Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 30, 2020 | |||
Recorded | 2013–2020 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 77:36 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Busta Rhymes chronology | ||||
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Singles from Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God | ||||
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Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God is the tenth studio album by American rapper Busta Rhymes, published on October 30, 2020. [1] The album features guest appearances from Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mariah Carey, Anderson .Paak, Q-Tip, Rick Ross, Mary J. Blige, Rapsody, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Rakim, Pete Rock, Vybz Kartel, Bell Biv DeVoe, M.O.P., Nikki Grier, Chris Rock, and Louis Farrakhan. It is a sequel to 1998's E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front , and his first studio album since 2012's Year of the Dragon.
The album was met with generally favorable reviews. The album debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 38,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. [2]
Busta Rhymes first announced the album in 2013. [3] Over the course of 2014, Busta Rhymes continued to do interviews promoting the album, [4] and released the singles "Twerk It" featuring Nicki Minaj, "Thank You" featuring Q-Tip, Lil Wayne and Kanye West, and "Calm Down" featuring Eminem. Despite the heavy promotion around this time, promotion for the album ceased completely in July 2014, when it was announced that Rhymes had amicably departed Cash Money Records.[ citation needed ]
The album was announced once again on August 17, 2020, via a YouTube video starring Chris Rock. It released officially on October 30, 2020. The "Reloaded" version of the album released on November 2, 2020, featuring three brand new tracks and the previously-released 2014 single "Calm Down" with Eminem. An official deluxe edition was also released later that month on November 27, 2020, not only featuring the bonus tracks from the Reloaded reissue, but also four more extra tracks, including a remix of "Czar" with new verses by M.O.P. and rapper CJ.[ citation needed ]
The album's lead single "The Don and the Boss", featuring Vybz Kartel and J-Doe, was released on August 21, 2020. [5] The album's second single "YUUUU" featuring Anderson .Paak was released on September 18, 2020. "Where I Belong" featuring Mariah Carey was released as the album's third single on April 7, 2021, [6] and is set to be released to American rhythmic contemporary radio stations on April 13. [7]
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 71/100 [8] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Albumism | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Clash | 4/10 [11] |
HipHopDX | 4.0/5 [12] |
Joe Boothby | 8/10 [13] |
The Musical Hype | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Music Connection | 9/10 [15] |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Riff Magazine | 7/10 [17] |
Vinyl Chapters | 2.5/5 [18] |
Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God was met with generally favorable reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 71, based on six reviews. [8]
Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 38,000 album-equivalent units (including 17,000 copies as pure album sales) in its first week. [2] This became Busta Rhymes' seventh US top-ten album. [2] The album also accumulated a total of 27.78 million on-demand streams of the album's songs that week. [2]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "E.L.E. 2 Intro" (with Chris Rock, Rakim, and Pete Rock) |
| 7:12 | |
2. | "The Purge" |
|
| 1:10 |
3. | "Strap Yourself Down" |
|
| 2:57 |
4. | "Czar" (with M.O.P.) |
| Rockwilder | 3:01 |
5. | "Outta My Mind" (featuring Bell Biv DeVoe) |
|
| 3:20 |
6. | "E.L.E. 2 The Wrath of God" (featuring Minister Louis Farrakhan) |
|
| 4:43 |
7. | "Slow Flow" (with Ol' Dirty Bastard) |
| Nottz | 3:12 |
8. | "Don't Go" (with Q-Tip) | Focus the A.R.M | 3:49 | |
9. | "Boomp!" |
| DJ Scratch | 3:01 |
10. | "True Indeed" |
| DJ Premier | 1:53 |
11. | "Master Fard Muhammad" (with Rick Ross) |
| 3:59 | |
12. | "YUUUU" (with Anderson .Paak) |
| Anderson .Paak | 3:30 |
13. | "Oh No" |
| Dready | 3:26 |
14. | "The Don & the Boss" (with Vybz Kartel) |
| Schife | 3:42 |
15. | "Best I Can" (with Rapsody) |
| 9th Wonder | 3:39 |
16. | "Where I Belong" (featuring Mariah Carey) |
|
| 4:12 |
17. | "Deep Thought" |
| Busta Rhymes | 3:10 |
18. | "The Young God Speaks" |
| 0:40 | |
19. | "Look Over Your Shoulder" (featuring Kendrick Lamar) |
| Nottz | 4:08 |
20. | "You Will Never Find Another Me" (featuring Mary J. Blige) |
| Busta Rhymes | 3:50 |
21. | "Freedom?" (featuring Nikki Grier) |
| Nottz | 3:48 |
22. | "Satanic" |
| Rockwilder | 5:14 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
23. | "Blowing the Speakers" |
| Murda Beatz | 3:18 |
24. | "Who Are You" |
| Jahlil Beats | 3:54 |
25. | "Hope Your Dreams Come True" | T. Smith | M1onthebeat | 3:29 |
26. | "Calm Down" (featuring Eminem) |
| Scoop DeVille | 5:55 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
27. | "Czar (Remix)" (with M.O.P. and CJ) |
| Rockwilder | 3:39 |
28. | "Follow the Wave" (featuring Flipmode Squad) |
| Nottz | 6:43 |
29. | "Blow a Million Racks" |
| Sha Recka | 3:28 |
30. | "Hey You" (featuring TRILLIAN) |
| Mini Boom | 3:48 |
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [19] | 26 |
French Albums (SNEP) [20] | 144 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [21] | 32 |
UK Albums (OCC) [22] | 99 |
UK R&B Albums (OCC) [23] | 4 |
US Billboard 200 [24] | 7 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [25] | 4 |
Trevor George Smith Jr., known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after NFL and CFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes. He has received 12 Grammy Award nominations for his work, making him one of the most-nominated artists without winning.
Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front is the third studio album by American rapper and record producer Busta Rhymes. It was released on December 15, 1998 by Flipmode and Elektra Records in North America. The album follows the apocalyptic theme explored by Rhymes' first two albums, The Coming (1996) and When Disaster Strikes (1997). Musically, the album comprises East Coast, West Coast, horrorcore, and hardcore hip hop music.
Aftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre in 1996. It operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed through Interscope Records.
"I Know What You Want" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes and singer Mariah Carey, featuring verses from Rhymes' group Flipmode Squad: Spliff Star, Baby Sham, Rah Digga, and Rampage. Produced by Rick Rock, it was released on February 24, 2003 as the second single from Rhymes' sixth album It Ain't Safe No More..., released on November 26, 2002.
The Remixes is the first remix album by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey, released on June 25, 2003, by Columbia Records. It is primarily a collection of remixes of some of Carey's songs: disc one is compiled of club mixes, while disc two contains Carey's hip hop collaborations and remixes.
Glitter is the soundtrack to the 2001 film of the same title and the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released in the US on September 11, 2001 by Virgin Records. Mixing dance-pop, funk, hip hop and R&B, the album was a departure from Carey's previous releases, focusing heavily on a 80's post-disco sound to accompany the film which was set in 1983. The singer collaborated with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and DJ Clue, who also co-produced the album. The album several musical acts such as Eric Benét, Ludacris, Da Brat, Busta Rhymes, Fabolous, and Ja Rule.
It Ain't Safe No More... is the sixth studio album by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on November 26, 2002, by Flipmode Records and J Records. The album went Gold on January 6, 2003 – and has sold 605,000 copies as of December 5, 2007. It served as his final album for J.
Conglomerate is a record label founded by Busta Rhymes. The label was established in 1994 as Flipmode, the name Conglomerate was later adopted in 2010.
American rapper Busta Rhymes has released eleven studio albums, three compilation albums, eight mixtapes, one hundred and eight singles, fourteen promotional singles and fifty-six music videos. Busta Rhymes signed his first recording contract with Elektra Records at the age of just 17, as a member of hip-hop group Leaders of the New School. Though the group would disband in 1994, a number of well-received guest appearances on songs by artists including A Tribe Called Quest and Mary J. Blige led Elektra to offer Busta Rhymes a solo contract in 1995. His debut studio album, The Coming, was released the following year, with lead single "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check" reaching number eight on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and being certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As of 2019 Busta Rhymes has sold around 9,000,000 albums.
"It's a Party" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes featuring American R&B duo Zhané. It was released as the second single from Rhymes' debut studio album The Coming on June 4, 1996, by Flipmode Entertainment and Elektra Records. The song was written by Rhymes and Zhané member Rene Neufville, and produced by Easy Mo Bee. Peaking at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100, it was a moderate success. The song was released as a double A-side single with several remixes and the album cut "Ill Vibe" featuring fellow rapper Q-Tip, which also appears on The Coming, as its B-side.
"Obsessed" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey from her twelfth studio album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009). The song was written and produced by Carey, Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, and was released as the album's lead single on June 16, 2009, by Island Records. The song draws musical influences from contemporary R&B and hip hop, and is built around a thumping bassline. Additionally, the song is accentuated by hand claps, while Carey's voice is processed with Auto-Tune. Lyrically, the song describes Carey's dilemma regarding constant claims of a prior relationship from rapper Eminem, although he is not specifically mentioned.
"Up Out My Face" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey from her twelfth studio album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009). Written and produced by Carey, Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, it is a song which includes a marching band in its instrumentation. The lyrics for the song have been speculated to be directed at American rapper Eminem, whom Carey has a longstanding feud with since the early 2000's after his claims that they were in a relationship.
Bernard Edwards Jr., professionally known as Focus..., is an American music producer from New York City. He gained major recognition in the music industry when he signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, in 2002. Since then he has produced tracks for several prominent artists, including Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, John Legend, The Game, Ice Cube, Busta Rhymes, Fabolous, 50 Cent, Schoolboy Q, Joe, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Lil Wayne, Ameriie, Christina Millian, Mac Dre, Marsha Ambrosius among others.
Adidja Azim Palmer, better known as Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay. Among his various nicknames, he is referred to as Worl' Boss or Teacha. As summarized by Rolling Stone, he "attained folk-hero status in Jamaica with provocative lyrics, and a mischievous public persona", and "few have captivated [the dancehall] audience – or offended the sensibilities of its detractors – as consistently and thoroughly as Kartel."
Andrae Hugh Sutherland, known professionally as Popcaan, is a Jamaican dancehall singer.
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"Thank You" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on November 7, 2013 by Cash Money Records and Republic Records as the intended second single from his tenth studio album, Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God. The album, released October 30, 2020 by Conglomerate and Empire, excluded both "Thank You" and "#Twerkit", the album's intended lead singles.
"Calm Down" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes from the album Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God. The song features Eminem and was produced by Scoop DeVille. It was released for digital download on July 1, 2014 by The Conglomerate Entertainment and Empire Distribution.
Grace Latoya Hamilton, known professionally as Spice, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay and singer. Known as the Queen of Dancehall, Spice is recognised as one of the most prominent dancehall artists in the world. She is known for her aggressive flow, musical versatility and outspoken lyrics. Spice first gained recognition after performing at the annual dancehall festival Sting in 2000. She released her first single "Complain" for record producer Dave Kelly's Madhouse Records in 2003. She continued to release the singles "Right There" and "Hype", even being featured on songs with Jimmy Cliff and Beenie Man in 2004 and 2006, respectively.
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