They Never Saw Me Coming

They Never Saw Me Coming
Studio album by TQ
Released November 10, 1998 (US)
May 8, 1999 (UK)
Recorded 19971998
Genre R&B
Label Sony, Epic
Producer TQ (executive producer)
Mike Mosley
Jazze Pha
Femi Ojetunde
TQ chronology

They Never Saw Me Coming
(1998)
The Second Coming
(2000)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

They Never Saw Me Coming is the debut album by TQ released on November 10, 1998 in the United States and May 8, 1999 in the United Kingdom.

History

Background

TQ wrote every word on They Never Saw Me Coming, with the lion's share of the sparse, on-point production handled by Mike Mosley of Steady Mobbin Productions. Mosley's outstanding studio work with such artists as Tupac Shakur and E-40 speaks for itself. "Mike and I really like and respect each other," TQ acknowledged. "He's very serious about his work, like I am. By motivating each other, we both gave my project 110 percent."

"Bye Bye Baby", a Mosley/Ty Howard produced track, is based on a true story about a woman shot by a drive-by bullet meant for her man; it's followed by "The Comeback", a soul-searing track detailing the violent revenge wreaked on the shooter. "Darling Mary" is a playful ode to urban life's blunted reality; "When I Get Out", a pulsating ballad between TQ and Ericka Yancey, about an incarcerated brother's insecurity when it comes to his lover on the outside.

A horrifying drug-related incident from TQ's past was the source of "Remember Melinda"; "Gotta Make That Money" is a contemporary hustlers theme song, featuring a guest rap by E-40. "The bottom line," TQ states, "is that this album is about my life, the lives of the people that are close to me, and those that influenced me."

Singles

Year Title Chart Positions
US UK IRE GER SWI AUT NL AUS NZ
1998 "Westside"
12
4
5
8
29
14
3
10
10
"Bye Bye Baby"
-
7
13
6
16
33
6
7
47
1999 "Better Days"
71
32
-
88
-
-
33
-
-

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "Change (Intro)"   1.12
2. "Westside"   5.04
3. "If the World Was Mine"   3.32
4. "Paradise"   3.39
5. "They Never Saw Me Coming" (featuring Jay) 4.04
6. "Don Breezio (Interlude)"   0.32
7. "Gotta Make That Money" (featuring E-40) 4.35
8. "I Get Around"   4.44
9. "RememberMelinda"   4.34
10. "One More Lick" (featuring Tray Deee) 4.31
11. "Ass or Weed (Interlude)"   0.18
12. "Darlin' Mary"   3.32
13. "When I Get Out" (duet with Ericka Yancey) 5.27
14. "Weed or Ass (Interlude)"   0.19
15. "Your Sister" (featuring Too $hort) 4.07
16. "Bye Bye Baby"   5.24
17. "The Comeback" (featuring Tha Dogg Pound) 6.05
18. "Better Days"   4.26

References