Raekwon - Shaolin v Wu Tang

[stillmatic]

What are peoples thoughts on this? I haven't seen a good discussion about it.

I picked it up along with Lasers, and only just finished listening to it (is it wrong I listened to Lasers before this? Sorry hip hop gods).

For me there is a lot of hype with this record. For one, it's Raekwon, the Chef, the legend, one of the Kings of NY. Secondly, this is HIS record, this is the one where it's his version of what Wu Tang should sound like after the creative differences of the last Wu record, and thus there is no RZA here, so a lot of pressure on Chef. Thirdly, it comes after the HUGELY critical and commercial success of OB4CL2. My thoughts below, lets get 'em.

Shaolin v Wu Tang (intro) - 7.5/10 - Typical Wu intro song. Cinema excerpts. Nodding my head throughout.

Every soldier in the hood ft. Method Man - 8/10 - Dope start to the album. Typical Wu street anthem. Rae's solid, but Meth comes in and steals the show. Where's Meth for the last few years?

Silver rings ft. Ghostface - 7/10 - Dope lyrics, really not sure about the beat. Ghost sounds a bit weird, he came in and I thought it was Funkmaster Flex making his rap comeback. Rae takes round 1 v Ghost comfortably.

Chop Chop Ninja ft. Inspector Deck/Estelle - 8/10 - Estelle drops a great intro, it builds the song up so much, you can't wait for it to drop. Tough beat. Fucking love Rae's rhymes here, he's deep in concept here. Deck delivers too. If only Estelle only had the intro, and not the hook overall.

Butter Knives - 7/10 - Unsure over this song, it sounds like a bit of a wannabe RZA beat, but Rae sounds too comfortable on it. Why not just have RZA, the real deal just do it then? Solid rhymes.

Snake pond - 8.5/10 - More martial arts sound clips mixed with gang-feud lyricism. Love it when Rae sounds like this, when the beat is a bit more demanding, these are the type of beats that fit Wu members.

Crane Style ft. Busta - 6.5/10 - Really not feeling the beat here, it's like Rae just compromised because the beat the production feels like it's all over the place. Rhymes again solid. Busta fails to deliver.

Rock and Roll ft. Ghost/Jim Jones - 4/10 - This is not a Wu song. The use of Autotune here is embarrassing. All three of them are sh1t. I got love for Jimmy and nothing but love for Harlem, but the only Dipset member that can mix half decently with anything Wu is Juelz, and even that's pushing it. Sorry, y'all.

Rich and Black ft. Nas - 8/10 - Here we go. My most anticipated song of the year so far. Niiiiice. Dope song. Don't compare it to Verbal Intercourse, it's not fair. Both go hard. But the song feels like it just cuts off, like there's more to it. Still lovin' this. Beat is good, but not great. Nas outshines him, but not by much.

The Hills ft. Method/Raheem DeVaughn - 8/10 - Rockin to this. Seriously, where was this type chemistry between Rae and Meth on Wu Massacre? They both sound like they having a lot of fun here. Raheem sounds like Curtis Mayfield. Meth again steals the show.

Last trip to Scotland ft. Lloyd Banks - 8/10 - My second most anticipated song. Spectral soul samples, cryptic criminal slang, dirt-nap drums and.....FIRE. 1 Verse each, and both go HARD. Again, I'm fucking annoyed cause the song is too short. I always told my homies Banks could be the 10th Wu member. Rae v Banks here is dead even.

Ferry Boat Killaz - 7/10 - Cool enough song. I'm still annoyed at the length of the previous song though. Alchemist does a decent enough beat, and Rae gives a decent enough performance.

Dart School - 7.5/10 - This is one of the reasons why people love Raekwon. Even in his more 'angry' songs, he sounds so calm. Real OG like. No faking here, son.

Molasses ft. Ghostface/Rick Ross - 6/10 - WTF! I can't believe my previous point is proven here when I said how Rae sounds so cool and not fake trying to force emotion out. Listen to the Ross verse here, and you'll see the difference. Rae is calm and cool, Ross is forcing emotion. Rae and Ghost do well here, Ross ruins it. I'm fucking pissed off.

The Scroll - 7.5/10 - Sounds like a beat designed for Biggie here. Rae starts off pretty much acapella. Beat drops. Cool. Feelin this. Pulsing strings finally fit Rae's rhymes.

Masters of our fate ft. Black Thought - 8.5/10 - Black Thought RIPS this to shreds. God damn, he's killing features lately. What a fucking finish to the album.

Overall: Okay, this is definietely a must for any Wu fan for their collection, no doubt about that. Rae's return to form in the last few years is one of the biggest blessings we've been given in hip hop in this era of slow R&B, electro and indie rock hip hop. Some of the producers can't live up the quality of Rae here, and that's whats holding this back from being OB4CL2 level.

