''The Coming'' is the debut studio album by the American rapper and record producer
Busta Rhymes
Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after National Football League, NFL and Canadian Football Lea ...
. It was released on March 26, 1996, by
Flipmode Entertainment
The Conglomerate Entertainment is a record label founded by Busta Rhymes. The label was established in 1994 as Flipmode, the name Conglomerate was later adopted in 2010.
Company history
Elektra (1996–2000)
Dallas Austin helped Rhymes land a p ...
and
Elektra Records
Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the ...
. The album contains contributions by the
Def Squad
Def Squad is an American rap supergroup consisting of Erick Sermon, Redman, Keith Murray, Hurricane G, and Jamal
Jamaal ( ''/'') is an Arabic given name and surname meaning "beauty."Redman,
Keith Murray
Keith Omar Murray (born May 29, 1972) is an American rapper from New York. He is best known for being a member of the hip hop group Def Squad, which includes fellow rappers Redman and fellow Long Island native Erick Sermon. The group releas ...
, and
Jamal
Jamaal ( ''/'') is an Arabic given name and surname meaning "beauty."Jamaal at BehindTheName.com It is popular in th ...
; as well as
Q-Tip
Cotton swabs (American English) or cotton buds (British English), also Q-tips ( proprietary eponym), are wads of cotton wrapped around a short rod made of wood, rolled paper, or plastic. They are most commonly used for ear cleaning, although th ...
,
Zhané
Zhané ( ) was an American R&B duo, best known for their 1993 hit " Hey Mr. D.J.", which reached No. 6 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Other popular hits include " Groove Thang" (U.S. No. 17) and minor hit " Sending My Love", both released ...
,
Leaders of the New School
Leaders of the New School was an American hip hop group based in Long Island, New York.
History 1986–1990: Early Years
In 1984, Leaders of the New School was formed by Long Island natives Charlie Brown (born Bryan Higgins on September 19, ...
, and several
Flipmode Squad
Flipmode Squad is an American hip hop collective formed and fronted by Busta Rhymes.
History
In 1993, Busta Rhymes first introduced the Flipmode Squad when he still was a part of former group Leaders of the New School, with the members bei ...
members. It was produced by
DJ Scratch
George Spivey (born June 21, 1968), known professionally as DJ Scratch, is an American hip hop music, hip hop DJ and producer from Brooklyn, New York.
DJ Scratch is the 1988 New Music Seminar Battle For World Supremacy DJ champion, the 2010 M ...
,
Easy Mo Bee
Osten S. Harvey Jr. (born December 8, 1965), better known by his stage name Easy Mo Bee, is an American hip hop and R&B record producer and DJ, known for his production work for artists such as Big Daddy Kane and Miles Davis, as well as his a ...
, and
the Ummah
The Ummah was a music production collective, composed of members Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest, and the late Jay Dee (also known as J Dilla) of the Detroit-based group Slum Village. Occasional members included Raphael ...
, among others. It serves as Rhymes's first solo album after the breakup of Leaders of the New School two years prior, and his first full-length project after numerous guest appearances on other songs with artists such as
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest was an American Hip hop music, hip hop group formed in Queens, New York City, in 1985,Q-Tip< ...
,
the Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), better known by his stage names the Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was an American rapper. Rooted in the New York rap scene and gangsta rap tradi ...
,
Heavy D and the Boyz
Dwight Arrington MyersCuda, Heidi Sigmund Keeping it reel. ''Vibe'' ("born Dwight Arrington Myers")Samuels, Anita M. (January 12' 1996)Heavy D, the C.E.O. ''New York Times'' (May 24, 1967 – November 8, 2011), known professionally as Heav ...
, and
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and entrepreneur. Often referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Qu ...
.
The album reached number six on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. Although, according to the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
, ''The Coming'' was certified platinum on January 13, 1999, Rhymes has stated that the album went platinum within the same year of its release. The lead single, "
Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check
"Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on January 7, 1996, by Flipmode Entertainment and Elektra Records as his debut solo single and the lead single from his debut studio album, '' The Comi ...
" reached number eight on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in 1996, and earned Rhymes his first nomination for
Best Rap Solo Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance was awarded from 1991 to 2011, alongside the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Previously, a single award was presented for Best Rap Performance.
In 2003, this award was split into separate a ...
at the
39th Grammy Awards
The 39th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 26, 1997, at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtow ...
.
In commemoration of its 25th anniversary, a super deluxe edition of ''The Coming'' featuring remixes, instrumentals and acapellas was released to all streaming platforms on April 16, 2021, by
Rhino
A rhinoceros ( ; ; ; : rhinoceros or rhinoceroses), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant taxon, extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates (perissodactyls) in the family (biology), famil ...
.
