A Short Guide to Wu-Tang Clan (Part I)

Introduction/Orientation: I'll do a short list of Wu-Tang albums here, giving everyone who reads this a bit of an introduction into the overwhelmingly large Wu-Tang catalog of albums. There are several longer guides online, including a Reddit one I strongly disagree with in places, as well as several more in depth guides that cover over 100 Wu-related releases (a very impressive feat). For this guide I'll cover the so-called "Golden Age" of the Wu, and deal with the releases from that era.

Who this guide is for: newcomers to the Wu-Tang who want to get into their very best, and most consistent work. If you follow this guide you'll have a very firm handle on the Wu.

Background information: If you're here, you probably know who the Wu-Tang Clan are. If you don't, you should probably look at Wikipedia, or refer to a search engine of your choice. However, these are the nine members of Wu-Tang Clan:
RZA - Group producer and rapper, everything during the Golden Age was part of his 5-year plan
GZA
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Inspectah Deck - The planned 1995 album was lost during a flood of RZA's studio
Raekwon - "The Chef"
U-God
Ghostface Killah
Masta Killa
Method Man - Biggest star of Wu-Tang during the "Golden Age"

The "Golden Age" albums:
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Tical
Return to the 36 Chambers: the Dirty Version
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
Liquid Swords
Ironman
Wu-Tang Forever




The Guide (Part 1: Album Overviews):

Album: Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Artist: Wu-Tang Clan
Release Date: November 9, 1993

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was a raw, rugged and highly energetic debut that stood in stark contrast with many of the current trends in hip hop. The West Coast had been firmly in the spotlight since 1992, with the release of Dr. Dre's The Chronic, and 1993 showed no sign of changing that, with high profile releases by Snoop Doggy Dogg, Eazy-E, Ice Cube and 2Pac. While Wu-Tang Clan did not singlehandedly shift focus back to the East Coast, it set up the industry for that shift. This is the only acceptable place to start with Wu-Tang cannon.

Album: Tical
Artist: Method Man
Release Date: November 15, 1994

Tical was the second Wu-Tang release, and showcased their biggest star coming out of the first album. Tical has a dark, toned down sound that fits the lyrical atmosphere Method Man creates. RZA's production is also on point, and this marks the first transition to a more polished aesthetic that will become important to the Wu-Tang sound. This album is often overlooked for other "Golden Age" releases, but it is an album that rewards the listener who gives it their undivided attention in a way that few other albums do.

Album: Return to the 36 Chambers: the Dirty Version
Artist: Ol' Dirty Bastard
Release Date: March 28, 1995

ODB is an anomaly. He spent a lot more time in jail and in courthouses than any other Wu-Tang member. There is a strong possibility that he suffered from any number of psychological disorders (for those of you who are interested, a likely possibility is drug-induced psychosis, which often develops into schizophrenia, which would be a pre-existing condition), as well as having a serious hard drug habit which would eventually contribute significantly to his cause of death. Return to the 36 Chambers: the Dirty Version is Dirty's showcase of his crazy, mentally unstable contributions to the Wu-Tang sound. Case and point, his welfare card is the cover of his album, and he admits to having burnt multiple times by gonorrhea. Often hilarious, it's probably safe to say that half the tracks on the album are not serious songs (Dirty himself admitted to having no memory of recording the album due to how drunk he was at the time). RZA meanwhile continues to outshine every other Wu member by expanding his sonic palette and being the guiding force behind each classic album.

Album: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
Artist: Raekwon
Release Date: August 1, 1995

Released the same year as Return, OB4CL is often considered the best Wu solo album, and a serious contender for the best Wu album, period. Raekwon is aided here by Ghostface Killah, who appears on nearly every track. This album is notable for bringing to prominence the Mafioso subgenre of New York hip hop, as well as crafting a story and characters often compared to that of a film script. While Raekwon and Ghostface are the obvious stars here, it's RZA who constantly steals the show, with a cinematic score-like soundtrack to offset the workings and the rhymes of the cast. (If you don't believe me yet then just check "North Star." Those strings. Those lyrics.)

