Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai - The Album

Our Price: $16.93
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.76 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases

Music CD Cover

Free Music Notes for Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai - The Album

Free Music Review: Live By The Code, Die By The Code
Hit: 5 Stars

This is not your typical Wu-Tang album although nearly everybody around the 9 men hip-hop posse makes a guest appearance and even the Clan itself reunites for one track, although not in its strongest line-up (GZA and Deck would have been nice on this). It sounds more like an experimental hip-hop album but still manages to catch the spirit of the movie it's based on. The album has 12 tracks and 7 'Samurai Code Quotes' that connect the soundtrack to the movie in a very discreet way. Due to their length, only a few seconds, they don't disturb the record's melodical flux.

There's no real standout track one the album but also no wack filler. And while some of the best vocal acrobats take their turn serious you can discover a lot of interesting and fascinating sounds and musical elements compiled by Bobby Steels. Sunz Of Man's Strange Eyes comes with an almost jazzy beat and is dominated by the singing of 62nd Assassin and Blue Raspberry. Don't Test by Suga Bang Bang is a slow-paced, laid-back, meditational reggae/hip-hop anthem that in fact urges you to close your eyes and dive into Ghost Dog's world while Tekitha lets him walk through the darkness over an 70's disco-inspired beat. Another highlight is the energetic Cakes, a duet between Kool G Rap and The RZA who also provides the chorus on North Star's 4 Sho Sho which is already a Wu classic. Stay With Me is a great anthem about urban loneliness once again dominated by a female singer, Melodie. Masta Killa & Superb spark some friction on The Man and Jeru The Damaja together with Afu-Ra lay down some lyrics over a recycled Tical beat in the background. The RZA then closes out the album with Samurai Showdown on a strong note proving that he's not just a top notch producer.

Although it's a very good album, Ghost Dog is not without flaws. Almost everybody heard on the album is better than shown here with La The Darkman as the best (or worst?) example being disappointing. Even the Clan track Fast Shadow with an accelerated Shadowboxin' sample doesn't impress that much. With the exception of Method Man and RZA, the other members have already thrown much better darts. The same counts for Black Knights, Masta Killa and Jeru & Afu-Ra.

Despite those few critical points the record is well-reasoned and excellently executed with RZA recreating the magic of former releases between '93 and '97. Its atmospheric density is rarely heard in these days. With the release of Ghost Dog (his brilliant sampling and beat changing carry the album) The RZA manifests his ambitions of claiming the throne of one of the most influential producers of all time.

Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai - The Album Poster

Pop Music CDs

• Music > Styles
• Rap & Hip-Hop
• Soundtracks