Good review but I completely disagree about DTD, that track was fire and the beat was dope.
Good review but I completely disagree about DTD, that track was fire and the beat was dope.
i thought secret rivals was the best song on the album....the beat was pretty tight, killah priest's verse was obviously the best part of the song.
Secret Rivals is NOT a bad beat. Far from. Love the off beat piano.
Good review i nevely completly agree (although i think love spell is one of the whackest songs ive heard in a while - such a fuckin shit hook) id give this album bout 3 outta 5. I think DTD was dope doh, and the last 3 tracks were my favourite. I just think this album doesnt flow that well together at all. Its more like a collection of songs than an album. People on here call it a classic so there saying it in the same breath as OB4CL and LS, its nowhere near those two. there classics in every sense all the songs on those album flow together perfectly and i never skip any and that makes a classic album. And sometimes Masta gets a bit repetitive.
No you see, this is what i like about this site. Theres another site i'm on that if i posted this review and someone had disagreed about how i'd rated one of the tracks instead of 'i don't agree, but thats your opinion' it would've been 'dude, you're a fucking moron' coz they can't stay off the net beef.
Admittedly i may have penalised DTD a little harshly because i didn't like the beat.
The Future skit is top3 best track of the album to me. The beat is sick, made from a couple of seconds of the music in Five Deadly Venoms, and MK's & GZA's kids are ill!
- I'm the assassin, A-S to A-S.. A-S.. I-N..
I think the last drink track is dope. That one of my favoirte math beats right there and masta lyrics are dope.
Old Man and School were the dopest songs that year.....
it a great album, I urge people to at least give it a listen..
No Said Date
1. Born Chamber - Normally I don't talk about skits because I don't rate them, but this is just perfect. fits the clan well, I never skip it.
2. Grab the Mic - dope intro track, masta does a great job of ordering this album well, it meshes perfectly making the whole better than the sum of its parts. 4 out of 5
3. No said date - Inferno. call the fire brigade. The fans spoke loudly. 5 out of 5
4. Last Drink - theres a thread named after it, but this is just average. The beat is weak at best. 3 out of 5
5. Love Spell - This is pretty annoying, no where near as good as the elegant Queen. 2 out of 5
6. The Future - sloppy. I'm the assassin A-S..AH..A-S-A-S-IN....they get better tho. 2 out of 5
I was pretty disappointed up to this point in the album but the second half rivals any previous solo put out.
7. D.T.D. (Do the Dance) - great voice samples, beat, tony is nuts, It's a classic to me. 5 out of 5
8. Whatever - Streetlife is back with a vengeance. My favorite track on the album. Best hook in a long time. classic 5 out of 5
9. Secret Rivals - The most eclectic beat imaginable. This shit grows on you. Mef is spazzzzzola. Killah priest kills it too. classic underground 5 out of 5
11. Digi Warfare - It's a digi beat all right and a good one. Masta is incredibly on point here. I guess right now you can take a hunch, fine, I'm the ninth member of the bunch....you just moved up. 4 out of 5
12.Old Man - Fucking great sample! God I love dirty. . 4 out of 5
13. Queen - Man this is a relaxing joint. great voice sample usage. great tune 4 out of 5
14. School - This is just fantastic. beat changes, masta and rza drop knowledge. classic 5 out of 5
15. Silverbacks - deck, please save the off tune singing for ghost and u-god. otherwise this is a classic track. 5 out of 5
16. Masta Killa - Excellent Wu track. It's all masta, all great. great voice clip of bruce lee. Also a fantastic ending to the album. 5 out of 5
58 + 1 for great skit usage and + 1 for a great flowing album= 60
60/14=4.3 or just below classic status.
gets better every time listening to it
it's a Wu classic IMO...if Heist of a Century is, than this is too
but overall? an absolute banger
It grew on me real quik, didn't like it first, it's indeed a banger.
Would anyone recommend this? I never really been up on MK.
Too fuckin rite. Im sick of people callin this a classic. So its up there with LS, CL, Illmatic, Infamous, Lifestyles of Da poor & Dangerous, Paid in Full, Criminal Minded etc etc? Not a fuckin hope. Its only Wu fans who think it is, this album isnt even heard of outside the Wu fan base, let alone recognised as a classic. If this album were to come out in the early to mid 90's it would be seen as mediocre, its only coz it was released at a time of shit Wu releases and is been compared to them. Dont get me wrong its a good, solid album (3.5/5), but a classic? not a hopeQuote:
Originally Posted by Hollow Dartz
Exactly, I also feel this album ain't classic after more listens, but it's a solid effort. Lyrically I was expecting a bit more on some joints, but there was nothing exceptionally weak. People also go on bout how this album has the mid 90's feel/old wu sound, except for maybe queen, silverbacksand 1 or 2 others, the production cannot be really called classic Wu. Overall a 3.5/5 effort.
