Wu-Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams
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Free Music Notes for 8 Diagrams
Free Music Review: A new direction...
Hit: 4 Stars
One cannot deny that the Wu-Tang have shaped Hip Hop over the years, and they will go down in history as one of the most influential and innovative artists of all time. Lackluster releases and internal strife have marred the Wu over the years, and many fans (me included) figured that the Wu-Tang Clan was done with.
Enter "8 Diagrams", the new studio album featuring all of the original members of the Wu (minus ODB). I'm not going to lie: its hard to listen to new Wu-tang tracks without thinking about the good ol' days of "Enter the Wu-Tang" and "Wu-Tang Forever"; those two albums were the pinnacle of the Wu-Tang Clan. "8 Diagrams", while not their best release is certainly worlds ahead of their last two albums "The W" and "The Iron Flag". Rza's production is more mature and influenced by R&B and Soul, and much of the Wu's trademark rugged style is missing, replaced by a more high-end production. The beats are pretty tight, however there are only a few memorable ones; though my head was nodding for a good chunk of the album.
Lyrically, the Wu is as tight as they can be at this point in their career - lets face it, this ain't the old days and they can't spit like they used to. The lyrics are tight, and each member is, for the most part on point (there are a few whack verses), but sadly there are some throw-away tracks on here.
Wu-Tang heads will certainly cop this. To the casual listener: this album is equal parts quality and filler.
Free Music Review: Witty Wu Tang is Unpredictable! Witty Wu Tang Is Unpredictable!
Hit: 4 Stars
I was introduced to the Wu Tang Clan when one of my boys from high school purchased the cassette single to "Protect Ya Neck/Method Man". I was impressed by the MCs and the production on both tracks. Wu Tang Clan released their debut CD Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in 1993. You could play the whole CD in its entirety and my favorite tracks ended up being "C.R.E.A.M.", "Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'", "Bring Da Ruckus", "Wu Tang: 7th Chamber" and "Can It All Be So Simple", as well as "Protect Ya Neck" and "Method Man". After Wu Tang would release 6 singles for their debut CD, they started their 1st round of solo CDs with releases from Method Man, ODB, Raekwon, GZA and Ghostface. Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx featured Ghostface on the majority of the tracks and was my favorite Wu Tang solo CD, as well as, GZA's Liquid Swords.
In 1997, Wu Tang would release their 2nd group CD Wu-Tang Forever. My favorite tracks were the 1st single "Triumph", "Reunited", "A Better Tomorrow", "Bells Of War", "Hellz Wind Staff" and "Duck Season". The project would have been better served as 1 CD, but it stayed in heavy rotation for me for a long time. 3 years later the Wu released their 3rd CD The W.
This release wasn't as good as their previous 2 releases but there were still enough quality tracks on here for me with songs like "I Can't Go To Sleep" w/Isaac Hayes, "Let My N_____ Live" w/Nas, "Hollow Bones" and "Careful (Click Click)".
Surprisingly, a year later, the Wu dropped their 4th CD, Wu Tang Iron Flag. In my opinion, they should have waited longer before they came out with "Iron Flag" and the results showed just that. I did enjoy tracks like "Rules", "Y'all Been Warned", "In The Hood", "Dashing (Reasons)" and "Back In The Game" with Ron Isley but many Wu fans will agree that "Iron Flag" is their worst CD.
6 years later, the Wu Tang Clan is back with "8 Diagrams". There were rumors circulating that the CD may not even be released because of Ghostface and Raekwon coming out publicly about their reservations about the CD. Ghostface even went as far as calling the CD "B.S." However, "8 Diagrams" was released on December 11th, a week after Ghostface released his latest solo CD The Big Doe Rehab... Go figure The CD gets off to a nice start with "Campfire". After a short intro, Method Man sounds reenergized as he is trying to "bring the sexy back like Timbaland & Timberlake". Ghostface and Cappadonna contribute nice verses as well on the track. Easy Mo Bee joins RZA on the production for "Take It Back". Just in case you don't know who Easy Mo Bee is, he produced 6 tracks on Biggie's "Ready To Die" CD. The production is sped up this time around as Raekwon, Ghostface, Inspectah Deck and even U-God give nice verses on the track. "Get Them Out The Way Pa" is a decent track that features verses from Method Man, Masta Killa and U-God with Raekwon and Ghostface on the hook. It may be only 3 minutes long, but "Rushing Elephants" is clearly my favroite track as RZA produces his best beat on "8 Diagrams" on this track, in my opinion. GZA delivers the best verse and Raekwon delivers a nice verse as well. However, I have definitely heard better verses from RZA & Masta Killa. You will forgive them because of the phenominal production by the RZA, however. "Unpredictable" has grown on me since the CD was first released. I am still not impressed by the Dexter Wiggle hook but RZA does his best to save the hook with his "Witty Wu Tang is Unpredictable" chant. Deck rips his verse and RZA gives a decent contribution for his verse. "The Heart Gently Weeps" is