Originally Posted by
Illgod
Peace yo. I normally don't add on, but I will on this one. In my opinion, Rae (And Ghost in the past), were out of line dissing "A Better Tomorrow" and 8 Diagrams. Especially considering the fact that they're on the albums yo. It doesn't make any sense. First and foremost, they held up their involvement with the albums for various reasons (One most certainly being their critiques), then got on at the last minute as if everything was resolved, only to diss the records afterwards. If I was the interviewer interviewing Rae I would have responded, "But aren't you on this album? So what you're saying is, you're soft and boring." Same as for when Ghost was dissing 8 Diagrams yo. I agree with a lot of people on the site that this is embarrassing. However, it's not because of the quality of the music. It's because of this type of shit yo. The Wu have always considered themselves a brotherhood. And they have always looked with respect to The Rza as their unofficial leader. With that said, we all know that families have issues, but all of the going at The Rza in public by certain members (Not everyone) has been embarrassing. Especially considering the fact that The Rza is an enormous part in why Wu-Tang is, and has always been so great in the first place. But yo it's very telling that several members don't even rep their own brand. And it's mostly the same one's dissing and complaining about The Rza too. They talk about protecting and repping the brand right, when you can barely find a "W" on their solo shit, let alone hear Wu come out of their mouths in an interview for promotional purposes, or even just for a shout out. Wu-Affiliates and fans rep the "W" harder. But in the midst of all of this, there is The Rza yo. In the midst of all this bullshit of even having to sometimes respond to defend himself and the brand, he's still repping Wu to the fullest. I hardly ever see The Rza without a Wu hat, jacket or something repping. And he's (Along with other members) always mentions the Wu in interviews, still promoting the "W" yo. Even though he's been criticized not just by a few members, but by fans as well. I love all of the clan albums yo. For those out there claiming that The Rza changed, or that his new production doesn't sound like back in '93, I agree, it doesn't. Nor should it though. Nothing else does either. Nothing stays the same. Even "36 Chambers" didn't sound the same. When it dropped The Rza was doing something new then, just as he has done with every album since. If you don't like it, that's cool. I just think that people should base their reasoning for disliking it on something other than, it's not the same. Also, it's amazing how clan members talk or complain about the "Wu Sound." Especially considering the fact that it's the fans that value this sound more than the clan themselves (With the exception of The Rza). Check it out yo, the Wu sound was created by The Rza is The Rza as well as his students True Master, 4th Disciple, Allah Mathematics and later on Bronze Nazareth. Cilvaringz is an ill Wu producer too, but again like Bronze, he came on later. So in that case, for this analysis I'll leave Bronze and Ringz out because they came on later as a result of The Rza and quite possibly weren't known too well by the rest of the clan at first. With that said, you still have 4 (including The Rza) Wu family producers that without a doubt everybody knew from the beginning. And I'm sure a lot of people on here will agree with me that these are 4 of the illest producers on the planet. The Rza to me is the illest producer ever yo. But with 4 of the illest producers in the family, how many clan members (with the exception of the first wave of solos, and I'll even through in "No Said Date") have worked with them to fully produce any of their albums. Not one yo. And I would find it very hard to believe that they tried, and tried but it that it was due to the lack of wanting to on behalf of the Wu-Elements behalf. I don't believe that. It's because the clan members themselves don't value the sound established by the The Rza and the Wu-Elements. Especially not like the fans do. If they did, would have been going to that well until it was dry yo. I understand showing love to other producers every now and then, but why shop around so much when you have the illest shit at home. Again, it's been evident that they just don't value the sound. If they did The Rza would have fully produced more of their solos. The only albums that 4th Disciple has produced fully would not just be Killarmy's. The only albums that Allah Mathematics has fully produced would not just be his solo compilations. And the only album fully produced by True Master wouldn't be for a non Wu-Tang member, as in KRS-One. They don't even have albums fully produced by just two Wu producers. Instead, they have dropped a slew of mixtapes disguised as albums over the years with 20 producers on 20 tracks while the fans have scratched their heads as to why there's only just one or two measly tracks on there produced by The Rza, or any other Wu-Element. Maybe you might find one on there every now and then. Just like you might find a "W" if you look hard and long enough. More often than not it won't be a Wu "W" though. Again, I love all of the clan albums yo. I love the "Wu Sound," and the fact that The Rza arranges and produces those albums with some help from the Wu-Elements, that's what we get, the true "Wu Sound." It's ironic and phony that Raekwon, Ghost and other members can even open their mouths and complain about the sound not being right or not being 'Wu," when not only do they not value the "Wu Sound," but they don't even value their own brand. They talk as if they want to make sure that the "W" is represented right. However, they don't even rep the "W." Instead, they intentionally drop their albums the same day or week and do interviews and diss their own group album with the "W" attached. All the while promoting their own albums where the closest thing that you will find to a "W", or any promotion of the Wu period is in the thank yous, if that. Or in Rae's case if one of his commercial, wack garbage features shouts the Wu out because he won't. But they care so much about the "W" brand though. Again, this is what's been embarrassing. Peace to The Rza yo. And peace to the clan and what the "W" represents. I hope for more music, but with the right support from everybody. And without all of the foolishnesses yo, word up!