Not a fucking chance. This whole album is mid-nineties, at least thats when most of it was made. I actually think if it came out in that time period it would have been commercially way more successful and less hated upon. This is a GREAT album and the corp fans agree, most of them anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Durag
This album is great.
School Masta Killa and No Said Date are probably my fav tracks but there's loads of good stuff. Some of the production on this album is off the chain, other songs have some kinda mediocre beats but altogether a great effort from MK, with hot lyrics obviously.
EDIT: I agree with people who say it doesn't really have that classic Wu sound. But that's not a problem. I think the overall sonic feel of the album is better than 90% of all other Wu releases. The beats also sound quite polished on a lot of songs, which in the nineties was deinately not very Wu, but it's a really great sound, enhanced by the vocal samples eg. Bruce Lee ;) on Masta Killa.
That's actually Bruce Lee in his documentary about the game of death.Quote:
Originally Posted by WuGambino
Okay I couldn't resist I just had to do a track by track review...
Intro: I'm not gonna rate it but it's a nice intro to the album.
Grab The Mic: This is a good way to kick the CD off, but it never really excited me. 3/5
No Said Date: Okay, now this song is just bananas! As with most of the top songs on this album, it has a RZA beat. And a very good one at that. The chorus, simple as it is, is classic Wu in the way it's just a simple chant but it gets you hyped as fuck. Maybe my fav song on the album. 5/5
Last Drink: The way the vocal sample is cut before the beat comes in just sounds wierd. The beat is ehh. Sonically it's on the same vibe as the two tracks before it, I like it more than Grab The Mic, but it's nothing on NSD. Vocal samples sound dope in the chorus though, I just kinda wished they'd have let it play withought the chops for the intro. The skit at the end might even be my favourite part of this song lol, but it moves the sound of the album away from how it started.3.5/5
Love Spell: Blah. Reminiscent of some of the songs on MIB with too much gay singing (I know this came first). Ruins the run of the album so far with the rich kind of oriental beats.2/5
The Future (Skit): Lol. Praying Mantis. Better beat than Love Spell. The Wu kids are a nice touch, adds a fun innocence to the album. I'm not gonna rate it but it's a nice interlude.
D.T.D: At first I didn't like this track... but it comes equipped with a smooth beat, the emcees are nice. It is a marked improvement from Love Spell. Solid track I guess. 3/5
Whatever: The style of the song is just a little cliched for me. Wu can churn these tracks out in their sleep. Three emcees, vocal sample, etc. etc. - i can't help but bop my head and smile at the lyrics when I listen to it though3/5
Secret Rivals: Love the snare on this track. KP's flow is meh here, but gets better as the verse goes on. Meth is better I think, but his voice annoys me a bit. MK is like KP for me, don't know if it's the right beat for either of them. 3/5
Skit: And now we go back the the real hot shit.
Digi Warfare: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... I always theought this was a RZA beat but apparently not, great beat though. Party lyrics and shout outs tot he DJs. "Feat. U-God & RZA" always annoyed me about this track... would of loves a verse each from them, would have brought an even better old school vibe to the track. 4/5
Old Man: Dun dun dun dun duuuun... Accompanied by one of the greatest music videos ever, you cannot help but love Ol' Dirty. This track has an absolute trunk of funk! MK & RZA flow nicely on this, it's just so feel good, probably with a lot of thanks to ODB giving everyone a laugh in the studio. 4.5/5 Doggy, doggy, we'll steal your booone!
Queen: Puts Love Spell to shame. The song has a very 'silky' feel. Typical Wu again with the vocal sample but it's really good so it doesn't matter. 3.75/5
School: Great intro and outro. Has the same vibe as Digi Warfare to me. I always used to think it was boring untill the beat switched up and RZA came in, but now I prefer it at the start. Okay I'm gonna say this is my favourite song on the album. RZA & MK drop knowledge. "Tag a Wu Logo on the book margin" haha I've done that so many times in school. 5/5
Silverbacks: Typical Wu-Tang but with GZA, INS and MK on a song together I have no right to complain about anything. I think the singing at the start was a nice touch. "I Drank with the Devil and ate with the reverand." I love GZA. 4.9/5
Masta Killa: I have no fucking clue about who Baby Dooks is but this beat is FIRE! Bruce Lee is an incredible touch. Maybe my fav 'kung fu' style sample on any Wu album ever. MK doeos not disappoint, 'figure out the riddle'. 5/5 Ends the album perfectly.
I guess overall that makes 49.65/13 = 3.8/5 Solid album.
