They Never Saw Me Coming

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 the entirety of They Never Saw Me Coming. The album was produced by Mike Mosley of Steady Mobbin Productions. TQ admired Mosley's studio work with Tupac Shakur and E-40. "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."

Critical reception

The Los Angeles Times noted the "loopy poignancy" of "Westside", writing that TQ "has written what is perhaps the first power ballad to wax nostalgic about the West Coast gangsta rap movement."

Singles

Track listing

Charts