Wu-Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams
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Free Music Notes for 8 Diagrams
Free Music Review: Hip-hop elders create a bleak marvel
Hit: 4 Stars
Hip-hop is no country for old men. Pop music in general doesn't take kindly to fogies, but if you're a rapper, the options are especially slim: There's no Starbucks to help get your Paul McCartney on, no casino where you can get your Celine Dion on, no Broadway where you can get your Billy Joel on, not even a Rick Rubin to help you get your Johnny Cash on. For the majority of hip-hop's seniors (roughly, MCs age 35 and up) there are just varying shades of death to choose from: crankiness, irrelevance, Celebrity Fit Club and plain-old, unglamorous death itself.
There are probably kids doing the Crank That who have never even heard of the Wu-Tang Clan. Unlike the Notorious B.I.G., their early-'90s contemporary, the Staten Island Crew didn't suffer a tragic, legend-making end, nor did they inspire a generation of Wu-Cadets the way Christopher Wallace inspired so many Little Biggies. No nine-man, numerology-obsessed posses have sprung up in their wake: Nobody has dared to be that bizarre.
And yet, despite the odds, their fifth album is arrestingly, chillingly good. It doesn't include any overblown claims of invincibility; instead, it's a haunted house where samples shiver, floorboards creak and the scariest ghosts of all are the flinty-eyed MCs telling decades-old tales of desperation and violence with smoldering immediacy, like they're cursed to relive them endlessly. Here, Wu-Tang don't defy death; they fall into a grim lockstep with it.
8 Diagrams might be the quietest hip-hop album ever made. RZA, who produced 13 songs and coproduced the other two, cultivates a sinister hush throughout; gone are the spine-snap snares and street-mob chants of 36 Chambers, the synth sleaze of Forever and the brassy funk of The W and Iron Flag. The beats are ashen and skeletal, like the charred remains of a fire, and come laced with fantastic details: rattling chains, spindly guitar peals, warped toms and on and on. RZA has always been hip-hop's reigning minimalist, but his work scoring films--Kill Bill, most recently--seems to have strengthened his ear for ambiance and texture. "Gun Will Go" opens with some exuberant soul, then gives way to an icy two-note bassline and Method Man's evocation of some nightmarish urban nature preserve: "This is Poverty Island, man, these animals don't run/Slums where the ambulance don't come."
Method Man, who spent the past decade mutating from group hotshot into a poor man's Wayans brother, sounds especially rejuvenated. His voice is a corroded, serrated wonder, and for the first time in years he delivers rhymes to match. Raekwon, long negligible, returns to form, too, with thrilling true-crime raps. Unsurprisingly, the most virtuosic turn belongs to Ghostface, who's enjoying a seven-year hot streak. On "The Heart Gently Weeps," which ingeniously jacks the Beatles, he stages a chaotic shootout in a Pathmark that moves from the dairy section--"Damn, I got milk on my Clark's"--to the cleaning- supply aisle--"Shots was whizzing, hitting Clorox bottles!"
Which leaves the Other Guys: GZA, whose brags unfold in careful paragraphs, excitable Inspectah Deck, dead-calm Masta Killa and rumbling U-God. Like affable cousins at a family reunion, you don't want to get stuck in conversation with them for too long, but it wouldn't be the same party without them.
Someone, of course, isn't here, and it's easy to read the album's ghostly fog as a response to Ol' Dirty Bastard's fatal 2004 overdose. After the final song, an ODB freestyle from the early '90s revs up unexpectedly and, for a minute, it's as though that rowdy MC has cheated death. In hip-hop, it's tough to grow old, but that doesn't mean you can't live forever.
Free Music Review: Save your money!
Hit: 1 Stars
Listen fellas. This is nothing like the Wu of old. They went a whole nother' route with this peice. If you want my advice, save your money. I got one decent song out of it. While their beats are still tight, the lyrics are dead. There's better hip-hop out there; way better. This album is dull den' a mug'. Free Music Review: Not 36 Chambers but good in it's own ways
Hit: 5 Stars
When people heard the Wu was coming with a new album, they were all expecting another 36 chambers. News flash people: there will never be another 36 Chambers. It's like people wanting another Illmatic from NaS. It's just not going to happen.
