Can it be that it was all so simple, then...? Twenty years ago the Wu-Tang Clan released is first album. A bonafide Hip-Hop classic. Indeed, one of the best and most important Hip-Hop albums ever made.
A couple weeks ago the Wu-Tang Clan released its sixth proper studio album, with the opening lines, "After all these years, what you said was true. The Shaolin and the Wu-Tang is very dangerous..." (followed by a living memory of crew member Ol' Dirty Bastard, marking the first time we've heard all ten members on one album, since 2007's 8 Diagrams. This album marks the 20th anniversary of Wu-Tang in the limelight of our collective Hip-Hop (and popular) culture. This reunion has been extremely anticipated and has been on the lips (and finger tips) of millions for months... will they do it again? ...should they? ...does anybody care? Are they able to make people care? ...can they change that course of Hip-Hop again and bring it back to a look at the less glossy reality of the real world (as opposed to the Shiny Suit, Flossy/Glossy, Hollywood packaged "reality" petaled on TV and music that people are used to)?
Only time can answer all of the above questions, however all signs point to this reemergence of the Wu being for the best, as far as Hip-Hop music and culture is concerned. This is a remarkable album. Back to the first statement in the opening. What is it that makes the Wu-Tang so dangerous? Well, first of all, the most dangerous thing to all of western "civilization" is an awakened/aware Blackman with knowledge of himself (and also his planet). Being that the members of the Clan are all members of the Nation of Gods and Earths (also known as Five Percenters), they fit into this category. Secondly, because they make music much the same way that they would learn or teach lessons to elevate the mind of the less fortunate members of the original family - which is to say, you meet the people where they are. The way they go about making music and teaching is dangerous, because is carries with it the likelihood that the message of righteousness is buried too deep in the sonic landscape which is a vivid portrait of the surroundings from which all the members hail. A third danger is the inherent danger of success on the major world stage. Most of the time, when artists become household names around the globe, and get major airplay, they are co-opted by the industry corporate machine and no longer represent their original fan base (which is invariably the same garden from which the artist is plucked), instead they begin to represent and push the corporate agenda of keeping the people sleeping and ignorant.
So what's different here? They've grown up and matured and firmly settled into the danger inherent in their spiritual background. This album sees the most direct teaching tracks that Wu-Tang has ever put together on a single album. This is not to say Wu-Tang have morphed into Public Enemy. Not quite. However, instead of keeping everything woven and encoded into the lyrics, they have pushed the message of positivity, self knowledge and the need for "a better tomorrow" up to the forefront. Three of the album's jewels focus on this, in fact. Miracle, A Better Tomorrow, and Never Let Go are all Wu-Tang at it's best. This is the Wu-Tang of Tomorrow. Many of the songs are still aimed at the core audience, with lyrical content familiar to the formidable Wu catalog. Although there is a noticeable shift in the members' mentality. They've grown up and are wise about the world, however they will never get tired of sharing poetic wisdom designed to help those seemingly locked into a reality that they were once in themselves. The Wu-Tang Clan is also very conscious of their place on the world stage and therefore understand the global impact of their "teachings". (If there was ever any doubt of this, just check out the cover artwork for A Better Tomorrow and it will become clear that the Wu is very aware of it's importance to world culture.)
The Wu-Tang and Five Percent Nation are very similar, in that, at the core of both, is the purpose and practice of taking the teaching of truth and high science out of the holy sanctuary which most could or would not participate in (Shaolin and the Nation of Islam, respectively) to the unregulated environment where "the people" could most benefit from the knowledge and wisdom. This method, requires that the people are introduced to the knowledge where they are initially at (physically and mentally). It is through the pursuit and practice of said knowledge that "the people" begin to elevate out of the state of sleep and weakness. So after twenty years of "teaching", via group and solo albums, guest appearances, special projects, movies, media, clothing and many many other methods of touching the aforementioned "people", this album finds the Clan in a different place than when we first met them. However with understanding, it is clear to see that these are the same teachers who first taught us to Protect Ya Neck.
