Dangerous (Busta Rhymes song)

"Dangerous" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released as the second single from his second studio album When Disaster Strikes... on November 18, 1997, by Flipmode Entertainment and Elektra Records. The song was written by Rhymes and its producer Rashad Smith. Since the song contains a sample of the Extra T's 1982 song "E.T. Boogie", two of the song's writers, Henry Stone and Freddy Stonewall, are also credited as songwriters on "Dangerous".

"Dangerous"
Single by Busta Rhymes
from the album When Disaster Strikes...
B-side
  • "You Won't Tell, I Won't Tell "
  • "Coming Off"
ReleasedNovember 18, 1997
Recorded1997
Studio
GenreHip hop
Length3:37
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Busta Rhymes singles chronology
"Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"
(1997)
"Dangerous"
(1997)
"Curious"
(1998)
Music video
"Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" on YouTube

Peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 41st Grammy Awards in 1999, but lost to "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" by Will Smith. The video was directed by Hype Williams.[1]

Composition and lyrics

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"Dangerous" was composed in 4
4
time
and the key of B-minor, with a tempo of 103 beats per minute. It has a duration time of three minutes and thirty-seven seconds.[2] The chorus of the song (This is serious/We could make you delirious/You should have a healthy fear of us/'Cause too much of us is dangerous) was taken from a 1980s PSA produced by Kids Corner Ltd of Colorado Springs, Colorado that warned children about the danger of loose prescription medications, called We’re Not Candy.[3][4] The rhythm track was sampled from the 1982 song "E.T. Boogie" by the Extra T's.

Music video

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The video takes several cues from Lethal Weapon with Busta made to look like Mel Gibson (Riggs) and Spliff Star to look like Gary Busey (Mr. Joshua). The second verse also references the scene where Riggs is electrocuted, and ends with a confrontation between Busta and himself, this time dressed as Sho'nuff from The Last Dragon.

Formats and track listings

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These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Dangerous".

  • CD single
  1. "Dangerous" (album version)
  2. "Dangerous" (instrumental)
  3. "Dangerous" (a cappella)
  4. "You Won't Tell, I Won't Tell" (unavailable on album)
  5. "Coming Off" (unavailable on album)
  6. "You Won't Tell, I Won't Tell" (instrumental)
  7. "Coming Off" (instrumental)
  • UK CD single
  1. "Dangerous" (album version)
  2. "Dangerous" (Soul Society remix)
  3. "Dangerous" (album dirty version)
  4. "Dangerous" (Natural Born Chillers remix)

Credits and personnel

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  • Vocals: Busta Rhymes, Rachelle Weston
  • Audio mixing: Dominick Barbera, Busta Rhymes, DJ Scratch, Vinny Nicoletti
  • Mixing assistant: Rich Tapper, Floyd Nixon
  • Engineer: Vinny Nicoletti
  • Assistant engineers: Tom Passetti, Dave Raythatha

Charts and certifications

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References

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  1. ^ Odunlami, Antonia (March 10, 2016). "The Trippiest Hip-Hop Videos Of The 90s". Rife Magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Key & BPM for Dangerous". Tunebat. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  3. ^ Weitner, Sean. "The Long Island Regional Poison Control Council's "Dangerous"". Retrieved 2007-02-22.. The video is available here on YouTube.
  4. ^ "The Chorus Of Busta Rhymes' "Dangerous" Was Inspired By A 1980s Pill Safety PSA". Genius. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  5. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  6. ^ "Busta Rhymes – Dangerous" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  7. ^ "Busta Rhymes – Dangerous" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  8. ^ "Busta Rhymes – Dangerous". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  9. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  10. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  11. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  12. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  13. ^ "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  14. ^ "Busta Rhymes – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  15. ^ "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  16. ^ "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  17. ^ "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  18. ^ "The Urban Top 40 Tracks Of 1997" (PDF). Music Week. January 10, 1998. p. 6. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  19. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1998". Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  20. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  21. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1998". Billboard. 111 (5). BPI Communications Inc.: 75 January 30, 1999. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  22. ^ "American single certifications – Busta Rhymes – Dangerous". Recording Industry Association of America.
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