Review of Wu-Tang's 8 Diagrams

The album cover.

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5 Grapes, no question. Great job Wu!

Wu-Tang has not released an album since 2001's Iron Flag, but getting them together has proven the right move, as 8 Diagrams is a new classic album in an age where hip-hop is supposedly dead. If anyone could be relied on to bring classical skill back into an album, it is without a doubt the Clan - they have deep history in rap, which is thoroughly evident in 8 Diagrams yet doesn't overshadow the amount of new sound they have also infused.

Founded by RZA and GZA, Wu-Tang consists of the two mentioned cousins, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, and the recently deceased Ol' Dirty Bastard. Within these nine men can be found "multi-platinum selling solo artists, multi-platinum record producers, Grammy winners, TV and film stars, screenwriters, product spokespersons, business owners and, most recently, major motion picture composers" (1). As a group, Wu-Tang is 6x Platinum and once Gold over four albums, showing the strength and history they have and causing expectations to be high; however, the group doesn't slip and really provide great material.

Tracklist

1. Campfire - The first song on the album begins with a audio clip from the movie which the album derives its title from, Eight-Diagram Pole Fighter. This follows in the tradition of using a Kung Fu film which are most often the basis for the title and skits of Wu-Tang albums, both as a group and individually. Method Man comes in with the first verse and really sets a great first-impression for the album, spitting steady rhymes that flow perfectly with the deep bass line. Method Man's bars then flows beautifully into Ghostface Killah's, bearing remarkable beauty to "Bring Da Ruckus"(2). The final verse belongs to Cappadonna whose style suits the deeper sound of the beat.

2. Take it Back - This song includes five of the Wu-Tang members and really feels like a classic Clan song. Raekwon provides great lyrics and I have to say I greatly enjoyed U-God in the final verse. The chorus boasts of Wu-Tang's history, saying:
   

   First we told ya'll n*ggers, then we showed ya'll n*ggers /
   We gon' take it back with this /
   By the time you get a show, we been all over the globe /
   We gon' take it back with this /
   Before you even had a name you was screaming Wu-Tang /
   We gon' take it back with this /
   When we was runnin' on the block, you was under your pops /
   We gon' take it back with this

   Method Man and U-God really have a point in what they are saying, as the first Wu-Tang album, the classic Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), was released back in 1993. The Clan has seen hip-hop go from its glory days of Tupac and Notorious B.I.G to its commercial days of Soulja Boy and Yung Joc, and have seen enough to convince them that they need to get back into the game. These lyrics definitely are not typical of the ones found these days.

3. Get 'Em Out Ya Way Pa - This is one of the weaker songs in the album, although I would place the blame on the weak lyrics from Masta Killa and mediocre ones from U-God. Method Man in the first verse, however, brings tight lyrics to a song that crutially needed them. The beat itself also isn't the most exciting, although I did enjoy the sound of the electric bass, and the chorus smoothly fit in with it.
4. Rushing Elephants - Easily one of my favourite tracks off 8 Diagrams, the beat alone drives the pace of the song and really plays well with GZA and RZA, who make their first appearance on the album beautifully, Raekwon, and Masta Kill who greatly improves over his performance in the previous song. The song is somewhat nerdy, with Rae mentioning Excalibur swords, GZA talking of DNA and "energy that shifts in colours," and RZA referring to J.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
5. Unpredictable - Finally on this track Inspectah Deck, one of my favourite Clan members, really gets the opportunity to unleash his skill, and he runs with it, boasting that "Wu-Tang keep it fresh like Tupperware." RZA's verse is up to par, yet nothing special. The beat itself is very up tempo and built from a bunch of different percussion sounds; however, I must say that because of the beat and the chorus, which was somewhat annoying, this is a song I skip over more often.
6. The Heart Gently Weeps - This is obviously the song that is intended less for the hip-hop fans, although I have to say it will make a great single. An interpolation of The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," the song includes George Harrison's 29 year-old song, Dhani Harrison, on acoustic , and the Red Hot Chili Pepper's John Fruciante on lead guitar. Throw in Erykah Badu singing the chorus, and it becomes an unmistakable classic. Dhani was a huge fan of Wu-Tang, as RZA said, "not only does he know all the Wu-Tang songs, he knows the samples of the kung-fu movies that I use" (3). Furthermore to bring even more nostalgia into the song, RZA had Dhani play the part using the mint condition 1961 Gretsch guitar RZA received from Russell Crowe after filming American Gangster.

   It is also amazing to hear RZA's inspiration for the song, which is heroine. As he sees it, too many famous rock artists have become lost chasing the magic dragon and he equates the strings of the guitar with our veins. The guitar is weeping because the veins are weeping, which is because the heart is weeping, and all those who find themselves in the heroine trade, whether buyers or sellers, find themselves weeping because they are either killing themselves or killing others.