Background and recording
''The Coming'' serves as Busta Rhymes's first solo album after the break up of his former group
Leaders of the New School
Leaders of the New School was an American hip hop group based in Long Island, New York.
History 1986–1990: Early Years
In 1984, Leaders of the New School was formed by Long Island natives Charlie Brown (born Bryan Higgins on September 19, ...
. As his group had just broken up and he had his first son, he needed a source of income to provide a secure life for his son. He then got offered an
Elektra Records
Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the ...
solo deal by
Dante Ross
Dante Ross (born October 11, 1965) is an American music industry executive, A&R representative, and record producer. He was named one of the top-25 greatest A&R representatives in hip-hop by ''Complex'' magazine. Ross has been in his career an ...
and
Chris Lighty
Darrel Steven "Chris" Lighty (May 8, 1968 – August 30, 2012) was an American music manager and record producer. He co-founded Violator, a record label, management and marketing company, which represented hip hop and R&B artists such as Busta ...
but was hesitant about accepting the deal due to his concerns regarding if he would be able to captivate listeners for the length of an entire album by himself. To get more comfortable with recording without his former group Leaders of the New School, he then appeared on numerous other artists' records. He did so to experiment with and find his own sound. His guest appearances at the time included
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest was an American Hip hop music, hip hop group formed in Queens, New York City, in 1985,Q-Tip< ...
's "
Oh My God
Oh My God, O My God, Oh My God! or Ohmigod may refer to:
* the first words of the Act of Contrition, a Christian prayer
* a common phrase frequently abbreviated as "OMG", often used in SMS messages and Internet communication, and sometimes euphe ...
" and
Craig Mack
Craig Jamieson Mack (May 10, 1970 – March 12, 2018) was an American rapper and record producer. He is best known for his tenure with Bad Boy Records, during which he released his 1994 single " Flava in Ya Ear" (1994), which peaked within the ' ...
's " Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)", among others. Rhymes contributed hugely to the ongoing trend of guest appearances in hip hop.
The initial recording sessions began in late 1994 in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, where Rhymes was shooting for the movie ''
Higher Learning
Tertiary education (higher education, or post-secondary education) is the educational level following the completion of secondary education.
The World Bank defines tertiary education as including universities, colleges, and vocational schools ...
'', directed by
John Singleton
John Daniel Singleton (January 6, 1968 April 28, 2019) was an American director, screenwriter, and producer. He made his feature film debut writing and directing '' Boyz n the Hood'' (1991), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for ...
. When shooting ended, he also flew to
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
where he worked with record producer
Dallas Austin
Dallas L. Austin (born December 29, 1970) is an American songwriter, record producer, and film producer from Columbus, Georgia.
Biography
Early life
During a 2019 interview with DJ Vlad, Dallas Austin detailed previously unknown or unconfir ...
in his new recording studio D.A.R.P. (Dallas Austin Recording Projects). Rhymes was worried about his responsibility and the future of his family, unsure whether he was capable of making a debut that would serve as the foundation of his solo career. Back in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, he moved between three recording studios, The Music Palace, Chung King Studios and Soundtrack Studios, to record music. After he sourced beats, he would write solely in the studio, afraid to lose lines or ideas for flows. Everything, including arrangements, concepts, choruses and verses, was written down on paper. Most of the time, he worked alone in the studio, with no one to hype him up before or after he got in the booth.
Up until this point, Rhymes had problems with recording a full album on his own and sought help from his frequent collaborator, the rapper
Q-Tip
Cotton swabs (American English) or cotton buds (British English), also Q-tips ( proprietary eponym), are wads of cotton wrapped around a short rod made of wood, rolled paper, or plastic. They are most commonly used for ear cleaning, although th ...
. Rhymes was mentored by Q-Tip, who gave him advice, motivated him and played a role in choosing the direction for the album. With his help and after several months of frustration, he finally came up with the idea that would become the skit after " It's a Party". In 1995, Q-Tip also introduced Rhymes to the then-unknown record producer
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006), better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer, composer and rapper. He emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michiga ...
, who was known as Jay Dee at the time and had his biggest credits on the hip hop group
the Pharcyde
The Pharcyde is an American hip hop group, formed in South Los Angeles, South Central Los Angeles in 1989. The original four members of the group are Imani (rapper), Imani (Emandu Wilcox), Slimkid3 (Trevant Hardson), Bootie Brown (Romye Robinson ...
's second studio album ''
Labcabincalifornia
''Labcabincalifornia'' is the second album by The Pharcyde, released in 1995, three years after their debut '' Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde''. The album's production was handled by The Pharcyde themselves and Jay Dee, with additional help from ...
''. Dilla went on to produce two tracks on the album, "Still Shining" and "Keep It Movin'", as well as numerous other tracks by Rhymes in the following years.
