American rapper Busta Rhymes has filed a countersuit against his former assistant, accusing him of fabricating claims in a lawsuit that alleged physical assault.
The Break Ya Neck rapper denies punching his former employee, Dashiel Gables, in the face for using his phone while on the job. He also claims that the assistant’s public legal accusations cost him two lucrative advertising deals.
Busta Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith Jr., was initially sued this summer by Gables, who worked as his personal assistant for about six months starting in July 2024. Gables alleged that the rapper routinely abused his employees and physically assaulted him in the lobby of a Brooklyn luxury high-rise in January.
At the time the lawsuit was filed, Rhymes dismissed the claims as “an attempted shakedown by a disgruntled former assistant” and vowed to file a countersuit — a promise he has now fulfilled.
In a defamation counterclaim filed Monday in federal court, Rhymes’ lawyer stated: “Smith did not assault or batter Gables. Gables knew the statements were false, or acted with reckless disregard for the truth, including by fabricating allegations of criminal conduct and violence, omitting exculpatory facts and deliberately ignoring contrary evidence.”
The countersuit further alleges that Gables’ public accusations have harmed Rhymes’ reputation, causing him humiliation and embarrassment.
Gables, on his part, claimed he needed hospital treatment for injuries sustained in the alleged assault and that he was subsequently “blacklisted” from the hip-hop industry. Although he filed a police report against Rhymes, no criminal charges were ever brought.
