Busta Rhymes Island

Busta Rhymes Island is a proposed name for an otherwise unnamed island in Shrewsbury, Worcester County, Massachusetts.[1][2][3][4] The name refers to the rapper Busta Rhymes. The island is located in Mill Pond in Shrewsbury and measures 40 by 40 feet (12 m × 12 m).[5] The island was named in 2005[6] by Shrewsbury resident Kevin O'Brien who began frequenting and caring for the upkeep of the island. O'Brien stated he wanted it to be called Busta Rhymes Island as it had "Rope-swinging, blueberries, and . . . stuff Busta would enjoy." [7][8]

Busta Rhymes Island
Busta Rhymes Island is located in Massachusetts
Busta Rhymes Island
Busta Rhymes Island
Location of Busta Rhymes Island in Massachusetts
Busta Rhymes Island is located in the United States
Busta Rhymes Island
Busta Rhymes Island
Busta Rhymes Island (the United States)
EtymologyNamed after Busta Rhymes
Geography
LocationShrewsbury, Massachusetts
Coordinates42.2841441°N 71.7393413°W / 42.2841441; -71.7393413
Adjacent toMill Pond, Shrewsbury
Area149 m2 (1,600 sq ft)
Length12 m (39 ft)
Width12 m (39 ft)
Administration
Demographics
Population0
Additional information
Time zone

Naming

O'Brien has attempted to register the name with the United States Board on Geographic Names, however the name was refused as the rules require the person commemorated to have been dead for at least 5 years.[7] O'Brien has since attempted to have the name adopted officially through a rule related to local usage of a name and local geographic activists have named the Island on Google Maps.[9][10][11][12] A petition has been created for the US Board on Geographic Names to formally recognise the name.[13]

The island and the campaign to officially name it Busta Rhymes Island was the central topic of an episode of 99% Invisible which explored the naming of places.[5] The island is also included in the book "The 99% Invisible City" as an example of informal geonyms.[5][1]

See also

References
  1. Mars, Roman (March 13, 2014). "One Man's Mission to Name an Island After Busta Rhymes". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  2. Reed, James (March 13, 2009). "Busta Rhymes Island is for real - The Boston Globe". archive.boston.com. Boston Globe. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  3. "'Busta Rhymes Island' is a place you could find in Massachusetts -- sort of". masslive.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  4. "People Freaked Out After Learning 'Busta Rhymes Island' Has Existed for Years". Complex. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  5. Ferro, Shaunacy (March 12, 2014). "Massachusetts Has A Busta Rhymes Island". Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  6. Reed, James (March 13, 2009). "Busta Rhymes Island is for real - The Boston Globe". archive.boston.com. Boston Globe. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  7. "Busta Rhymes Island". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  8. "People Freaked Out After Learning 'Busta Rhymes Island' Has Existed for Years". Complex. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  9. "One Man Is An Island". 99% Invisible. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  10. "Busta Rhymes Island exists in Massachusetts on Google Maps but not in real life. Here's why". Boston.com. March 16, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  11. Bentley, Coleman. "Google Maps recognizes lone hero's campaign to rename island after Busta Rhymes - Golf Digest". Golf Digest. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  12. "Shrewsbury "Busta Rhymes" island got viral on Twitter Moments | Shrewsbury Post". The Shrewsbury Post. March 7, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  13. "Petition The Government To Formally Recognize "Busta Rhymes Island"". April 3, 2014. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
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