Rhymes recorded a track for the album called "The Ugliest" with the rapper
the Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), better known by his stage names the Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was an American rapper. Rooted in the New York rap scene and gangsta rap tradi ...
over a beat by Dilla. The rappers
Method Man
Clifford Smith, Jr. (born March 2, 1971), known professionally as Method Man, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. He is a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, and is half of the hip hop duo Method Man & R ...
and
Nas
Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones.
Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to:
Aviation
* Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea
* National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia
** Nas Air (S ...
were also set to appear on the track which because of scheduling conflict did not come about. Because of subliminal disses about
2Pac
Tupac Amaru Shakur (; born Lesane Parish Crooks; June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor, regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all tim ...
by Biggie, the song was ultimately not included on the album. Biggie's verse would later be reused on "Dangerous MC's", a
posse cut
A posse cut is a popular form of song in hip hop music that involves successive verses by four or more rappers.Edwards, Paul, 2009, ''How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC'', Chicago Review Press, p. 221.
Tracks described as posse cuts ...
on the posthumously released 1999 album ''
Born Again
To be born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelical Christianity, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is d ...
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. ( ; born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg), is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Rooted in West Coast hip-hop, he is widely regarded as one of t ...
, while the song itself was released in a new form on Rhymes' 2003 mixtape "Surrender".
Rhymes dedicated the album to the memory of his first and late son, Tahiem Jr, and friends Ratto, Big Joe and Love.
Concept and title
Describing the concept of the album's title,
Busta Rhymes
Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after National Football League, NFL and Canadian Football Lea ...
said, "''The Coming'', I just felt, was such a general yet specific statement that the level of meaning is so powerful... The coming of what? When is it coming? How is it coming? Where is it coming from? Why is it coming?"
Cover art
The cover art of ''The Coming'' was shot by Dean Karr. It displays a framed image of
Rhymes
A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds (usually the exact same phonemes) in the final stressed syllables and any following syllables of two or more words. Most often, this kind of rhyming (''perfect rhyming'') is consciously used for a musica ...
with his mouth stretched wide, screaming. His locks are fanned out wildly behind his head with a white dove perched above him. The cover art is blurred and foggy.
Music and lyrics
As Rhymes was not comfortable with including lyrics about his personal life and struggles, the album was very short on autobiographical or personal topics and lyrics.
The "epic," "extended and extremely busy" intro of ''The Coming'' contains two beat change ups and "commentary on wack rappers and the state of the rap game" from Rhymes. Rhymes "dedicates
he last
He or HE may refer to:
Language
* He (letter), the fifth letter of the Semitic abjads
* He (pronoun), a pronoun in Modern English
* He (kana), one of the Japanese kana (へ in hiragana and ヘ in katakana)
* Ge (Cyrillic), a Cyrillic letter cal ...
portion f the songto all the 'niggas that keep falling', as a clever
ODB ODB may refer to:
People
* Ol' Dirty Bastard (1968–2004), American rapper and founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan
* ODB (wrestler) (born 1978), Stage name of American professional wrestler Jessica Kresa
* Original David Baker (born 1972), a monik ...
vocal snippet plays behind him, emulating the sound of a man screaming as he falls from extremely high heights to his death." The appearances of
Flipmode Squad
Flipmode Squad is an American hip hop collective formed and fronted by Busta Rhymes.
History
In 1993, Busta Rhymes first introduced the Flipmode Squad when he still was a part of former group Leaders of the New School, with the members bei ...
Rampage
Rampage may refer to:
People
* Rampage (rapper) (born 1974)
* Quinton Jackson (born 1978; nicknamed "Rampage"), American mixed martial artist and actor
* Randy Rampage (1960-2018), Canadian musician
Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional chara ...
on the track have been described as a "cartoonishly monstrous prologue". The "first real song" on the album, " Do My Thing", features a "funky, heavy-bass beat" by producer
DJ Scratch
George Spivey (born June 21, 1968), known professionally as DJ Scratch, is an American hip hop music, hip hop DJ and producer from Brooklyn, New York.
DJ Scratch is the 1988 New Music Seminar Battle For World Supremacy DJ champion, the 2010 M ...
. Rhymes' verses on the track have been described as "ridiculously witty." The track ends with a short skit that "re-iterates how Busta feels about wack rappers," as Rhymes can be heard "
whip
A whip is a blunt weapon or implement used in a striking motion to create sound or pain. Whips can be used for flagellation against humans or animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain, or be used as an audible cue thro ...
ping" somebody for "talking shit," and copying his lyrics. The skit has been removed from digital versions of the album. The "grimy, nocturnal" instrumental with "heavy drums" of "Everything Remains Raw" was produced by
Easy Mo Bee
Osten S. Harvey Jr. (born December 8, 1965), better known by his stage name Easy Mo Bee, is an American hip hop and R&B record producer and DJ, known for his production work for artists such as Big Daddy Kane and Miles Davis, as well as his a ...