The clan's lyrics have really evolved over the years as well. If you listen to the lyrics on 36 Chambers, they're raw but in the same sense, a little immiture. That's what I noticed the most about 8 Diagrams. The Wu's lyrics are so much more cohesive and mature. RZA, GZA, Ghostface, Raekwon & Masta Killa really shine in this sense.
Now the production on this album is really an aqquired taste. You either love it or hate it. Personally, I like the more laid back beats a little better than some of RZA's harder beats. RZA's been doing a lot of movie scores lately and he obviously used that on this album. He's going for a more worldly, instrument-laden production scheme (many of the songs include electric guitars, violins, pianos etc.)
1. Campfire 8/10-Starts off with the always classic kung fu sample. Method starts it off with a dope verse followed by Ghost who comes correct. Cappadonna is also on this song which shows that he is now the closest member to the wu since the passing of ODB.
2. Take It Back 9/10-One of the few songs that take you back to the old Wu days. Nice simple beat with some great lyrics
3. Get Them Out Ya Way Pa 8.5/10- Nice beat from RZA. Perfect example of the new production on this album. Powerful but suddle. Method Man has a nice verse, and U-God shows off his great flow which is really in effect on this album with Ghostface and Raekwon taking on the chorus.
4. Rushing Elephants 10/10-This track really grows on you. Great production and use of horns. This is classic Wu Tang material. Five verses-No Chorus. Takes a couple listens to really comprehend all the lyrics
5.Unpredictable 9.5/10- Chaotic production but it works well. Inspectah Deck comes with his specialty: a great kick off verse. RZA drops some dope rhymes too.
6. The Heart Gently Weeps 10/10-My personal favourite track on the album, a remake of the Beatles song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". Its got George Harrison's son , Dhani and the Red Hot Chilli Pepper's John Frusciante on the guitar and Erykah Badu on the chorus. Raekwon has a great verse along with Method Man but Ghostface steals the show. Absolutely amazing verse that has to be heard to believed.
7. Wolves 10/10- One of the darker sounding songs on the album. Great verses all around with George Clinton holding down the chorus.
8. Gun Will Go 9/10- A really quite, slow beat from RZA with some great use of the violin. Really sounds cinematic. Nice chorus
9. Sunlight 9.5/10-A solo track from RZA. A song dedicated to 5% teachings/Allah and muslim. Good lyrics from the Abbott
10. Stick Me For My Riches 10/10- Starts out a bit slow with over a minute of singing but once the verses come this song gets kicked up a notch. This song has a "Mo Money Mo Problems" message and great verses all around especially RZA & Method Man
11. Starter 6/10- Really the only song on the album that I don't like. Has a R&B crossover sound to it. Mainly consists of the clan rapping about girls. Skipable
12. Windmill 9/10- RZA comes with another suddle beat that really grabs you're attention. No chorus just the clan going at it for 4 and a half minutes. Great Song.
13. Weak Spot 10/10- Probably the closest thing to 36 Chambers on this album. Complete with hard beat, kung fu samples and hard hitting lyrics. RZA really shines on this track.
14. Life Changes 10/10- Tribute track to ODB with a verse from every member (except Ghostface) clocking in at over 7 minutes. Really moving. The best verses come from GZA, RZA, Method Man, U-God and Inspectah Deck. The track ends with a man talking mandarin for the last minute.
Overall a great album. I'm looking forward to the solo efforts from the wu in the upcoming year.
Best Tracks:
The Heart Gently Weeps
Weak Spot
Life Changes
Wolves
Stick Me For My Riches
Rushing Elephants
Free Music Review: An Unwelcomed Triumph
Hit: 5 Stars
The Wu-Tang Clan have the worst fans. Every new release they come with is always met with a huge wave of criticism. Even the all hailed "Enter the Wu-tang (36 chambers)" was met with mixed reviews, thats why I think its hilarious to keep hearing how fans were let down because this album doesn't sound like "36 chambers." They over analyze the whole album over and over trying to find the qualities of "36 Chambers" until years pass and they finally get it. "36 chambers" was 15 years ago and listeners knocking them for not coming old school are obviously shallow minded overall musically. I've always felt since 97's "Wu-Tang Forever" that the Clan stopped moving forward CREATIVELY. "Wu-Tang Forever" was completely different from "Enter the Wu-tang." It was met with mixed reviews and now is regarded by some as their best album. Ever since then its seems like the Clan had gone down the simple path. "The W" was a good album but it almost sounds like it came out before "Wu-Tang Forever." It was simple with a more known hiphop sound and didn't push the envelope musically. "Iron Flag" was dull and is the only one i don't own. on "iron flag" it seemed like they were trying to recreate that old school feel and failed. My friends asked me if i was excited about the new album and i responded with this statement "For the last two albums its just been these simple "the wu is back yah yah" songs and no direction. I want album that has a theme and goes it's own way and doesn't try to please the average hiphopper."
