Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front
{{redirect-distinguish|Extinction Level Event|Extinction event|Extinction Level Event (Dark Angel album)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front
| type = studio
| artist = Busta Rhymes
| cover = Busta-ELE.jpg
| alt =
| released = December 15, 1998
| recorded = 1998
| studio = {{ubl|{{nowrap|Soundtrack Studios, New York City}}|{{nowrap|Quad Studios, New York City}}|{{nowrap|Larrabee North Sound Studios, Los Angeles, California}}|{{nowrap|No Limit Studios, Baton Rouge, Louisiana}}|{{nowrap|House of Blues Studios, Memphis, Tennessee}}}}
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 70:28
| label = * Flipmode
| producer = {{hlist|Armando Colon|Busta Rhymes|Darrell "Delite" Allamby|Deric Angelettie|Diamond D|DJ Mr. Stanneke|DJ Scratch|Hassan Big Haas the Fantom|Jamal|Kenny "Flav" Dickerson|Nottz|Nasheim Myrick|Rashad Smith|Rockwilder|Swizz Beatz}}
| prev_title = The Imperial
| prev_year = 1998
| next_title = Anarchy
| next_year = 2000
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Busta Rhymes solo
| type = album
| prev_title = When Disaster Strikes...
| prev_year = 1997
| title = Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front
| year = 1998
| next_title = Anarchy
| next_year = 2000
}}
{{Singles
| name = E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front
| type = studio
| single1 = Tear da Roof Off
| single1date = October 21, 1998
| single2 = Gimme Some More
| single2date = October 26, 1998
| single3 = Party Is Goin' on Over Here
| single3date = 1998
| single4 = What's It Gonna Be?!
| single4date = March 9, 1999
}}
}}
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). The album comprises East Coast, West Coast, horrorcore, and hardcore hip hop music.
Widely praised by critics, the album earned three Grammy Award nominations: Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 42nd Grammy Awards. It also spawned three Billboard chart hits, including the Janet Jackson-featuring "What's It Gonna Be?!", which became Busta's highest-charting single on the US Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist, reaching number three. In early 1999, E.L.E. was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over one million copies.
:{{blockquote|"I'd had success with two albums, and I felt like I didn't have to prove anything to other people anymore. But I had to prove something to myself. I did things that nobody had been able to do before, such as having Janet Jackson and Ozzy Osbourne on the same album. I caught [producer] J Dilla at the best time. Nobody else got him as good as me." – Busta Rhymes{{cite magazine|first=Angus|last=Batey|title=My record collection – Busta Rhymes|magazine=Q|date=October 2009|page=46}}}}
Reception
The album received generally favorable reviews. At the 42nd Grammy Awards, the album earned three nominations, one for the album itself in the category of Best Rap Album, a Best Rap Solo Performance nomination for "Gimme Some More" and a Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group nomination for "What's It Gonna Be?!" with Janet Jackson.{{Cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=1999&genre=All|title=Awards Nominations & Winners|date=30 April 2017}}
In August 2020, Busta Rhymes announced a sequel to the album, Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God, which was released on October 30, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-chris-rock-announce-busta-rhymes-new-album/|title=Watch Chris Rock Announce Busta Rhymes' New Album|last=Torres|first=Eric|date=2020-10-08|website=Pitchfork|language=en-US|access-date=2020-10-08}}{{Cite web|url=https://thesource.com/2020/10/08/busta-rhymes-announces-extinction-level-event-2-the-wrath-of-god-for-oct-30/|title=Busta Rhymes Announces 'Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God' for Oct. 30|last=Grant|first=Shawn|date=2020-10-08|website=The Source|language=en-US|access-date=2020-10-08}}
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev2 = Christgau's Consumer Guide
|rev2score = {{Rating-Christgau|neither}}{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=busta+rhymes |title=CG: busta rhymes |publisher=Robert Christgau |access-date=June 29, 2014}}
|rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
|rev3score = B{{cite magazine|last=Browne|first=David|url=https://ew.com/article/1999/01/11/extinction-level-event-final-world-front/|title=Extinction Level Event -- The Final World Front|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=1999-01-15|access-date=2022-09-12}}
|rev4 = Mixmag
|rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1096151&style=music |title=Busta Rhymes - Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front CD Album |publisher=Cduniverse.com |date=1998-12-15 |access-date=2014-06-30}}
|rev5 = NME
|rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/name/463|title=Extinction Level Event (The Final World Front)|website=NME |date=1998-11-07|access-date=2014-06-30}}
| rev6 = RapReviews
|rev7 = Rolling Stone
|rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bustarhymes/albums/album/93919/review/5940581/extinction_level_event__the_final_world_front |title=Rolling Stone : Busta Rhymes: Extinction Level Event - The Final World Front |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=1999-01-05 |access-date=2014-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060828042518/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bustarhymes/albums/album/93919/review/5940581/extinction_level_event__the_final_world_front |archive-date=August 28, 2006 }}
|rev8 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
|rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA123|title = The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|isbn = 9780743201698|last1 = Brackett|first1 = Nathan|last2 = Hoard|first2 = Christian David|year = 2004| publisher=Simon and Schuster }}
|rev9 = The Source
|rev10 = Urban Latino
}}
=Commercial performance=
The album debuted at number twelve on the official US Billboard 200 album chart, remaining on the chart for thirty-two weeks.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/298558/busta-rhymes/chart?f=305 |title=Busta Rhymes - Chart history |publisher=Billboard |access-date=2014-06-30}} E.L.E. peaked at the number two spot on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, peaking inside the top fifty for thirty-five weeks.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/298558/busta-rhymes/chart?f=333 |title=Busta Rhymes - Chart history |publisher=Billboard |access-date=2014-06-30}} In the United Kingdom, E.L.E. entered at number fifty-four on the official UK Albums Chart, charting for seven weeks.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/busta%20rhymes/ |title=Busta Rhymes | Artist |publisher=Official Charts |access-date=2014-06-30}} On January 8, 1999, the album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipping 1,000,000 copies.{{cite web|url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database |title=Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - June 30, 2014 |publisher=RIAA |access-date=2014-06-30}}
=Album cover=
The album, and cover were influenced by popular disaster movies around the time of the album's release in 1998, primarily Armageddon and Deep Impact. Busta Rhymes explained that the cover was inspired by the disaster movie Deep Impact, showing his image of an asteroid hitting New York City.Interview in radio program P3 Soul in Sveriges Radio P3 on 2008-09-07
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title= Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front |year= 1998 |type= booklet |publisher= Flipmode, Elektra}}
{{Track listing
| headline =
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 70:28
| title1 = There's Only One Year Left!!!
| note1 = Intro
| writer1 =
| extra1 = {{hlist|DJ Mr. Stanneke}}
| length1 = 2:39
| title2 = Everybody Rise
| note2 =
| writer2 = {{hlist|Trevor Smith|Dominick Lamb|David Camon}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Nottz}}
| length2 = 3:02
| title3 = Where We Are About to Take It
| note3 =
| writer3 = {{hlist|Smith|Lamb|Darryl Sloan|Dick Hyman}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Nottz}}
| length3 = 3:08
| title4 = Extinction Level Event (The Song of Salvation)
| note4 =
| writer4 = {{hlist|Smith|Lamb|Sloan|Eddie Seago|Mike Leander}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|Nottz}}
| length4 = 3:36
| title5 = Tear da Roof Off
| note5 =
| writer5 = {{hlist|Smith|Kasseem Dean}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|Swizz Beatz}}
| length5 = 3:38
| title6 = Against All Odds
| note6 = featuring Flipmode Squad
| writer6 = {{hlist|Smith|Jamal Phillips|Roger McNair|William Lewis|Rashia Fisher|Wayne Notise|Leroy Jones}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Jamal}}
| length6 = 4:20
| title7 = Just Give It to Me Raw
| note7 =
| writer7 = {{hlist|Smith|Dean}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|Swizz Beatz}}
| length7 = 3:03
| title8 = Do It to Death
| note8 =
| writer8 = {{hlist|Smith|Dana Stinson}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Rockwilder}}
| length8 = 3:29
| title9 = Keepin' It Tight
| note9 =
| writer9 = {{hlist|Smith|Rashad Smith|Armando Colon|Manu Dibango}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|Rashad Smith|Armando Colon{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length9 = 4:29
| title10 = Gimme Some More
| note10 =
| writer10 = {{hlist|Smith|George Spivey}}
| extra10 = {{hlist|DJ Scratch}}
| length10 = 2:41
| title11 = Iz They Wildin wit Us & Gettin' Rowdy wit Us
| note11 = featuring Mystikal
| writer11 = {{hlist|Smith|Michael Tyler|Darrell Allamby|Kenny Dickerson}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|Darrell "Delite" Allamby|Kenny "Flav" Dickerson}}
| length11 = 3:41
| title12 = Party Is Goin' on Over Here
| note12 =
| writer12 = {{hlist|Smith|Spivey}}
| extra12 = {{hlist|DJ Scratch}}
| length12 = 2:34
| title13 = Do the Bus a Bus
| note13 =
| writer13 = {{hlist|Smith|Spivey|Russell Simmons|Jimmy Spicer|Lawrence Smith}}
| extra13 = {{hlist|DJ Scratch}}
| length13 = 5:00
| title14 = Take It Off
| note14 =
| writer14 = {{hlist|Smith|Carlos Evans|August Darnell|Stony Browder Jr.}}
| extra14 = {{hlist|Hassan Big Haas the Fantom}}
| length14 = 3:09
| title15 = What's It Gonna Be?!