. Many of Rhymes' lyrics on the track were previously used on his
freestyle
Freestyle may refer to:
Brands
* Reebok Freestyle, a women's athletic shoe
* Ford Freestyle, an SUV automobile
* Coca-Cola Freestyle, a vending machine
* Abbott FreeStyle, a blood glucose monitor by Abbott Laboritories
Media
* '' FreeStyle'', ...
on
Funkmaster Flex
Aston George Taylor Jr. (born August 5, 1967), professionally known as Funkmaster Flex, is an American DJ, rapper, record producer, and host on New York City's Hot 97 radio station. In 1992, he became host of the first hip hop radio show on Ho ...
's 1995 mixtape '' The Mix Tape, Volume 1: 60 Minutes of Funk''. Both the previous track, "Do My Thing", and "Everything Remains Raw" have been said to "provide no distractions and illuminate how Busta's humor and knowledge can seep through a track while simultaneously highlighting his great rhyming".
Over the "energetic, stripped-down instrumental" of "Abandon Ship" produced by Rhymes, he and his cousin Rampage "showcase their chemistry on the mic with one hyped-up, razor-sharp lyric after another". The song's refrain has been described as "catchy-as-hell." After "Abandon Ship" ends, an excerpt of
Galt MacDermot
Arthur Terence Galt MacDermot (December 18, 1928 – December 17, 2018) was a Canadian-American composer, pianist and writer of musical theater. He won a Grammy Award for the song "African Waltz" in 1960. His most successful musicals were ''Hair ...
1969 song "Space", which gets sampled on the following track, can be heard. This interlude "helps to bring the energy down from 'Abandon Ship'". The fifth track and lead single "
Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check
"Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on January 7, 1996, by Flipmode Entertainment and Elektra Records as his debut solo single and the lead single from his debut studio album, '' The Comi ...
" features "cleverly-written" lyrics with a "manic delivery" over an "infectious" instrumental by Rhymes and Rashad Smith. Rhymes builds the chorus around a line from the 1980
Sugar Hill Gang
Sugar is the generic name for Sweetness, sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides ...
song " 8th Wonder". For each of the three verses, the last word in each lyric rhymes with one another. The "groovy," "clearly tailor-made for radio airplay" instrumental for R&B crossover " It's a Party" was produced by
Easy Mo Bee
Osten S. Harvey Jr. (born December 8, 1965), better known by his stage name Easy Mo Bee, is an American hip hop and R&B record producer and DJ, known for his production work for artists such as Big Daddy Kane and Miles Davis, as well as his a ...
and features R&B duo
Zhané
Zhané ( ) was an American R&B duo, best known for their 1993 hit " Hey Mr. D.J.", which reached No. 6 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Other popular hits include " Groove Thang" (U.S. No. 17) and minor hit " Sending My Love", both released ...
, who "provide some smooth, seductive lyrics .. while Busta plays the guy who lyrically flirts with them in-between their short verses and chorus". The song is followed by a skit featuring a "quick throw away verse," as most of the verse contains Rhymes ad libbing, and multiple shoutouts to
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician and revolutionary who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 1979 until Saddam Hussein statue destruction, his overthrow in 2003 during the 2003 invasion of Ira ...
. The skit was the first track recorded for the album and has been removed from digital versions of the album.
The "dark jazz textured backdrop" of "Hot Fudge" produced by the Vibe Chemist Backspin finds Rhymes "calming down just enough to sound sinister and slightly scary". The song is followed by a skit about a Jamaican woman getting
oral sex
Oral sex, sometimes referred to as oral intercourse, is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a person by another person using the mouth (including the lips, tongue, or teeth). Cunnilingus is oral sex performed on the vu ...
, "with no intentions of paying her sexual partner back the one she owes him." The "moody" and "nocturnal" instrumental of "Ill Vibe" was produced by the featured
Q-Tip
Cotton swabs (American English) or cotton buds (British English), also Q-tips ( proprietary eponym), are wads of cotton wrapped around a short rod made of wood, rolled paper, or plastic. They are most commonly used for ear cleaning, although th ...
. The chemistry between Rhymes and Q-Tip has been described as similar to that of
Method Man
Clifford Smith, Jr. (born March 2, 1971), known professionally as Method Man, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. He is a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, and is half of the hip hop duo Method Man & R ...
and Redman. In the next track, "Flipmode Squad Meets Def Squad", the Def Squad members
Jamal
Jamaal ( ''/'') is an Arabic given name and surname meaning "beauty."Jamaal at BehindTheName.com It is popular in th ...
