
Blavity reported in 2023 that both Trillian and T’ziah are part of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, a historically Black fraternity founded in 1911. Since earning his degree, Trillian has pursued a music career, following in his father’s footsteps.
He appears on the song “LEGACY” with Cacie and Mariah and has released several singles on Spotify. Rhymes actively supports his son’s music and frequently promotes Trillian’s tracks on his Instagram account. In 2024, Trillian honored his dad with a trio of photos on Instagram for his birthday.
“You’ve become a powerful influence in my life, as well as my siblings’ and everyone around us,” he wrote. “You continuously support us and ensure we understand our worth as kings and queens… Your countless sacrifices have guaranteed that we never lacked or wanted for anything. I am truly grateful for that, King.”
Sacario Smith
The youngest of Rhymes’ children, Sacario, has mostly remained out of the public eye throughout his life. In June 2022, Rhymes shared on X (formerly Twitter) about his strong connection with Sacario. “My young King Sacario, I love you sooooooo much!!” he expressed. “I’m very protective and wait to share what’s dearest to me with the world.”
During the 2023 BET Awards, Rhymes mentioned having six children, although only five were present. Later, he explained in an interview that Sacario was unable to attend due to a “prior obligation.”
In August 2024, Sacario made a brief appearance in his father’s music video for the family-oriented song “LEGACY.” He appeared in the video wearing a basketball jersey and a crown while Rhymes’ voiceover announced, “I want to bring up all the kids,” listing their names as he did so.
