Wu-Tang Clan have announced that they are reuniting for new album called Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman: From the Wu-Tang, the Saga Continues Collection, their first in almost a decade.
The project will be released on Record Store Day (April 12) and feature contributions from all living members of the legendary rap group.
The 12-track LP is entirety produced by Mathematics, who was behind the boards on the Wu’s last full-length effort, 2017’s The Saga Continues, which means there are no RZA beats on the album.
Speaking to Variety, Mathematics detailed the thinking behind the unique title: “Well, the album has a certain feel to it. It’s an homage to Blaxploitation movies. You have movies like Black Samson, Black Caesar and Super Fly. Those are the type of movies that I was raised on in the 1970s.
“The Bastard Swordsman part of [the title] is an ode to the old karate flicks because that’s what I grew up on as well. With me, as well as all of Wu-Tang, that’s something we had in common. We all loved the old karate flicks. Bastard Swordsman is one of my favorites.”
He also talked about the process of putting the album together, saying: “It’s my brothers. When I need them, I call them. All praises due, they show up. I’m grateful for that.
“It definitely takes time. We’ve been doing residencies and tours, so to sit down and lock in is kind of hard. But we’re around each other so much, when we do get in the studio, it makes it easier and the vibe is better.”
Method Man also offered a statement, praising the production on the project: “Mathematics adds another chamber to the Saga Continues collection. I’m proud of him. Following his last solid outing, this one looks to be another banger for the history books!”
While the Wu do most of the heavy lifting, they are also joined by a number of guest stars on Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman.
Kurupt features on the opening song “Sucker Free City,” while Kool G Rap joins RZA and U-God on “Roar of the Lion (Lion’s Pit).”
Fans can also expect verses from Benny The Butcher, 38 Spesh and KXNG Crooked, among others.
Check out the artwork and tracklist below.
Wu-Tang Clan — Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman (Tracklist):
1. Sucker Free City (Intro) (feat. Kurupt & Ralph McDaniels)
2. Mandingo (feat. Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Method Man & Cappadonna)
3. Roar of the Lion (The Lion’s Pit) (feat. U-God, Kool G Rap & RZA)
4. Claudine (feat. Method Man, Ghostface Killah & Nicole Bus)
5. Shaolin vs. Lama (feat. Raekwon & Inspectah Deck)
6. Executioners From Shaolin (feat. Inspectah Deck, GZA & Cappadonna)
7. Cleopatra Jones (feat. Raekwon & Masta Killa)
8. Warriors Two, Cooley High (feat. Benny The Butcher & Method Man)
9. Let’s Do It Again (feat. RZA, RJ Payne, 38 Spesh & Willie The Kid)
10. Dolemite (feat. Cappadonna, U-God & Masta Killa)
11. Trouble Man (Outro) (feat. Kameron Corvet)
12. Charleston Blue, Legend of a Fighter (feat. KNXG Crooked, Cappadonna & Nicole Bus) [Vinyl Edition Bonus Track]
The last Wu Tang Clan album was in 2014. Saga Continues was a follow up to the Wu Tang compilations like Chamber Music amd Legendary Weapons. Wiki isnt always correct 😉
Yes. And that’s exactly what the “album” they’re talking about is. It’s a fuckin compilation not an album, meaning it’s mostly phoned in and there are no songs with all or even most of the members together on single tracks. Still cool and sounds great. But let’s keep it real. There will never be another album for them. And Forever was the zenith that can’t be eclipsed. Iron Flag was their last album. Everything after sounded more like a compilation or total RZA misstep ironically enough. Would love to hear another full album with True Master, 4th Disciple, INS, RZA, and Mathematics producing together. Magical combo. Fat chance though.
All facts!
but chamber music, legendary weapons, think differently were probably better than 8 diagrams and a better tomorrow
Those are dope ass compilations 🔥🔥🔥
I Love it
Im excited but the album title is redocilous. Should have just been called The Bastard Swordsman. Im definetly checking it out!
Something to be excited about!
THANK YOU!!!!!!! Yesssss
Thank God RZA isn’t producing !!!! he stop getting Hi and could not make hot beats anymore!!! smh
I am here for this.
This is not a real clan album. It’s part of the mathematics series.
I think a lot of the group was saying that rza’s production wasn’t what they liked. They were saying it was starting to be too gritty and grimey…ya think right, Wu, known for gritty and grimey?? Lol
i think they actually said the rza production was getting to polished and wasnt the same grity and grimy sound from the early days that they preferred
One or the other yep they were complaining yep
Who really cares about these has beens anymore? They fell off to the point of touring with nas and no one takes them seriously anymore.
Read the room and gtfo peon
Read the room? Read the album sales. At least 1 in 5 hiphop heads considers Nas to be top 5… likely 3 in 5 at least. But only 1 put of every 5,000 of them buys a Nas or Wu album LOL. Wutang is the most poser loved rap group ever. I see “wu tang forever” signs in white suburbs lol.
Fuck queensbridge – sucks dicks for a living and can’t read the room…
They were good, 20+ years ago – listens to Drake because he’s a f8ggot 😂
I don’t listen to Drake. Never have actually looked up a Drake song… well, maybe in 2006 or so I did just to see. Didn’t even like it back then. Didn’t like Wayne either though. I was into Tupac and other Westcoast rappers at that time. Criticism of OGs doesn’t mean someone prefers pop music. It means we prefer their OG shit that was really great. Don’t tell me the new Redman album touched his old albums. Don’t tell me method man can touch his hits. He can’t. They’re cooked.
They were good, 20+ years ago – Your opinion isn’t gonna stop people from listening to their music. Compare back in the day to now all you want. Some of these people still want to see and enjoy music from legends. Get your old bitter ass the fuck outta here.
Can someone get these motherfuckers a graphic designer? Jesus Christ
A real wu album would have ZERO features. Should only the original clan members and maybe young dirty bastard and Cappadonna.
its always good to get new wu but when you only get one verse from gza and ghostface you want a bit more
ODB should be on this Album…old verse , something
ODB used to pick who would rap on the songs. His whole energy and vibe has been missing from the group long before he passed. Since Forever tbh.
It’s gonna be copied and pasted verses that were emailed to Mathematics. In other words there will be zero chemistry or cohesion, which was really what made Wu special in their prime. They are not on the same page anymore stylistically, spiritually, or musically. Method Man and Raekwon are the only ones that sound like they still take their verses seriously and are still in the gym, so to speak. RZA’s production fell off hard but it was still ‘interesting’ if nothing else. Mathematics beats are…fine…but uninteresting.
Only one track off Ghostface Killah?
Man if they only did it for the fans, it’s still a win for the culture. Wu-tang is pure culture
Ol Dutty Bastard was the wackest out of all Wu. Did he even rap, it was just random shouting.