, Redman and
Keith Murray
Keith Omar Murray (born May 29, 1972) is an American rapper from New York. He is best known for being a member of the hip hop group Def Squad, which includes fellow rappers Redman and fellow Long Island native Erick Sermon. The group releas ...
engage against the Flipmode Squad members Rampage, Lord Have Mercy and Rhymes in a rap battle with no chorus or hook over a backdrop produced by the Vibe Chemist Backspin. The song is Rhymes' "attempt to create another memorable posse record on par with '
Scenario
In the performing arts, a scenario (, ; ; from Italian , "that which is pinned to the scenery") is a synoptical collage of an event or series of actions and events. In the ''commedia dell'arte'', it was an outline of entrances, exits, and actio ...
' by A Tribe Called Quest featuring
Leaders of the New School
Leaders of the New School was an American hip hop group based in Long Island, New York.
History 1986–1990: Early Years
In 1984, Leaders of the New School was formed by Long Island natives Charlie Brown (born Bryan Higgins on September 19, ...
(the group Rhymes was a part of), and ..'Headbanger' (by the
Hit Squad
The Hit Squad is an American hip hop collective of East Coast hip hop artists. Originally formed in the 1990s by Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith of the rap group EPMD, the group included rap artists such as K-Solo, Redman, Das EFX, Top ...
, the group from which the Def Squad emerged)" and serves "as the formal introduction" of Rhymes' Flipmode Squad.
The "spacey, synth-assisted production" of "Still Shining" by producer
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006), better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer, composer and rapper. He emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michiga ...
goes right "into a short but sweet acknowledgment of Busta's own lyrical talents as an MC." The chorus interpolates one of Rhymes' lines on the remix of A Tribe Called Quest's "
Scenario
In the performing arts, a scenario (, ; ; from Italian , "that which is pinned to the scenery") is a synoptical collage of an event or series of actions and events. In the ''commedia dell'arte'', it was an outline of entrances, exits, and actio ...
". In an interlude between "Still Shining" and the following track "Keep It Movin'", Rhymes "verbally scar sthe shit out of his LONS eaders of the New Schoolpeers to get themselves out of their retirement comfort zone to get to the studio." The "bluesy" instrumental of "The Finish Line" was produced by DJ Scratch. The song contains Rhymes rapping about the untrue lifestyle of a man and explains how it "will soon lead to his demise." In the outro, "The End of the World", Rhymes re-uses one of the beats from the intro and uses it to "show gratitude to his supporting fans and offers up a few parting words about using your time wisely." The track is followed by a short skit in which a man can be heard, "who's apparently on his death bed full of regret for not using his time wisely and accomplishing all things he wanted out of life. Then ..the man slips into death, travels through the 'dark tunnel' ..
s a
Sa, SA, S.A. or s.a. may refer to:
Arts, media and entertainment Music
* Initialism for "soprano and alto", voice types for which a piece of music is written
* SA (Samurai Attack), a Japanese punk rock band
* SA Martinez, a vocalist and DJ for ...
portion of the medieval classic "O Fortuna" plays, while a distorted devilish voice laughs, which suggests that the regretful man went to hell." The outro has been described as "putting a super dark ending on what was mostly a light-hearted listen."
Singles
"
Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check
"Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on January 7, 1996, by Flipmode Entertainment and Elektra Records as his debut solo single and the lead single from his debut studio album, '' The Comi ...
" was released as the first official single from ''The Coming'' on January 7, 1996. In the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, the song was released on February 27, 1996, and included a notable remix version featuring
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Russell Tyrone Jones (November 15, 1968 – November 13, 2004), known professionally as Ol' Dirty Bastard (often abbreviated as ODB), was an American rapper. He was one of the founding members of the New York rap group Wu-Tang Clan, which forme ...
. Rhymes' cousin, the
Flipmode Squad
Flipmode Squad is an American hip hop collective formed and fronted by Busta Rhymes.
History
In 1993, Busta Rhymes first introduced the Flipmode Squad when he still was a part of former group Leaders of the New School, with the members bei ...
member
Rampage
Rampage may refer to:
People
* Rampage (rapper) (born 1974)
* Quinton Jackson (born 1978; nicknamed "Rampage"), American mixed martial artist and actor
* Randy Rampage (1960-2018), Canadian musician
Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional chara ...
, contributes additional vocals to the standard version and is credited as an official guest artist on some releases of the song. The song reached the top ten in the charts of the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
,
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
and
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
, as well as charted in
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...
, the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
,
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
,
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
and
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
Zhané
Zhané ( ) was an American R&B duo, best known for their 1993 hit " Hey Mr. D.J.", which reached No. 6 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Other popular hits include " Groove Thang" (U.S. No. 17) and minor hit " Sending My Love", both released ...
