Anarchy

Anarchy opens with what sounds like no more than a nine-year-old ranting "let nobody fuck with my nigga Busta Rhymes." The circus has begun, so bring on da clowns.

Busta's opening salvo 'Salute Da Gods!' is more or less a mass exhortation for everyone to salute him, setting the tone for what follows. Anarchy is merely tame, regressive gangster rap that sounds like Public Enemy never existed. From a production point of view, it's very middle of the road, with pedestrian beats and half-baked melodies you'd get out of any new Roland after mucking around for half an hour. 'Make Noise' is the closest the album gets to a defining moment, rumbling along with a guitar hook from Lenny Kravitz. Of course, a lot more noise has to be made, so when Busta hollers "Lenny... Kravitz!", Len pulls out the cheesiest, naffest solo you'll find dis side of da hood.

Shellshocked by this muck, the listener is hardly 'Ready For War' but it turns out there isn't any choice. "Are my niggas ready for war!" roars Monsieur Rhymes, but it is left a little vague as to the where, why and whereabouts of this kickabout in the park. Ultimately, the Busta is about as anarchic and challenging as S Club 7. Not even worth it for the laugh.