Wu-Tang Clan’s legacy has already been written in the Hip Hop history book. The group made its indelible mark in the ’90s under the leadership of RZA, who devised a five-year plan to dominate the rap game. It was a huge success, leading to multiple classics, an array of solo record deals and a diehard fan base that exists around the world to this day.
With nine members (10 if you count Cappadonna), there’s always been a difficult balancing act in managing this diverse group. The death of Ol’ Dirty Bastard in 2004 was a major blow, and the infighting became more public in the internet age, especially when it came to the direction of their albums.
Complaints of how RZA handled 2007’s 8 Diagrams and frustration over 2014’s A Better Tomorrow muddied their releases. Neither album was bad, but it was evident the rappers in the crew weren’t all on the same page. Still, fans and group members alike have held out hope the Wu would get in sync and release something that matched the heights of 36 Chambers, Wu-Tang Forever and The W.
The Cilvaringz-helmed Once Upon A Time In Shaolin was purported to be just that but it quickly became clear to ardent fans the LP might not be a legitimate Wu-Tang Clan album. Then a new hope emerged when RZA announced Wu-Tang: The Saga Continues, a project with beats by Wu’s longtime DJ and producer Mathematics. The release has certainly been marketed like a new Wu-Tang Clan album, but in actuality, it’s a compilation akin to 2009’s Chamber Music or 2011’s Legendary Weapons. Understanding this is key to appreciating The Saga Continues for what it is.
Without the baggage that comes with the standards of an official Wu-Tang Clan album, this Mathematics-led LP is a success. Mathematics — a core member of the Wu-Elements production team — finally gets the group back on the signature Wu-Tang sound. It doesn’t play like it came straight out of a ’90s basement, but it’s incredibly soulful and employs plenty of kung-fu flick samples. The project even kicks off with the old intro music from Shaw Brothers films, making it clear this is a throwback to the good ole days.
While Mathematics gets things back on track sonically, it’s Method Man who truly carries the team on his back. Johnny Blaze has faced some criticism for never reaching the solo heights of his fellow members (like the triumvirate of GZA’s Liquid Swords, Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… and Ghostface Killah’s Supreme Clientele). But Meth has always been a strong performer on the group’s albums, and he’s the shining star of The Saga Continues.
The Ticallion Stallion is in top form on the Redman-assisted cuts “People Say,” one of the best Wu-Tang tracks of the last decade, and “Hood Go Bang,” which is way too short for its own good. He also gets a solo spotlight on “If Time Is Money (Fly Navigation)” and takes full advantage of the opportunity with some elite bars. But it’s his performance on “Pearl Harbor” that’s the true show-stealer. Admirable showings from Ghostface, RZA and the late Sean Price become afterthoughts due to Meth’s rhymes on the second verse.
“Till I finish my dessert, nobody eating/ That’s everybody, I mean anybody/ I might leave somebody bleeding/ Or watch me catch a homi, even hit you in the lobby/ Shotty pop ya like a molly, probably leave ya hardly breathing/ Don’t try to Blaze with Johnny even if you got an army/ Dirty money in the laundry, don’t ask why, I got my reasons/ I puff that Bob Marley, might hit you with the Tommy/ You can catch me in the party near the speaker not speaking,” he raps.
Outside of Meth’s heavy lifting, “If What You Say Is True” is a special showcase for the Wu’s underappreciated members. Cappadonna, Masta Killa and close affiliate Streetlife get the chance to shine over a hard-knocking beat, but GZA — in his lone appearance on the LP — delivers the most potent lyrics while utilizing his “half short, twice strong” motto.
“A rhyme is a struggle from conception/ Series of complex maps in all directions/ Totally dependent on an act of breathing/ Learning, depending on an act of reading/ The MC draws in a long deep breath/ Holding it until making it right before it left/ Extracted from it is life-giving properties/ Reacting from it and control the properly,” The Genius raps.
While The Saga Continues gets a lot of things right, there are some glaring issues. Ghostface, who’s usually a highlight of any Wu project, did not bring his A-game. U-God, currently embroiled in a lawsuit with RZA, is noticeably absent. Also, the second half is hampered by singers with pop sensibilities that make for an odd fit.
“Why Why Why” is the first instance of this with Swnkah sounding out of place on what’s already a pedestrian cut. “G’d Up” wastes another killer Method Man outing with a strange second verse sung by Mzee Jones. “My Only One” is the most glaring example of the miscast singers as Steven Latorre takes up most of the record and makes the listener long for Blue Raspberry’s return.
The Saga Continues is not the home run that Wu-Tang Clan fans have been waiting for, but to keep the baseball analogy, it’s an RBI double. Mathematics does some much-needed course correction, perhaps setting the stage for the Ghostface-led seventh studio album to reach heights that Wu fans desperately desire. For now, this compilation gives listeners enjoyable music from the Wu-Tang tree that rightfully exists outside of the official album canon.
