People on Twitter are losing their collective mind over a small Massachusetts island named after Busta Rhymes. Itโs a pretty understandable reaction, not only because of the novelty factor, but also because the island has gone seemingly unnoticed for so many years.
In 2009, Slate published a story about a man named Kevin O'Brien who would frequent the piece of land for secluded โhangoutsโ with friends and family. The Massachusetts resident would go on to become the islandโs unofficial caretaker, as he would voluntarily plant fruit and clean up after those who had left trash behind. Itโs almost like it became OโBrienโs second home, which is why he made it his personal mission to give the 40x40 island a properโand unforgettableโname. But why โBusta Rhymesโ? According to OโBrien, the name seemed fitting because the island offered things that the rapper would likely appreciate.
โIt's a very small little island [with] rope-swinging, blueberries, and...stuff Busta would enjoy,โ he told the Boston Globe nearly one decade ago.
OโBrien attempted to make the name official by submitting a proposal to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. However, he was informed that in order for a piece of land to be named after a celebrity, the individual must have been dead for at least five years. This rule is strictly for geological locations and not for structures like buildings, sports fields, or monuments, according to Slate.
Though the name isnโt official, OโBrien was able to geotag Busta Rhymes Island on Google Mapsโa clever move that was recently pointed out by Atlas Obscura.
Needless to say, social media really appreciated this information. Check out some of the reactions below.
