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This album was released on March 26th in 1996. I’m really expecting to love this album. I’ve been wanting to listen to Busta Rhymes’ discography for a long ass time, so I’m glad I finally got the Leaders Of The New School shit the fuck outta the way. I think I’ve heard two songs from this album already. Actually I’ve heard 3 of them. They were fucking great. I’m not really sure if most people consider this album to be a classic. Let’s see… Okay, apparently it IS a classic, but that’s according to Wikipedia. I’m not really sure if that can be trusted. Whatever. I fuck with Busta Rhymes. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume it’s legit. There’s an article on HotNewHipHop called “Classic Rotation: Busta Rhymes’ ‘The Coming.‘” Oh shit. Haha. I actually left a comment on this article back in March. Somebody said “Im sorry but Busta Rhymes has zero classic Albums,” and I responded with “INCORRECT.” I guess even I believe that this is a classic album, and I haven’t even heard it yet. That’s pretty funny. Alright, enough dickin’ around. It’s time for me to finally listen to this shit.

Track 1: The Coming (Intro) Feat. Lord Have Mercy & Rampage [Prod. DJ Scratch & Rick St. Hilaire]

Okay, it’s starting now… What the fuck… This is a weird ass, somewhat overproduced intro skit. It seems like they put a lot more effort into this intro than they needed to. What the FUCK? “HE MUST BRING THE RUCKUS TO ALLLL YOU MOTHERFUCKERS!!” This shit is weird as fuck. This is some real nerdy backpacker shit. That was Lord Have Mercy I guess. Now Rampage is screaming his ass off. This almost reminds me of a Tech N9ne skit, except it’s far less cringy. Oh shit… Okay, a beat actually came on. This is dope. This is REALLY fuckin’ dope. I like the way Rampage sounds introducing Busta on this shit. This is about to be so fucking dope. Oh… Okay, the beat just went off. Now Busta’s talking. “This joint right here is dedicated to all the motherfuckers who fell off.” Alright, cool. Can you rap now please? Oh shit… Another beat just came on. This shit is dope. Hahaha. He’s just saying “keep falling” over and over again. This intro really didn’t need to be here. It’s not bad tho. I guess the shit Busta said was kinda cool. It was a dope message that I can get behind. I’m not gonna rate this track tho since it isn’t an actual song. I liked the production tho.

Track 2: Do My Thing (Prod. DJ Scratch)

Alright, here we go. For real this time. It’s starting. The hook isn’t bad. The beat is dope. Yesss. I love how fucking weird this dude is. His flow and energy are unmatchable. He fucking killed this shit. Gawd. Okay. I’m kinda stanning out right now. This shit really is dope tho. The hook might be a turnoff to some people. I love how fucking weird this is tho. The first verse was awesome. He fucking spazzed on the second verse tho. Good lord. This is so fucking dope. I LIVE FOR THIS SHIT. “The dread gon’ make you party ’til you dead / Niggas quick to talk shit-OOPS! Upside your head / Put your head to bed, let me do my thing; ‘nough said / Shit so hot make your chickenhead do the spread / Tell me what you said, I said I never leave you misled / While you bullshit, I’d rather get the lucci instead.” This is amazing to me. This shit was made for me. I love this motherfucker. This is dope af. 5/5

Track 3: Everything Remains Raw (Prod. Easy Mo Bee)

This is one of the tracks that I’d already heard before starting this review. I’ve only ever heard it once tho, and I don’t really remember it. It’s starting now. Ohhhhh SHIT. YES. Hahaha. I remember this beat. This beat is fucking incredible. Easy Mo Bee really put his ass in this one. This song is even better than the previous track. Busta’s energetic delivery and flow is just so amazing to me. “Sick lyrics like multiple sclerosis / Focus, while I display flows ferocious / Weak niggas just fall and keep tumbling / Distribute lyrics like I’m hand to hand herb hustling.” The hook is simple, but it does it’s job. The second verse was fantastic. It’s like even his solo tracks have the same amount of energy that a Leaders Of The New School track would normally have. He really commands the listener’s attention. I love everything about this track. It’s dope af. 5/5

Track 4: Abandon Ship Feat. Rampage (Prod. Busta Rhymes)

