W, The - Wu-Tang Clan

Advantages: Incredible Lyrics, Rza Production usually intact, Nas and Redman Appearances
Disadvantages: ODB is still MIA, Busta Rhymes, Too Much Cappadonna, Some Below Average or Horrible Tracks

I've heard a lot of mixed opinions about the Wu-Tang Clan and The W. A lot of people truly like it, but some hate it. Well im here to give you the truth about this album. You may remember the Wu-Tang's classic Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, well this is nowhere near like it, at all. But its not horrible either. Its a relatively good CD... well.. i dont got much to say with this intro since most people know these guys... so check out the review... ...
...Finger Jab / Chamber Music (5 Stars) 2. Careful (Click, Click) f/ Cappadonna (5 Stars) 3. Hollow Bones (4 1/2 Stars) 4. Redbull f/ Redman (4 Stars) 5. One Blood Under W f/ Junior Reid (5 Stars) 6. Conditioner (3 1/2 Stars) 7. Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off) f/ Cappadonna (5 Stars) 8. Let My N*ggas Live f/ Nas (2 Stars) 9. I Can't Go To Sleep f/ Isaac Hayes (5 Stars) 10. Do You Really (Thang, Thang) f/ Streetlife (2 Stars) 11. The Monument f/ Busta ... Read review

Advantages: Quality rapping as always
Disadvantages: Mixed in terms of production. Less Underground

The hip hop culture has changed a lot since the 36 chambers album. The grooves on the new album 'The W' is still raw, but it doesnt have the same underground feeling of their first effort, but this is inevitable as hip-hop has become very commercialised since 36 chambers, on the east cost too, with puff daddy's 'bad boy' influence. therefore their style has changed with time. Lead single 'Gravel pit' is the main track that proves how commercial ...
...& careful (click click)show the harder side of the clan that will always be there in elements. But overall the album is rather mixed (production-wise), unlike their first album which was consistently awesome. But considering their last album 'forever' was a long double cd of mediocre tunes, the W feels like a 'partial' return to a more natural sound. Here is a review of some of the tracks Chamber Music : Fades in from the opener, it provides a ... Read review

Advantages: Gravel Pit
Disadvantages: Spending money on this CD

As a teenager, hip hop was my thing and groups like Public Enemy were my idols. As I grew older, and the rap/hip hop scene really started to take off, and groups such as 2 Live Crew and Public Enemy were overtaken by the likes of Wu Tang Clan in the mid 1990's, I started to drift away from that area of music as it seemed diluted or very copycat. In the year my daughter was born (2000), Wu Tang released what was probably their most mainstream album ...
...British garage scene, they were the closest this country has got to a group like Wu Tang Clan in that we are never really sure of their exact line up, as group members come and go, release some solo material successfully, and then return back to the fold from time to time. Even those middle of the road music fans amongst you may know of Method Man, who had a guest spot with Texas at The Brits a few years ago. That said, there are nine founder members ... Read review

Advantages: A good one for the collection
Disadvantages: Not quite up to the standard of 36 chambers

Classic Albums have always been hard to follow up, whether it has been with Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, KRS One, Nas, A Tribe Called Quest or Public Enemy. Somehow these artists get lost along the way either to commercial leanings, loss of focus or assuming they know what the fans want when they are far off the mark. The Wu have particularly struggled with this concept as evidenced with all the albums since 'Enter the 36 Chambers' and 'Wu-tang Forever'. ...
...Wu's popularity and belief that they could ever reach the heights of say 'Cuban linx' or 'Liquid Swords' but you have to ask which of the 3 reasons the Wu faltered with. With all the problems surrounding the group that have developed along with the original problem of getting 8 core members together the Wu needed to conquer this to come back with something that would rectify what could ultimately be their downfall. As usual, anticipation has been ... Read review

Advantages: Includes: Gravel Pit
Disadvantages: Could do with more better tracks

This year already brought us the return of Dr. Dre, LL Cool J and Snoop Dogg. Eminem, Dead Prez and Outkast broke through. And on the breach of 2001, another nine "niggaz" have joined the Gravel Pit. Or should we say ten, 'cause as on the last two albums, Cappadonna features on half of the tracklisting. Who am I talking about ? I am talking about RZA, GZA, U-God, Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck and the imprisoned ...
...The Wu Tang Clan are back with another Shao Lin master class instructor disc. The album starts of with "Chamber Music". It follows into "Careful (Click, Click)", a nice gangsta-rap flavoured track. For "Hollow Bones" the Clan used a sample of Sly and the Family Stones. On "Redbull" they got the help of Redman. "One Blood Under W" is the first of two tracks featuring the soulfull Junior Reid. "Conditioner" is a duet of ODB and Snoop Dogg, the only ... Read review

Advantages: Best album produced by the Wu-Tang Clan
Disadvantages: none

...With the release of the Wu-Tang Clans third album, the W, its interesting to see that their debut album, 'Enter the 36 Chambers' still adorns the shelves of music shops worldwide, and is still very popular. Being the 3rd album I ever bought, 36 Chambers was definately a good choice, and despite years of listening to it, its still my favourite album. The Wu-Tang Clan combine excellent wordplay and battle their way through the album, which is laced with martial arts samples, giving it that authentic flavour. Produced by RZA, one of the founding members of the Clan, this is a masterpiece that shouldn't be missed by any hip-hop fan.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Meth & Red work well together
Disadvantages: none

...I bought this album after listening to Method Man on his hit with Limp Bizkit 'N Together Now'. I had also heard him on many of the Wu-Tang Clan's tunes from the album 'The W'. I had only ever heard Redman on the tune he did with Eminem 'Off The Wall'. Anyway, it had good reviews on Amazon.co.uk so I decided to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised when I put it into my CD player, because I expected it to be mediocre but it was excellent. The Beats are good and Meth and Red work so well together. The lyrics are good, but explicit so this CD isn't really suitable for younger listeners. This album shows both Red & Meth's talents as MC's & after hearing this I'm definitely going to buy solo albums by these two artists. Standout tunes are: 'Blackout', 'Cereal Killer' and 'Dat's Dat S**t' Overall, I think this CD is a must... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Deck is an amazing lyricist, Some Truly Excellent Beats, Good Subject Matter
Disadvantages: A few average tracks, some weaker beats

...above average and Gza's "Beneath the Surface" was widely slept-on. Besides that, the rest of the members of the Wu-Tang Clan were basically A.W.O.L. It was then that the widely anticipated solo album of Inspectah Deck had dropped. Uncontrolled Substance is the subject of mixed reviews. Some people love it, some hate it, some think its alright. I'll be the judge of that. Track List & Rating 1. Intro (NOT RATED) 2. Movas And Shakers (4 Stars) 3. 9th Chamber f/ La The Darkman, Barretta 9, Killa Sin, Street Life (4 Stars) 4. Uncontrolled Substance f/ Shadii (4 Stars) 5. Femme Fatale (3 Stars) 6. The Grand Prix f/ U-God & Street Life (3 Stars) 7. Forget Me Not (3 Stars) 8. Longevity f/ U-God (5 Stars) 9. Word On The Street (4 1/2 Stars) 10. Elevation (5 Stars) 11. Lovin You f/ La The Darkman (5 Stars) 12. Trouble... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful