The Coming
The Coming | ||||
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The Vibe Chemist Backspin | ||||
Busta Rhymes chronology | ||||
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Busta Rhymes solo chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Coming | ||||
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The Coming is the debut studio album by the American rapper and record producer
The album reached number six on the
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
Background and recording
"I was like the first artist to really start rhyming on everyone else's record. And I was doing that because it was a quick way to feed my kid. That's what was going on until, you know, I got to a place where I felt comfortable enough with doing a solo album."
– Busta Rhymes, on his many guest appearances [2]
The Coming serves as Busta Rhymes's first solo album after the break up of his former group Leaders of the New School. As his group had just broken up and he had his first son, he needed an source of income to provide a secure life for his son. He then got offered an Elektra Records solo deal by Dante Ross and Chris Lighty 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's "Oh My God" and Craig Mack's "Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)", among others. Rhymes contributed hugely to the ongoing trend of guest appearances in hip hop.[2]
The initial recording sessions began in late 1994 in Los Angeles, where Rhymes was shooting for the movie Higher Learning, directed by John Singleton. When shooting ended, he also flew to Atlanta where he worked with record producer Dallas Austin 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, 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.[2]
"He was creating a sound that nobody else was doing. I loved it, and it reminded me of that hard-slapping, creative way of sampling records that Q-Tip was already doing, and Large Professor, Pete Rock, and Preemo. But he sounded closer to Q-Tip more than anybody else. Tip was one of my favorite producers at the time, and Dilla sounded like a young, iller version of Q-Tip. That was it. I just fell in love with his work."
– Busta Rhymes, on frequent collaborator J Dilla[2]
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.[5] Rhymes was mentored by Q-Tip, who gave him advice, motivated him and played a role in choosing the direction for the album.[2] 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".[5] In 1995, Q-Tip also introduced Rhymes to the then-unknown record producer J Dilla, who was known as Jay Dee at the time and had his biggest credits on the hip hop group the Pharcyde's second studio album Labcabincalifornia.[2] 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
Rhymes dedicated the album to the memory of his first and late son, Tahiem Jr, and friends Ratto, Big Joe and Love.[6]
Concept and title
Describing the concept of the album's title, Busta Rhymes 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?"[7]
Cover art
The cover art of The Coming was shot by Dean Karr. It displays a framed image of Rhymes 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.[8]
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.[2]
The "epic," "extended and extremely busy" intro of The Coming
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
The "dark jazz textured backdrop" of "Hot Fudge" produced by
The "spacey, synth-assisted production" of "Still Shining" by producer
Singles
"
"It's a Party", featuring the American R&B duo Zhané, 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 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 to the album's lead single "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check.
"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 was released as the fourth and last promotional single from the album on June 25, 1996, as the B-side to the album's second single "It's a Party" featuring Zhané.
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
The Source | 4/5[19] |
Tom Hull – on the Web | B[20] |
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". [They] 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. It lived up to, if not exceeded, the expectations of a young artist who had captured the world's attention as a standout group member and coveted collaborator. It spawned radio hits, club bangers, and underground gems for hardcore listeners. It was boastful, colorful, and had a celebratory feel, all of which helped make hip-hop appear fun again […]. Even a casual observer […] had to take notice of the guy whose voice was deeper and louder than everyone else, an emcee who wasn't afraid to put on a big hat or bright colors to accentuate his colorful personality." He went on to say that "The Coming was one of the best solo rap performances of 1996 and it stands as 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.[11]
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[6]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "The Coming (Intro)" |
|
| 7:32 |
12. | "The Finish Line" |
|
| 5:06 |
13. | "The End of the World (Outro)" |
|
| 2:48 |
Total length: | 63:50 |
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
This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2023) |
- "The Coming (Intro)" contains a sample of "better source needed]
- "Everything Remains Raw" and "Abandon Ship" contains samples of "(Don't Want No) Woman", written by better source needed]
- "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check" contains a sample of "Space", written and performed by
- "It's a Party" contains samples of "Fun", written by Regi Hargis and performed by Brick; and "Hydra", written by Grover Washington Jr., Brandon Barnes, and Brian McKnight, as performed by Grover Washington, Jr.
- "Ill Vibe" contains a sample of "Dizzy", written by Tommy Roe and Freddy Weller, as performed by Hugo Montenegro.
- "Flipmode Squad Meets Def Squad" contains interpolations of "Rated 'R'", written by James Boxley III, and Ricky Walters, as performed by Slick Rick.
