After the demise of NWA the Wu Tang Clan are now the most important group in hip hop today. I write about this album in particular because, like De La soul's '3 feet high and rising' it's an honest to goodness classic and you don't get many of them to the pound.
Wu-Tang Forever is a 2 CD ... Read review
...the demise of NWA the Wu Tang Clan are now the most important group in hip hop today. I write about this album in particular because, like De La soul's '3 feet high and rising' it's an honest to goodness classic and you don't get many of them to the pound.
Wu-Tang Forever is a 2 CD album and is largely produced by the clan's own RZA and includes an interactive wu mansion that I can't ever get into. It kicks off with 'Wu Revolution' ... ...clan's earlier album, 'Enter the wu tang (36 chambers)', 'Wu-Tang forever' isn't as 'street' (as my old fella would say), but is still raw, and like all later albums, is much more polished. Their success is evident here: "I don't walk, I get carried".
Especially catchy is 'Cash rules...Still don't nothing move but the money' which you can't be listening to without nodding your head like a mad woman. Heck, I've been doing ... more
After the demise of NWA the Wu Tang Clan are now the most important group in hip hop today. I write about this album in particular because, like De La soul's '3 feet high and rising' it's an honest to goodness classic and you don't get many of them to the pound.
Wu-Tang Forever is a 2 CD album and is largely produced by the clan's own RZA and includes an interactive wu mansion that I can't ever get into. It kicks off with 'Wu Revolution' and although hip hop has a reputation for it's violence and sexism, it's a call for solidarity and recognises the balance, and equality, needed in life: "Behind every strong woman is a strong man, and behind every strong man is a strong woman".
Unlike the clan's earlier album, 'Enter the wu tang (36 chambers)', 'Wu-Tang forever' isn't as 'street' (as my old fella would say), but is still raw, and like all later albums, is much more polished. Their success is evident here: "I don't walk, I get carried".
Especially catchy is 'Cash rules...Still don't nothing move but the money' which you can't be listening to without nodding your head like a mad woman. Heck, I've been doing it to the entire cd.
'Severe punishment' has a kung fu flava and feminists beware 'Maria'. The intro dedicates it 'to all the bitches': "I put my dick in the room, she blew my head like a balloon, I had her walking on the moon". It's a public humiliation of all the ho's.
There are 2 version's of 'The projects' here, the best of these is the international remix. 'A better tomorrow' tells of life in the projects and the clan warn those in such an enviroment not to walk the path of smoking their lives away, continuing in 'It's yourz': "The world in the palm of your hand".
'The City' includes the lyrics "Money, drugs and guns", the recurring theme throughout this album, from getting caught with a spliff to dying a violent and early death.
I could go on (wu-tang) forever about this album, but there are 29 tracks on 2 CD's and there's only so many euphamisms for 'cool' and 'bloody amazing'.
No hip hop collection can possibly be without such a cool album by a group with such amazing lyrical talent. The album is rough but mellow and the Kung Fu samples interspersed generously. It's seamless, flawless and everyone should have one.
Advantages: it's got some great Wu tracks Disadvantages: you'll have to wade through a lot of filler to get to them
...which showcases what makes the Wu Tang Clan so special. Unfortunately such tracks make up a minority of the album. A number of tracks feature the dubious rapping talents of the RZA (did anyone actually enjoy his rhyming on his solo album?) and the singing of Tekitha. Cappadonna fans will be pleased with him appearing on no less than five tracks. RZA produced most of the tracks of this double CD but not all of them with the remainder being produced ... ...and Ghostface Killah shine on “M.G.M.” and “Heaterz” (my favourite track of the album which absolutely rocks). Other highlights include “For Heaven’s Sake”, “Older Gods”, “A Better Tomorrow” and “It’s Yourz”. However a lot of the album feels like an extended intro/outro or filler. A lot of this has a fairly downbeat mood and feel and doesn’t bang like their first album. There’s enough good material on here for one very solid CD but don’t expect two ...
victor 12.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Wu Tang Forever [ECD] [PA] - Wu-Tang Clan
Advantages: Great tunes, about 30 tracks for 15 quid Disadvantages: not many, some repevetive sounds, not as many appericens from Deck
...or not. But after buying it on holiday fro a tenner, I was very pleased and feel that the Wu have bought us some great tunes here to bump to. I hope you will see the liogh to and buy this album due to its greatness. 10 out of 10 ...
EddM 04.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Wu Tang Forever [ECD] [PA] - Wu-Tang Clan
Buy this now. A great CD two cds in the first place, amazing lyrics from the boys of Tang and the best thing is the price. £10 for two cds of about 30 odd tracks. There are some amazing tracks like For Heavens Sake feat. Cappa Donna which made me feel great after listening to. The boys have realy improved sinse their first album. Shame about Killa Beez, but now they are back on track with a great album. My Mate Edd Showed it to me at his house. Its ...
