9th Prince of Killarmy fame returns quickly after dropping the slept-on Prince of New York almost two-years ago. A longtime Wu-Tang Clan affiliate and the brother of RZA, 9th with his Killarmy comrades achieved a string of success in the late ’90s for their military-minded themes and brassy, but distinctly Wu-inspired soundscapes. Now on his second post-prison album, 9th Prince now has the tough task of retaining old fans and adding new ones. The artist who once received The Source’s “Independent Artist of the Month” and handled the bulk of the production and A&R work of Killarmy looks to take that same work ethic and re-establish himself in today’s scene. With Revenge of the 9th Prince it is clear that the method hasn’t changed, nor has the sound. It’s a throwback album that delivers with mixed results.
The production is the album’s strength. BP handles the bulk of the work, and the producer is able to channel the classic Killarmy sound that 9th Prince made famous. His ability to match high-energy sample and blend them in perfectly with hard-hitting drums with the occasional movie clip scattered throughout is impressive. He provides the ideal backdrop for 9th Prince to show the world why Killarmy rivals only Sunz of Man as the most enduring Wu-Tang off-shoot. Tracks like “Lyrical Disaster” show why the brand was successful from an organic level. “Cyanide Poetry” is another highlight, where mellow production complements 9th Prince and guest Killah Priest perfectly. Overall, it’s a spirited production effort, one in which 9th Prince doesn’t necessarily match lyrically.
With that said, 9th Prince does have some strong moments. “Raised Cain” demonstrates why he was revered as Killarmy’s strongest emcee. His stream of conscious lyrics skip from one topic to another but go perfectly over the track with freshness. When he spits, “Niggas thought I fell off the map / But the truth is I was locked up in the trap,” he not only addresses the question of where he’s been but also the thought that he fell off. 9th also has an impeccable taste in guest appearances. Shyheim shines on “Young Gods Part II,” while a very dope guest appearance by Boy Jones (son of Ol’ Dirty Bastard) on “Double 09” can’t help but make you reminisce over the fallen legend. Planet Asia, RZA and Killah Priest all stop by and leave a positive mark on the project.
These strong moments are overshadowed by some poor lapses in artistic judgement. “Dear R&B” sees 9th Prince taking the viewpoint of a locked up man writing a letter to his favorite R&B artists. It leaves the reader stuck between feeling offended and embarrassed. On “Target Practice,” the last track on the album, 9th Prince proclaims, “Better than Nas, better than Jigga,” he provides the listener with one of those unintentional laugh-out-loud moments. Other tracks like, “Sour Diesel” suffer from unfocused lyrical content, while “Love/Hate” mirrors “Dear R&B” in result.
Unfortunately for 9th Prince he is unable to carry Revenge of the 9th Prince successfully. While he does have his moments of success, alongside some very good guest spots, the album overall disappoints. While the news has Killarmy plotting a return, Prince does little lyrically to build upon the anticipation. It’s clear he still has the passion to create but he will have to wait to prove that he can do it over the length of an album.
These guys are crazy at hiphopdx this album is RAW!!! 9th Prince is a beast on the mic. Beats are pretty good but couldve been a little better but overall this album is sick
Killarmy > this.
Writer was right though, Birth of a Prince was coo
Dope LP. Production is crazy. Killarmy in ya gallaxy.
Disappointing, lyrics were everywhere, prince tries to hard to be deep or lyrical and ends up looking bad
YEAH a 5 rating…y u may ask….in the 90’s killarmy was just tipping the iceberg. 9th is still on par w/ lyrics so hiphopdx do not know what REAL artists are. i grew up on all that wu-tang sunz of man shyheim killarmy. i know hiphop n i know REAL muzic when i hear it. this is solid.
Agree with the rating – won;t be listening to this album again…
Maybe for the beats….
Killarmy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 9th Prince.
Personally – I always dude was the weakest in that click.
Dom Pachino Rice & beans >>>>>>>> This
What the fuck… I can’t believe what I am reading.. this is return of the raw gritty hip hop.
Solid album … dope energy.
Truly this is hard body hip hop. And what does he mean with the Dear R’N’B track….
These are raw thoughts of many men locked up.
This review is an insult to the real (and not conservative) hip hop.
Shout out To The almighty Wu and fam 4 keeping it real
Truly this is hard body hip hop. And what does he mean with the Dear R’N’B track….
These are raw thoughts of many men locked up.
This review is an insult to the real (and not conservative) hip hop.
Shout out To The almighty Wu and fam 4 keeping it real
Of course
Killarmy > this
but you guys can’t sleep on this album. This LP in on my top 3 best produced album of 2010, beats are beasts. You guys didn’t mention that 9th Prince is trying to flow over them, unlike back in the days when he propably didn’t know the definition of F.L.O.W.
True, he has few moments over here where his lyrics are simply pathetic or wack but c’mon, you can hear how hard this guy is trying to make Revenge his best LP.
My fav track is “Revolution Music” with sick verses from 9th Prince and totally sickness from Planet Asia.
And don’t forget
COMING SOON WITH THE KILLA ARM COMPILATION!!!
wack
wack album
i was gon cop but i heard it on itunes and amazon… got a few hot ones but just to bland fa me nothin amazin!
I HEARD THE ALBUM AND IT IS TRASH I CAN’T LIE.
HERE’S SOME BASIC INFO ON KILLARMY BECAUSE THE AUTHOR LUKE GIBSON DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
1. MAJORITY OF THE PRODUCTION WAS BY 4TH DISCIPLE. 9TH PRINCE DON’T DO BEATS
2. THE BEST EMCEE IN KILLARMY IS KILLA SIN HANDS DOWN. HE WAS ON THE ONYX – THE WORST JOINT, FUNK FLEX ALBUM AND MORE
3. THE 2ND BEST EMCEE IN THE GROUP WAS PR TERRORIST NOW KNOWN AS DOM PACHINO
4. 9TH WAS CONSIDERED POSSIBLY THE 3RD BEST EMCEE IN THE GROUP IF THAT.
DO THE KNOWLEDGE
YALL RAPPERS NEED TO TAKE MORE TIME WRITING, STEP YA BARS UP AND U DAMN CRITICS NEED TO DO YOUR RESEARCH!
I cant front I like this album
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i only pick up wu albums
not wu affilliate albums
especially not wu affiliate solo members albums
your a fucking idiot then
yeah u r definitly an idiot man.. there’s so many dope wu affiliate albums, u must be deaf and blind…
so u r saying that u dont got any cappadonna? hes not part of the wu-tang.
THEY ARE ALL WU ANYWAY.MOST OF WU ARE COUSINS,BROTHERS,SONS,AND REAL EMCEES THEY MET ALONG THE WAY.WAIT TIL METHOD MAN’S SON GETS A DEAL.
I support the originality. The lyrics, the beats and the whole message in it. I don’t think the reviewers know how to distinguish between different types of mcees and beats. Not everything should sound like Jay-Z or Kanye, even though I love them too. Times changes and so must emcees. Please, support the underground rapworld. That’s the place where Hip Hop music originated from. Open ya eyes.
9th was never the fav in Killarmy. Like others have stated, Killa Sin and PR aka Dom Pachino were the best MC’s in the click. Beretta 9 being 3rd best and more than likely ShoGun tied with 9th Prince. 4th Disciple produced most of the joints as he was the 6th and final member of the Killarmy.
So reviewer think before you type because you have no idea of what the hell you’re saying when all your “facts” aren’t real facts after all.
PS: Pick up all of Dom Pachino’s albums and mixtapes because they are banging. Best Wu stuff since the last Killarmy joint.
I never liked 9th Prince. When I listen to Killarmy CD’s he fucks any track he gets on because of his no-flow. I prefered to read his lyrics than listen to his off beat lol But I can’t say nothing against his rhyming skills, he had some sick lines.