, was released as the second official single from the album on June 25, 1996.
" Do My Thing" was released as the third and last official single from the album in 1997, outside of the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. The song was previously issued as a promotional single.
Promotional singles
"Everything Remains Raw" was released as the first promotional single from ''The Coming'' on February 27, 1996, as the
B-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph record, vinyl records and Compact cassette, cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a Single (music), single usually ...
to the album's lead single "
Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check
"Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on January 7, 1996, by Flipmode Entertainment and Elektra Records as his debut solo single and the lead single from his debut studio album, '' The Comi ...
.
" Do My Thing" and "Abandon Ship" featuring Rampage the Last Boy Scout were released together as the second and third promotional singles from the album in 1996. "Do My Thing" would later be released as an official single from the album.
"Ill Vibe" featuring the American rapper
Q-Tip
Cotton swabs (American English) or cotton buds (British English), also Q-tips ( proprietary eponym), are wads of cotton wrapped around a short rod made of wood, rolled paper, or plastic. They are most commonly used for ear cleaning, although th ...
was released as the fourth and last promotional single from the album on June 25, 1996, as the
B-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph record, vinyl records and Compact cassette, cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a Single (music), single usually ...
to the album's second single " It's a Party" featuring
Zhané
Zhané ( ) was an American R&B duo, best known for their 1993 hit " Hey Mr. D.J.", which reached No. 6 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Other popular hits include " Groove Thang" (U.S. No. 17) and minor hit " Sending My Love", both released ...
.
Critical reception
Daryl McIntosh of ''Albumism'' wrote that "the heart and soul of the album is found on songs where Busta doesn't have to stand out amongst a large group ..like "Everything Remains Raw", and " Do My Thing".
hey
Hey, HEY, or Hey! may refer to:
Music
* Hey (band), a Polish rock band
Albums
* ''Hey'' (Andreas Bourani album) or the title song (see below), 2014
* ''Hey!'' (Julio Iglesias album) or the title song, 1980
* ''Hey!'' (Jullie album) or the ...
provide no distractions and illuminate how Busta's humor and knowledge can seep through a track while simultaneously highlighting his great rhyming ability." He added that "''The Coming'' did everything you could ask for from a debut album," and went on to say that "''The Coming'' was one of the all-time great debut LPs in hip-hop. Busta's first verse, first single, and first album all stand as testaments to the fact that he is one of hip-hop's elite artists and the perennial main event.
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
Note
* On some releases, Rampage the Last Boy Scout is credited as an official guest artist on "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check".
Samples used
* "The Coming (Intro)" contains a sample of " Goin' Down", written and performed by
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Russell Tyrone Jones (November 15, 1968 – November 13, 2004), known professionally as Ol' Dirty Bastard (often abbreviated as ODB), was an American rapper. He was one of the founding members of the New York rap group Wu-Tang Clan, which forme ...
.
* "Everything Remains Raw" and "Abandon Ship" contains samples of "(Don't Want No) Woman", written by
Lee Michaels
Lee Eugene Michaels (born Michael Lee Olson, November 24, 1945) is an American rock musician who sings and accompanies himself on organ, piano, or guitar. He is best known for his 1971 Top 10 US hit single, " Do You Know What I Mean". In 1988 he ...
, Bartholomew Smith-Frost,
Percy Mayfield
Percy Mayfield (August 12, 1920August 11, 1984) was an American rhythm and blues singer with a smooth vocal style. He was also a songwriter, known for the songs "Please Send Me Someone to Love" and "Hit the Road Jack", the latter being a song f ...
, and
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Gen ...
, as performed by Lee Michaels; and contains samples of "Space", written and performed by
Galt MacDermot
Arthur Terence Galt MacDermot (December 18, 1928 – December 17, 2018) was a Canadian-American composer, pianist and writer of musical theater. He won a Grammy Award for the song "African Waltz" in 1960. His most successful musicals were ''Hair ...
.
* "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check" contains a sample of "Space", written and performed by
Galt MacDermot
Arthur Terence Galt MacDermot (December 18, 1928 – December 17, 2018) was a Canadian-American composer, pianist and writer of musical theater. He won a Grammy Award for the song "African Waltz" in 1960. His most successful musicals were ''Hair ...
Ronald LaPread
Commodores, often billed as The Commodores, are an American funk and soul group. The group's most successful period was in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Lionel Richie was the co-lead singer.
The members of the group met as mostly fresh ...
, and
Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia Robinson (née Vanterpool; May 29, 1935 – September 29, 2011), known mononymously as Sylvia, was an American singer and record producer. Robinson achieved success as a performer on two R&B chart toppers: as half of Mickey & Sylv ...