   In the aisle, busting them paper towels, and wiping my Wallies down /
   I stood up to face a barrel, he's holding a shiny pound, it's him /
   He want revenge, I murdered his Uncle Tim, I sold him a bag of dope, his wife came and copped again

   This verse is from Ghostface Killah, who I must say performs one of his best verses ever, lyrically and rhythmically. RZA actually believes that his verse in this song could get the same attention Ghostface received for his verse in Impossible from the Wu-Tang Forever album, which won Lyric of the Year from Source Magazine. Method Man rips up his part, but at only 30 seconds he doesn't really have enough time to get in a lot of bars. Raekwon has the first verse, and it is also of high quality.

7. Wolves - This song is another that could have been skipped from being included from the album, although I did really enjoy U-God's verse. Method Man and Masta Killa also have verses, although I would say that they are nothing new, exciting, or particularly interesting. This is definitely not a bad song, but it really doesn't deserve as much praise as most of the rest of the album. For those of you who remember Parliament and Funkadelic, George Clinton sings the chorus.
8. Gun Will Go - The dark beat plays well in the middle of the album and I really like the sound of the violin (I believe) in the background of the chorus. Method Man is fire, and I enjoyed the echo effects RZA threw in part way through Meth's verse. Masta Killa's flow was impressive and I would say is one of this better verses on the album, and once again RZA plays around with the sound effects in a cool way.
9. Sunlight - This is RZA's solo where he really opens up emotionally and spiritually. It really has to be listented to in order to be truly appreciated, as it poetry in lyrical form, and forms almost a funeral speech for ODB and message for the listenters. Props to RZA for this song, because it says a lot.
   

   And as you play all day like the grasshopper who work and toil /
   Like armies of ants carrying stones of soil /
   Building a home for themselves and storing food /
   At night we praise ALLAH and adore the moon /
   In sync like the flow of the Nile, the growth of a child /
   Only fearin' GOD, we great a ghost with a smile /
   That which is spirit is spirit, which is flesh is flesh /
   Meaning life has no partnership with death

10. Stick Me for My Riches - What an amazing song. I've read of a lot of people who really don't seem to like the > 1 minute singing introduction, but it really compliments the rest of the singing done by Gerald Alston throughout the song. Method Man starts with the first verse and simply cleans up once again with that amazing flow, there is no doubt that he is one of the best Clan members to listen to. Inspectah Deck was decent, but GZA and RZA really clean up. RZA comes in and is simply amazing, then he hands off to GZA who flows beautifully. Oh god, this is one hell of a track. Easily my favourite.
11. Starter - This song is a bit too R&B for the rest of the album, and although is not rare for RZA to produce, it is much too mainstream for a Wu record. The guys basically rap about women; "she acting all shy, but she likes handcuffs." A good song, but is definitely out of place.
12. Windmill - I must admit, the best description of this song is one I found a few weeks ago over at the Hip-Hop Connection:
    

    RZA in soundtrack mode, this is an atmospheric slow-burner with a low key vibe to it. At the risk of getting repetitious, it's a pleasant surprise how motivated Meth sounds across the project, spitting self-referential boasts like "In living proof I'm the wittiest unpredictable/Most talented rap mother@!$%#er you ever listened to."

13. Weak Spot - This sounds like a classic 36 Chambers song, really has a grungy feel to it. RZA, Raekwon, and GZA all take turns bragging about how great they are, and to be honest they are allowed to. Their verses are all strong and the kung-fu clip that is continuously mixed in makes this a classic Wu-Tang track. At the end is a quick ODB interview clip which transitions well into the next song…
14. Life Changes - Here is the tribute to Ol' Dirty Bastard, as this is the first album released since he passed away. Split by a simple chorus, each Clan member takes a turn expressing his feelings on ODB; however, Ghostface Killah doesn't have a verse, which is interesting. Inspectah Deck opens up the most, saying "and I share the blame, 'cuz you was calling for help kid / Shoulda' coulda' woulda' had the time – I was selfish." Really a beautiful piece, as it shows the connection these guys have built over the years. They grew up together, gained famed together, and they continue to be there for each other.
15. Tar Pit - A decent song, with a strong verse from Streetlife, a close associate of the Wu-Tang Clan, although I would have either moved the song earlier in the album or removed it, because it would have been nice to have the previous song, Life Changes, to have transitioned into the last song.
16. 16th Chamber (ODB Special) - Bad sound quality, but classic lyrics. This is a track that RZA had lost years ago, and within the last two years he managed to get his hands on it again. "I lost it, because the DJ who handled my equipment back then, we just got disconnected," he says. "He actually found the tape about eight months ago and flew out to California with it. The problem is, it doesn't sound all that great, because this was 1992 or 1993 when it was recorded. But ODB's performance is f*ckin' immaculate. So maybe I can find some software to restore it and put it on as a bonus track" (4).

All in all, this is another Wu-Tang classic album that deserves 5 Grapes, no question about it. RZA developed great beats and the members really show up lyrically. Not much more can be said beyond go get the album yourself, sit back, and enjoy it.

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