E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front | ||||
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Studio album by Busta Rhymes | ||||
Released | December 15, 1998 | |||
Recorded | 1998 | |||
Studio | Soundtrack Studios (New York) Larrabee North Studios (Los Angeles) |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 69:51 | |||
Label | Flipmode, Elektra | |||
Producer |
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Busta Rhymes chronology | ||||
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Singles from E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Entertainment Weekly | B |
Mixmag | |
NME | 7/10 |
The New York Times | favorable |
Robert Christgau | negative |
Rolling Stone | |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
The Source | |
Urban Latino | |
The Village Voice | mixed |
E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front is the third studio album by American rapper Busta Rhymes. The album was released on December 15, 1998 by Flipmode and Elektra Records in North America. The album follows the apocalypse theme that was explored by Rhymes in his first two studio albums, The Coming (1996) and When Disaster Strikes (1997). Musically, the album is composed of East Coast, West Coast, horrorcore, and hardcore hip hop music.
Based on the "end of the world" motif and apocalypse themes that was displayed in Rhymes earlier albums The Coming (1996) and When Disaster Strikes (1997), the album was widely praised by critics and received three Grammy Award nominations for Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 42nd Grammy Awards. E.L.E. also spawned three singles that attained Billboard chart success, including the Janet Jackson-featuring "What's It Gonna Be?!", which became Rhymes' 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.