Album: Liquid Swords
Artist: GZA
Release Date: November 7, 1995

Liquid Swords is the creepiest Wu-Tang album. GZA raps in a stoic, overly calm manner, while the RZA provides the darkest production since Tical, this time interlaced with creepy audio samples from the film Shogun Assassin. Liquid Swords also holds the honour of being the most mysterious album. That is to say, it presents topics of gangsta rap in more religious, mystical terms. While this may not resonate with those who prefer more down to earth topics in their raps, there is a reason that many fans consider this album to be as good as OB4CL, with many claiming it to be the best Wu solo album, and even best Wu album in general.

Album: Ironman
Artist: Ghostface Killah
Release Date: October 29, 1996

After three Wu-Tang releases in 1995, and five since 1993, Ironman, on the surface, appears to almost have been an afterthought. Ghostface Killah here gets to demonstrated his stream-of-consciousness rapping in full effect, even though only a few tracks have him without guests. As it were, Ironman is actually one of the most slept-on Wu-Tang albums. While enjoying a fair amount of critical acclaim, it is often overlooked for later Ghostface albums such as Supreme Clientele. That is a very big mistake, since this is one of the most fascinating Wu-Tang documents. Instead of the usual kung fu film samples, there is an excess of blaxpoitation material, which signals a serious stylistic shift in the Wu-Tang style. On top of this, the production focuses on large amounts of 70s soul samples, and shows RZA diversifying in ways he hadn't previously.

Album: Wu-Tang Forever
Artist: Wu-Tang Clan
Release Date: June 3, 1997

Wu-Tang Forever is the culmination of RZA's five year plan. From 1993 onwards RZA had been a driving force behind all the Wu-Tang albums. Across the six albums leading up to Wu-Tang Forever there had only been a small handful of tracks not produced by RZA, and even those abided by the same stylistic standards he established. On top of this, the production remained within Clan affiliates and members. Wu-Tang Forever is a double disc album that shows Wu-Tang Clan at their most ambitious. The scope and vision of their project has been expanded substantially from their first album. The production is no longer a ruckus, but a string-laden sonic tapestry. Each Wu member expands their repertoire, their rapping technique has matured, as has the subject matter. Topics previously unexplored like the future, blaxpoitation, explicit sex raps, and love songs all surface and flourish. Wu-Tang Forever is more divisive than Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), some feeling that Wu-Tang Clan had moved forward in every way, and others feeling slightly disappointed. For every fan who felt that this was when the Wu didn't fulfill their ambitions, there is another fan who feels that this is the best work Wu-Tang Clan has ever done. This album is not as easy to understand as their debut, nor should it be, but when approached properly, it is every bit as rewarding. For the best possible Wu-Tang experience, listen to each album in order of release, ending with this one.

Various Study Playlist (Study Music 2)

So after making some hip hop CD compilations for studying (if you're into that kinda thing) I thought I'd make one for a more eclectic audience. And it truly is eclectic (well sort of- as much as it could be while still being functionally consistent and relatively cohesive). So here it is (in alphabetical order of course):

1. Songs About Fucking - Big Black
2. Buena Vista Social Club At Carnegie Hall - Buena Vista Social Club
3. Marcus Garvey - Burning Spear
4. Afrodisiac - Fela Kuti & the Afrika 70
5. The Score - Fugees
6. In Utero - Nirvana
7. Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G.
8. Greatest Hits: P.Funk, Uncut Funk, The Bomb - Parliament
9. Mama Africa - Peter Tosh
10. The Main Event: Live at the Maple Leaf - Rebirth Brass Band
11. Freaky Styley - Red Hot Chili Peppers
12. Galo Negro - Sam Mangwana
13. Doggystyle - Snoop Doggy Dogg
14. Sorry Africa - Tony Bird
15. All Eyez on Me - 2Pac

Study Music

As I sit down to do some heavy reading of Merrie Bergmann's Metaphorical Assertions I thought that I would put together a good list of hip hop CDs to listen to while studying. There may be similar compilations of other musical genres at some point, but until then it is what it is. I'm also not treating this like a conventional mixtape-esque playlist, it's just a compilation of good hip hop CDs to have on while studying. Nothing lacking, pure quality only. <3