This hook is actually pretty catchy. The hooks on this album are already way better than any of the Leaders Of The New School’s hooks. This beat is dope too. This guy Rampage is goin’ in now. I guess he was one of the original members of Busta Rhymes’ Flipmode Squad group. This is awesome. He has a really fucking strong voice. This whole album has just really reminded me of Wu-Tang for some reason. The songs are just super weird and aggressive at the same time. I guess that’s why. Rampage is dope. He’s trading 8 bar verses with Busta. This is so fucking awesome. God. I’m so happy right now. I’m so glad I’m finally listening to this album. This is fantastic. Both MCs are spittin’ their motherfuckin’ asses off. This Rampage guy is really dope. Holy fuck. It’s gonna be so fucking hard to choose a favorite song. This is another amazing track to me. I love Busta Rhymes’ animated style, and this Rampage guy is actually really nice too. This is dope af to me. 5/5

Track 5: Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check Feat. Rampage (Prod. Busta Rhymes & Rashad Smith)

Alright, HERE we go. This is one of the songs from this album that I’ve already heard before, and it’s FUCKING insane. This beat is crazy. The hook is catchier than a motherfucker too. This was the perfect choice for a lead single. The first verse was awesome. He was able to use the same rhyme scheme for the entire verse. “Watch me knock you out like Apollo Creed / Body blows busting your shit, making you bleed / Just feed off dynamic flows and take heed / Need more information, homeboy? Then just read.” He did the same thing for the second and third verses too. He killed this shit. Rampage didn’t rap. He just said some shit between the hook and the third verse. The music video is amazing. Jesus. This whole album is like a dream come true for me so far. Busta’s charisma is incredible. The remix of this song tho… It’s somehow even crazier than this version. You know how? Guess. Who in the world could possibly make this song even more insane? Yeah. That’s right, fools. It’s none other than the Ol’ Dirty Bastard himself.

Yes. YES. This version is even better. The beat is just different enough to make the original worth listening to separately. The sample is taken from the same song. Busta & ODB are trading bars on each verse, and it’s just as perfect as you’re probably imagining. The fucking music video… It’s so fucking weird. It’s almost scary how crazy it is. I really wish ODB & Busta could’ve collaborated more because this shit is fucking incredible. This is dope af. 5/5

Track 6: It’s A Party Feat. Zhané (Prod. Easy Mo Bee)

This was the second single from this album. Oooh shit. This beat is smooth af. Easy Mo Bee is a really good producer. All of his beats on GZA’s first album were incredibly bland tho. I’m not sure what happened with that project. I’m not familiar with this Zhané lady. Her voice isn’t bad. I think she did a good job with the hook, even if it sounds a little dated. This is actually a LOT better than I was expecting it to be. I didn’t think I’d like an old school female R&B singer & Hip Hop collaboration with Busta Rhymes, but this works surprisingly well. This shit is really smooth. How have I never heard this track? This is actually a pretty good choice for a single. The first verse was dope. I usually don’t even like party music, but this is a really well done track. I fuck with this track. It’s definitely my least favorite song so far, but I still really enjoyed it. This is dope. 4/5

Track 7: Hot Fudge (Prod. The Vibe Chemist Backspin)

This beat is really fucking dope. Hahaha. Wow. I can’t believe how good this shit is. This album is damn near perfect to me so far. This project seriously doesn’t get enough recognition. Maybe the second half is fucking terrible or something. I don’t know. This beat is really fucking smooth, but this is a very aggressive track lyrically. Busta’s just goin’ in about slaughtering other rappers. This shit is fucking awesome. “You be rolling shady we gon’ establish all the shadiest / Yet all of my black peoples be the most craziest / Numerals of funerals every day / When I take a closer look of all my niggas around my way.” It’s just so fun to listen to this motherfucker put words together. His charismatic delivery and flow are like no other. This hook is awesome too. Gotdamn. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks so far. He fucking ripped that last verse to shreds. “You really need to check your criteria / Violating the world, annihilate your whole area / Been in this too long to allow niggas to try to take mine / 23 years deep and I still exist as Busta Rhymes.” He killed this track. I definitely fuck with… What… What the fuck… What the FUCK? Oh God… Wow. This fucking skit… Jesus fucking Christ. Busta… What the fuck are you doing. There’s a skit at the end of this track… I just… I just listened to a girl getting her “pussy sucked.” What the motherfuck was Busta Rhymes thinking? Why the fuck would I wanna listen to that? Jesus fucking Christ. Whatever. I’ll just have to edit that shit out with GarageBand. The song itself is dope af. That skit damn near ruined this track for me tho… 5/5