And fuck no, nothing beats Killa Sin.
Not that I have a bunch of Killarmy music, but I dug Beretta 9.
i always thought sin was the top mc in killarmy….i always said that 9th prince could be ill if he kinda slowed down the flow and rhymed on beat…but this ni**a never realized that shit…12 years later same bullshit flow…what a waste of good writing
Forgot to add, the album is great. Sure it’s not a classic but Wu fans should enjoy it a whole lot. I mean if you don’t you’re not really as big of a Wu fan as you think you are/were.
who the fuck said 9th was killarmys strongest mc you never heard of killa sin?!?!?!
1 WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY, THE ONLY SONG THAT WAS OK WAS THE PLANET ASIA IF YOU FAST FORWARD TO THE ASIA VERSE, THIS GUY IS A FUCKIN WEAK ASS RAPPER
OUT WEST WE LOVE(OR AT LEAST I DO)PLANET ASIA AND RAS KASS.WU KNOWS REAL MC’S NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE FROM.COME ON NAME EMCEES THAT RAP OFF BEAT AND STILL MAKE HEAT(RZA/9TH/DOM)
saw him live dopness
All You HATERZ! We Love YOU!!! 9th Prince is a blessing in The Life & Times of The Damned… Peace Bless Dr. Deadbeat
ANYTHING WU DOES I LIKE I DON’T CARE IF IT’S POLKA MUSIC THERE ARE OVER 10 WU-TANG GROUPS AND I LIKE THEM ALL.WU MAKES JOBS FOR NIGGAS,MASTER P STOLE THE WU FORMULA IN THE 90’S………BUT WHO’S STILL STANDING?WU-TANG!WU-TANG!WU-TANG.GREATEST GROUP OF ALL TIME AND I’M OUT WEST SAYING THAT.
killarmy albums are classic.
9th is cool for a verse or 2, but that off beat, rza imitation he always rocked is better suited for a 16.
9th vocab is dope, and he comes with some ill concepts lyrically. imaginative rhymes. but he always been one of the weaker affiliates IMO, and if he wasnt rzas blood, i dont know that hed still be droppin albums. im not trynna hate on son neither.
killa sin is the rawest member of killarmy but hes been locked down, and from what i understand, isnt even thinkin about music. its a shame, cuz that nigga was raw, and id love to hear a solo from him.
9th is kinda the killarmy general though, and id love to hear another killarmy album.
4th disciple… where the fuck you at son?! 4th is easily one of the most slept on producers ever, if you a wu head, you already know the deal.
i feel bad givin 9th a 2 star review, but i bought the album and its what i feel.
9th get killarmy back together, get 4th to produce the album, and you good my dude. this nigga brother scoring flicks in LA LA land, 9th gonna be ok regardless.
Listen
THIS ALBUM JUST FUCKIN SUCKS
album sucks lamma balls and i downloaded it knowing i was gonna buy it but i deleted it and feel bad for wasting bandwidth lol….horrible album i figured it would be tighter
I haven’t heard the whole album from start to finish. But sampled most of it. From what I’ve heard, the production sounds dope with alot of hard beats. If you’re looking for some WU flavor, my initial assessment is you’ll like the beats. But thats probably just about all the Wu flavor you’re gonna get. The track list is long, 9th can’t flow for 17 tracks. I’m still gonna cop the album cuz I’m feeling the production. I’ll give it a 4 cuz I can appreciate those gritty hard beats.
If you give it a 4 without listening, you should probably buy it, asshole.
the album was good but nothing special
9th Prince is just as good in not better than killa sin. You hater’s are all uneducated, unprofessional people who have no culture. Try and understand where the producer and the MC are coming from before you start knocking the album.
Raekwon’s only built 4 cuban linx 2 was shit!! Not up to par with part 1. Now start talking.
GREAT!
WU
W