Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God
Studio album by
Busta Rhymes
ReleasedOctober 30, 2020
Recorded2013-2020
GenreHip hop
Length77:36
Label
Producer
Busta Rhymes chronology
Year of the Dragon
(2012) 		Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God
(2020) 		Blockbusta
(2023)
Singles from Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God
  1. "Calm Down"
    Released: July 1, 2014
  2. "The Don and the Boss"
    Released: August 21, 2020
  3. "Yuuuu"
    Released: September 18, 2020
  4. "Look Over Your Shoulder"
    Released: October 29, 2020
  5. "Where I Belong"
    Released: April 7, 2021

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]

Background

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]

Singles

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]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic71/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
Albumism[9]
AllMusic[10]
Clash4/10[11]
HipHopDX4.0/5[12]
Joe Boothby8/10[13]
The Musical Hype[14]
Music Connection9/10[15]
NME[16]
Riff Magazine7/10[17]
Vinyl Chapters2.5/5[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]

Commercial performance

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]

Track listing

Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God track listing
No.TitleWriter(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.)
Rockwilder3:01
5."Outta My Mind" (featuring Bell Biv DeVoe)
  • Busta Rhymes
  • Dready
3:20
6."E.L.E. 2 The Wrath of God" (featuring Minister Louis Farrakhan)
  • Busta Rhymes
  • Nottz
4:43
7."Slow Flow" (with Ol' Dirty Bastard)
Nottz3:12
8."Don't Go" (with Q-Tip)
Focus the A.R.M3:49
9."Boomp!"
DJ Scratch3:01
10."True Indeed"
DJ Premier1:53
11."Master Fard Muhammad" (with Rick Ross)
3:59
12."YUUUU" (with Anderson .Paak)
Anderson .Paak3:30
13."Oh No"
  • T. Smith
  • Daniel
Dready3:26
14."The Don & the Boss" (with Vybz Kartel)
Schife3:42
15."Best I Can" (with Rapsody)
9th Wonder3:39
16."Where I Belong" (featuring Mariah Carey)
4:12
17."Deep Thought"
Busta Rhymes3:10
18."The Young God Speaks"
 0:40
19."Look Over Your Shoulder" (featuring Kendrick Lamar)
Nottz4:08
20."You Will Never Find Another Me" (featuring Mary J. Blige)
Busta Rhymes3:50
21."Freedom?" (featuring Nikki Grier)
Nottz3:48
22."Satanic"
  • T. Smith
  • Stinson
Rockwilder5:14
Reloaded bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
23."Blowing the Speakers"
Murda Beatz3:18
24."Who Are You"
Jahlil Beats3:54
25."Hope Your Dreams Come True"T. SmithM1onthebeat3:29
26."Calm Down" (featuring Eminem)
Scoop DeVille5:55
Deluxe bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
27."Czar (Remix)" (with M.O.P. and CJ)
Rockwilder3:39
28."Follow the Wave" (featuring Flipmode Squad)
Nottz6:43
29."Blow a Million Racks"
  • T. Smith
  • Thaddaeus Birkett
Sha Recka3:28
30."Hey You" (featuring TRILLIAN)
  • T. Smith
  • Trillian Wood-Smith
  • Douglas
Mini Boom3:48

Charts

Chart performance for Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God
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

References

  1. ^ Lavin, Will (26 October 2020). "Busta Rhymes reveals tracklist for 'Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath Of God'". NME. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  2. ^ a b c d Keith Caulfield (November 8, 2020). "Ariana Grande Claims Fifth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Positions'". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "Busta Rhymes Releases New Trailer For His Upcoming Album Extinction Level Event 2". The Source. 17 July 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  4. ^ Newman, Jason (17 July 2014). "Busta Rhymes Opens Up About New Album 'E.L.E. 2' and Chris Lighty". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  5. ^ Grant, Shawn (8 October 2020). "BUSTA RHYMES ANNOUNCES 'EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT 2: THE WRATH OF GOD' FOR OCT. 30". The Source. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  6. ^ ""Where I Belong" (feat. Mariah Carey) - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "Top 40/Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God by Busta Rhymes". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  9. ^ "Busta Rhymes Curates the Hip-Hop Event of the Year with Expertly Crafted 'Extinction Level Event 2'". Albumism. August 27, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  10. ^ "Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God - Busta Rhymes | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020 – via www.allmusic.com.
  11. ^ "Busta Rhymes - Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath Of God". Clash Magazine. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  12. ^ "Review: 'Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath Of God' Marks A Sharp Return In Busta Rhymes". HipHopDX. December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  13. ^ "Busta Rhymes — Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God". Joe Boothby. August 27, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  14. ^ "Busta Rhymes, Extinction Level Event 2". The Musical Hype. August 27, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  15. ^ "Album Review: "Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God" by Busta Rhymes". Music Connection. August 27, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  16. ^ "Busta Rhymes : 'Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath Of God' review". NME. November 2, 2020. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  17. ^ "REVIEW: Busta Rhymes unleashes his 'Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God'". Riff Magazine. August 27, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  18. ^ "Busta Rhymes: Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God – Review". Vinyl Chapters. August 27, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  19. ^ "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  20. ^ "Top Albums (Week 45, 2020)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  21. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Busta Rhymes – Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  22. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  23. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  24. ^ "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  25. ^ "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
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