When Disaster Strikes

by Busta Rhymes

Overview

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. [Elektra's 1998 reissue included one bonus track.] ~ Steve Huey

Product Details

Release Date:	01/13/2008
Label:	Elektra
UPC:	0075596226028

Tracks

1. Intro
2. The Whole World Lookin' At Me
3. Turn It Up [Remix]/Fire It Up
4. When Disaster Strikes
5. So Hardcore
6. Get High Tonight
7. Turn It Up
8. Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
9. It's All Good
10. There's Not a Problem My Squad Can't Fix
11. We Could Take It Outside
12. Rhymes Galore
13. Things We Be Doin' For Money, Pt. 1
14. Things We Be Doin' For Money, Pt. 2
15. One
16. Dangerous
17. The Body Rock
18. Get Off My Block
19. Outro (Preparation For the Final World Front)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Busta Rhymes   Primary Artist,Vocals
Mase   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Erykah Badu   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Jamal   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Rampage   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Lord Have Mercy   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Anthony Hamilton   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Sean Combs   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
The Chosen Generation   Featured Artist
DJ Scratch   Vocals
Fabulous Fab   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Rachelle Weston   Vocals
Rah Digga   Vocals
Spliff Star   Vocals
Flipmode Squad   Featured Artist
Webb Welch   Vocals

Technical Credits

Sir Mack Rice   Composer,Lyricist
Ted Paduck   Assistant Engineer
J. Bridges   Composer
Rich Tapper   Mixing Assistant
Jo Bridges   Composer,Lyricist
Lawrence Dermer   Composer,Lyricist
Easy Mo Bee   Producer
Busta Rhymes   Executive Producer,Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Producer
DJ Scratch   Mixing,Arranger,Producer
Mike Tocci   Mixing Assistant
8-Off   Producer
Anthony Hamilton   Performer
Armando Colon   Composer,Lyricist
Al Green   Composer
Stevie Wonder   Composer
Stu Phillips   Composer
C. Delaney Jr   Composer
Epitome   Producer
Glen Larson   Composer
Harry Wayne "K.C." Casey   Composer
Tony Maserati   Mixing,Engineer
T. Nixon   Composer
Dean Karr   Photography
Clay Da Radier   Producer
R. Smith   Composer
Daniel Romero   Assistant Engineer
Floyd Nixon   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Dave Raythatha   Assistant Engineer
Shamello   Producer
Michael Cleveland   Composer,Composer
Rashia Fisher   Composer
A. McNair   Composer
Latief   Producer
Alli   Design,Art Direction
Mike Ifversen   Engineer
Vinny Nicoletti   Mixing,Engineer
Vince Reynolds   Assistant Engineer
Rahiem Prince Thomas   Composer
Buddah   Producer
Tom Passetti   Engineer,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Jin-Won Lee   Mixing,Assistant Engineer
Dominick Barbera   Mixing
Ben Arrindell   Engineer
George Spivey   Composer
Erykah Badu   Composer,Performer
Roger Munroe   Composer
Rufus Thomas   Composer,Lyricist
Sean Combs   Composer,Producer,Performer
Rick St. Hillaire   Mixing
Mase   Performer
Rampage   Performer
The Ummah   Producer
A. Green   Composer
Tom Nixon   Composer,Lyricist
C. Dorsey   Composer
Rasheed Booth   Clothing/Wardrobe
Clarence Dorsey   Producer
Jimmy Seals   Composer
James Yancey   Composer
David Koudakoff   Composer
Yannis Pasquin   Composer
Trevor Smith   Composer,Lyricist
Busta Flex   Composer,Lyricist
Spliff Star   Producer
J.C. Phillips   Composer
Jamal   Performer
Omar Glover   Producer
Bergman Bergman   Composer
Patti Wilson   Stylist
Carl Dorsey   Composer
Lord Have Mercy   Performer
W. Notise   Composer
W. Lewis   Composer
Rockwilder   Producer
Dana Stinson   Composer
Henry Stone   Composer,Lyricist
Freddy Stonewall   Composer,Lyricist
G. Spivey   Composer
Roger McNair   Composer
R. Fisher   Composer
Rashad Smith   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
A. Colon   Composer
Tom Coyne   Mastering
Lynn Montrose   Mixing Assistant
W. Michael Lewis   Composer
Darrol Durant   Composer
H. Stone   Composer
Rick Posada   Executive Producer
Jamal Phillips   Composer
Mikael Ifversen   Engineer
8-Off the Assassin   Producer
Pete L.   Producer