There’s now a full stream available of the new album from Wu-Tang Clan extended family Dom Pachino, of Killarmy, and producer Bronze Nazareth. Stylistically and thematically, Pachino hasn’t moved on much since Killarmy debuted many moons ago, which leaves the whole thing feeling dated. Still worth a listen though, mainly thanks to Bronze Nazareth’s beats. Listen below, and tell us what you think.
Category: Wu-Tang Clan
Dom Pachino – ‘Warheadz’
Wu-Tang Clan affiliates Dom Pachino (Killarmy) and Bronze Nazareth connect on this joint from Pachino’s new album, War Poetry. It gets a little boring, and it’s kind of ridiculous that those Killarmy boys are still so obsessed with war and military imagery, but this joint is nevertheless worth a listen.
Czarface (Inspectah Deck and 7L & Estoteric) – ‘Deviatin Septums’
The latest drop from the Czarface (Inspectah Deck and 7L & Estoteric) Every Hero Needs A villain album is the previously iTunes-only Deviatin Septums. It’s now being released on picture disc vinyl, with the MF Doom featuring Ka-Bang as the b-side. Listen below, then go hunt down the record down.
Solomon Childs – ‘Tried So Hard’
Literally hundreds of rappers lay claim to being Wu-Tang Clan affiliates. Most have a tenuous link at best, and most also happen to be wack. Solomon Childs does have at least genuine ties to the Wu, having worked with RZA, Cappadonna, and as part of Ghostface Killah’s Theodore Unit. He also isn’t wack, as evidenced on new single Tried So Hard. Its from the upcoming album Monsters In My Room, and you can listen below.
GZA & Sweet Valley – ‘Planetary Energy’
The GZA is the latest rapper to feature on a single from a Converse EP. It sees the Genius team up with Sweet Valley, and it sounds nice. Listen on the link below.
Listen here.
Czarface – ‘Sgt Slaughter’
If you still need convincing that the new Every Hero Needs a Villain album from Czarface (7L & Esoteric, Inspectah Deck) is dope, then this video for Sgt Slaughter will definitely sway you over towards the dark side. Picking up from where the video for The Great (Czar Guitar) ended, its another crazy-as-fuck flick, and you can watch it below.
Ghostface Killah – ’12 Reasons to Die II’ (stream)
The New York Times has bagged early streaming of the new Ghostface Killah and Adrian Younge album 12 Reasons to Die II, and you can hear it on the link below. It’s thick with RZA and Raekwon features, making this a proper Wu-Tang Clan family affair, and it sounds pretty good. Hit the link below to hear for yourself.
Listen here.
Slept-on albums in retrospect: Raekwon’s – ‘Immobilarity’
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx was always going to be difficult to top, even for one of the best artists amongst the nine men that made up the Wu-Tang Clan. By 1999, the world had already been blessed not just with Raekwon’s classic debut some four years previously, but also superior albums from Ghostface Killah, GZA, Old Dirty Bastard, Method Man and Cappadonna. The pressure on Rae to turn-in something as good as his debut must have been thick, even if no one dared to mention it.
When Immobilarity did drop, it was given something of a lukewarm reception from fans and critics alike. Listen again in 2015 however, and its actually a pretty good album, and arguably better than the genuinely disappointing proper sequel to the classic debut, 2009’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II.
What seemed to bug people most at the time was how little this seemed like the other Wu-Tang solo albums so far. There are no guest spots from Ghostface, and in fact Method Man and Masta Killa are the only two official clansmen to appear. And perhaps most noticeably of all, there are no beats by RZA.
Looking back, this was actually a good thing. A lack of guests gave Rae the space needed to focus, and write with enough confidence and weight to carry entire tracks on his own, the way that Ghost has always been able to.
Moving from RZA production also added some variety, away from the occasionally stale beats that he was sometimes guilty of making, even if the little-known producers on the album were usually just trying to ape his style. Its no coincidence that the nicest beat is the Pete Rock produced Sneakers, hinting for the first time just how good Rae sounded over beats from skilled beatmakers outside of RZA. By Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, the line-up of producers had become diverse enough to include everyone from Dr Dre to J Dilla, via Erick Sermon, Alchemist, Marley Marl and more.
Other standout tracks include Friday, My Favorite Dred and Live From NY, each of them filled with the same vivid imagery that helped maintain Rae’s reputation as one of the best storytellers in the game.
If you slept on this album in 2009, dust it off and have another listen. You’ll be surprised at how good it sounds.
Czarface – ‘The Great (Czar Guitar)’
We finally got our grimy little hands on the brilliant Czarface Every Hero Needs A Villain CD boxset this week, and it looks as good as it sounds. The album is officially now out, and the supreme team of 7L & Esoteric and Inspectah Deck are keeping the momentum going with a video for The Great (Czar Guitar), which you can watch below.Ghostface Killah – ‘Let The Record Spin’ feat. Raekwon
Ghost Deini is back with another single from Twelve Reasons to Die II, his upcoming sequel album with Adrian Younge. Its all the better for featuring Raekwon, but actually a little dull overall. See what you think by checking it out on the link below.
http://www.audiomack.com/embed4-large/2dbz/let-the-record-spin