my 2nd favorite track and features Erykah Badu on the hook and Dhani Harrison and John Frusciante on the guitar. Raekwon starts things off nicely but Ghostface steals the show as even his "singing" is acceptable on the track. Method Man ends things with his verse as this track is clearly different than any other RZA production that I am use to hearing. "Wolves" clearly doesn't work as U-God doesn't help things out with his verse and Method Man & Masta Killa don't fare too much better. George Clinton is on the hook but this track would have been better off if it was left off of the CD, in my opinion. "Gun Will Go" has Sunny Valentine on the hook as Raekwon delivers the best verse this time around but Method Man and Masta Killa sound alot better than they did on "Wolves". "Sunlight" is the only solo track on "8 Diagrams" as RZA produces his solo track. His verses sound alot better than his verse on "Rushing Elephants". Mathematics produces the catchy "Stick Me For My Riches" as Gerald Alston is featured on the hook. Method Man, GZA and Deck deliver nice verses and they even blend well with Gerald Alston when they join him on the hook. (Notice I left RZA off on purpose..lol His lyrics add nothing to this track). "Starter" is probably the worst song on "8 Diagrams". The hook is horrible and not even a nice verse from GZA can save this disaster. However, the Wu rebound nicely on "Windmill" as Raekwon, GZA, Masta Killa, Deck, Method Man and Cappadonna give nice lyrical contributions to the track. "Weak Spot" is also another tight track as RZA, GZA and Raekwon lay down nice verses after the infamous Wu Tang samples. "Life Changes" is an excellent tribute to the late ODB. The only thing missing from the track is a Ghostface contribution.
Overall, I feel "8 Diagrams" is a quality release from the Wu. It's clearly better than "Iron Flag" and just as good as "The W" in my opinion. If Wu fans can separate the fact that this is a nice release and not compare it to 36 Chambers and Wu Tang Forever, then they will be able to enjoy this release. GZA, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, Ghostface and Method Man, with the exception of Meth's verse on "Wolves" give quality performances on every track that they are featured on. Ghostface may not have been impressed with certain parts of this CD but I feel that "8 Diagrams" will satisfy the majority of the fans of the Wu Tang Clan and they will be able to adapt to the different production styles of the RZA this time around as well.
James' Top 5
1) Rushing Elephants
2) The Heart Gently Weeps
3) Windmill
4) Take It Back
5) Life Changes
Honorable Mention:
Campfire
Stick Me For My Riches
Weak Spot
Get Them Out The Way Pa
Gun Will Go
Free Music Review: People This Is Weak
Hit: 1 Stars
All I can tell you about this New Wu Album is that it sucks, the beats sound the same through the album and the rhyming is not on par with the old lyrics from previous albums, I know styles change but are'nt the lyrics supposed to get better through the years? Especially from veterans, I am really disappointed in them.Free Music Review: Stockin' Stuffer
Hit: 4 Stars
For the disciples of Wu-Tang Clan, the wait is over -- thankfully. December 11th brought the long-anticipated release of the Killa Bees' first studio album in six years, 8 Diagrams. Through my association with some stealthy ninja assassins, I got an advanced copy a week before the official drop, and it was in i-Tunes rotation until I could purchase a hard copy.
I really ain't gonna waste any keystrokes preachin' to you why ya should go out and cop this album -- and if you're a true fan of the Wu, it's not even necessary. Still, with the Christmas holiday around the corner, I think it's proper to advise you to make sure to add this dark, multi-faceted gem to your 'wishmas' list, because ya stocking won't be properly stuffed without it.
St. Paco
Kung Fu Grip! Zine
Free Music Review: organic hip-hop..
Hit: 4 Stars
Weeks before it was released, Rza was explaining in interviews how "8 Diagrams" was not like this McDonald's fast food hip hop that floods the airwaves and young brains nowadays. This was your nutrients, your vegetables, your essentials, that weren't for people seeking immediate gratification. He even explained how the Gza didn't like the album at first but came back a week later and was amazed. As many reviews all over the web contest, this album GROWS on you. Upon first listen, it's sort of weird and certainly not following in the old Wu-Tang mold but after a few listens, the overall feel of this album grows on you. I had totally disliked it upon first listen but I've now grown to love it. I would certainly rate it ahead of both "The W" and "Iron Flag" and it features some of the best Wu songs heard on any album in years such as Weak Spot, Windmill, and Rushing Elephants ("certified Wu bangers" as diehards like to call them). There's an overall eerie, rugged aura to the album as a whole from the very beginning with the kung-fu movie quotes over humming soul samples on Campfire, all throughout with the dark guitars on Get Em Out Ya Way Pa and Gun Will Go, the '97-era-sounding Rza interlude Sunlight, and the completely out-of-nowhere Mandarin recitation of the Heart Sutra at the very end. Listening to 8 Diagrams in full, one certainly enters a distinctly dark "Wu zone" for a very interesting hour of their day.