Busta Rhymes Island is a proposed name for an otherwise unnamed island in
Shrewsbury,
Worcester County,
Massachusetts
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.
The name refers to the rapper
Busta Rhymes. The island is located in Mill Pond in Shrewsbury and measures .
The island was named in 2005 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."''
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.
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
Google Maps is a web mapping platform and consumer application offered by Google. It offers satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, 360° interactive panoramic views of streets ( Street View), real-time traffic conditions, and rou ...
. A petition has been created for the US Board on Geographic Names to formally recognise the name.
In popular culture
The island and the campaign to officially name it Busta Rhymes Island was the central topic of an episode of ''
99% Invisible
''99% Invisible'' is a radio show and podcast produced and created by Roman Mars that focuses on design. It began as a collaborative project between San Francisco public radio station KALW and the American Institute of Architects in San Francisco ...
'' which explored the naming of places.
The island is also included in the book "The 99% Invisible City" as an example of informal geonyms.
See also
*
List of islands named after people
This is a list of islands known to be named after individual people. It details the name of the island, its location and eponym.
Former:
* Isla de Apodaca, British Columbia, Canada – Dr. Salvador Apodaca (Bishop of the city of Linares, Nuevo ...
References
External links
99% Invisible episode 105: One Man is an IslandBusta Rhymes Island on Google MapsBusta Rhymes Island on OpenStreetMap
{{authority control
Islands of Massachusetts
Geographical naming disputes
Lake islands of Massachusetts