| note15 = featuring Janet Jackson
| writer15 = {{hlist|Smith|Allamby|Antoinette Roberson}}
| extra15 = {{hlist|Darrell "Delite" Allamby}}
| length15 = 5:26
| title16 = Hot Shit Makin' Ya Bounce
| note16 =
| writer16 = {{hlist|Smith|Deric Angelettie|Nasheim Myrick|Earl Randle|Willie Mitchell|Dougie Bryan}}
| extra16 = {{hlist|Deric Angelettie|Nasheim Myrick}}
| length16 = 3:34
| title17 = What the Fuck You Want!!
| note17 =
| writer17 = {{hlist|Smith|Joseph Kirkland|Jerry Lordan}}
| extra17 = {{hlist|Diamond D}}
| length17 = 3:17
| title18 = This Means War!!
| note18 = featuring Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath
| writer18 = {{hlist|Smith|Ozzy Osbourne|Tony Iommi|Geezer Butler|William Ward|Adam McLeer|Joe Conoscenti|Eric Anderson|Adam Meyer}}
| extra18 = {{hlist|Busta Rhymes}}
| length18 = 5:04
| title19 = The Burial Song
| note19 = Outro
| writer19 = {{hlist|Smith|Spivey}}
| extra19 = {{hlist|DJ Scratch}}
| length19 = 5:04
}}
=Notes=
- {{note|a|[a]}} signifies a co-producer
Charts
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
Chart (1998)
!Peak |
---|
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|34|artist=Busta Rhymes|access-date=December 27, 2013}} |
{{album chart|Germany4|45|id=28545|artist=Busta Rhymes|album=Extinction Level Event (The Final World Front)|access-date=August 21, 2024}} |
{{album chart|UK2|54|date=19990124|access-date=August 21, 2024}} |
{{album chart|UKR&B|7|date=19990117|access-date=August 21, 2024}} |
{{Album chart|Billboard200|12|artist=Busta Rhymes|date=2013-09-18|refname=Billboard 200|access-date=2013-09-18}} |
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|2|artist=Busta Rhymes|access-date=September 19, 2013}} |
=Year-end charts=
class="wikitable" |
Chart (1999)
!Position |
---|
US Billboard 200{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/298558/busta-rhymes/chart?f=412 |title=Busta Rhymes - Chart history |publisher=Billboard |access-date=2014-06-30}}
| style="text-align:center;"|49 |
US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/298558/busta-rhymes/chart?f=415 |title=Busta Rhymes - Chart history |publisher=Billboard |access-date=2014-06-30}}
| style="text-align:center;"|14 |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Busta Rhymes|title=Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front|type=album|award=Gold|id=10929-3371-2|certyear=2013|certmonth=11|accessdate=July 23, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Busta Rhymes|title=E.L.E. - Extinction Level Event|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=1998|certyear=1999|accessdate=July 23, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Busta Rhymes}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Elektra Records albums
Category:Albums produced by Swizz Beatz
Category:Albums produced by Nottz
Category:Albums produced by DJ Scratch