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The Leaders of the New School dropped two solid old-school LP’s in 19, before, quite likely, Busta’s ego (and ability) needed room for itself to grow. “Rarrr Rarr, like a dungeon dragon!” a young Busta spit with an intensity and raw energy so powerful that it is still is reflected on as one of the greatest single verses of all-time. In retrospect, this is a highly underrated album because people seem to stray from it in conversations about greatness nowadays.īusta hit the scene harder than any other emcee with an amped up verse on Tribe Called Quest’s masterpiece posse cut, “The Scenario”. Am I biased? Probably, but that does not lessen the impact of a release that sounds as good as it did then a decade later. I had already burned a whole through the disc playing it so much–it was nice to see others realizing how goddamn hot this album is. As marijuana smoke permeated the amphitheatre air in Columbus, Ohio, my friends and I witnessed some special performances, but I never had seen someone get a crowd amped so early in the night as Busta did showcasing tracks from his seminal release “When Disaster Strikes…” that dropped the previous year.
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You bet your ass it was a phenomenal show. 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.In 1998, as an impressionable Sophomore in High School, I ventured out to The Smoking Grooves tour concert that featured the likes of a pre-“Behind the Front” Black Eyed Peas, Gangstarr, Cypress Hill, Public Enemy, Mya, ODB, Wyclef Jean and perhaps, most importantly, an energized Busta Rhymes rockin’ the once trademark dreads. 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. 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. It's a hugely effective persona when paired with Rhymes' caffeinated, herky-jerky flow, and helped prove he was more than just a novelty. 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). 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. When Rhymes is on, there's no one like him, and when he isn't, it's like the calm before the storm. Restraint isn't Rhymes' strong suit, and thus the album careens from sheer genius to repetitive indulgence and right back again. 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.