When Disaster Strikes

Like a Venn diagram with dreadlocks, Busta Rhymes was uniquely connected to several intersecting spheres of hip-hop culture in the late \'90s. His second album, *When Disaster Strikes*, brought together some of best minds in underground hip-hop (J Dilla, Easy Moe Bee), neo-soul (Erykah Badu, Anthony Hamilton), and pop (Puff Daddy). The album exudes an easygoing, collaborative ambiance. “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See,” “One,” and “When Disaster Strikes” are three of its most compelling moments, if only for the way they juxtapose relaxed, low-key beats with Busta’s rambunctious delivery.

Each Sunday, Pitchfork takes an in-depth look at a significant album from the past, and any record not in our archives is eligible. Today, we revisit the 1997 album from a hype-man turned MTV star whose kinetic flows and boundless energy electrified the world of ’90s hip-hop.

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.