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Busta Rhymes' second album, When Disaster Strikes, is a sprawling, often brilliant mess that confirmed his status as one of hip-hop's most singular characters. Restraint isn't Rhymes' strong suit, and thus the album careens from sheer genius to repetitive indulgence and right back again. When Rhymes is on, there's no one like him, and when he isn't, it's like the calm before the storm. Fortunately, he's on most of the time on When Disaster Strikes, helped out by what would become his favorite theme for the next several years: the coming apocalypse. Even if the concept doesn't carry through the entire album, When Disaster Strikes is framed as a pre-millennium party spinning out of control, sort of like the dark side of Prince's "1999." Rhymes presides over the chaos like a mad master of ceremonies, running amok with his posse at his back (there are countless shout-outs to the Flipmode Squad). It's a hugely effective persona when paired with Rhymes' caffeinated, herky-jerky flow, and helped prove he was more than just a novelty. The album's two big hit singles, "Dangerous" and the creepy "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See," are terrific, but there are more than a few moments that are just as inspired. The second half of the album slows down the momentum somewhat, with a bevy of guests, collaborations, and posse cuts; a few offer some welcome variety, but often they don't replace Rhymes' manic energy with anything quite as exciting. Still, nearly every rap album from this era has its share of filler, and it doesn't prevent When Disaster Strikes from ranking as arguably Rhymes' definitive original album.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
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Omar Glover, Producer - Dolemite, Vocals - Busta Rhymes., Rapper Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Spliff Star, Vocals - Lord Have Mercy, Vocals - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - Busta Flex, Composer, Writer - D J Scratch, Producer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Trevor Smith, Writer - George Spivey, Writer - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Rapper Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Dominick Barbera, MixingEngineer - Tom Passetti, AssistantEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Vinny Nicoletti, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - D J Scratch, Producer, Mixer - Dave Raythatha, AssistantEngineer - Floyd Nixon, AssistantEngineer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
G. Spivey, Writer - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Rapper Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - T. Smith, Writer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Dominick Barbera, MixingEngineer - Tom Passetti, AssistantEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Vinny Nicoletti, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - D J Scratch, Producer, Mixer - Rick St. Hilaire, MixingEngineer - Vince Reynolds, AssistantEngineer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Trevor Smith, Writer - George Spivey, Writer - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Rapper Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Dominick Barbera, MixingEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Vinny Nicoletti, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - D J Scratch, Producer, Mixer - Daniel Romero, AssistantEngineer - Floyd Nixon, AssistantEngineer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
J. Yancey, Writer - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Rapper Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - T. Smith, Writer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Dominick Barbera, MixingEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Vinny Nicoletti, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - THE UMMAH, Producer - Dave Raythatha, AssistantEngineer - Floyd Nixon, AssistantEngineer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Trevor Smith, Writer - George Spivey, Writer - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Arranger, Rapper Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Dominick Barbera, MixingEngineer - Tom Passetti, AssistantEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Spliff Star, Vocals - Vinny Nicoletti, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - Fabulous Fab, Vocals - D.J. Scratch, Producer, Arranger, Vocals, MixingEngineer - Vince Reynolds, AssistantEngineer - Floyd Nixon, AssistantEngineer - Rah-Digga, Vocals
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Rich Tapper, AssistantEngineer - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Rapper Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - T. Smith, Writer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Dominick Barbera, MixingEngineer - Tom Passetti, AssistantEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Vinny Nicoletti, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - Al Green, Writer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Trevor Smith, Writer - Roger Munroe, Writer - JAMES SEALS, Writer - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Rapper Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Tom Passetti, AssistantEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Vinny Nicoletti, RecordingEngineer - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - Epitome for Prophecy Prod., CoProducer - Fabulous Fab, Backing Vocals - Michael Tocci, AssistantEngineer - Shamello & Buddah for Prophecy Prod., Producer - Rick St. Hilaire, Engineer - Darrol Durrant, Writer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
