Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God
{{Infobox album
| name = Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God
| type = Studio album
| artist = Busta Rhymes
| cover = Busta Rhymes - Extinction Level Event 2- The Wrath of God.jpg
| alt =
| released = October 30, 2020
| recorded = 2013–2020
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 77:36
| label = {{hlist|Conglomerate|Empire}}
| producer =
- Busta Rhymes {{small|(exec.)}}
- Nottz
- Avenue Beatz
- J Dilla
- Swizz Beatz
- Pete Rock
- Rockwilder
- Dready
- Focus...
- DJ Scratch
- DJ Premier
- Hi-Tek
- Terrace Martin
- Anderson .Paak
- Schife
- 9th Wonder
- Rick Rock
- Navi Beats
- Murda Beatz
- Jahlil Beats
- M1onthebeat
- Scoop DeVille
- Sha Recka
- Mini Boom
| prev_title = Year of the Dragon
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Blockbusta
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God
| type = Studio
| single1 = Calm Down
| single1date = July 1, 2014
| single2 = The Don and the Boss
| single2date = August 21, 2020
| single3 = Yuuuu
| single3date = September 18, 2020
| single4 = Look Over Your Shoulder
| single4date = October 29, 2020
| single5 = Where I Belong
| single5date = 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.{{cite web |last1=Lavin |first1=Will |title=Busta Rhymes reveals tracklist for 'Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath Of God' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/busta-rhymes-reveals-tracklist-for-extinction-level-event-2-the-wrath-of-god-2799378 |website=NME |date=26 October 2020 |access-date=2020-10-28 |archive-date=2020-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028033109/https://www.nme.com/news/music/busta-rhymes-reveals-tracklist-for-extinction-level-event-2-the-wrath-of-god-2799378 |url-status=live }} 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.
Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God was met with generally favorable reviews and debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 38,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.
Background
Busta Rhymes first announced the album in 2013.{{cite web|title=Busta Rhymes Releases New Trailer For His Upcoming Album Extinction Level Event 2|url=https://thesource.com/2013/07/17/busta-rhymes-releases-new-trailer-for-his-upcoming-album-extinction-level-event-2/|website=The Source|date=17 July 2013| access-date=November 8, 2020 }} Over the course of 2014, Busta Rhymes continued to do interviews promoting the album,{{cite magazine|last1=Newman|first1=Jason|title=Busta Rhymes Opens Up About New Album 'E.L.E. 2' and Chris Lighty |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/busta-rhymes-opens-up-about-new-album-e-l-e-2-and-chris-lighty-183155/| access-date=November 8, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=17 July 2014}} 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.{{Cn|date=November 2021}}
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.{{Cn|date=November 2021}}
Singles
The album's lead single "The Don and the Boss", featuring Vybz Kartel and J-Doe, was released on August 21, 2020.{{cite web |last1=Grant |first1=Shawn |title=BUSTA RHYMES ANNOUNCES 'EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT 2: THE WRATH OF GOD' FOR OCT. 30 |url=https://thesource.com/2020/10/08/busta-rhymes-announces-extinction-level-event-2-the-wrath-of-god-for-oct-30/ |website=The Source |date=8 October 2020 |access-date=2020-10-28 |archive-date=2020-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101105938/https://thesource.com/2020/10/08/busta-rhymes-announces-extinction-level-event-2-the-wrath-of-god-for-oct-30/ |url-status=live }} 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,{{cite web |title="Where I Belong" (feat. Mariah Carey) - Single |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/where-i-belong-feat-mariah-carey-single/1561421288 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=April 8, 2021}} and is set to be released to American rhythmic contemporary radio stations on April 13.{{cite web |title=Top 40/Rhythmic Future Releases |url=https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases |publisher=All Access Music Group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405223435/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases |archive-date=April 5, 2021 |access-date=April 5, 2021}}
Critical reception
{{Album reviews
| MC =71/100{{cite web|title=Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God by Busta Rhymes|website=Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/extinction-level-event-2-the-wrath-of-god/busta-rhymes|access-date=November 5, 2020|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108061752/https://www.metacritic.com/music/extinction-level-event-2-the-wrath-of-god/busta-rhymes|url-status=live}}
|rev1 = Albumism
|rev2 = AllMusic
|rev3 = Clash
|rev4 = HipHopDX
|rev4score = 4.0/5{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3715/title.review-extinction-level-event-2-the-wrath-of-god-marks-a-sharp-return-in-busta-rhymes|website=HipHopDX|title=Review: 'Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath Of God' Marks A Sharp Return In Busta Rhymes|date=December 5, 2020|access-date=December 6, 2020}}
|rev5 = Joe Boothby
|rev6 = The Musical Hype
|rev6score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://themusicalhype.com/busta-rhymes-extinction-level-event-2-album-review/|website=The Musical Hype|title=Busta Rhymes, Extinction Level Event 2 |date=August 27, 2021|access-date=November 11, 2020}}
|rev7 = Music Connection
|rev8 = NME
|rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/busta-rhymes-extinction-level-event-2-the-wrath-of-god-review-2806619|title=Busta Rhymes : 'Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath Of God' review|website=NME |date=November 2, 2020|access-date=November 2, 2020|archive-date=November 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102154351/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/busta-rhymes-extinction-level-event-2-the-wrath-of-god-review-2806619|url-status=live}}
|rev9 = Riff Magazine
|rev10 = Vinyl Chapters
}}
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.
