12/11/07 - Review: Wu-Tang Clan drops hip-hop excellence

•••BWS••• · 12-11-2007, 01:30 PM

When the Wu-Tang Clan fire on all cylinders, they simply operate on a different level from everyone else in hip-hop.

It's on display throughout "The 8 Diagrams" (Loud/SRC) - the hip-hop conglomerate's first album since 2001's "Iron Flag," as well as its first since the death of Ol' Dirty Bastard in 2004 - in the moments when RZA's dense, meticulously crafted beats get surrounded by the dark, gritty rhymes of the rest of the Clan.

The centerpiece is the epic "The Heart Gently Weeps," based on a sample from George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," which is augmented by guitarwork from Harrison's son, Dhani, and Red Hot Chili Pepper John Frusciante. Over the fuzzy-dream riffs and between pretty, female-driven hooks sung by Erykah Badu, Raekwon and Ghostface take turns telling a terrible tale of how staying in on a snowy night to watch "Raisin in the Sun" devolves into a murderous rampage and how revenge shootings play out in a Pathmark. It drives home the theme of darkness lurking around every corner, a feeling echoed in "Life Changes," a touching tribute to Ol' Dirty Bastard, built around the haunting soul hook, "I go through life pretending that time will change the ending."

Even the generally upbeat George Clinton, who appears on "Wolves," somehow sounds menacing in the dark surroundings of "The 8 Diagrams." Only on "Starter" do the members of the Clan show off any rhymes that are even remotely playful.

If Wu-Tang Clan's tales weren't so gripping and their arguments weren't so compelling, this dark, paranoid ride would make it easy to accuse them of being morose. Instead, the vivid images of "The 8 Diagrams" leave you with the sinking feeling that they might just be speaking the truth.

THE 8 DIAGRAMS. Wu-Tang Clan marshals its forces for another impressive assault. In stores Tuesday. Grade: A-.

capone0922 · 12-11-2007, 04:24 PM

props on this

M0ney · 12-12-2007, 09:00 AM

nowhere near A-... more like C+

Initial · 12-12-2007, 12:49 PM

It was a solid album but not a classic. i didnt expect it to be

ez4menyou · 12-13-2007, 02:40 PM

way better than iron flag shit

DaKillahWitNoFace · 12-14-2007, 01:20 AM

All in All , Dope CD.

mid block02141 · 12-14-2007, 11:55 AM

its a good album

Kycrunkest · 12-14-2007, 05:56 PM

Some of they shit knock but i cant fuck wit most of it but they iight

12-11-2007, 01:30 PM	#1
•••BWS••• Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,467 Repped: 173 Repped 752 Times in 102 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	12/11/07 - Review: Wu-Tang Clan drops hip-hop excellence 12/11/07 - Review: Wu-Tang Clan drops hip-hop excellence When the Wu-Tang Clan fire on all cylinders, they simply operate on a different level from everyone else in hip-hop. It's on display throughout "The 8 Diagrams" (Loud/SRC) - the hip-hop conglomerate's first album since 2001's "Iron Flag," as well as its first since the death of Ol' Dirty Bastard in 2004 - in the moments when RZA's dense, meticulously crafted beats get surrounded by the dark, gritty rhymes of the rest of the Clan. The centerpiece is the epic "The Heart Gently Weeps," based on a sample from George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," which is augmented by guitarwork from Harrison's son, Dhani, and Red Hot Chili Pepper John Frusciante. Over the fuzzy-dream riffs and between pretty, female-driven hooks sung by Erykah Badu, Raekwon and Ghostface take turns telling a terrible tale of how staying in on a snowy night to watch "Raisin in the Sun" devolves into a murderous rampage and how revenge shootings play out in a Pathmark. It drives home the theme of darkness lurking around every corner, a feeling echoed in "Life Changes," a touching tribute to Ol' Dirty Bastard, built around the haunting soul hook, "I go through life pretending that time will change the ending." Even the generally upbeat George Clinton, who appears on "Wolves," somehow sounds menacing in the dark surroundings of "The 8 Diagrams." Only on "Starter" do the members of the Clan show off any rhymes that are even remotely playful. If Wu-Tang Clan's tales weren't so gripping and their arguments weren't so compelling, this dark, paranoid ride would make it easy to accuse them of being morose. Instead, the vivid images of "The 8 Diagrams" leave you with the sinking feeling that they might just be speaking the truth. THE 8 DIAGRAMS. Wu-Tang Clan marshals its forces for another impressive assault. In stores Tuesday. Grade: A-.

12-12-2007, 12:49 PM	#4
Initial Unheard Assassin Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port City, NC Posts: 89 Repped: 6 Repped 1 Time in 1 Post Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	It was a solid album but not a classic. i didnt expect it to be __________________

12-14-2007, 05:56 PM	#8
Kycrunkest Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lexington Posts: 991 Repped: 475 Repped 74 Times in 15 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wu Some of they shit knock but i cant fuck wit most of it but they iight

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12-11-2007, 04:24 PM	#2
capone0922 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 51 Repped: 1 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	props on this

12-12-2007, 09:00 AM	#3
M0ney Haitian Berry White Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Next Door Posts: 184 Repped: 67 Repped 80 Times in 4 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	nowhere near A-... more like C+

12-13-2007, 02:40 PM	#5
ez4menyou Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: va all day baby Posts: 871 Repped: 165 Repped 27 Times in 11 Posts Neg Reps: 7 Neg Repped at 4 Times in 4 Posts	way better than iron flag shit

12-14-2007, 01:20 AM	#6
DaKillahWitNoFace Veteran Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Queen$, New York Posts: 2,539 Repped: 709 Repped 1,782 Times in 202 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 7 Times in 5 Posts	All in All , Dope CD.

12-14-2007, 11:55 AM	#7
mid block02141 Veteran Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: masschusetts Posts: 1,199 Repped: 728 Repped 9 Times in 7 Posts Neg Reps: 2 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	its a good album