A near perfect debut from the 'MC Assassin' great album, great features, great Wu-Tang beats & Grab The Mic, Masta Killa, Last Drin &* No Said Date are unbelivable solo joints.
D.T.D. is crazy with the Otis Reading sample (Ghostface rips this up)
Secret Rivals is a real dark tey bouncy tracks Method & Priest is a unreal cobination, School is Genius with the switch up with the beat RZA goes off on one, and Silverbacks is just on some next level.
The one thing I would have prefered waould have been if this album was more dark like say liquid swords Masta Killa would shine on that sort of record
but "No Said Date" still remains a CLASSIC in my opinion none the less.
I just listened to the full album front to back 2 times.
I forgot Old Man was on there... the video was funny, lol.
But yeah, I think this shit was a banger. Its definitely a good album to chill to and play in the background. Its also good to ride to.
Lyrics on point and production was tight.
I like how at the end of school they played Pac saying he wanted Wu to be on his lable. 2Pac and Wu were cool back in the day.
I'm careful calling it a classic because I have to see how long its gonna last with me... so I say banger for now.
iv had it in my car the last 2 days. Its funny when my friends get in who never heard the album, feelin the shit outta it.
Yea mastas first album is dope maybe not a classic but close to. also because the album take u thru so many diffrent levels n he fucks with a lotta nice producers word. but his second album diddent reach close to the hights of no said date, i was very dissapointet actually, though there was mad bangers on it.
man, masta killed this one.. don't know why some of ya trippin' bout..
personal classic.
Damn, I gotta be honest!
I been bumpin this on the way to and from work for the last week.
That last song goes hard with the Bruce Lee interview talking about water.
'don't think....feeeel'
I was thinkin' the other day just how fuckin' dope this album is. It's classic shit IMO. Infinitely better than Made In Brooklyn, did not like that album. Put this in my whip today.
Ayo.. what up cats .. i'm new to the forum .. but i readin this whole thread.. and though i'm one of the biggest supporters of Masta Killa..and Wu Tang in general.. since i was a 14 years old back in '93 ((the Greatest music group of all time ..barnone)).. i gotta say.. this album while not being terrible .. is nowhere near a classic in any respect ..nor does it take it anywhere near ol skool Wu roots....it had sooo much potential
for a wu tang album this is lackluster.. especially being that we WAITED for how many years for this man to release a solo LP.. NAH.. this album aint up to par wit what MK is capable of.. in no regards.. overall
1.. grab the mic... beat is type dope.. but MK's delivery is SOOOO WEAK.. i thought he was talking to us.. gettin ready to rhyme before i realized he was already 10 bars in.. LOL
2.. no said date.. beat was kiiinda nice.. but it had no true architecture.. it was just a thrown together RZA beat..and yet again ..MK's flow is ..ehhh.. iwas bored.. lyrics is nice always.. but flow is.. TIRED!! i love you MK ..but nah
3... last drink.. beat once again type dope.. could have been a banga.. Masta actualy comes type strong on this track.. but the track has no true architecture to it.. its just the beat goin and goin.. no DJ mixin.. nor drops .. no production variation in it.. but it is a tight track otherwise
4.... love spell...siiigh... love spell.. WEAK.. the WU was notorious for making DOPE ASS songs about the females.. but this is weak.. cute lil' beat.. but nah.. no wu tang flavor.. the chorus is WEAK.. WEAK.. no type of strength in the delivery..
5... the future.. this is where i got PISSED... this BEAT IS DOPE.. and should have been an intro track mixed wit kung fu flick snippets wit masta killin it
it has that true masta killa ninja essence and could have been much more.. but instead its wasted on his kids ..while cute.. is just a waste and a sign of what could have been if only somebody was awoke during album direction
6..DTD.. dope ass BEAT.. and overall track.. it sounded like it was pulled from an upcoming GFK album.. but masta wanted it so ghost said aight!! tru master did this beat nice.. one of the best tracks on the album.. masta was the weakest delivery wise
7...whatever... DOPE BEAT.. dope guest wu heads.. dope verses.. straight up wu vibe.. me likey.. even masta sounds like he felt like rhyming.. good work.. dope track
8... SECRET RIVAL...SUUUUUUUUUUUU... MMM. DOPE ASS.. BEAT.. MAAAN.. this beat is EVIL.. straight up masta killa WU sound.. TRU did his thing on the mixboards.. fuckin' killah priest.. KILLED IT.. meth, though sounding a lil commercial.. did his thing on this track.. still wu tang nigga.. masta killa held his own..but havin killah priest goin before you on any track is not wise because you gonna have to kick the verse of your life to stay on par .. but i love this track.. by fave joint on the WHOLE album
9... Digi warfare..... hmmm.. this is a article in some magazine.. how can i put this.. AWESOME BEAT.... it took me back to the early '80's on some planet rock joint.. THIS TRACK SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WU GENERAL CYPHA TRACK!!!! FROM MASTA 2 RAE 2 EVEN CAPPA.. this could have been the summer WU BANGA of 2004.. masta did ok holdin it down solo on this track.. but everytime i listen to it.. i get sad.. because im reminded of what could have been if someone ((RZA)).. was paying attention when this track was being made.. nice beat choco!!