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.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9480311/ariana-grande-positions-tops-billboard-200/|title=Ariana Grande Claims Fifth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Positions'|magazine=Billboard|author=Keith Caulfield|date=November 8, 2020|access-date=November 9, 2020}} This became Busta Rhymes' seventh US top-ten album. The album also accumulated a total of 27.78 million on-demand streams of the album's songs that week.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = E.L.E. 2 Intro
| note1 = with Chris Rock, Rakim, and Pete Rock
| writer1 = {{hlist|Trevor Smith|Christopher Rock|William Griffin, Jr.|Peter Phillips|Dominick Lamb|Anita Ward|Chuck Holmes|Jimmy Lowe|N. Jones}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Busta Rhymes|Nottz}}
| length1 = 7:12
| title2 = The Purge
| writer2 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Kasseem Dean|Avery "Avenue" Chambliss}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Swizz Beatz|Avenue}}
| length2 = 1:10
| title3 = Strap Yourself Down
| writer3 = {{hlist|T. Smith|James Yancey|Phillips}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|J Dilla|Pete Rock}}
| length3 = 2:57
| title4 = Czar
| note4 = with M.O.P.
| writer4 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Jamal Grinnage|Eric Murray|Dana Stinson|Darryl Pittman}}
| extra4 = Rockwilder
| length4 = 3:01
| title5 = Outta My Mind
| note5 = featuring Bell Biv DeVoe
| writer5 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Ricky Bell|Michael Bivins|Ronnie DeVoe|Karl "Dready" Daniel|Elliot Straite}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|Busta Rhymes|Dready}}
| length5 = 3:20
| title6 = E.L.E. 2 The Wrath of God
| note6 = featuring Minister Louis Farrakhan
| writer6 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Louis Farrakhan|D. Lamb}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Busta Rhymes|Nottz}}
| length6 = 4:43
| title7 = Slow Flow
| note7 = with Ol' Dirty Bastard
| writer7 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Russell Jones|D. Lamb|O. Harris}}
| extra7 = Nottz
| length7 = 3:12
| title8 = Don't Go
| note8 = with Q-Tip
| writer8 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Kamaal Fareed|Bernard "Focus the A.R.M" Edwards, Jr.}}
| extra8 = Focus the A.R.M
| length8 = 3:49
| title9 = Boomp!
| writer9 = {{hlist|T. Smith|George Spivey}}
| extra9 = DJ Scratch
| length9 = 3:01
| title10 = True Indeed
| writer10 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Christopher Martin}}
| extra10 = DJ Premier
| length10 = 1:53
| title11 = Master Fard Muhammad
| note11 = with Rick Ross
| writer11 = {{hlist|T. Smith|William Roberts II|Tony Cottrell|Terrace Martin}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|Hi-Tek|T. Martin}}
| length11 = 3:59
| title12 = YUUUU
| note12 = with Anderson .Paak
| writer12 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Brandon Anderson}}
| extra12 = Anderson .Paak
| length12 = 3:30
| title13 = Oh No
| writer13 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Daniel}}
| extra13 = Dready
| length13 = 3:26
| title14 = The Don & the Boss
| note14 = with Vybz Kartel
| writer14 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Adidja Palmer|Ian "Schife" Lewis}}
| extra14 = Schife
| length14 = 3:42
| title15 = Best I Can
| note15 = with Rapsody
| writer15 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Marlanna Evans|Patrick Douthit|R. Arrington|C. Tyson}}
| extra15 = 9th Wonder
| length15 = 3:39
| title16 = Where I Belong
| note16 = featuring Mariah Carey
| writer16 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Mariah Carey|Ricardo Thomas|Michel Sotolongo|J. J Doe Smith}}
| extra16 = {{hlist|Rick Rock|Navi Beats}}
| length16 = 4:12
| title17 = Deep Thought
| writer17 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Dale Warren}}
| extra17 = Busta Rhymes
| length17 = 3:10
| title18 = The Young God Speaks
| writer18 = {{hlist|Berry Gordy|Bob West|Willie Hutchison|Hal Davis|Warren}}
| extra18 =
| length18 = 0:40
| title19 = Look Over Your Shoulder
| note19 = featuring Kendrick Lamar
| writer19 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Kendrick Duckworth|D. Lamb|Gordy|West|Hutchison|Davis|B. Bennett}}
| extra19 = Nottz
| length19 = 4:08
| title20 = You Will Never Find Another Me
| note20 = featuring Mary J. Blige
| writer20 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Mary J. Blige|Nikki Grier|Roy Hawkins|Rick Darnell}}
| extra20 = Busta Rhymes
| length20 = 3:50
| title21 = Freedom?
