Busta Rhymes – When Disaster Strikes (CD) (1997) (FLAC + 320 kbps)

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.

Tracklist:

01 – Intro
02 – The Whole World Lookin’ At Me
03 – Turn It Up, Fire It Up (Remix)
04 – When Disaster Strikes
05 – So Hardcore
06 – Get High Tonight
07 – Turn It Up
08 – Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
09 – It’s All Good
10 – There’s Not A Problem My Squad Can’t Fix (Feat. Jamal)
11 – We Could Take It Outside (Feat. Flipmode Squad)
12 – Rhymes Galore
13 – Things We Be Doin’ For Money (Part 1)
14 – Things We Be Doin’ For Money (Part 2) (Feat. Rampage & Anthony Hamilton and The Chosen Generation)
15 – One (Feat. Erykah Badu)
16 – Dangerous
17 – The Body Rock (Feat. Rampage & Puff Daddy and Mase)
18 – Get Off My Block (Feat. Lord Have Mercy)
19 – Outro (Preparation For The Final World Front)

Download:

FLAC – Wayshare

320 kbps – Wayshare