People on Twitter are losing their collective mind over a small Massachusetts island named after Busta Rhymes. It’s 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 “hangouts” with friends and family. The Massachusetts resident would go on to become the island’s unofficial caretaker, as he would voluntarily plant fruit and clean up after those who had left trash behind. It’s almost like it became O’Brien’s second home, which is why he made it his personal mission to give the 40x40 island a proper—and unforgettable—name. But why “Busta Rhymes”? According to O’Brien, the name seemed fitting because the island offered things that the rapper would likely appreciate.
“It's a very small little island [with] rope-swinging, blueberries, and...stuff Busta would enjoy,” he told the Boston Globe nearly one decade ago.
O’Brien 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 isn’t official, O’Brien was able to geotag Busta Rhymes Island on Google Maps—a 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.
