Album review: Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
8 Diagrams
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
With their first album since 2001’s Iron Flag, 8 Diagrams sees the Wu-Tang Clan going back to basics. Rap stars in their own rights, collectively Ghost Face Killah, Method Man, GZA, Reakwon, Inspectah Deck, RZA et al manage to subsume their individual egos and produce an album that, for the most part, is bursting with fresh lyrics and invigorating beats.
Opening with a classic sample, Campfire harks back to the Wu’s roots, back to the mid/late-nineties when they revolutionised rap with their idiosyncratic mix of old school soul samples with menacing beats and razor-sharp rhymes.
Take It Back features some class lyrics, all propelled along on a pulsating bassline that is at once funky and menacing. Rushing Elephants is a classic example of RZA’s fathomless capability for wringing cool beats from the unlikeliest of samples.
The Heart Gently Beats is a rap reimagining of The Beatles’ While My Guitar Gently Weeps and is ruined only by a strange passage of whiny rapping midway through. Still, it features a great vocal from Erykah Badu and instrumental accompaniment from George Harrison’s son, Dhani.
Wolves is a low point – sounding like a second rate Gravel Pit with dubious Funkadelic elements – unsurprising since it features funk godfather George Clinton.
It should be noted that the Clan still adhere to the unfortunate misogyny and homophobia that are, sadly, endemic in much of rap. Whether you choose to interpret this as “realness” or offensive posturing is your choice but, for a group that are clearly talented and intelligent, with a broad spectrum of cultural and intellectual influences, it seems a shame that the language of discrimination remains so prevalent. There. Rant over.
Otherwise, this record is a bit of a return to form for the Wu and will no doubt delight old fans and attract new acolytes.
8 Diagrams
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
With their first album since 2001’s Iron Flag, 8 Diagrams sees the Wu-Tang Clan going back to basics. Rap stars in their own rights, collectively Ghost Face Killah, Method Man, GZA, Reakwon, Inspectah Deck, RZA et al manage to subsume their individual egos and produce an album that, for the most part, is bursting with fresh lyrics and invigorating beats.
Opening with a classic sample, Campfire harks back to the Wu’s roots, back to the mid/late-nineties when they revolutionised rap with their idiosyncratic mix of old school soul samples with menacing beats and razor-sharp rhymes.
Take It Back features some class lyrics, all propelled along on a pulsating bassline that is at once funky and menacing. Rushing Elephants is a classic example of RZA’s fathomless capability for wringing cool beats from the unlikeliest of samples.
The Heart Gently Beats is a rap reimagining of The Beatles’ While My Guitar Gently Weeps and is ruined only by a strange passage of whiny rapping midway through. Still, it features a great vocal from Erykah Badu and instrumental accompaniment from George Harrison’s son, Dhani.
Wolves is a low point – sounding like a second rate Gravel Pit with dubious Funkadelic elements – unsurprising since it features funk godfather George Clinton.
It should be noted that the Clan still adhere to the unfortunate misogyny and homophobia that are, sadly, endemic in much of rap. Whether you choose to interpret this as “realness” or offensive posturing is your choice but, for a group that are clearly talented and intelligent, with a broad spectrum of cultural and intellectual influences, it seems a shame that the language of discrimination remains so prevalent. There. Rant over.
Otherwise, this record is a bit of a return to form for the Wu and will no doubt delight old fans and attract new acolytes.
posted by YG&B at 1:44 PM
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