On this day in 1996, Busta Rhymes made his long-anticipated solo debut with The Coming, released through Elektra Records.
While Leaders of the New School had already established themselves as a respected group in Hip Hop, it was always clear that Busta Rhymes was destined to go solo. With production from legends like Easy Mo Bee, DJ Scratch, and even Busta himself, The Coming served as both an introduction to his solo career and a glimpse of what was to come from one of the most dynamic lyricists in the game.
The album featured some of Hip Hop’s finest appearances, including The Notorious B.I.G., A Tribe Called Quest, who first introduced Busta to the masses on Scenario, Heavy D & The Boyz, and Mary J. Blige.
Spanning 13 tracks, The Coming was packed with classics, including “Everything Remains Raw,” the Zhane-assisted “It’s a Party”, and its breakout lead single “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check”, which cemented Busta’s status as a solo star. The album also introduced his Flipmode Squad, featuring Lord Have Mercy, Rampage, Rah Digga, and Spliff Star—setting the stage for future dominance.
Salute to Busta Rhymes for delivering a debut that remains essential to Hip-Hop history!