AceShowbiz - Busta Rhymes, born Trevor Smith Jr., finds himself in hot water again, this time facing a third-degree assault charge in New York. The 52-year-old rapper turned himself in at Brooklyn's 84th precinct on Tuesday night, January 14 following a violent altercation with his assistant, Dashiel Gables.

The incident, which took place on January 10 at a high-end condominium in Dumbo, Brooklyn, led to multiple punches being thrown, leaving Gables with visible swelling on the left side of his face. According to reports, the assault stemmed from a confrontation over the assistant's phone use during work hours.

This case adds to Rhymes' history of legal troubles. The rapper has faced multiple charges over the years, including a gun possession charge in 1998, to which he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years probation in 2000. He also pleaded guilty to assault and drunk driving charges in 2008 and faced an assault charge in 2015 after throwing a protein drink at a gym employee.

Rhymes recently ranted about cellphone use during live performances. At the 2024 Essence Festival of Culture, he voiced his disdain for camera phones, urging the audience to "interact like humans" and dismissing phones as devices that "don't control the soul." These sentiments add context to the recent altercation with Gables, where phone use appears to have been a trigger for the violent incident.

Despite his legal turmoil, Busta Rhymes continues to make waves in the entertainment industry. He released his 11th studio album, "Blockbusta," in 2023, and lent his voice to the animated series "Everybody Still Hates Chris." He is also set to appear in an upcoming movie alongside Hollywood stars Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, and Paul Walter Hauser.

Busta Rhymes' court appearance is scheduled for February 2, where he will face the assault charges and potentially more as the investigation continues. The assistant, Dashiel Gables, has opted not to comment publicly on the matter, following his lawyer's advice to protect a potential settlement.

Stay tuned as we keep you updated on this developing story involving one of hip-hop's most iconic figures.