The album is dope.
THIS ALBUM MADE ME GO “HODEE DO’! HODEE DO’! CONEBREAD! CONEBREAD!” ALL THE WAY TO THAT LIQUOR STO’!!!
Wow you actually wrote a solid review Justin…see what you can do when you write about something you like. You still suck though and need to be taken off but I applaud you for your efforts.
LOL savage!!
Very fair review. I would give it a higher score but agree with most of the points made.
Best wu and Redman verses in a minute. Mathematics production is very on point
Much respect to the Wisdom of the Universe – for the Teachers of Allah and the Nation of the Gods….. Forever!!!!.. Hands down their best effort in years… Peace on the Internets y’all
It’s a good album with dope rhymes and solid ass production. Wu tang will always have a higher standard when judging their work but it’s better than the last few releases. 3.9/5
And Raekwon’s solo “The Wild” was heat too.. Strong year for the vets….
I love Bone Thugs too, but for some reason, I can’t fully get into that New Waves album. Definitely some good songs on there, but as a whole, I can’t get into it. It’s kinda like their version of Lupe’s Lasers IMO. This new Wu, though, is dope as hell. It’s funny how the compilation albums have been better than any actual Wu album since Iron Flag.
Solid album
Decent project but it’s one of those that gets worse with every listen, and a year from now i definitely won’t be bumping it. Production is on point, verses were good specially Red & Meth, but RZA verses were hard to listen to. Also the hooks on G’d Up and My Only One were so bad they kinda ruined the songs for me. As a compilation album it’s awesome but as a Wu-Tang studio album it’s underwhelming, better than A Better Tomorrow tho.
I give the album four out of five. I might give it a higher rating once the album grows on me. It’s better than the last few wu albums. Hopefully, the next wu album will go back to the 36 chambers as well.
Good album. Would’ve liked to see Bronze Nazareth handle some of the production alongside Mathematics, but I’ll take what I can get. A good solid effort. Can’t be mad.
this album was fire as all hell and flat out dope on all sorts of levels from beginning to end. a 3.6.? y’all have literally lost your natural ass minds.
These gayboys will give that NewAge Jerkboy or whoever that dress wearin gayboy is a 4.1 or some ish. They don’t respeck real muzik round these parts. wutang FOREVER
Basically a Meth album featuring original wu members like Redman and another guy. (RIP to Price on some real shit tho)
Agree with the 3.6 score; it’s just another wu-tang album that you can listen to, or not, it’ll not change anything for the better or worse. Agree with Meth ruling over the others. Mathematics beats are cool and all but there is no need for Redman imo, and that guy’s hook (ob the song they did with The Roots on Fallon). That’s 4 bad songs imo so it’s overall score 3.6 is acceptable. It’s like 36 chambers yo. What Wu-Tang need to do is make a record only with the original members and producers like 4th Disciple, Mathematics and Wu circa 1997 affiliated. everyone in the world knows that so why it seems like they do not. No one will remember this record in 10 years unfortunately
I respect wu but they keep repeating themselves. Face it in the 90’s they were are driving force with energy and hunger and now they are some tired 40 year old rappers. i stick to there early material. R.I.P. hiphop.
Good review!
This album is heads and tails above the last few releases, a return to form. Sadly that form always meant an album with B side cuts in between records that would change the world. This one is more along the lines of the B sides….Visionz, The City, Duck Season for example. These records aren’t terrible by any means, but the Wu catalog run deep and the bar is pretty high. That being said, I will spin this for much longer than 8D or ABT and sit patiently hoping the next one is full of Hellz Wind Staff, Reunited and As High As Wu-Tang Get. Until then I still have Wu-Tang Forever, and continue to support Wu. This album is a step forward for the group, after having taken a few backwards, but it is progress and that’s all I ask for.
NOW SOMEONE TELL GZA TO DROP THIS DARK MATTER ALBUM
I’m also fully aware no one gives a shit what I’m asking for
bruh coulda sworn earlier this year showed a release date for dark matter…and then nuthin
These recent wu albums are like star wars without George Lucas and the original Star wars cast
I agree to an extent. However the problem with the production is rza. He wants to make the sound not a wu tang sound and think everyone is on board with it. My thing is if you want to do that much experimentation do it on your solo stuff and when its a wu tang album keep it as such. Certain music elements should not be on wu tang albums period.
solid album!
Agree with DX. The album is solid and the lyrics/beats are really good. The problem is that it feels more like a tease because i want this production with all wu members. Give me 12+ tracks of Rza,Rae,Ghost,Meth, GZA,Deck,Masta, UGOD,and Cap. Wouldnt mind features from Redman, Priest, or 60 sec. Singing on hooks should be blue raz or tekhita.