So, how does it sound? Great. Familiar, yet modern. The Wu-Tang is moving forward, musically, however it is firmly locked onto the sonic signature that is their trademark. The album boasts cinematic scale menacing sounds, along with gritty sample driven stories, next to soulful live instrumentation. To top it all off, two of the show-stealers come from old school throw-back style bangers (A Better Tomorrow and Wu-Tang Reunion) which are reminiscent of Hip-Hop in the park - raps in-between the verses or choruses of soul music classics. The tempo of the album switches gears often enough that it keeps the listener attentive. Starting with the high-energy Ruckus in B Minor, we are taken on a journey into tomorrow. Along the way, we are taken through all the side streets and alleys that may be forgotten by other guided tours taking the listener to "a better tomorrow". Slow menacing tracks (Felt), followed by classic Wu-bounce dance music (We Will Fight) and soulful groves (Mistaken Identity), leading to armor-piercing tracks designed to keep the listener's mind on the potent lyrics (Crushed Egos), which give way to upbeat anthems (Keep Watch)... and the ride keeps going. This is the fullest sounding Wu album ever. It is most reminiscent to 8 Diagrams, however it's a different animal, altogether - being much more focused (in terms of music, lyrics and delivery).
I first heard a few tracks early on Wu-Tang's Soundcloud page. I was so hyped up, I almost started writing this then... but I waited to get the whole thing. I was very pleased, needless to say. Although, I must say I was puzzled when I read the mixed messages on Facebook, by fans on either side of the acceptance of this landmark album. Wu-Tang is undoubtedly growing and every blade of grass grows at a different rate, so this next step is one that some aren't ready to make, which is understandable. However, I decided to hold off on my initial thought to write this article (right after my first complete listen)... In order to make sure that I wasn't just loving this because I just missed the Clan being on a record together, I decided to go about this in a more scientific way. I began listening to all the Wu-Tang Clan albums (not solos, just main albums), in order, from Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) all the way to A Better Tomorrow. This took time, as my life doesn't allow me to listen to Wu-Tang Clan exclusively. I recorded the tracks that were album standouts (and thus standout as benchmarks for future albums) and specially marked (*) those that I considered classics. (Note: I considered a track Classic when it struck me on the first listen with that undeniable feeling, a wide smile, corresponding head nodding, and irrepressible need to "hear that again!") This is not to say those songs which didn't make the list aren't good. Quite on the contrary, most are excellent works of music and poetry that captures the life and times of those in the process of growing into knowledge of self, while still in the belly of the beast - however they didn't meat the above criteria. The results of my study, which I found quite interesting, are below:
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers):
* Bring the Ruckus
Shame on a Nigga
* Clan in the Front
* Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber
* Can It Be All So Simple
* Da Mystery of Chessboxin'
* Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing to F' Wit
* C.R.E.A.M.
Method Man
Protect Ya Neck
* Tearz
* Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber, Pt. 2
Grade: Standouts 12/12 100% - Classics 9/12 75%
* Reunited
For Heaven's Sake
Visionz
* As High As Wu-Tang Get
Severe Punishment
A Better Tomorrow
* It's Yourz
* Triumph
Impossible
Bells of War
* MGM
Heaterz
Grade: Standouts 12/27 44% - Classics 5/27 19%
The W:
* Chamber Music
* Careful (Click, Click)
Hollow Bones
* Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)
Let My Niggas Live
* I Can't Go To Sleep
* Gravel Pit
Grade: Standouts 7/13 54% - Classics 5/13 38%
Iron Flag:
In The Hood
* Rules
* Uzi (Pinky Ring)
One of These Days
Radioactive (4 Assassins)
Grade: Standouts 5/12 42% - Classics 2/12 17%
8 Diagrams:
* Take It Back
Get Them Out Ya Way Pa
* Rushing Elephants
Unpredictable
The Heart Gently Weeps
* Sunlight
Windmill
Grade: Standouts 8/14 57% - Classics 3/14 21%
A Better Tomorrow:
* Ruckus In B Minor
40th Street Black/We Will Fight
Crushed Egos
Keep Watch
* Miracle
Necklace
Ron O'Neal
* A Better Tomorrow
* Never Let Go
Wu-Tang Reunion
Grade: Standouts 10/15 67% - Classics 4/14 29%
By my scientific (albeit very small) study, A Better Tomorrow belongs among other classic Wu-Tang albums, and is easily the strongest album since The W (or maybe even stronger than The W, putting it only second to the all-time classic Enter the Wu-Tang). This is definitely a classic album that everyone who loves Hip-Hop, should have in their collection. The best part about it is that it represents the Clan growing and waking up... remember the Clan are individuals who are "plucked" from the same garden as their core audience, so as they begin to wake up and be more overtly socially conscious, so too do the others in the "garden". This represents the waking up of the proverbial "Sleeping Giant". The change is on the horizon, as the giant has his eyes open. There have always been more socially aware Hip-Hop groups and performers, however think of them as the alarm clock of the giant. While they have been going off (for years!) the giant has been sleeping, groggy, hitting the snooze button, sleeping again... but, this time, it looks like he's finally waking up. So... the Shaolin and the Wu-Tang is very dangerous...