Track 8: Ill Vibe Feat. Q-Tip (Prod. The Ummah)

I’m pretty sure this is the first song I’d ever heard from this album. It was also on that Abstract & The Dragon mixtape that Busta Rhymes dropped with Q-Tip in 2013. For those of you who don’t know, The Ummah was a production team consisting of three members: Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad & J Dilla. Yeah. That’s a pretty fucking solid lineup. It’s starting now. Oh shit… Yeah. Hahaha. Yeah, I remember this track. This beat is fucking incredible. Good fucking lord. This whole album… I don’t know HOW the fuck I’m gonna choose a favorite song. This is insane. Busta Rhymes killed that first verse. He used the same rhyme scheme for the entire first verse. He’s just so good at rhyming shit. Haha. He really makes shit look easy. I feel like if nobody stopped him he could just keep rapping forever until he passed out. The hook is dope. Q-Tip’s smooth ass flow was a nice contrast to Busta’s delivery. Even tho this beat is really chill Busta’s energy doesn’t seem out of place. This is another fantastic track. It’s dope af. 5/5

Track 9: Flipmode Squad Meets Def Squad Feat. Jamal, Redman, Keith Murray, Rampage & Lord Have Mercy (Prod. The Vibe Chemist Backspin)

The only artist here who I’m not familiar with at all is Jamal. I know of Redman and I’ve heard a few of his songs before, but I’m not as familiar with him as I’d like to be. I’ve only ever heard one feature from Keith Murray, but it was dope af. I obviously heard Rampage earlier. Lord Have Mercy was on the intro, but I’ve never actually heard him rap. Def Squad is a Hip Hop group comprised of Jamal, Erick Sermon, Redman & Keith Murray. I think Rampage, Lord Have Mercy & Busta Rhymes were the only members of the Flipmode Squad at the time of this album’s release, but I may be wrong. Alright, it’s starting now. Fuuuuck. Yes. This beat is dope af. Jamal’s on the first verse. I’m gonna love this fucking song. Jamal spazzed on that first verse. Jesus fucking Christ. This is amazing. Jamal went off for like 2 fucking minutes before Redman finally snatched the mic from him. Holy FUCKING shit. Y’ALL. Redman fucking murdered this shit. This is fucking incredible. “I rock so many broads I leave your entourage tender / Like bartenders mix liquor, I serve you over the rocks / I feed you to my flock, now time to click triggers / Manslaughter in alphabetical order for four quarters / Raw water turn sons to granddaughters.” Keith Murray’s verse was dope. He definitely had my least favorite performance so far, but it was still really good. Rampage is goin’ in now. Gotdamn. Y’all this song is amazing. How is this track not more popular? I’ve never even heard of this song until now. Wooah… This Lord Have Mercy guy is crazy. This is so fucking amazing. Jesus fucking Christ. I’m so happy. This is just… I don’t even know what else to say. It’s amazing. I fucking love Lord Have Mercy’s weird ass delivery & flow. You know the Mortal Kombat announcer who says shit like “FATALITY!” and “Flawless Victory?” Imagine him as a rapper. That’s what Lord Have Mercy sounds like to me. This is fucking awesome. This is definitely my favorite track so far. OH SHIT. God fucking damn. Busta Rhymes tore this shit DOWN on that last verse. Yes. This song. This song is absolutely fucking phenomenal. This shit is pure heat. It’s dope af. 5/5

Track 10: Still Shining (Prod. The Ummah)

Okay. Damn. There’s no way he’s gonna be able to top that previous track, but I’m sure this shit’ll still be dope af. It’s starting now. Oooooooh. This beat is SMOOOOOTHER than a motherfucker. OH MY GAWD. HAHAHAHA. Jesus fucking Christ. This album… Good God. Guys. This beat is fucking unbelievable. It’s so fucking smooth. This whole album is too much. I can’t take it. It’s too fucking good. I don’t even know what to say. I feel like I can’t describe how much I’m enjoying this. This album is damn near perfect to me so far. Both of the verses on this track are fantastic. The hook is kinda annoying, but the production & verses are too good for me to not give this a 5. This track is dope af to me. 5/5

