In a public statement, veteran rapper Busta Rhymes, born Trevor Smith Jr., has fully rejected serious accusations made by his former assistant, Dashiel Gables (also referred to as Divine), marking his strongest response yet to the ongoing legal battle.
According to a civil complaint filed on August 4, 2025, Gables, who began working for Rhymes in 2024 at a rate of $200 per day has asserted multiple claims against the rapper. The Allegations include that Rhymes “routinely degraded and screamed at” him, threatened “street justice,” used homophobic slurs, and responded to employees with spitting or head smacks. In a particularly alarming incident in January 2025, Gables says the rapper yelled, “Stay the f— off your phone,” and then punched him twice in the face, leading to hospitalisation and a police report. Labor violations, including wage and hour infractions related to failure to provide proper notices, overtime pay, and compliance with both federal and New York State laws have also been added to the allegations. The consequences of the allegations include blacklisting from the hip-hop industry and substantial lost future wages, for which he seeks compensatory and liquidated damages. Gables has demanded a jury trial on all allegations.
On August 7, 2025, Rhymes issued a forceful denial through People, stating:
“I completely and categorically deny these allegations.”
He emphasised that Gables had worked for him only “for a very brief period,” which ultimately “did not work out.” The rapper asserts that the claims are a retaliatory attack intended to tarnish his reputation, which he describes as “a shake-down by a disgruntled former assistant.” Rhymes confirmed plans to file a countersuit and expressed confidence that “the truth will prevail.”
This legal clash follows Rhymes’ earlier surrender to authorities after the January incident, for which he reportedly faces three assault charges. Gables’ medical treatment and the police report that followed added momentum to the case. As both parties prepare for further legal action, with Gables pushing ahead with his civil suit and Rhymes countering, the matter is expected to unfold in court proceedings.