, as performed by
the Sugarhill Gang
The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop group formed in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1979. Their hit " Rapper's Delight", released the same year they were formed, was the first rap single to become a top 40 hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, rea ...
.
* "It's a Party" contains samples of "Fun", written by Regi Hargis and performed by
Brick
A brick is a type of construction material used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a unit primarily composed of clay. But is now also used informally to denote building un ...
; and "Hydra", written by
Grover Washington Jr.
Grover Washington Jr. (December 12, 1943 – December 17, 1999) was an American jazz-funk and soul-jazz saxophonist and Grammy Award winner. Along with Wes Montgomery and George Benson, he is considered by many to be one of the founders and le ...
, Brandon Barnes, and
Brian McKnight
Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Sr. (born Brian Kelly McKnight; June 5, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter, actor, record producer, radio personality, and multi-instrumentalist. An Contemporary R&B, R&B performer, he is recognized for his strong ...
, as performed by Grover Washington, Jr.
* "Ill Vibe" contains a sample of "Dizzy", written by
Tommy Roe
Thomas David Roe (born May 9, 1942) is an American rock and pop singer-songwriter.
Best-remembered for his hits " Sheila" (1962), "Sweet Pea" (1966) and " Dizzy" (1969), Roe was "widely perceived as one of the archetypal bubblegum artists of th ...
and
Freddy Weller
Wilton Frederick "Freddy" Weller (born September 9, 1943) is an American rock and roll and country music and artist. He recorded for Columbia Records between 1969 and 1980. He had his highest charted single in 1969 with his debut release, "Gam ...
, as performed by
Hugo Montenegro
Hugo Mario Montenegro (September 2, 1925 – February 6, 1981) was an American orchestra leader and composer of film soundtracks. His best-known work is interpretations of the music from Spaghetti Westerns, especially his cover version of Ennio M ...
.
* "Flipmode Squad Meets Def Squad" contains interpolations of "Rated 'R'", written by Reginald Noble and
James Brown
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, and record producer. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century music, he is referred to by Honorific nick ...
, as performed by Redman; and "Lick the Balls", written by
Eric Sadler
The Bomb Squad was an American hip hop production team known for their work with hip hop group Public Enemy.
The Bomb Squad are noted for their dense, distinct, innovative production style, often utilizing dozens of samples on just one track. ...
Ricky Walters
Richard Martin Lloyd Walters (born January 14, 1965), better known as Slick Rick, is an English-American rapper and record producer. He rose to prominence as part of Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew in the mid-1980s. His songs "The Show" and " ...
, as performed by
Slick Rick
Richard Martin Lloyd Walters (born January 14, 1965), better known as Slick Rick, is an English-American rapper and record producer. He rose to prominence as part of Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew in the mid-1980s. His songs " The Show" and ...
.
* "Still Shining" contains a sample of "Where Is Love", written by
Lionel Bart
Lionel Bart (1 August 1930 – 3 April 1999) was an English writer and composer of pop music and musicals. He wrote Tommy Steele's "Rock with the Caveman" and was the sole creator of the musical ''Oliver!'' (1960). With ''Oliver!'' and his work ...
, as performed by
Cal Tjader
Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. ( ; July 16, 1925 – May 5, 1982) was an American Latin Jazz musician, often described as the most successful non-Latino Latin music (genre), Latin musician. He explored other jazz idioms, especially small group mod ...
Ali Shaheed Muhammad
Ali Shaheed Muhammad (born August 11, 1970) is an American hip hop DJ, record producer, rapper and bass guitarist, best known as a member of A Tribe Called Quest. With Q-Tip (musician), Q-Tip and Phife Dawg (and sometimes Jarobi White), the grou ...
Leaders of the New School
Leaders of the New School was an American hip hop group based in Long Island, New York.
History 1986–1990: Early Years
In 1984, Leaders of the New School was formed by Long Island natives Charlie Brown (born Bryan Higgins on September 19, ...
.
* "Keep It Movin'" contains samples of "Recess", written and performed by
Eddie Harris
Eddie Harris (October 20, 1934 – November 5, 1996) was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ. His best-k ...
; and "Ecstasy", written and performed by
Ohio Players
Ohio Players are an American funk band, most popular in the 1970s. They are best known for their songs "Fire" and " Love Rollercoaster", and for their erotic album covers that featured nude or nearly nude women. Many of the women were models f ...
.
* "The Finish Line'" contains a sample of "Street Scene: Dark Alleys", written and performed by
Arif Mardin
Arif Mardin (March 15, 1932 – June 25, 2006) was a Turkish-American music producer, who worked with hundreds of artists across many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, soul, disco and country. He worked at Atlantic Records for ov ...
.