Listed in alphabetical order (by artist):

1. The Chronic - Dr. Dre
2. It's On 187um Killa - Eazy-E
3. The Score - Fugees
4. Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr - Gang Starr
5. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill
6. Illmatic - Nas
7. Street's Disciple - Nas
8. Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G.
9. Life After Death - The Notorious B.I.G.
10. O.S.T. - People Under the Stairs
11. Doggystyle - Snoop Doggy Dogg
12. Thug Life: Volume 1 - Thug Life
13. The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest
14. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan
15. All Eyez on Me - 2Pac

20 Years, BIIIIIATCHH!!!

Doggystyle turns 20 today! Snoop's best album without contest should be given proper worship with gin and juice, a fat sack of chronic bud and the music that inspired it so greatly (and is featured on the album).

Here's the video of DJ Snoopadelic and Daz Dillinger (Dat Nigga Daz in '93) promoting the mixtape of the samples he incorporated in the album:

And here is a link to download the mixtape (unfortunately only one track so far, working to fix that). If you're anything like me then you've already listened to these songs hundreds of times before, probably even before listening to Snoop Doggy Dogg. DJ Snoopadelic's presence isn't unwelcome at all though, it's an awesome addition.

Doggystyle 20th Anniversary Samples Mixtape

Much love to Snoop for putting together an album as great as Doggystyle, and much love for putting together this video and the mixtape!

O.G., O.G.

Today I've been listening to the "O.G. version" of Ready to Die:

Some of the tracks are exactly the same ("Things Done Changed"). Some of them aren't as good ("Me & My Bitch"). Some are just a bit different ("The What"). There are even some songs that didn't make the final cut at all ("Whatchu Want," "Come On," etc.). You can hear the original Pete Rock version of "Juicy," you know, the one they didn't talk about in that filthy pile of lies called "Notorious." The most exciting change for me is the uncensored version of "Gimme the Loot," which has never before seen the light of day. For some shitty reason, Puffy felt that pregnant women being robbed is somehow worse than other people being robbed, so that word got cut. The other censored word is "strangled," because somehow being strangled for your bangles and earrings is worse than being shot for them. The bottom line is that these words never should have been censored (it sounds like your disc is damaged) and Puffy is a stupid asshole. Which isn't news to anyone, or it shouldn't be.

If you're so inclined, you can go to this webpage and hit up the link to get a free download of it.

#2: Snoop Albums, Worst to Best

I've been listening to lots of Snoop albums recently. In commemoration of this, I'm compiling a list of Snoop Dogg/Snoop Doggy Dogg albums that are being ranked from worst to best, in my opinion. Some unreleased material albums will be included and there may be some studio albums I had to ignore entirely (there's only so much shit I can take).

12. Malice N Wonderland (2009)

After listening to this one I wanted to never listen to Snoop Dogg again. It was painful. I hated the production, I hated almost all the songs, and I hated that Soulja Boy Tell Em was featured. After this album I couldn't bring myself to listen to Ego Tripping or Doggumentary.

Top cuts: "Secrets"

11. Da Game is to be Sold, Not to be Told (1998)

When I first started listening to this one I thought all the hate it gets might be unwarranted. That's just because the first track, "Snoop World" is actually alright. There's too much No Limit influence on the track though, and on the whole album, which keeps it down. Very far down.

Top cuts: "Snoop World"

10. R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): the Masterpiece (2004)

This album was another polarizing one for me (barely though). I absolutely loathed sections of it, with "Can U Control Yo Hoe" being an all-time low for Snoop Dogg. It wasn't just the blatant (and violent) misogyny on that one- it's also just a really bad song. That being said there were some cuts that I sort of enjoyed.

Top cuts: "Pass It Pass It," "Oh No, Perfect"

9. Paid Tha Cost to be Da Boss (2002)

All around it's quite decent, not fluctuating that much to either bad or good. At this point Snoop's albums are feeling a bit contrived and uninspired in places. There are some decent cuts here, but on the whole definitely a bit unmemorable. That being said it's not really all that bad. Deserving of a listen (at least one) if one is a Snoop fan.

