Yes my friends, if on a 13 track album the beats and rappers (the 9 rappers, you know as in 9) all sound the same its not going above a three, I'm not going to apologize for having a different rating than you. I've yet to see any criticism constructive enough to convince me as to why you people even think this is a classic album; it is monotonous, and yes I understand that some rap back then was like that (really though not a lot was, what about 'Midnight Marauders', 'Doggystyle', 'Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z.', 'Return of the Boom Bap', 'Black Reign', 'No Need For Alarm', etc all albums that came out in 1993 just like this one), however if your album is conforming to one particular atmospheric style and your lyricists do little to make it more interesting than it can be in its own simple capacity, then it is in my eyes not a classic. As I said, if a rapper has a distinct style and doesn't show it then its not relevant, it means nothing. What if I knew the cure for cancer but I never told anybody? Would it help anyone?

There are no classic Wu albums, all of them have filler, but all of them have awesome tracks too. Thats why I always preferred to listen to a Wu compilation or a solo project.

Album Rating: 4.5

I've yet to see any criticism constructive enough to convince me as to why you people even think this is a classic album

heyseuss i think i've already explained that all 9 rappers sound distinctive and totally awesome, have great lyrics and great flow. It's easy to tell them apart and the beats are fantastic; being minimalist doesn't make them monotonous.

You've explained absolutely nothing, you made a statement, that doesn't count as an 'explanation'. They have great lyrics and nice flow, but on this album its the same great lyrics and very similar flows except for ODB and Meth. The monotony is obvious, the minimalism is irrelevant to how interesting their beats are. If a song conforms to a genre that doesn't automatically make it good just because people like that specific genre.

i've done no less explanation than yourself. and stop saying they have similar flow apart from ODB and Meth. Ghostface, GZA & RZA are all really unique as well. In fact they all are but you don't hear much of U-God or Masta Killa on this. How is the monotony even slightly obvious?
Also, RZA's production skills are top notch here, and the beats are fucking sick.

If a song conforms to a genre that doesn't automatically make it good just because people like that specific genre.

And I never said that minimalism made this monotonous, but you decided to compare the music on this album to minimalism to try to prove that that was a reason why the music isn't boring, which for the most part it is.

I won't stop saying anything that I believe to be true; GZA, RZA and Face didn't step up their game until later on in the group discography and on their personal efforts, I find that mostly the MCs on Chambers who aren't as energetic as Meth and ODB fail to differentiate themselves from their fellow Wu-Tang. And these are hardly any of RZA's finest beats, his good work lies in other places, even later Wu albums.

i didn't use the idea of minimalism to prove anything, i just stated that it is quite minimalist. and i really don't find the music boring.
gah, i can't disagree more about the other rappers having not stepped up their game at this point. ghostface's verse in da mystery of chessboxin for example, that is the shit. i agree this isn't RZA's finest beats but they're still good. I think Liquid Swords has some of his best.

Album Rating: 4.5

stop debating with chris

he's way too stubborn to hear anything your saying

nobody's going to come out of this argument anymore enlightened

but his opinions are bad

You said 'being minimalist doesn't make them monotonous', which in my eyes is a claim that I somewhere said that being minimalist makes them monotonous which I don't exactly recall. And this is just their first album, they have climbed the staircase already when it comes to stepping up their game, listen to the compilation 'Collective', you'll know what I'm talking about. And coostis and his opinion > your opinions.

i've heard all their albums, none of the others come close to this

The songwriting on The W, Iron Flag, Collective and Think Differently is so superior to this it doesn't even come close to being funny. And as far as this style of rap goes, Cuban Linx already shot it in the head, tossed it in a dumpster and drove away in its Cadillac.

ok lol

Iron Flag blows.

Album Rating: 4.5

The songwriting on The W, Iron Flag, Collective and Think Differently is so superior to this it doesn't even come close to being funny. And as far as this style of rap goes, Cuban Linx already shot it in the head, tossed it in a dumpster and drove away in its Cadillac.

Album Rating: 3.0

that quote is pretty laughable i must admit

Album Rating: 4.5

Method Man and Redman came to my school. I was at the very front and I got to carry both of them when they jumped in the crowd. I felt bad though cuz my roomate is all into em and he was in the back and I had never even listened to em. Anyways he told me this is like the quintessential rap album so I should listen to it. I never get around to listening to rap but this seemed pretty good.

chan you are so wrong bro

Cuban Linx is typically regarded as one of the Wu's greatest solo achievements, in my opinion it delivers a more intense take on this sound, I consider it better.

Chambers and its monotony exists in its relativity to the typical gritty EC sound at the time and its failure to stray far enough to allow for more appealing songwriting - to me, that sound is very reserved and it doesn't utilize the potential of nine very solid MCs when repeated with such a consistency as this album has. Also I'm not criticizing RZA's skill in any harsh way, and I appreciate his ability to create an engaging atmosphere, but I think he does it a lot better with his more recent stuff.

p.s. whoever said Iron Flag blows doesn't have eardrums. This Message Edited On 12.09.08

Album Rating: 4.5

Cuban Linx is typically regarded as one of the Wu's greatest solo achievements, in my opinion it delivers a more intense take on this sound, I consider it better.