- "Still Shining" contains a sample of "Where Is Love", written by Kid Hood and Leaders of the New School.
- "Keep It Movin'" contains samples of "Recess", written and performed by Eddie Harris; and "Ecstasy", written and performed by Ohio Players.
- "The Finish Line'" contains a sample of "Street Scene: Dark Alleys", written and performed by Arif Mardin.
- "The End of the World (Outro)" contains samples of "Fanfare for the Common Man", written by Aaron Copland; and "O Fortuna", written by Carl Orff.
Personnel
Performance
- Busta Rhymes – lead vocals
- Rampage the Last Boy Scout – guest vocals (tracks 4, 9), additional vocals (tracks 1, 5), skit vocals (track 11)
- Zhané – guest vocals (track 6)
- Q-Tip – guest vocals (track 8)
- Jamal – guest vocals (track 9)
- Redman – guest vocals (track 9)
- Keith Murray – guest vocals (track 9)
- Lord Have Mercy– guest vocals (track 9), additional vocals (track 1)
- Dinco D– guest vocals (track 11 as part of the Leaders of the New School)
- Milo– guest vocals (track 11 as part of the Leaders of the New School)
- Charlie Brown– guest vocals (track 11 as part of the Leaders of the New School)
- Spliff Star – skit vocals (track 13)
- Wade Thoren – skit vocals (track 13)
Technical
- Tom Coyne – mastering
- Rick St. Hilaire – mixing(tracks 1, 3, 5, 11, 13), recording (tracks 1, 3–5, 9, 11, 13)
- Busta Rhymes – mixing, arrangement (tracks 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 12)
- DJ Scratch – mixing, arrangement (track 2, 12)
- Easy Mo Bee – mixing, arrangement (tracks 3, 6)
- Andy Blakelock – mixing (track 4), recording (track 6)
- The Vibe Chemist Backspin– mixing, recording, arrangement (track 7)
- Q-Tip – mixing, arrangement (track 8)
- Jay Dee – mixing, arrangement (track 10)
- Peter Darmi – mixing (track 10), recording (tracks 2, 8, 10, 12)
- Mike Scielzi – recording assistance (tracks 2, 4, 6, 10, 12)
- Vinnie Nicoletti – recording assistance (tracks 3-5, 9, 11)
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[28] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[29] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
See also
References
- ^ "Coming: Busta Rhymes: Music". Amazon. 1996. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Bell, Max (March 25, 2021). "How Busta Rhymes Harnessed the Dungeon Dragon on His Classic Debut". The Ringer. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ Call Us Free: 1-800-800-0800. "Rakuten.com Shopping". Buy.com. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "BUSTA RHYMES: THE COMING 25th ANNIVERSARY SUPER DELUXE EDITION Available from Rhino on April 16 | Rhino".
- ^ a b c d "Talib Kweli & Busta Rhymes Talk ELE: 2, J Dilla, Q-Tip, Kendrick, 5% & Chuck D | People's Party Full". YouTube. December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ Flipmode, Elektra. 1996.
- ^ "Busta Rhymes - Interview & Live Pt.1 @ VIVA Word Cup 1997 (HQ)". YouTube. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ "The Coming Turns 20". 25 March 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Busta Rhymes – The Coming (March 26, 1996)". Time Is Illmatic. August 3, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Bailey, Matthew (March 18, 2016). "Hey look! A music review – Busta Rhymes – The Coming (1996)". WordPress.com. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- ^ a b c McIntosh, Daryl (March 24, 2021). "Busta Rhymes' Debut Solo Album 'The Coming' Turns 25 | Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism.
- ^ "HipHop-TheGoldenEra: Album Review : Busta Rhymes - The Coming - 1996". thegoldenera.blogspot.com. April 29, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (March 26, 1996). "The Coming - Busta Rhymes". AllMusic. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- ^ "CG: busta rhymes". Robert Christgau. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- ^ David Browne (May 10, 1996). "The Coming Review". EW.com. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- ^ Ashon, Will (April 1996). "Busta Rhymez: The Coming" (PDF). Muzik. No. 11. p. 101. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ "Busta Rhymes: The Coming". Q (118): 122–123. July 1996.
- ^ The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- ^ "Busta Rhymes: The Coming". The Source (80): 69. May 1996.
- ^ Hull, Tom. "Grade List: Busta Rhymes". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Busta Rhymes – The Coming". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Busta Rhymes – The Coming". Music Canada. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
- ^ "American album certifications – Busta Rhymes – The Coming". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 22, 2017.