Raekwon Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang |
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 | Tracklist:
1. "Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang"
2. "Every Soldier in the Hood" (featuring Method Man)
3. "Silver Rings" (featuring Ghostface Killah)
4. "Chop Chop Ninja" (featuring Inspectah Deck & Estelle)
5. "Butter Knives"
6. "Snake Pond"
7. "Crane Style" (featuring Busta Rhymes)
8. "Rock 'N Roll" (featuring Ghostface Killah, Jim Jones & Kobe)
9. "Rich & Black" (featuring Nas)
10. "From the Hills" (featuring Method Man & Raheem DeVaughn)
11. "Last Trip to Scotland" (featuring Lloyd Banks)
12. "Ferry Boat Killaz"
13. "Dart School"
14. "Molasses" (featuring Rick Ross & Ghostface Killah)
15. "The Scroll"
16. "Masters of Our Fate" (featuring Black Thought)
17. "Wu Chant (Outro)"
| Ranking: #146 for 2011 | |
| | other reviews | Eno (4.5)
Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang is both a celebration and an innovation; a thrilling synthesis of fresh producti... | Bulldog (3)
Raekwon delivers a record that is more Yakuza than mafia, (sonically) less vintage Wu-Tang and more ... |
On 106 Lists
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| Summary: To every soldier in the hood, go in. |
Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang is a legitimate cure for any Lupe Fiasco Lasers-induced cancer. His third record in as many years, Raekwon defines expectations for golden era rappers in the 21st century with his own breed of timeless hip-hop. There are no cheap synths or lame choruses to be had, just classic east coast hard shit about generally epic street concepts. After a killer opener with an equally murderous video, "Every Soldier in the Hood" likely sets the bar impossibly high; Oh No's future-inspired composition is truly imbued with the darkness of the streets, while Rae's hook is an immediate classic line. Like 2009's "House of Flying Daggers", Method Man puts the blunt down long enough to put his rap face on; his verse is verifiable proof that Meth is the perfect complement to the Chef. Just as feared, Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang prematurely ejaculates; nothing quite comes close after "Every Soldier". "Silver Rings" is solid yet eventually forgettable, while Estelle's chorus on "Chop Chop" only detracts from a track that Rae really shines on. Ghostface, Busta, Nas, Rick Ross, and Black Thought all lend some of their best bars in recent history (seriously, Busta sucks now, but his performance on "Crane Style" is incredible). More than anything, these featured artists and nearly all of Raekwon's performances emphasize the lyrical focus of the record - that isn't to say the production is terrible by any means, only less refined than precursor Only Built for Cuban Linx... pt II.
At times, it is definitely a detractor when your record would fit right in ten years ago. In Raekwon's (and Wu-Tang in general it seems) case, he's found a winning formula by updating production techniques just enough to be contemporary yet maintain RZA's original raw, cinematic feel, while concentrating on the word play at hand. If he can blast out something like Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang in less than a year, expectations for OB4CL pt III are already building. Make sure to cherish "Every Soldier" (certainly one of the best cuts this year) while digging on the unfettered lyrical onslaught throughout.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 3.5
best review for this
edit: lol butcheredchildren is so stupid
Digging: Bjork - Vespertine Digging: Bjork - Vespertine | | | Album Rating: 4.5
good review sob
| | | Album Rating: 4
"Masters of Our Fate" rules as an album closer ("Wu Chant" aside).
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Agreed, my favorite tracks are:
Shaolin vs Wu-Tang (the intro part is so annoying though)
Every Soldier
Snake Pond
Crane Style
Molasses
The Scroll
Masters of our Fate
Masters has a very cinematic feel, really makes you think of RZA. More than anything, Rae makes me think of a less verbose version of DOOM. I think after OB4CL3 (if it doesn't suck which i doubt could even come close to happening) we can go ahead and say raekwon is the best rapper ever.
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music | | |
Perfect replacement for Radiohead in the BNM section
Digging: Amon Tobin - Amon Tobin Digging: Amon Tobin - Amon Tobin
| | | Album Rating: 4
liquid swords II gonna have a hard time toppin this
Digging: Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead Digging: Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead | | | Album Rating: 3.5
it is honestly difficult to expect liquid swords 2 to be good. the only decent record he's done solo was the original liquid swords, unless you count the collab with dj muggs which was solid.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
Beneath the Surface was good too.
Digging: Steamy Ray Vaughan - A Little Bit of Rattlesnake Digging: Steamy Ray Vaughan - A Little Bit of Rattlesnake | | | Album Rating: 4
Beneath the Surface is severely underrated.
Digging: Joe Bonamassa - Driving Towards The Daylight Digging: Joe Bonamassa - Driving Towards The Daylight | | | Album Rating: 3
I was really disapointed by this album. It got old for me really quick.
Digging: mewithoutYou - Ten Stories Digging: mewithoutYou - Ten Stories | | | Album Rating: 4
true sobhi, but the same thing could have been said for rae and obfcl
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
yeah i agree, but raekwon only had 2 solos in between 1 and 2 i think
| | | Album Rating: 4
More than anything, Rae makes me think of a less verbose version of DOOM.
^^^ THIS. A more-important-than-it-should-be reason why Rae is my favorite Wu-Tang member.
Both "Masters Of Our Fate" and "Kiss The Ring" work perfectly closing out their respective albums (and are among my favorite Wu-affiliated track).
AS LONG AS WE HAVE FAITH
AND UNCONQUERABLE WILLPOWER...
SALVATION WILL NOT BE DENIED US!
SALVATION WILL NOT BE DENIED US!
Digging: The Apples in Stereo - Fun Trick Noisemaker | | | Album Rating: 3
I love sobhi's reviews. nice and short.
also, I don't know why this is relevant but I'm gonna go ahead and agree with Ramy here:
lol butcheredchildren is so stupid [2]
Digging: Hop Along - Get Disowned Digging: Hop Along - Get Disowned | | | Album Rating: 3.5
he posted the first comment but it got deleted
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thought i was crazy when i was diggin bustas verse.. glad someone else was feeling it. really great record, i used to find rae's voice a little too boring to rate him up there with ghost as my fav Wu but he just cant be denied, verses are so solid.
| | | Album Rating: 3
nice, what did he say
(@ ire)
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
he basically said the review was a summary and other typical bc shit.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
i forgot to note how bad rock n roll is
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Method Man puts the blunt down long enough to put his rap face on; his verse is verifiable proof that Meth is the perfect complement to the Chef.
loved this
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