Theres a quote in the intro from the movie of the same name that gave the Wu their name and style that goes - "Kung-fu doesn't belong to anyone, it evolves"....you know what, the same can be said about the Wu Tang. Wu Tang doesn't belong to Rae, or Ghostface, or RZA. It evolves. This record is a RZA contribution short of being a classic, like all Wu records.

[MikeNUFC]

Was just gunna make a thread. I haven't read your review yet but I'll post this first.

I thought this was an excellent album. Exceeded my expectations and to be honest, I prefer it to OB4CL2.

What's great is, Rae manages to get a shit load of different producers together but still capture that classic Wu-Tang sound (I mean, I couldnt have anticapted Alchemist making a beat that really captured that essence but he does).

Rich & Black and Masters of Our Fate were the standouts. Black Thought absolutely destroyed his verse after a solid Rae verse. Such an epic ending to the album. I also really liked the intro, Butter Knives, Snake Pond & Chop Chop Ninja.

Rock N Roll and Last Trip To Scotland felt pretty weak to be honest

Jim Jones and Rick Ross' verses are so fucking annoying in those 2 songs. Stand out like a sore thumb with the rest of the album in mind.

You know what your gunna get with Rae in terms of content and it's typically great imagery and storytelling from him. Entertaining album that'll be on repeat I'm sure.

[stillmatic]

Yep, well said.

I've read a few other reviews on a Wu forum, and I see almost everyone is in general agreement, which is pretty weird because Wu albums really leave people on different sides of the fence most of the time.

One of the biggest and best spots for me to come out of this album was Method Man. For me, he stole the show on both songs. I gotta be honest, after Blackout 2 and Wu Massacre, I thought Meth was done. I mean I know this is just two songs, but Meth sounds so rejuvenated it makes me want his new album now!

Again, I really wish RZA has at least some contribution to the next Wu solo releases.

[FreeSpeech]

I'm gonna listen tonight, props for the good review.

[Raids-God]

Masters of our fate and Snake pond Our my Favourite tracks Right now.
Being such a diehard Wu-Tang Fan (And Raekwons being my favourite of the Solo Albums) Its a real Throwback to hear just Pure Oldschool Wu Sound of witch OBFCL 2 Didnt realy Deliver,
Besides Estels Anoying Hook on Chop Chop Ninja and the Retarded idea to have Jim Jones (And Rock N Roll as a whole track) Appear on the Album, Its Almost Perfect in Over departments, And yes Despite a few opinions I felt Rick Ross had a great Verce and they can seem Comfitable together as Audio Meth Previously showed

Shaolin Vs Wu Tang - 9/10 (Great Intro, As Wu-tang as were Ever gonna get at this Point)

Every Soldier In The Hood Ft. Method Man - 7.5/10 (Rae's Part felt Short But Meth Stole the Show)

Silver Rings (Ft. Ghostface Killah) - 8/10 (And i only wish Rea and ghost were Given longer to go in)

Chop Chop Ninja (Ft. Inspectah Deck And Estelle) - 7/10 (Deck never Dissapoints, The Pase is Odd tho)

Butter Knives - 8/10 (This Track Sounds very "Immobilarity" Era, One of the Best Solo Joints)

Snake Pond -10/10 (Rea at his Best ! Solo Story Telling over a Flawless Beat, Fantastic!)

Crane Style (Ft. Busta Rhymes) - 7.5/10 (Another track i wish was Longer, Just as Busta was Going in..)

Rock N Roll (Ft. Ghostface Killah And Jim Jones) - 4/10 (Doesnt Fit in, And Jim Jones is Killing Rap)

Rich And Black (Ft. Nas) - 9/10 (Nas Steals the Show here Over the Smooth Beat)

From The Hills (Ft. Method Man And Raheem DeVaughn) - 8/10 (Again these Tracks Need to be Longer)

Last Trip To Scotland (Ft. Lloyd Banks) - 8.5/10 (Banks and Rae Doing a Story, Cant go Wrong)

Ferry Boat Killaz - 8/10 (After the Last Collab "Surgical Gloves" Alchemist back with another G Beat )

Dart School - 7.5/10 (For Some Reason I Cant see Myself Listening to this track to much, Still Good)

Molasses (Ft. Rick Ross And Ghostface Killah) - 8/10 (Ross and Ghostface Go all out, Great)

The Scroll - 7/10 (Again Like Dart School, These tracks Should be Longer, Great Beats Tho)

Masters Of Our Fate (Ft. Black Thought) - 10/10 - Black and Rea Throw a hell of an Outro, Great !)



Side Note : I Did this on Ps3 browser, So Sorry if its a lil Short. ... Great Album, (8.5/10)

[ThomasJ]

TBH, I loved the album...

I'll give it a few more listens, then post my review.

[Drama Setter]

Love it

[N.W.A.]

I think it's a very good solid album. I think OB4CL2 is better, but it's still tight. Could have used one or two RZA joints.