While he's the oldest of the Wu-Tang Clan, some may say that GZA is also the
wisest given the quality of his previous LP, 1995's classic 'Liquid Swords'
(well, he's known as the Genius for nothing). And while it may have taken
him 7 years to record a follow up, it's definitely been worth the
wait. That news will undoubtedly come as a relief to many hip-hop heads,
given some of the patchy work released by the Clan over the last few years,
albeit with a few notable exceptions.
Much like his previous opus, the beats on 'Legend...' are tough and
uncompromising, and maintain a consistency you perhaps wouldn't expect given
the various producers employed. Surprisingly GZA's cousin and Wu-Tang sensei
- RZA - only mans the controls on one track, the uncomplicated yet effective
'Rough Cut'. The simplicity of most of the samples and melodies allows the
Genius to show his vocal intelligence and skill in delivery. This is
especially evident on cuts like 'Fame' where he rails against the cult of
celebrity whilst using famous names to link his comments. And on
'Animal Planet' he playfully lists animal names and traits over sweet soul
samples, simultaneously commenting on the similarities between the jungle
and the streets.
While it may not be quite reach the heights scaled by his previous album,
we've waited long enough for another idea from the Genius. And barring the
odd track in the second half which lets the side down a little, this is the
best solo album to have been produced by one of the Wu-Tang Clan in some
time.
www.mcarecords.com
Reviewed by Sean
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