BobM 22.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Wu Tang Forever [ECD] [PA] - Wu-Tang Clan
Product Information for "Wu Tang Forever [ECD] [PA] - Wu-Tang Clan" »
Product details
Title
Wu Tang Forever [ECD] [PA]
Performer
Wu-Tang Clan
Genre
R&B
Sub Genre
East Coast Rap
Release Date
05/1997
Original Release Year
1997
Label / Distributor
Loud/RCA / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Pieces in Set
2
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
743214576823
Catalogue Number
74321457682
Additional notes
Album Notes
This is an Enhanced audio CD which contains regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Wu-Tang Clan: RZA "The Abbott" (rap vocals, programming); GZA "The Genius", Ol' Dirty Bastard "Osiris", U-God "Golden Arms", Masta Killa "High Chief", Method Man "Hott Nikkels", Raekwon "Lex Diamonds", Ghostface Killah "Ironman", Inspectah Deck "Fifth Brother" (rap vocals). Additional personnel: Poppa Wu, Uncle Pete, CappaDonna, Tekitha, Street Life (rap vocals); Roxanne (background vocals). Producers: The RZA, 4th Disciple, True Master, Inspectah Deck The Rebel. Engineers: The RZA, 4th Disciple, True Master, The Rebel. WU-TANG FOREVER was nominated for a 1998 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. The Genius sums up the Wu-Tang story in just one sentence on "Reunited;" "Reunited/Double-LP, world excited/Struck a match to the underground, industry ignited". The Wu-Tang Clan is raw, honest hip-hop at its best, and though they are arguably the best in their field, they haven't forgotten their underground roots. Back together after a multi-platinum debut as well as gold and platinum solo albums by several group members, Wu-Tang deliver the most anticipated album in rap history, WU-TANG FOREVER. The RZA, whose name is used to describe his razor sharp production, is probably the only producer in hip-hop whose sound is so clearly defined and so hard to imitate. Combining the complex lyrics of the Clan with unique sounds and frequently off-beat singing, the RZA is the group's musical mastermind. Whether the focus is on the GZA's wit, the grimy world-view of the Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface's hard-core street smarts, the lyrical wizardry of the Inspectah Deck or the certified insanity of the Ol' Dirty Bastard, Wu-Tang are lyrically, musically and conceptually light years ahead of other MCs.
Album Reviews
Spin (1/98, p.87) - Ranked #19 on Spin's list of the "Top 20 Bands Of The Year." Village Voice (2/24/98) - Ranked #26 in the Village Voice's 1997 Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll. Melody Maker (12/20-27/97, pp.66-67) - Ranked #28 on Melody Maker's list of 1997's "Albums Of The Year." NME (12/20-27/97, pp.78-79) - Ranked #18 in NME's 1997 Critics' Poll. Rolling Stone (6/26/97, pp.51-52) - 3.5 Stars (out of 5) - "...a self-contained universe that mixes hip-hop culture with adolescent-pop flotsam....hauntingly descriptive tales of ghetto hustlers and victims..." Spin (9/97, p.154) - 7 (out of 10) - "...Creating a style with no definite precedent, playing major lables against each other--and winning--Wu-Tang Clan are basically selling avant-garde music as pop to the world....The RZA burns the rule book between your headphones..." Q (6/00, p.131) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Highlights a once-hungry outfit now simply too full of individual stars to function coherently....[albeit] flashes of brilliance..." Melody Maker (5/31/97, p.49) - "...It had to be this big. It didn't have to be this good...Every single track is a detonation of every single pop rule you thought sacrosanct....FOREVER is one of the greatest hip hop LPs of all time. I think, in time, it could be my favourite album ever..." NME (5/31/97, p.54) - "...If albums by Method Man, Genius, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and Ol' Dirty Bastard were the Gospels, then this is meant to be the Good Book. And what it contains is The Knowledge....WU-TANG FOREVER is...unforgettably huge..." Entertainment Weekly (6/6/97, pp.65-66) - "...FOREVER continues the group's artistic grand slam. Like their forebears in Public Enemy, Wu-Tang are musical revolutionaries, unafraid to bring the noise along with their trunk of funk..." - Rating: A The Wire (10/01, pp.46,48) - "...The MCs are in strong form..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Wu Revolution - Wu-Tang Clan & Poppa Wu/Uncle Pete
2.
Reunited
3.
For Heaven's Sake - Wu-Tang Clan & Cappadonna
4.
Cash Still Rules/Scary Hours (Still Don't Nothing Move But T
5.
Visions
6.
As High As Wu Tang Gets
7.
Severe Punishment
8.
Older Gods
9.
Maria - Wu-Tang Clan & Cappadonna
10.
Better Tomorrow
11.
It's Yours
12.
Triumph - Wu-Tang Clan & Cappadonna
13.
Impossible - Wu-Tang Clan & Tekitha
14.
Little Ghetto Boys - Wu-Tang Clan & Cappadonna
15.
Deadly Melody - Wu-Tang Clan & Cappadonna
16.
City
17.
Projects International
18.
Bells Of War
19.
MGM
20.
Dog Shit
21.
Duck Season
22.
Hells Wind Staff
23.
Heaterz - Wu-Tang Clan & Cappadonna
24.
Black Shampoo
25.
Second Coming
26.
Sunshower
Titles on disc 2
1.
Intro
2.
Triumph - Cappadonna
3.
Impossible - Tekitha
4.
Little Ghetto Boys - Cappadonna
5.
Deadly Melody - Street Life
6.
City, The
7.
Projects, The
8.
Bells Of War
9.
M.G.M., The
10.
Dog Shit
11.
Duck Seazon
12.
Hellz Wind Staff - Street Life
13.
Heaterz - Cappadonna
14.
Black Shampoo
15.
Second Coming - Tekitha
16.
Closing, The
17.
Sunshower
18.
Projects International Remix
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12/07/2000
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