Top cuts: "From Long Beach 2 Brick City," "Pimp Slapp'd," "Da Bo$$ Would Like to See You"


8. Dead Man Walkin (2000)

This album was released by Suge Knight at the same time as Snoop's Tha Last Meal. The purpose of this was to hamper sales and attack Snoop. Suge Knight claimed at the time that this was "Snoop at his best." This was a blatant lie, especially in terms of the production (which isn't terrible, but is hardly all that praise-worthy). Snoop's rapping here is very focused and the few guest appearances are all solid in their own right (Nate Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, etc.). This album is proof that Snoop has a decent back catalog of unreleased material.

Top cuts: "Head Doctor," "I Will Survive"

7.  Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (2006)

Good, not great, this release is one of the more consistent in Snoop's library. It does start to sag starting two thirds of the way through and before that there were a couple tracks I really didn't enjoy. On the whole this is a decent release for the dedicated Snoop fan to sink their teeth into, especially if they are modern production-inclined.

Top cuts: "I Wanna Fuck You," "Get a Light," "Imagine"


6.  No Limit Top Dogg (1999)

I have to admit that I had significantly lower expectations for this album than I did for every other Snoop release I've listened to recently. It's not quite as memorable as Tha Doggfather and it doesn't have the heights of Tha Last Meal. It also still has a fair bit of No Limit influence (albeit significantly less than Da Game) and that is one of the reasons it doesn't stand quite as tall.

Top cuts: "Bitch Please," "Ghetto Symphony"

5. Death Row: the Lost Sessions Vol. 1 (2009)

This is a compilation album of outtakes and unreleased material from Snoop Dogg's "Doggy Dogg" era (as is prominently displayed on the cover). I still attest that what would have been the best choice for Snoop would have been to spend some time recording a lot of great material, throw out some of the bad cuts and make a solid double album. That being said this Death Row/WIDEawake cash grab is still a great way to fill Snoop's repertoire with more of his earlier work.

Top cuts: "Doggystyle," "Put it in Ya Mouth," "Life's Hard"

4. Tha Last Meal (2000)

I'm actually very conflicted about this album. It has jumped around as high as third on this list, and has dropped as low as seventh. One of the Snoop albums that has some genuine personality (especially in its production). While there are some genuine heights on this one there are also some disappointing lows. I am not a fan of the last third of the album at all- this one goes out with a whimper instead of a bang.

Top cuts: "Hennessy n Buddah," "Lay Low," "Issues"

3. The Hard Life (2004)

This is an album by a reformed 213, the Snoop Doggy Dogg/Nate Dogg/Warren G trio from before The Chronic was being recorded. Unlike The Chronic this album doesn't just feature Snoop. Snoop doesn't overpower Nate Dogg or Warren G either. This is one of the strongest albums in any of their respective catalogs, and hearing them in top form matching Snoop line for line is a real treat (especially considering that this is the same year we were dropped the highly disappointing R&G). Every track is at the very least good. It's a shame that not every Snoop album hits this hard. Bonus points for the European release with its one great bonus track "Whistle While you Hustle."

Top cuts: "Gotta Find a Way," "Absolutely," "So Fly"

2. Tha Doggfather (1996)

 Snoop's last album as Snoop Doggy Dogg. The overall sound is very different from Doggystyle and may take a little while to warm up to (I initially hated it). However this is Snoop Dogg's most consistent album after Doggysytle. It doesn't sound as disorganized and filler filled as some of his later albums. The biggest faults with this album are the lack of 2Pac features and some of the production choices (the album should have been a bit more bass heavy, it's best played by maxing out the quality- iTunes, or turning up the bass- everything else).

Top cuts: "Gold Rush," "Doggfather," "Doggyland"

1. Doggystyle (1993)

 Snoop's best album is also his first. This album is a great sequel to The Chronic, which is another place to hear early Snoop Doggy Dogg, especially since he appears on 11/16 tracks. This album is a certified hip hop classic (as is The Chronic). Every single track is a banger, and it is highly recommended for all hip hop fans who haven't yet listened to it (are you kidding me?). Like all of Snoop's material, there is an excess of violence and misogyny (although it's largely there for a laugh). Listener discretion is advised in regards to the content.