Brought me back to that « Return of The 36 Chambers » Wu tang
3.6 is a fair rating, noting that ugod was missing and the chemistry of the songs was lacking. They all sounded like they weren’t on the same page mentally and lyrically
You actually missed U God’s contribution? lol
U-God is not the best member but I think he always adds something to a Wu album. I thought he was actually good on A Better Tomorrow. Not sure if I actually really miss him but I think all members should be on a Wu album.
It was as good as I expected it to be. It could have been so much better though.
Pretty decent album, much better than the last and yeah Meth carries this one on his back..
A solid project. Great for the culture.
Totally agree Justo…Quik, Wu-tang, Bone Thugs….great to see that someone in this world still has taste…
This album is very solid and dope in my opinion. The beats are for real and lyrics are on point. I’m going 4/5 all day.
4.5/5 ALL THE WAY! RESPECT the LEGENDS — WU TANG is FOREVER!! Easily the Best Wu project since Wu Tang Forever!
Agreeably Meth did the Heavy lifting but that doesn’t take away from CAPP, STREETLIFE, RED MAN, RZA and the rest of the camp. I guess only TRUE HipHop heads can feel real tracks, with Hard lyrics and FLOW and content that only the WU can do.
Definitely the best review I seen on here in a min. This was a solid album, its more of a MATH & MEF album than WU TANG. No U-GOD, and only 1 verse from GZA??? It can’t be a WU album. If WU going to conquer the world again, they need to sit down together and really plan this out. But i am satisfied with this album.
you should never treat a group this way by saying one person is the only one who can spit the Wu got a lot of real talent ODB is greatly missed
This is a Math album that was in the makings going back at least two years. RZA hijacked the project and is twisting this into a Wu Tang Clan album. RZA has a financial stake in 36 Chambers LLC. There was no pre-release promo on this as a Wu Tang Clan album, and the features are consistent with Math’s discography, with the exception that there are more Wu members than in years past. At best, this is another one of Math’s “Wu-Tang & Friends” album. There’s a reason that RZA and Math are the only two people doing promos on the project. Okay, politics aside, Math is at his best on this album. There are some really solid songs, but clearly not enough balance of the Wu Tang Clan to qualify this as a Clan project. The Sean P feature is priceless, and R-Mean’s feature is dope. Meth is the most featured Clansman on the album because Math’s his DJ, and Math also DJ’s for Meth and Red. Granted, Red’s a Wu-Cousin, but he’s on more tracks than GZA, Deck, and Master Killa? Even with U-God’s lawsuit versus RZA, he’d have a contractual right to appear on a true Wu-Tang Clan album. I have a physical copy of the CD, and once you review the packet, it’s clear that this is really a Math project hyped as the Clan. Come-on maaannn…3.5/5
Method Man leadership in Wu-Tang nowadays is more or less like The Outlawz’ Tupac. Without them, their music is trash.
It’s definitely a dope album. Much better than the garbage A Better Tomorrow Album. Production is on point with the ASR-10 to give you that classic Wu Sound
I would like to start this by saying that I am an old hip hop head, I grew up on Wu Tang (Wu Tang is for the children!!), Mobb Deep, Biggie, Pac, NWA and everybody that came out that camp- especially the Doggfather Snoop. I hold no disrespect for hip hop today and feel there are many great artist out there making music. But just like with everything else, Hip Hop got commercialized and lost something. I am just saying this to let you know where I am coming from.
With that said I give this album a 9 out 10. I give it that grade because it is a very good, very strong compilation album. That is exactly what it is. First off its called Wu Tang: The Saga Continues- U-God is not on the album so therefore it cannot be an official Wu Tang Clan album. Both Mathematics and RZA have stated in interviews that this project is something Math has been working on for a long time. Math has been the Wu Tang Clan’s DJ for a long time and also is Meth and Red’s DJ as well. He has also worked/performed with other members out of the Wu Tang camp. Math has been gathering vocals from the Wu for the past 3 years and working to perfect the instrumentals even after the vocals are put on them. There are no samples on this album. RZA has stated that for A Better Tomorrow his head was in different place “bringing in bands and shit” and then Mathematics came to him with some tracks that captured that Wu Tang sound, He knew it was time to tap someone else for the producing spot. And yes, one of the things was running the tracks back through the ASR 10 (a trade tip that RZA had admittedly forgot about).
I agree with the article writer’s assessment of the album. Meth is featured a lot on this album and it is kinda weird hearing a Wu Tang album where Redman is featured more that Ghost, Masta Killa and GZA but like I said, Mathematics is Meth and Red’s DJ so of course he is going to have a lot of vocal from them. And being a huge Meth and Red fan I find it hard to find something negative to say about them being considerably featured on an album. Sean Price is huge win for the album and the ODB quotes are cherished, especially his foretelling of “them trying to pit Black against Whites, but it isn’t going to work”.