A Better Tomorrow, Wu-Tang Clan
* Ruckus In B Minor - One of the Crown Jewels of the album! One of the best Wu-Tang songs ever! All Ten Members! Classic Lines!... and that sound! With a steady rolling movement, punctuated by eerie guitars, changing rhythms, and classic lyrics with a false ending, highlighting Raekwon and Masta Killa's anchoring of this track, it has it all! This is the best Wu-Tang album opener (even topping Bring The Ruckus).
* Miracle - With it's opening of soft strings and angelic singing, your first thought might be "what is this?" or "where are we going, with this?" Inspectah Deck swiftly answers this, as he comes in with hard hitting verses illustrating "the travesty that we've become". Followed by Masta Killa's crime-story lines, we are taken into the lives of those who are just trying to make it out of hell. This goes on, as Reakwon picks up the story, ans the song gets more cinematic. What would seem to be the same familiar territory of regular Wu-Tang crime rhyme, the spirit of the track peaks out, as Rae mentions that he doesn't want to kill is brother... This is the Travesty. Killing one another. The song is brought home by Ghostface Killah, as the song flips to a middle east melody, who begins to deliver a heartfelt open-letter prayer to Allah. He outlines the recent state of our Earth and what we have to live through... What is the prayer for? What is the miracle? Destroy the system enslaving us and make a million Suns/Sons stand up as one.
*A Better Tomorrow - The title track opens up with the familiar piano strokes from Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, "Wake Up Everybody". This calls back to days in the park, when we would just rap over available records to make the old new again. The opening lines from Method Man set the tone and immediately grab the listener's attention. As he illustrates how we're trapped up in the circle of the system, the music swells, then we hear from Masta Killa, who shares that the answer is knowledge of self and that the complacency of "old time religion" is clearly not going to help us. Then Teddy comes in singing, as if he was in the studio with them. This song is perfectly crafted to push us forward, while keeping us attached to our ancestors and a clear knowledge of our past. Each member who graces this track with their presence (Method Man, Masta Killa, Cappadonna, Raekwon) clearly addresses the current state of live in America, and the entire world, for the Blackman. As the song winds down, we hear the brothers chanting "We gon' change the world! Change the world!" It's at once a message of love and change... through self determination. "Wake up, get a hole of your life." This piece is also prophetic, as it was recorded before the recent events which have coincided with it's release. This album, and title track, seems a perfectly timed soundtrack to the uprisings happening around the country. So much so, that just a few days ago, the Clan released a video for this song, featuring only video footage of the protests and uprisings surrounding the blatant racist rulings in several cases of police killings of Black men and boys.
*Never Let Go - The fourth Crown Jewel in this classic album, opens curiously with a sample of Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream speech. This is interesting, to say the least, as King is not the archetype that one would think to connect with Wu-Tang Clan, however as the song moves forward, splicing bits of the speech throughout the song, it becomes clear that Hip-Hop is the realization of the "Dream"... and that there are other dreams that we have the power, and responsibility, to manifest into reality. This must be done by keeping true to your plan and the path that you set out on. The use of the speech is most clear as the song reaches its conclusion, when King points out that the future of both Black and White are intertwined. Why is this significant? Because this was recorded before what is becoming the true "greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation"... these protests and uprisings. Particularly the uprisings ("There will neither be rest nor tranquility..."). The world is taking notice that we are making a change and waking up. We can no longer stand by and stay asleep. The live instrumentation is a perfect match to the lyrics and performances of Masta Killa, GZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and RZA. Lines from GZA ("... being that ignorance is lethal, we must touch hearts, tune souls, harmonize the people...") and RZA ("... the seed will carry it on, we need to carry it on, pass the baton, life is just a marathon...") sum up the idea of this classic song. Once we wake up, keep on moving! This is a momentum that we cannot afford to die out.
Here's a few samples of the album:
A Better Tomorrow (Official Video):
Ruckus In B Minor (Album Track):
Wu-Tang Reunion (Album Closing Track):
If you haven't already, I urge you to check out this album. You may also have fun in taking the Wu-Tang Clan challenge! Listen to all six albums in order, each song, and keep notes on which songs are the standouts and classics. What do you come up with?
Until next time, remember, All of Life is Sound... Keep Listening... and Waking Up!
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