Top cuts: "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)," "Gz and Hustlaz," "Gin & Juice," ALL

#1: 2Pac Albums, Worst to Best 1991-1996

I love 2Pac. Not everything he did, and certainly not his unfair accusations of attempted murder directed at The Notorious B.I.G. As an artist though, he is a paramount in hip hop. I consider all of his albums to be pretty good, so even the ones I rate a little lower are albums I thoroughly enjoy. In this list I'm not including the posthumous albums that 2Pac didn't have any direct input in. Basically how it works is that if you think that one of those albums is his best then you're just wrong. Sorry (not really).

Agree? Disagree? Just stopping by and having a look? Leave a comment and say hello! :)

6. Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (1993)

2Pac's second album, and home to one of the best songs he ever graced on record- "Keep Ya Head Up." None of the other cuts come close to measuring up to that one. That doesn't mean the rest of the CD isn't very good, that song is just in a league of its own. Any fan of hip hop should at the very least listen to that song, and any 'Pac fan should listen to the album.

Top cuts: "Keep Ya Head Up"

5. 2Pacalypse Now (1991)

2Pac's first release stands slightly higher than his second one for me. While the rapping and production can be a bit rough in places it is fairly thematically consistent. There are a handful of tracks here that are very, very powerful, and the final five tracks in particular are quite strong.

Top cuts: "Part Time Mutha," "Brenda's Got a Baby"

4. The Don Killuminati: the 7 Day Theory (as Makaveli) (1996)

What pushes this ahead of 2Pacalypse Now is "Hail Mary" which I consider to be 'Pac's best song. What keeps this album behind some of the others is how none of the other cuts stand up in comparison at all. Tracks like "Toss 'Em Up," "Against All Odds" and "To Live and Die in LA" are good though, and none of the songs are boring or bad. It's a solid release, and a good cap to an unfortunately short career.

Top cuts: "Hail Mary"

3. Me Against the World (1995)

This one is often considered 2Pac's best. Some of his absolute best cuts can be found here. In fact this album is one of the ones I'd have the most trouble picking favourites out of. There are a lot of veritable classic tracks to be found here. It's probably the 2Pac album that I personally sleep on the most, but still one of my favourite hip hop albums.

Top cuts: "If I Die 2Nite," "Me Against the World"

2. Thug Life: Volume 1 (with Thug Life) (1994)

At only 10 tracks (8 of which 2Pac appears on) it is the shortest 2Pac release by far (blame Interscope for cutting everything they thought was controversial). It is also one of the best and also one of the most slept on. Each of the 10 tracks is a banger and it is completely filler-free (this may not have been the case if it had been a full release). Unfortunately there was never a Thug Life Volume 2. The other members of Thug Life keep up just as well (a favourite being Big Syke) which keeps things fresh and original. The only appearance is the very much welcome guest Nate Dogg on "How Long Will They Mourn Me."

Top cuts: "Str8 Ballin'," "How Long Will They Mourn Me," ALL

1. All Eyez on Me (1996)

This choice is going to be at least as controversial as putting Me Against the World in third place. A lot of people say that 2Pac went "full Thug" on this one, but the case is just that each 2Pac album reflects a different aspect of the artist. This album (as explained by 2Pac himself) was to be a celebration of life, and what a celebration it is. It's sad that this is the last album that Pac was able to see released before he died moved to Cuba. While there are some people who feel that this album has a lot of filler, I can sit and listen to the whole thing start to finish and love every second of the ride. Everyone involved pulled out all the stops and delivered what is not only one of the finest double disc in hip hop, but also one of the finest hip hop albums, period. The first disc contains all the singles, but the second disc is just as good. Not only is this 2Pac's finest work, it's also the best album that Death Row Records ever released.

Top cuts: "Ambitionz Az A Ridah," "Only God Can Judge Me," "All Eyez on Me," "Heaven Ain't Hard to Find," ALL