Rhymes’ former assistant, Dashiel Gables, filed a civil suit against the rapper on Monday.

Busta Rhymes ‘categorically’ denies former assistant’s assault allegations

Rhymes' former assistant, Dashiel Gables, filed a civil suit against the rapper on Monday.

By Mekishana Pierre

Published on August 8, 2025 05:24PM EDT

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Busta Rhymes. Credit:

Kevin Winter/Getty

Busta Rhymes is denying allegations made by a former assistant who filed a civil suit against the rapper on Monday.

The rapper, born Trevor Smith Jr., has been accused by Dashiel Gables of "wage and hour violations, assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress." In the complaint, obtained by **, Gables describes an alleged incident in January during which an argument between Gables and the rapper turned physical.

Busta Rhymes performs onstage during Day 1 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture.

Josh Brasted/Getty

In a statement to PEOPLE, Smith says he "completely and categorically" denies all allegations made against him by Gables.**

"Apparently, Dashiel has decided to respond to being let go by manufacturing claims against me in an attempt to attack and damage my reputation," Smith said, telling the outlet that while Gables assisted him for a "very brief period, it did not work out."

Smith shared his intent to counter-sue the former assistant, noting that he believes his next steps "will expose this for what it is — an attempted shake-down by a disgruntled former assistant. Ultimately, I am certain the truth will prevail."

The complaint filed on Aug. 4 claims that Gables' daughter called him during an argument with the rapper in the lobby of Rhymes' Brooklyn residence, and when he tried to send her a text message in response, Smith allegedly screamed, "Stay the f--- off your phone," punched Gables in the face twice, and gave him a swollen eye.**

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Gables went to the hospital and filed a police report, per the suit. Smith turned himself in to the authorities and faced three assault charges.

Police told EW at the time that the NYPD responded to a 911 call near the intersection of Jay Street and Front Street in Dumbo around 10:15 p.m. on Friday, wherein a 50-year-old male victim reported past harassment, which included multiple punches from an unidentified assailant.

The *New York Post* reported that Rhymes' alleged victim was his assistant, whom he allegedly berated for using his phone while working. He declined to detail the encounter during a conversation with the *Post*, telling the outlet, "An article in the paper as opposed to a six or seven-million-dollar settlement? I’m not risking it, sorry."**

Gables' suit claims that Smith fired Gables as his assistant because he filed a police report, and "effectively blacklisted [Gables] from employment opportunities in his chosen field [in the music industry]."

The former assistant claims abusive conduct was a regular occurrence while working for Smith, accusing him of spitting in employees' faces, smacking them on the back of the head and grabbing their clothes. He also alleges that Smith "routinely degrading and screaming at [Gables], making unreasonable and demeaning demands." Gables also claims that Smith threatened to "bloody [his] face" and "get 'street justice.'" The rapper also allegedly called Gables a homophobic slur and ridiculed his poor hearing.

EW has reached out to Busta Rhymes' reps for comment.

Busta Rhymes at 'The Naked Gun' New York Premiere on July 28, 2025.

Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty

For his trouble, Gables claims Smith failed "to provide proper wage notices and wage statements," including a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, New York Labor Law Wage Notice and Wage Statement Violations, and failure to pay spread of hours pay (New York Labor Law).

Gables is seeking compensatory damages for past lost wages and benefits, for future lost wages due to industry blacklist, for unpaid minimum wages, overtime wages and other wage and hour violations, as well as liquidated damages as provided by FLSA and New York Labor Law.

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This isn't the first time Rhymes has faced legal issues. The rapper was arrested in 1998 for a gun possession charge, to which he ultimately pleaded guilty in 2000. He was sentenced to five years of probation over the incident.

In 2008, Rhymes pleaded guilty to assault and drunk driving charges after his driver accused him of attacking him during a pay dispute, as well as a subsequent arrest where he told police that he'd done a shot of cognac shortly before driving. He also faced charges of attacking a fan at the AmsterJam Music Festival in 2006 and driving without a valid license around this time. He was sentenced to three years' probation for these incidents.

In 2015, Rhymes was arrested on an assault charge after throwing a protein drink at a gym employee. He pleaded guilty to a non-criminal harassment charge after agreeing to attend anger management classes.**

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Source: “AOL Celebrity”