8 Diagrams emerges out of all these expectations and completely knocks me out with the left hook.
For me 8 diagrams continues right where "forever" left off. Its dark yet musically it touches on every genre. It is polished and mixed impeccably . The lyrics are flawless and this is definitely one of RZA's best work. He definitely took control and adds a sense of professionalism on 8 diagrams. I've never been this excited about a new album ever.
CAMPFIRE An excellent kung fu sample. mixed with an unpredictable sample from curtis mayfield and the Impression's "Gypsy Woman." I love that song, so for me to hear RZA turn that classic into some grimey hits is remarkable. he adds some eerie sound effetcs that make me feel like i'm being kidnapped into outer space. This is some different stuff I love it!! The singing is an excerpt of the chorus from "Gypsy Woman" RZA's trying to paint a late night clan gathering. Here comes the caravan...
5/5
TAKE IT BACK You can't go wrong with Easy Bee productions. Imagine Biggie's "Ready to Die" With Wu-tang. Thats exactly what this song is. We go back to 94 on this one. Ghostface delivers and impeccable verse. 5/5
GET EM OUT THE WAY- This whole bass line and method man flowing like a sinister madman takes me back to Wu-tang Forever's "visions" but it has a 2007 flavor to it especially with the chorus which i've heard has been met with a lot of criticism. i don't see the problem its a laid back grimey track. 5/5
RUSHING ELEPHANTS- Classic. This is an incredible beat that takes me back to Lord of the Rings! Intelligent rhymes from everybody with a superb beat change that narrates the whole song amazingly. songs like this are why i love hip-hop. my mind is in a movie!! 5/5
UNPREDICTABLE- by far the most controversal song since the rough draft version was leaked early. in the leaked version it was far simplier. but here we have a crazy fusion of music. we got guitars and a slasher flick sample giving my mind grave images of bodies being hacked to pieces and i love it! whats wrong with guitars? remember RUN DMC? this song is crazy and Inspectah deck rips this song to shreds. yeah! The chorus is challenging to listen to especially during the middle. rh singing has a sound effect that sounds like dude fell into a well and it throws me off a little. nevertheless Decks's verse and those quitars gives this song many spins. 4/5
THE HEART WEEPS-At first the song was hard for me to listen to because i love the original song by the Beatles and i hate remakes. but these guys really come off on this. it's funny more than anything else the end result is very musical. This song feels live and i love the Red Hot Chili Peppers dude on guitar. 4/5
WOLVES-Awesome track with George Clinton! this song summons up 8 diagrams perfectly! its classical music plus funk plus bullfighter music plus wu-tang! this track is amazing production wise. it sounds really dark and grimey but it shines like a polished dance shoe. 5/5
GUN WILL GO- this one takes me back to Wu-tang Forever this song is like "visions" straight grimey beat. a lot of people don't like the chorus simply because it is being sung. i love the singing but it wouldn't be anything without that eeire violin playing in the back. the dude is singing to the violin and the end result is a wild ride where different musical styles complement each other. this is a street banger that sounds like a movie where someone has no choice but to shed blood in the presence of his community. the old funk sample with the kids singign mixed with those dark keyboard sounds make this a truely intricate song 5/5
SUNLIGHT-Thank you RZA for making this straight up poetic track. this song is filled with impeccable rhymes. intricate detail by they RZa as he expresses his love for God. the peat is really simple bur still beautiful musically. it sounds like i'm at a poetry slam with blues players singing in the background. i love the addition of the kung fu samples. this is classic wu-tang. this is what they are all about. classic 5/5
STICK ME FOR MY RICHES-When i first heard this song, it was really challenging because of the singing but then I realized that the dude singing was GERALD ALSTON FROM THE MANHATTANS!!! this aint no new teenie bopper this is a legend. the beat is grimey but when method man begins his verse he takes all the r n b elements right out the song with his cold heartless rhyme! its like he snapped me back into the cold world. GZA also rips it.this song is hated because the singing takes part of the center stage but he aint singing about some happy nonsense. the lyrics being sung are really hardcore. "i'm tired of eating cheese sandwhiches with no meat!" amen to that 5/5