I have read many articles saying that U-God being absent from the album is a blessing but I don’t see it that way. U-God may not be the most prolific of the group but he always has something to add. The GZA’s one verse makes you want to scream for more but as the article states, His cut is probably the deepest on the album.
I really like this album and give much respect to Mathematics for this effort. I hope this is a continuing trend for the Wu. They have all grown as men and artist and it nice to see their artistry continue to evolve while paying homage to the sound and style that Wu Tang fans know and love.
OYABBOBOBOBOBOOO MENACHEM BACHEM YENT
SHTINKLE SHTANKLE, WINKLE WANKLE
ZIP ZAP ZUPPEEE ZENT!!!
It’s just really wack. For the first time I was like ‘it will grow on me’. And I couldn’t listen to it for the second time cuz it was so lame.
You obviously did not listen to the album. Stop trolling.
I obviously listened to it once and that was enough. Stop bitching. Wu was a childhood fav of mine but this shit is lame af.
Quite a weak album from what I heard. The raw 90s Wu sound is long gone, it will never return again.
Why would you write a review to an album you did not even bother to listen to?
I listened to snippets of every track which was enough for me, the beats were average and the rapping wasn’t the best. Method man sounded the best. A average album, the Wu was never the same since Odb died and Rza stopped doing the production, I don’t care what anyone says.
Pure Hip hop FIRE!!!!
After listening to this album for a week or so I am done with it and can call it a flop. It’s just bad. I really wanted to love this but no. The beats are boring, the hooks are awful, the raps are mostly dope but it is not enough. Method Man killed it a fee times and that’s it. Props to him
Another Album that will be a Classic. Seems like Wu-tang is as dope as ever.
So what’s the real score for this album? 3.6, as in 36 Chambers. The same way Jay-z’s 4:44 received a rating of 4.4. C’mon DX.
Easily a 4.5 out of 5 but I’ll give it a 5 to make up for a review based on woulda, coulda, and not what the album actual is.
gucci mane outsold wu-tang. all you “real hip hop” nerds can take this l.
Who cares who outsold what! Which one is better? That’s all that matters. Go outside and play.
numbers speak volumes too, old man. all y’all complain about hip hop being dead and how your favorite rappers’ albums aren’t selling, but do nothing about it except bitch on the internet. y’all download their music for free saying nobody pays for music anymore then turn around and complain on how artists like drake and lil uzi vert are getting platinum and gold plaques and not talib kweli or wu-tang. bitch, buy their shit or stream their shit repeatedly since that also helps with the sales now. which album is better? that’s all preference, it’s not fact on which one is better. go back to playing checkers with your nursing home roommate.
Looks like you are the one bein abitch to me, kid
I used to be Wu Tang Clan fan, but I’m not feelin this. The Time is Money track is nice, I guess.
I’m a die hard Wu-Tang fan, but this album – just like A better Tomorrow, is absolutely garbage! This compilation is just not worth the time. Wu-Tang Clan as a collective is done! Method and Redman had the illest verses by far on this one, the others just don’t have anything exciting to say. What pisses me off the most is the Wu-Tang fans on here, who can’t tell when they’re being played – Wu-Tang sells this shit which they put no effort into what so ever, to the fans … Really!? Is this what you offer us for being down for 25 years? Fuck dat. I ain’t never buying another Wu-Tang album, only the solo projects.
Yea Wu are finished as a group. Lets be honest they were never the same when Rza changed his sound and stopped producing for Wu albums and obviously when Odb died just not the same anymore.
Totally agree with you… Since RZA thought he was too good for the group he completely left them behind… Although he is one of the greatest ever, we need that old GraveDiggaz and 36 Chambers sound… Like it was said in the review, it doesn’t need to sound like it cam from a basement, but we need that amazing beat dropping, ad-libbing we loved on 36 Chambers and WuTang Forever…
I truly agree bro, it just wasn’t there. The death of ODB took the true grit out of the group and everyone being on their own agenda for so many years is evident. Attempting to revitalize the wu powerhouse only degrades the once successful brand further and needs to stop!
Y’all got it wrong with “G’d Up” and “My Only One”.. Both records are fine the way they are. You said it yourself in the review, “Understanding that this is a compilation is key to appreciating The Saga Continues for what it is.” I think the reviewer forgot that. If this was an official Wu album, I may feel different about this, but it’s not. It’s a good, quality boom-bap/”real hip-hop ” album.. Meth is in the zone right now.. This is gonna rock for a while for me….
Love this joint, dudes just dont understand anymore, sad.
Time for another Wu joint since they showed they still got that Heat Rock!!!
Still better than most of whats out there. I’m going to bump this up just cause its Wu-Tang.