J. Yancey, Writer - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Lead Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Dominick Barbera, MixingEngineer - Tom Passetti, AssistantEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Vinny Nicoletti, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Jamal, FeaturedArtist - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - J. Phillips, Writer - M. Cleveland, Writer - Floyd Nixon, AssistantEngineer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Trevor Smith, Writer - Rashia Fisher, Writer - George Spivey, Writer - Roger McNair, Writer - Flipmode Squad, FeaturedArtist - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Kevin "Webb" Welch, Vocals - Dominick Barbera, MixingEngineer - Tom Passetti, RecordingEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Spliff Star, Vocals - Vinny Nicoletti, RecordingEngineer - Lord Have Mercy, Vocals - Busta Rhymes, Mixer, Lead Vocals, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Alan Bergman, Writer - William Lewis, Writer - Fabulous Fab, Vocals - Wayne Notise, Writer - D.J. Scratch, Producer, MixingEngineer - Marilyn Keith Bergman, Writer - Cleveland Delaney, Writer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Rashad Smith, Producer, Writer - Trevor Smith, Writer - Mack Rice, Writer - Tom Nixon, Writer - Rufus Thomas, Writer - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Rapper Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Dominick Barbera, MixingEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Vinny Nicoletti, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - Jo Bridges, Writer - Mike Ifversen, RecordingEngineer - Dave Raythatha, AssistantEngineer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Trevor Smith, Writer - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Rapper Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Dominick Barbera, MixingEngineer - Tom Passetti, AssistantEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Spliff Star, Vocals - Vinny Nicoletti, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - Dave Raythatha, AssistantEngineer - Easy Moe Bee, Producer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Trevor Smith, Writer - Anthony Hamilton, FeaturedArtist - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Dominick Barbera, MixingEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Vinny Nicoletti, RecordingEngineer - Rampage, FeaturedArtist - Busta Rhymes, Lead Vocals, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Michael Tocci, AssistantEngineer - Daniel Romero, AssistantEngineer - 8-Off, Producer - Chosen Generation, FeaturedArtist - Clarence Dorsey, Writer - Angel Luis Aguilar, Writer - Clay Da Radier, CoProducer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Dana Stinson, Writer - Trevor Smith, Writer - Rockwilder, Producer - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Lead Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Vinny Nicoletti, RecordingEngineer - Stevie Wonder, Writer - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - Rick St. Hilaire, MixingEngineer - Erykah Badu, Writer, FeaturedArtist - Ted Paduck, AssistantEngineer - Floyd Nixon, AssistantEngineer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Lawrence Dermer, Writer - Rashad Smith, Producer, Writer - Trevor Smith, Writer - Rich Tapper, AssistantEngineer - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Rapper Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Dominick Barbera, MixingEngineer - Tom Passetti, AssistantEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Vinny Nicoletti, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - Henry Stone, Writer - Freddy Stonewall, Writer - Rachelle Weston, Vocals
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Trevor Smith, Writer - Sean "Puffy" Combs, Producer, FeaturedArtist - Mase, FeaturedArtist - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Lead Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Sean Combs, Writer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Tom Passetti, AssistantEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Vinny Nicoletti, RecordingEngineer - Rampage, FeaturedArtist - TONY MASERATI, MixingEngineer - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - Lynn Montrise, AssistantEngineer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Trevor Smith, Writer - Busta Rhymes., Mixer, Arranger, Lead Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Dominick Barbera, MixingEngineer - Tom Passetti, AssistantEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Vinny Nicoletti, Engineer - Lord Have Mercy, FeaturedArtist - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - Ben Arrindell, RecordingEngineer - Wayne Notise, Writer - D.J. Scratch, Producer, Mixer, Arranger
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Busta Rhymes., Rapper Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Tom Coyne, MasteringEngineer - Rick Posada, ExecutiveProducer - Busta Rhymes, MainArtist - Busta Flex, Composer, Writer
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company.
Album review
Busta Rhymes' second album, When Disaster Strikes, is a sprawling, often brilliant mess that confirmed his status as one of hip-hop's most singular characters. Restraint isn't Rhymes' strong suit, and thus the album careens from sheer genius to repetitive indulgence and right back again. When Rhymes is on, there's no one like him, and when he isn't, it's like the calm before the storm. Fortunately, he's on most of the time on When Disaster Strikes, helped out by what would become his favorite theme for the next several years: the coming apocalypse. Even if the concept doesn't carry through the entire album, When Disaster Strikes is framed as a pre-millennium party spinning out of control, sort of like the dark side of Prince's "1999." Rhymes presides over the chaos like a mad master of ceremonies, running amok with his posse at his back (there are countless shout-outs to the Flipmode Squad). It's a hugely effective persona when paired with Rhymes' caffeinated, herky-jerky flow, and helped prove he was more than just a novelty. The album's two big hit singles, "Dangerous" and the creepy "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See," are terrific, but there are more than a few moments that are just as inspired. The second half of the album slows down the momentum somewhat, with a bevy of guests, collaborations, and posse cuts; a few offer some welcome variety, but often they don't replace Rhymes' manic energy with anything quite as exciting. Still, nearly every rap album from this era has its share of filler, and it doesn't prevent When Disaster Strikes from ranking as arguably Rhymes' definitive original album.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 18 track(s)
- Total length: 01:05:35
- Main artists: Busta Rhymes
- Composer: Busta Flex
- Label: Rhino - Elektra
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 1997 Elektra Entertainment ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment Company. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company.
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