| note21 = featuring Nikki Grier
| writer21 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Grier|D. Lamb|Robert Kral}}
| extra21 = Nottz
| length21 = 3:48
| title22 = Satanic
| writer22 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Stinson}}
| extra22 = Rockwilder
| length22 = 5:14
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Reloaded bonus tracks
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title23 = Blowing the Speakers
| writer23 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Shane Lindstrom}}
| extra23 = Murda Beatz
| length23 = 3:18
| title24 = Who Are You
| writer24 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Orlando Tucker}}
| extra24 = Jahlil Beats
| length24 = 3:54
| title25 = Hope Your Dreams Come True
| writer25 = T. Smith
| extra25 = M1onthebeat
| length25 = 3:29
| title26 = Calm Down
| note26 = featuring Eminem
| writer26 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Marshall Mathers|Elijah Molina|Christopher Wallace|Osten Harvey Jr.|Gordy|West|Hutchison|Davis|Earl Nelson|Bobby Relf|Lawrence Muggerud|Eric Schrody}}
| extra26 = Scoop DeVille
| length26 = 5:55
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Deluxe bonus tracks
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title27 = Czar (Remix)
| note27 = with M.O.P. and CJ
| writer27 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Grinnage|Murray|Christopher Soriano|Stinson}}
| extra27 = Rockwilder
| length27 = 3:39
| title28 = Follow the Wave
| note28 = featuring Flipmode Squad
| writer28 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Roger "Rampage" McNair|Rashia "Rah Digga" Fisher|William "Spliff Star" Lewis|D. Lamb}}
| extra28 = Nottz
| length28 = 6:43
| title29 = Blow a Million Racks
| writer29 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Thaddaeus Birkett}}
| extra29 = Sha Recka
| length29 = 3:28
| title30 = Hey You
| note30 = featuring Trillian
| writer30 = {{hlist|T. Smith|Trillian Wood-Smith|Douglas}}
| extra30 = Mini Boom
| length30 = 3:48
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart performance for Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God |
| scope="col"| Chart (2020)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|26|artist=Busta Rhymes|rowheader=true|access-date=November 10, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|France|144|M|url=http://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?semaine=45?&annee=2020&categorie=Top%20Albums|title=Top Albums (Week 45, 2020)|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|artist=Busta Rhymes|album=Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God|rowheader=true|access-date=November 9, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|32|artist=Busta Rhymes|album=Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God|rowheader=true|access-date=November 9, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|99|date=20201106|rowheader=true|access-date=November 6, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|UKR&B|4|date=20201106|rowheader=true|access-date=November 6, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|7|artist=Busta Rhymes|rowheader=true|access-date=November 10, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|4|artist=Busta Rhymes|rowheader=true|access-date=November 10, 2020}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Busta Rhymes}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by DJ Premier
Category:Albums produced by Pete Rock
Category:Albums produced by Nottz
Category:Albums produced by 9th Wonder
Category:Albums produced by Jahlil Beats
Category:Albums produced by J Dilla
Category:Albums produced by Rockwilder
Category:Albums produced by Focus...
Category:Albums produced by Hi-Tek
Category:Albums produced by Terrace Martin
Category:Albums produced by Murda Beatz
Category:Albums produced by DJ Scratch
Category:Albums produced by Swizz Beatz
Category:Albums produced by Rick Rock