In a time when mainstream hip-hop struggles with a near-fatal infection of mindless hooks and beats solely looking to generate the next club hit, than carry actual meaning, the Wu-Tang Clan resurrects with a potential cure known as "Tiger Style." The 8 Diagrams sees the East Coast hip-hop legends all on the same album (sans the deceased Ol\' Dirty Bastard) for the first time in nearly six years. Internal squabbling, creative differences and some ego clashing made the hip-hop world question whether The 8 Diagrams would make its way out of the Shaolin temple and onto the streets. Both original Clan members Raekwon and Ghostface Killah have criticized ringleader RZA\'s diverse vision for the album, with Raekwon even suggesting that RZA has become a "hip-hop hippie." Combine with The 8 Diagrams releasing at the same time as Ghostface\'s solo album The Big Doe Rehab, and the skepticism is justified.
But despite all the conflict and trash-talking, The 8 Diagrams contains enough of the vintage Wu-Tang Clan fire that\'s worthy of your attention. It\'s apparent that RZA\'s musical influences have broadened, but he maintains a connection to the hardened streets that the Wu built their careers on. The opening track "Campfire" - complete with classic Kung-Fu movie samples - puts Wu\'s two star members on the forefront: Method Man and Ghostface. Method sounds revitalized with a cocky swagger to his voice while Ghostface continues his rise as hip-hop\'s fiercest lyricist. Cutting rhymes over a driving beat and sample of Curtis Mayfield\'s "Gypsy Woman," "Campfire" blasts as Wu\'s battle horn to the hip-hop world, declaring they‘ve returned.
The 8 Diagrams roars out of the gate, but seems to hold back on the next two tracks. "Take It Back" suffers from a monotonous, uninspired beat. It\'s unfortunate because the lyrical attacks of Raekwon, Inspectah Deck and Ghostface are relentless. U-God makes his first appearance on "Take It Back," but he brings virtually nothing to the song - like he\'s above laying down rhymes on the track. Similar criticism applies to "Get Them Out Ya Way Pa": a brooding, bass heavy track where Wu just goes through the motions.
It isn\'t until "Rushing Elephants" and "The Heart Gently Weeps" where RZA and company let the creative juices spill out. "Rushing Elephants" sounds like RZA\'s own personal hip-hop circus, complete with a Big Top-inspired horn section. Wu faithful will undoubtedly be thrown off by "The Hearty Gently Weeps": an interpolation of The Beatles\' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." R&B songstress Erykah Badu\'s serene voice guides the chorus, backed by the drum beat of Dhani Harrison and guitar licks of John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers). They provide the peaceful contrast to the violent narrative of Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface. It\'s an ambitious song and exactly what Raekwon referred to when he labeled RZA a "hip-hop hippie." But "The Heart Gently Weeps" is an inspirational risk by RZA that pays off and exactly what hip-hop needs more of: risk-taking.
The second half of The 8 Diagrams sees a suspicious absence of Ghostface: and it hurts. The potential for his cutthroat rhymes over the funkadelic soul beat on "Wolves" is too strong to ignore. GZA - almost out of nowhere - takes a prominent role in the home stretch of The 8 Diagrams. Good timing on his part since he\'s featured on the album\\\'s standout track "Stick Me For My Riches." Featuring another R&B soul chorus - this backed by Gerald Alston - "Stick Me For My Riches" lets Method Man and Inspectah Deck unleash on consecutive verses while RZA and GZA bring closure to this tale of money-driven blackmail and deceit. It\'s a gritty track exemplifying the mix of old Wu mentality with RZA\'s new vision that The 8 Diagrams constantly strives for (and mostly succeeds at doing).
"The 8 Diagrams" is on sale December 18, 2007 from Universal Motown.
