12/26/07 - Short-handed Wu-Tang Clan keep energy crackling at L.A. show

Firefly5 · 12-26-2007, 06:28 AM

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The still-enormously popular Wu-Tang Clan stormed the West Hollywood House of Blues on Sunday like conquering hip-hop heroes. Problem was, they were a man short -- make that two.

But the high-wattage energy level in this 90-minute set was maintained principally because of the group's huge membership. An ever-evolving crew that included Ghostface Killah, U-God, Method Man, GZA, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, Raekwon the Chef, Masta Killa and RZA recently released "8 Diagrams," a well-crafted collection that saw precious airtime during the evening.

Wu-Tang relied on a deep catalog of heavy-hitting singles that began with its anthem "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit," an appropriate opener that helped sustain the group's energy all night. Conspicuously missing was RZA, the acknowledged musical director of the group. As the set roared on, shouts of "Where's RZA?" amplified, but no explanation was forthcoming. Similarly missed was "The Heart Gently Weeps," a brutal depiction of the inevitable violence that seems to be inextricably tied to the hip-hop culture. It borrows the track from George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

Method Man is the most comfortable of the MCs onstage. He commandeered the microphone throughout the evening, sprayed bottled water, dove repeatedly into a mosh pit and then had the audacity -- not to mention trust -- to have the audience hold him upright as he rapped. It's a tried-and-true hype "method," and it worked again.

Method Man then launched into a lengthy tribute to the dearly departed clown prince of Wu-Tang, Ol' Dirty Bastard, who died of an drug overdose in 2004 after quite the tumultuous life that featured high-profile jail time, police chases and several classic hip-hop hits, including "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" and "Protect Ya Neck."

About three-quarters into the set, the energy level took a dip as Raekwon launched into a monologue on how the group has been misunderstood. It's hard to agree, what with the crowd's adoration at ear-splitting levels. One element that Wu-Tang Clan has is an eerie, choirlike quality; whether planned or not, such an untapped element should be explored more. Where you at, RZA?

Wu-Tang Clan needs to improve its endgame. The concert finished with Method Man puffing a joint handed to him. Then everyone just sauntered offstage, leaving the sold-out audience without a chance to applaud or request an encore. Can you say "awkward exit?"

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

THE GHOST · 12-26-2007, 11:39 AM

when dudes are at the hammerstien in nyc in 2 weeks that shit better not happen there... and who else was missing besdies rza?

Degenerate · 12-26-2007, 12:24 PM

damn i was going to go to this show

MrKA3000 · 12-26-2007, 12:59 PM

Odb..............

MC B STREETZ · 12-26-2007, 10:55 PM

iight.....

Lyricall Asassin · 12-26-2007, 11:14 PM

Capadonna aint there either, He is driving a NY Cab and I actually saw him once...He really does Drive a Cab, we, at least Drove 4 years ago....Sad dude, He wasnt going good with GZA and didnt like that payments or some shit and left, sent all the money and went broke.

12-26-2007, 06:28 AM	#1
Firefly5 Droppin' Knowledge Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sacramento Posts: 4,103 Repped: 1,100 Repped 680 Times in 242 Posts Neg Reps: 57 Neg Repped at 22 Times in 20 Posts	12/26/07 - Short-handed Wu-Tang Clan keep energy crackling at L.A. show 12/26/07 - Short-handed Wu-Tang Clan keep energy crackling at L.A. show LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The still-enormously popular Wu-Tang Clan stormed the West Hollywood House of Blues on Sunday like conquering hip-hop heroes. Problem was, they were a man short -- make that two. But the high-wattage energy level in this 90-minute set was maintained principally because of the group's huge membership. An ever-evolving crew that included Ghostface Killah, U-God, Method Man, GZA, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, Raekwon the Chef, Masta Killa and RZA recently released "8 Diagrams," a well-crafted collection that saw precious airtime during the evening. Wu-Tang relied on a deep catalog of heavy-hitting singles that began with its anthem "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit," an appropriate opener that helped sustain the group's energy all night. Conspicuously missing was RZA, the acknowledged musical director of the group. As the set roared on, shouts of "Where's RZA?" amplified, but no explanation was forthcoming. Similarly missed was "The Heart Gently Weeps," a brutal depiction of the inevitable violence that seems to be inextricably tied to the hip-hop culture. It borrows the track from George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Method Man is the most comfortable of the MCs onstage. He commandeered the microphone throughout the evening, sprayed bottled water, dove repeatedly into a mosh pit and then had the audacity -- not to mention trust -- to have the audience hold him upright as he rapped. It's a tried-and-true hype "method," and it worked again. Method Man then launched into a lengthy tribute to the dearly departed clown prince of Wu-Tang, Ol' Dirty Bastard, who died of an drug overdose in 2004 after quite the tumultuous life that featured high-profile jail time, police chases and several classic hip-hop hits, including "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" and "Protect Ya Neck." About three-quarters into the set, the energy level took a dip as Raekwon launched into a monologue on how the group has been misunderstood. It's hard to agree, what with the crowd's adoration at ear-splitting levels. One element that Wu-Tang Clan has is an eerie, choirlike quality; whether planned or not, such an untapped element should be explored more. Where you at, RZA? Wu-Tang Clan needs to improve its endgame. The concert finished with Method Man puffing a joint handed to him. Then everyone just sauntered offstage, leaving the sold-out audience without a chance to applaud or request an encore. Can you say "awkward exit?" Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

12-26-2007, 11:39 AM	#2
THE GHOST D-BLOCK 354 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Yonkers, New York Posts: 2,005 Repped: 448 Repped 1,077 Times in 168 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 13 Times in 9 Posts	when dudes are at the hammerstien in nyc in 2 weeks that shit better not happen there... and who else was missing besdies rza? __________________

12-26-2007, 10:55 PM	#5
MC B STREETZ YAYO'S ADVOCATE/HYPE MAN Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: FIND ME IN YA CRIB WIT DA NINA WHERE DA MONEY AT Posts: 18,199 Repped: 3,566 Repped 21,974 Times in 2,200 Posts Neg Reps: 58 Neg Repped at 51 Times in 45 Posts	iight..... __________________ "I'M A LOUDMOUTH NIGGA BUT MY RUGER SILENT" -TONY YAYO A.K.A TALK OF NEW YORK "ALL YAYO ENEMYS ARE ALL OF MY ENEMYS" - MC B STREETZ A.K.A YAYO'S NINJA

12-26-2007, 11:14 PM	#6
Lyricall Asassin bLaCkWall TaKeoVer Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: On The BWS BloCk! Posts: 1,056 Repped: 11 Repped 387 Times in 47 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 3 Times in 2 Posts	Capadonna aint there either, He is driving a NY Cab and I actually saw him once...He really does Drive a Cab, we, at least Drove 4 years ago....Sad dude, He wasnt going good with GZA and didnt like that payments or some shit and left, sent all the money and went broke. __________________ If Game is the stripper then how come Spider Loc is the one with all the ones?

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12-26-2007, 12:24 PM	#3
Degenerate Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cali Posts: 555 Repped: 355 Repped 166 Times in 16 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	damn i was going to go to this show

12-26-2007, 12:59 PM	#4
MrKA3000 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 180 Repped: 74 Repped 20 Times in 8 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Odb..............