What else did I hear? Let me think, so much. I heard a short, funky track with Prince Rakeem and U-god going back and forth in a way reminding me of ODB and RZA bouncing around in “Cuttin’ Headz”. On other tracks I heard RZA in Wu-Tang Forever mode and on others I heard a RZA going in raw, plenty to choose from. Speaking of U-God, it must be said that while the past years we heard him sharpen his swords slowly but surely, here he really goes for the kill and is in the form of his life on these beats. There is a U-God solo song that is custom made Uey: a no-nonsense beat marching on with a totally non typical Wu sound but this time in a good way. In the past U-God already always wanted to obtain a different sound but ended up with mediocrity most of the time. Here this is not the case, this one works great. To such a point where once the track was finished, I suggested Ringz to try to record an entire album with U-God. Another proof of how good Ugodzilla sounds over Ringz’ beats: there is a track with amongst many others U-God that will be the single for this album. Just as “Gravel Pit” was a radio friendly track, this one is aimed at a more mainstream audience but before you start to scratch your head, this one is so goddamn catchy that I want to hear this take over radio stations as soon as possible. I don’t want to give too much away about the concept yet but it’s pure fun (Hint: watch for the sky at night) . And pure fun it is indeed as you will hear that this beat bounces around so funky you just cannot sit still. U-God is made for this sort of stuff as he goes in full throttle and sounds like he has the time of his life. Same can be said of Redman on this track who sounds like he simply went apeshyt in the booth when he heard the instrumental. At certain moments I thought he would just jump out my speakers right there and start throwing me around the room. Near the end of the track you will get a special surprise, I will not let the cat out of the bag yet but at first you will go “ Huh?!? Who ??? Wtf ??” but afterwards you will still like it I bet.
Others who make a great impression in every feature they do are Killa Sin and Shabazz the Disciple, this was already stated in the thread by Ringz and I have to agree, they deliver the goods throughout and leave quite an impression.
Ever heard of DOA ? Disciples Of Armageddon was an attempted duo project of Shabazz and Killah Priest that never really got worked out. I heard a DOA track that will close the album: a very moody, dark track that I could have on constant repeat easily on a dark, cold winter evening accompanied by Bazz and Priest’s verses.
What else? A Sunz of Man/Killarmy banger … A Wu track that sounds like it should have been on “Wu-Tang Forever” with amongst others a very focused Masta killa ... The Deck snippet that was put on Soundcloud a while ago but now in the full version, hitting hard! … RZA, Cappachino and 12 O Clock making a pass at the ladies … A Tru Master type of beat, a typical slow burner we all know and love Tru’s style for … multiple Wu Posse tracks … Heavy Mental type of movie samples and Priest bringing the Apocolypse … Melancholic violins … (Shout out to) our Wu ladies Tekitha, Blue Raspberry, plus Feathers and Vanessa Liftig all coming through on the tracks … it’s all there people, it’s all there =)
There are four tracks I am yet to hear due to time shortage, one being the ODB/Brooklyn Zoo song. But from what I have heard the past days, I can say that anyone that has kept the Wu in his heart the past twenty years will be very happy with this album. Not much chance we will still see it come out in 2013 as originally planned but let’s hope this drops asap then in 2014.
The Wu-Tang Clan, its legacy and its longtime fans … they all deserve this one.
As a reminder of what’s coming, here’s the tracklist again as presented by Ringz:
DISK 1
01. Intro - Raekwon The Chef
02. Inspectah Deck, Killer Priest, Killa Sin, Street Life & Method Man
03. U-God, Ghostface Killer, Scientific Shabazz, Killer Priest, Killa Sin & Raekwon The Chef
04. Skit – Part I [Interlude] feat. Prince Rakeem “The RZA”, Ghost, Sin, Rae, U-God [All back vocals]
05. Ghostface Killer, LA The Darkman, Raekwon The Chef, Killa Sin & 12 O'Clock
06. U-God aka Goldenarmz
07. Method Man, Redman, Raekwon The Chef, Inspectah Deck, U-God & Masta Killa
08. The Weeping Tiger feat. Inspectah Deck, Raekwon The Chef, Ghostface Killer & Prince Rakeem “The RZA”
09. Masta Killa, Killer Priest & Shyheim
10. GZA/Genius, Inspectah Deck & Raekwon [Hook]
11. Poppa Wu, Inspectah Deck, Killa Sin & Scientific Shabazz
12. Prince Rakeem “The RZA” & U-God
13. Skit – Part II [Interlude] feat. Prince Rakeem “The RZA” & TBA
14. Interlude [movie]
15. In The Name Of Allah feat. Masta Killa, Killer Priest, Scientific Shabazz, Prince Rakeem “The RZA” & Cilvaringz
16. [Rainy Dayz II] feat. Ghostface Killer & Raekwon The Chef
DISK 2
17. [Intro] feat. Inspectah Deck & Chef Raekwon
18. Ol' Dirty b*stard, Scientific Shabazz, Prodigal Son, 12 O'Clock & Zoo Keeper
19. Cappachino & Vanessa Liftig
20. Scientific Shabazz, Prodigal Son, Beretta 9, Killa Sin & U-God
21. U-God aka Goldenarmz & Poppa Wu
22. Raekwon The Chef, Prince Rakeem “The RZA”, U-God, Killer Priest
23. Raekwon The Chef, Masta Killa & Method Man
24. Prince Rakeem “The RZA”, Cappachino, 12 O’Clock & Poppa Wu
25. Ghostface Killer, Raekwon The Chef & Tekitha
26. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killer, Cappachino, Killer Priest & Scientific Shabazz
27. Prince Rakeem “The RZA” + background vocals by Killer Priest & Raekwon The Chef
28. Diary Of A Mad Woman feat. Featherz, Tekitha, Frukwan The Gatekeeper & Prince Rakeem “The RZA” [Shabazz, Priest intro]
29. Scientific Shabazz & Killer Priest
30. Outro [movie]
31. Instrumental Outro