STARTER-this is the only song i have to skip. i hate remakes and the original "Afro Samurai" song destroys this and thats all i have to say. this song was a step backward. never should have been a love song and that chorus is unfitting. 2/5
WINDMILL-back on track! this song is awesome. it has a sample from "nancy sinatra's "bang bang" of the kill bill soundtrack and features the Red Hot Chilli Peppers lead guitarist. the result is a true triumph for me as a wu-tang fan. i love this song 5/5
WEAK SPOT-more classic wu-tang! This is like a sequel to "Bells of War" similar drum set but the main instrumental is some eerie violins that sound like the ninjas invading! this is a flawless track 5/5
LIFE CHANGES-i must say that this is one of the best tribute songs ive ever heard. its a very genuine song. the sample that was chosen was perfect. "I've gone through pretending. That time will change the ending" what a perfect sample for ol dirty [...]. when i hear that i SEE ODB. when i heard these guys talk about him i could see it. i remember watching the grammy's when ODB snatched the mic and said wu was for the children. Its a really sad song that wasn't trying to be "deep", its authentic emotion. The piano is simple and sad. perfect ending to a near perfect album. 5/5
**mp3 SINGLE**
WARTCH YOU MOUTH-if this song was on the retail version of the album i think i would have passed out from the overdose of illness. we got all members rapping over an eerie classical violin. ghost had his best verse ever on this and everyone ripped it to pieces. it was a great promotional tool to have this as a internet single because when i bought the album i didn't hear any songs. it was completely fresh and unknown. classic 5/5
overall 4.5/5 a near flawless album filled with fusions of all musical genres with the true wu-tang soul at its hear. rza shows hoe much he has grown as a producer since scoring films. he his definitely the mastermind of this project.
Wu-fans will keep debating this album for years until that one day when their c-dr version of the album ends up having all the songs from the retail version. i don't know why wu fans overanalyze everything. maybe its because they love them so much. its shame especially when fans od mediocre rappers swallow everything clowns like souljah boy and 50 cent throw em. hiphop aint dead cuz wu-tang is forever.
NOW GO DOWNLOAD THE MP3 SINGLE FROM THE ALBUM "WATCH YOUR MOUTH"
Free Music Review: Wu-Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams
Hit: 4 Stars
Wu-Tang Clan's fifth studio album "8 Diagrams" (2007) has the eight man group of Rza, Gza, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, U-God & Masta Killa making a fine return after a six year hiatus from group albums, previously recorded material from O'l Dirty Bastard (R.I.P.) is included on this release. Method Man, Ghostface Killah & Wu-Tang affiliate Cappadonna get their audience hyped on the album's opener "Campfire" which samples Curtis Mayfield's "Gypsy Woman". My favorite track on this release is without a doubt the seven minute tribute title cut "Life Changes" where the Wu show their love for ODB in an excellent dedication, backed by a Freda Payne sample (The Road We Didn't Take). The lead single on this album is "The Heart Gently Weeps" the track samples an original Beatles track (While My Guitar Gently Weeps) and features vocals from the talented Erykah Badu. Raekwon, Ghostface Killah & Method Man shine on this entertaining track. Another standout for me is "Stick Me For the Riches" which has Method Man, Inspectah Deck, RZA, GZA dropping on point lyrics backed by some distinctive vocals from Gerald Alston. The album's closer "16th Chamber" (ODB Special) features previously recorded material from Ol Dirty Bastard & Method Man, ODB's one of a kind style had this reviewer nodding. This album does have some material which I skip over, on the whole though it vibes well. RZA's production and use of creative sampling throughout definitely enhances "8 Diagrams" a solid album worth adding to the collection.