10...old man.. LOL.. hilarious..ol' dirt steals the show on this track.. and the main reason i like this track.. RIP man.. the beat is dope.. and is wu.. but the way rza sampled it and mixed it could have been a bit more complex... he just let the beat ride.. and it didnt have any of that TLC i'd expect from the abbott
but overall the track was still tight!!!
11.... queen... ehhh.. beat was aiiiiiight.. eh.. weak.. delivery was average.. flow average.. beat average.. did they even try with this track.. niggaz sounded lazy on this joint.. production ..verses.. niggaz must've been partying the prior night.. i expect so much from the WU.. so i cant accept anything less ..forgive me!! i dont like it at all!!
12... school... SLAMMIN'!!! SLAMMIN!! .. this is a WU TRACK.. and most of all its a MASTA KILLA TRACK.. this is what i expect.. from the WU.. no less.. STUPID DOPE.. RZA even kicked a ILL VERSE.. when the last time that happened..?? masta ripped it ninja style in the beginning.. dope delivery.. dope energy.. dope presence.. WU TANG NIGGA!!!
13... silverbacks... STRAIGHT UP WU BANGA!!! DECK AN GZA DID IT straight up NYC style.. ILL BEAT.. ILL WU VERSES.. the feel good ghetto banga and GZA ended it off right..masta kicked a dope verse..though masta killa was ending too many tracks too weak on this LP
this is one the MOST TRUE WU TANG TRACKS on the LP and in this era ...CLASSIC!!
14.. Masta Killa.. EH..??? .. i'm confused.. uh.. why would the last track.. named after you .. be one of the weakest ..most unorganized sounding tracks i've ever heard from a wu general.. using bruce lee's voice on this SUBPAR track is unacceptable..damn near sacrilige!! this is a HORRIBLE WAY TO END YOUR FIRST LP..THAT WE'VE ALL WAITED 11 YEARS FOR!!! Bad Form!!! YUCK!!
so overall.. this album.. while having potential to be an IMPORTANT entry into the WU saga along the lines of Supreme Clientele.. it winds up instead to be just another dissapointment from one of my fave WU members.. me and MK share the same birth day august 18th.. so i was disappointed that while he had a couple ((literally)) of bangaz.. it lacked overall cohesion and vision .. it really felt thrown together and thrown out like a pimp and his ho.. make that money bitch.. this album is rarely played in whole in my rotation.. those few tracks i liked are on a mixtape i made for wu tracks..
i hope i shed some light and enlightened some fans ..and i hope i have people that agree with my rating... overall for a WU album this album gets 2.5..3 mics
at the most..mainly because his second LP "made in brooklyn" was such a dud it made this album look waay better in comparison... peace
This is the definition of a weak album.
:clap: BRAVOOOOO, no pack your bags and go back to the madhouseQuote:
Originally Posted by Medical Examina
Can't believe you'd give it 2.5!Quote:
Originally Posted by NinjaBlakk
I personally love the tracks No Said Date, Masta Killa and Queen. I can't believe the amount you attack Masta Killa, pretty much everyone I know loves that track. Definately not a classic, but enough great songs to make it a banger.
bump
how do you guys rate this album now as to when it first dropped?
I still think it was solid and a must for every MK fan.
I still think almost all the tracks are great, but I don't really listen to it often. It may well be because I od on Wu-Tang over the years, and don't listen to that much of them in general these days.
i'd say its gone from a 10 to a 9.5 for me maybe. because of having an ipod i dont listen to full albums as much as when i just had CDs but when i do run this album on the ipod from start to finish i enjoy it nearly as much as when it first came out.
I still feel like the album doesn't get into gear until track 6 (except the dope No Said Date).
This Album Was Tight Then And Is Still Tight Now
I dunno, i was never a huge fan of this album. To be honest i havent listend to it in a few years, but then i dont really listen to Wu that often any more.
Like i said before it has some great tracks, but as an album, it just doesnt go that well together. Its more like a collection of songs. id give it 6.5/10. Its good, theres no doubt about it, but not amazing, and DEFINITLY not classic, like some people say
dope album. should have came out before 2000, when Masta Killa would have received some attention. Now many of the songs are unknown to the broader hip hop audience.
p.s. and yes, School should have been a Wu Tang track - shit is fucking brilliant.