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I've listened to this a few times and it has a handful of good songs where the beats and rhymes come together, but its probably the groups weakest album.
RZAs beats range from good-ish to boring indistinctive jams and the best songs are produced by others. My overall impression is that the group is done. RZA thinks his new production style is something impressive and it just isn't.
Mistaken Identity is my favorite track, the beat goes hard (the baseline, piano sounds, and guitar riffs remind me of some 36 Chambers shit), and the cast on there did great, including Streetlife on the hook. Would've been nicer with Ghostface and Rae for sure tho. Fuck em both for not participating on it.
My one problem with Fast Shadow's production, was that it was basically the Shadowboxin' beat sped up (hence the title). But yeah, it would've been great to hear them over those raw Ghost Dog beats. The beat on East New York Stamp with Jeru and Afu Ra, was literally an extension of the Sub Crazy beat on Tical ... the eerie singing part. So yeah, if those beats were on The W, it could've been great.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pattch82
RZA is out of touch with his listeners, in his own little egocentric world. He knows what we really wanna hear but feels the need to force his new shit on us ...just to prove some sort of point that he's "matured" or whatever. I still think he did some good work on this lp, but he still doesn't get it, or should I say he doesn't want to get it. His new fro hawk hairstyle and weird way of dressing is visual proof of how out of touch he is with his fans.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sun Tanama
Miracle is a dope track, beat wise, the atmosphere, and everybody's verses (except I hated when Ghost's part changed the beat to some electronic rock shit or whatever). The singing isn't that bad, but it's the dude's voice, he makes it sound cheesy. If it's gonna be a male vocalist, he needs to have singing chops like a Michael Jackson, Luther, Marvin Gaye, Bobby Womack or Curtis Mayfield in order to pull off a chorus like that, and not sound cheesy. This guy, like Nathaniel (assuming this was a different guy), are very mediocre, and annoying. The female vocalist that was already present on the song, should've sang the entire part, or better yet, it should've been Tekitha or Blue Rasberry. I don't get why RZA felt the need to force no name subpar male singers on us, with this album.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 5th state
Killah Priest being on a Clan album is so long overdue, he should've been on Wu-Tang Forever if you ask me. How does Street and Cappa get multiple verses on there but Priest just appears (barely, "it'll be a resurrection") on the talking skit towards the end of "Bells of War"? Dafuq? But yeah, on ABT, he would've been a perfect addition for the title track or on "Miracle". It's like RZA is deliberately not allowing KP's brilliance on a Clan album. Just another of many bad RZA decisions.
THERE WONT BE A REAL WU ALBUM UNTIL PRIMO OR ALCHEMIST MAKES THE WHOLE PROJECT CAUSE RZA IS ASS
ONLY SHIT I LIKED SO FAR WAS MISTAKEN IDENTITy
AND EVEN THAT HAS SOME SOFT SINGING ON IT
I like 8D and I like ABT, but I feel the same way about both. They should have been Rza albums. Think about how many problems that change would have solved. He wouldn't have had any disputes with other clan members and no obligations to have everyone on the album. He wouldn't have had to worry about splitting money in any special way since they would have just been features. He could have pushed the concepts he wanted without any flack because it would have been his album. He could have been as experimental as he wanted without any pushback because again, it would have been his album. He wouldn't have had to deal with the expectations that come with a clan album because it would have been his album alone and people would have expected it to be different from a clan album.
The problem with Rza is the same problem with a lot of his backers on here. He doesn't just see himself as the head of Wu-tang. He sees himself as Wu-tang. As a result, every time he has a concept, he thinks that it should definitely be a Wu album. I think there would have been less strive overall and probably more success if he stuck to a certain mold for the Wu albums since that's what both his fellow members and the fans wanted, and saved his experimental shit for his own solos.
Couldn't have said it any better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Soulless
Co-Fuckin-SignQuote:
Originally Posted by ShaolinDarts
I don't know why some people on here don't get this.
A lot of RZA hating as I expected. But I feel Mathematics has the 2 weakest beats on the album. After a few listens now, my only main beef is the choruses. Other than that I am happy. Call me a Wu Stan, but I can live with that as I enjoy the album. Peace
I enjoy this album quite a bit....but it's definitely a different sound but I like it.....I mean would I like a 90s wu sounding album? Sure but musically this is solid. The only problem is breaking up the flow of tracks with hooks. It's funny though.....rza doesn't call wu tang a group anymore.....he calls them a band hahaha. I really enjoy this album though!
The most annoying part of this album by far is Rzas verse on pioneer the frontier
HORRIBLE. That beat sucks too..annoying and too bad Cuz ugod, and Masta killa ripped it
Allah Real can't fuck with Tek and Blue but I think he is better than Nathaniel ! Even the strange girl Rza use sometimes on Afrosamurai shit and digi snax is better than Nathaniel. I was well versed in RNB and I know a woman like Erykah Badu appreciates the wu. Rza knows many singers who are far better than Nathaniel. I know wu is a family affair but a wu-tang clan album is something special ! We need the best of the best from wu family !Quote:
Originally Posted by 5th state
I agree the group is done ! I don't know if they will release another album ! If they do this I won't care. This is the last time I care about a group album. I hope they will do something with wu elements like True Master, Bronze Nazareth, 4th disciple and others dudes from wu galaxy or fans. They can ask fans to send them beats ! Why not !Quote:
Originally Posted by Sun Tanama
Robert Diggs, I can not call this "new producer" Rza, live in his new world. I am happy for him but I don't like that. I don't want to hear 90s beats again. If I want to hear 90s sound, I will listen to 90s rap album. But early wu albums are timeless ! Rza was the man ! But as I think Rza is dead and now we deal with another guy.