Track 11: Keep It Movin’ (Performed by Leaders Of The New School) [Prod. The Ummah]

Okay, this should be interesting. I’m pretty sure this is the last track the Leaders Of The New School ever recorded together. Well, it’s the second to last track they recorded. They came back together in 2015 for a track on a Busta Rhymes mixtape. I wouldn’t be surprised if this ended up being my least favorite song on the album. I’ll try to be optimistic tho. It’s starting now. The hook is alright. It’s definitely the wackest hook on the album, but it’s a lot better than the average Leaders Of The New School hook. Dinco’s goin’ in on the first verse. This beat is dope af. Dinco did his thing on the first verse. I actually really liked Charlie Brown’s verse. He sounds really good over this type of production. It sounds like his flow has improved. Busta killed the final verse too. Damn. I really wanna give this track a 5. The hook kinda brings it down for me. This is as close to a 5 as a song could possibly get without actually being a 5. It’s really fucking dope. 4/5

Track 12: The Finish Line (Prod. DJ Scratch)

Busta’s singing the hook, and it’s actually not that bad. This beat is dope af. The first verse was great. This track really shouldn’t work as well as it does. Busta sounds surprisingly decent singing the hook tho. The second verse was dope. He killed the final verse too. This is just another dope song. I don’t have much to say. The structure is pretty simplistic. It’s three nice verses with a sung hook in between. I fuck with this track. It’s not one of my favorites tho. I kinda dislike the hook. Not really tho. This is a good song. It’s just not blowing me away like most of the other songs. I fuck with it tho. 4/5

Track 13: The End Of The World (Outro) Feat. Spliff Star [Prod. Rick St. Hilaire]

Alright. It’s over. This isn’t an actual song. The beat in the background is nice tho. Busta Rhymes is just thanking “the whole entire world for absorbing such a special moment with Busta Rhymes.” God, I love this guy. Okay, it’s clear that Busta Rhymes was seriously preparing for the end of the world. I mean, maybe he wasn’t 100% serious, but it really seems like he thought the world was gonna end in the year 2000. You can tell just by looking at the titles of his first few albums. That seems to be an incredibly loose theme he has going with a lot of his earlier work. That’s pretty cool. Oh yeah, I think this Spliff Star guy was actually a member of the Flipmode Squad. I don’t know. Maybe he was just an affiliate. This outro is actually kinda… I don’t know. It’s kinda creepy. I like it tho. I mean, I’m obviously never gonna listen to this again since it isn’t even a real song, but it was cool. Hahahaha. What the fuck? This is so dramatic. Am I listening to the world end right now? That cliché song that always plays during the climax of an action/fantasy movie is playing. I wish I knew what it was called. I think Meek Mill sampled it on DC4. One of my friends was playing it in the car one day. Some of y’all may know what I’m talking about. Haha. This is stupid. Alright it ended. That was weird as shit.

Final Thoughts:

This album is fucking incredible. I knew I was gonna love this album, but… I don’t know. This was more than I expected. This album is almost perfect to me. Seriously, this is probably one of the most underrated albums I’ve ever heard in my life. Why does nobody ever talk about this project? There’s not a single song on here that isn’t above average. I had a big ass grin on my face the entire time I was listening to this project. How is this not one of the most popular Hip Hop albums of all time? Seriously, what is this project missing? I mean, I know Busta Rhymes isn’t technically the most skilled lyricist, but he easily makes up for it with an unmatchable energy. How can anyone dislike this guy? And yeah, I know a lot of his newer shit is relatively unforgivable, but still. This project is amazing to me. I fucking love this album. This is honestly probably one of my favorite albums I’ve ever heard. It’s definitely one of the most satisfying projects I’ve ever listened to. It’s not missing anything. I feel like it was the perfect length. I wanna buy a physical copy of this album. That’s how much I like this shit. It’s absolutely dope af.

Favorite Song: Flipmode Squad Meets Def Squad

Least Favorite Song: It’s A Party

Verdict:

94%

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