* "The End of the World (Outro)" contains samples of "
Fanfare for the Common Man
''Fanfare for the Common Man'' is a musical work by the American composer Aaron Copland. It was written in 1942 for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under conductor Eugene Goossens and was inspired in part by a speech made earlier that yea ...
", written by
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland (, ; November 14, 1900December 2, 1990) was an American composer, critic, writer, teacher, pianist, and conductor of his own and other American music. Copland was referred to by his peers and critics as the "Dean of American Compos ...
; and "
O Fortuna
"O Fortuna" is a medieval Latin Goliardic poem which is part of the collection known as the '' Carmina Burana'', written in the early 13th century. It is a complaint about Fortuna, the inexorable fate that rules both gods and mortals in Roman m ...
", written by
Carl Orff
Carl Heinrich Maria Orff (; 10 July 1895 – 29 March 1982) was a German composer and music educator, who composed the cantata ''Carmina Burana (Orff), Carmina Burana'' (1937). The concepts of his Orff Schulwerk, Schulwerk were influential for ...
.
Personnel
Performance
*
Busta Rhymes
Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after National Football League, NFL and Canadian Football Lea ...
– lead vocals
* Rampage the Last Boy Scout – guest vocals (tracks 4, 9), additional vocals (tracks 1, 5), skit vocals (track 11)
*
Zhané
Zhané ( ) was an American R&B duo, best known for their 1993 hit " Hey Mr. D.J.", which reached No. 6 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Other popular hits include " Groove Thang" (U.S. No. 17) and minor hit " Sending My Love", both released ...
– guest vocals (track 6)
*
Q-Tip
Cotton swabs (American English) or cotton buds (British English), also Q-tips ( proprietary eponym), are wads of cotton wrapped around a short rod made of wood, rolled paper, or plastic. They are most commonly used for ear cleaning, although th ...
– guest vocals (track 8)
*
Jamal
Jamaal ( ''/'') is an Arabic given name and surname meaning "beauty."Jamaal at BehindTheName.com It is popular in th ...
Keith Murray
Keith Omar Murray (born May 29, 1972) is an American rapper from New York. He is best known for being a member of the hip hop group Def Squad, which includes fellow rappers Redman and fellow Long Island native Erick Sermon. The group releas ...
– guest vocals (track 9)
* Lord Have Mercy – guest vocals (track 9), additional vocals (track 1)
*
Dinco D
Leaders of the New School was an American hip hop group based in Long Island, New York.
History 1986–1990: Early Years
In 1984, Leaders of the New School was formed by Long Island natives Charlie Brown (born Bryan Higgins on September 19, 1 ...
– guest vocals (track 11 as part of the Leaders of the New School)
*
Milo
Milo may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Milo (magazine), ''Milo'' (magazine), a strength sports magazine
* ''Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze'', a 2011 children's novel by Alan Silberberg
* Milo (video game), ''Milo'' (video game)
* Milo ( ...
– guest vocals (track 11 as part of the Leaders of the New School)
*
Charlie Brown
Charles "Charlie" Brown is the Protagonist, principal character of the comic strip ''Peanuts'', syndicated in daily newspaper, daily and Sunday newspapers in numerous countries all over the world. Depicted as a "lovable loser", Charlie Brown ...
– guest vocals (track 11 as part of the Leaders of the New School)
*
Spliff Star
William A. Lewis (born April 18, 1971), professionally known as Spliff Star, is an American rapper and record producer from Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York. He's best known for his work with Busta Rhymes. Both ''Vibe'' and ''Complex'' listed Spliff ...
Tom Coyne Tom Coyne may refer to:
* Tom Coyne (writer), American writer and professor
* Tom Coyne (broadcaster) (1930–2015), British television presenter
* Tom Coyne (music engineer) (1954–2017), American mastering engineer
* Thomas Coyne (cricketer) (18 ...
DJ Scratch
George Spivey (born June 21, 1968), known professionally as DJ Scratch, is an American hip hop music, hip hop DJ and producer from Brooklyn, New York.
DJ Scratch is the 1988 New Music Seminar Battle For World Supremacy DJ champion, the 2010 M ...
– mixing, arrangement (track 2, 12)
*
Easy Mo Bee
Osten S. Harvey Jr. (born December 8, 1965), better known by his stage name Easy Mo Bee, is an American hip hop and R&B record producer and DJ, known for his production work for artists such as Big Daddy Kane and Miles Davis, as well as his a ...
Q-Tip
Cotton swabs (American English) or cotton buds (British English), also Q-tips ( proprietary eponym), are wads of cotton wrapped around a short rod made of wood, rolled paper, or plastic. They are most commonly used for ear cleaning, although th ...
– mixing, arrangement (track 8)
*
Jay Dee
James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006), better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer, composer and rapper. He emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michiga ...