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8 Diagrams
Home > Complete List of "q-r" Artists > Raekwon > Item 70
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8 Diagrams
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by Wu-Tang Clan
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List Price: $13.98
$10.97
At Amazon
on 9-12-2008.
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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
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8 Diagrams
Available from Amazon
Price: $10.97
Updated on 9-12-2008.
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