Without a doubt the Wu-Tang
Clan is one of the greatest groups that the world of music has ever been
blessed with. Their awe-inspiring mastery over both lyrical prowess and
production has garnered them unprecedented praise. Wu-Chronicles Chapter 2 attempts to further highlight their talent
with a collection of songs that have either remained obscure, or were done with
affiliates or peers.
Like most compilations expect both highs and lows to be delivered by Chapter 2. Sadly, there are many
disappointing tracks such as Shyheim‘s
In Trouble which is further plagued
by suspect sound quality, the unenthused Rumble
by U-God with various Wu guests, Spice 1‘s Hard to Kill
with Method Man, and Greyhound Part 2 and Catechism which are troubled more by
their production than by Killah Priest‘s
vocals. Budda Monk‘s mediocre
performance in Got’s Like Come On Thru is
saved by the haunting guitar loop and hook wailed by Ol’ Dirty. The posse cut Hip
Hop Fury by Gza is perhaps the
most overlooked Wu song of the last
five years. Gza and his guests all
catch wreck over tinkling piano chords sprinkled over an uptempo beat. Rza‘s remix of Eyes A Bleed has a powerful bassline and ominously sounding bells
that fit well with the booming voice of Bounty
Killer and that of Masta Killa.
I have long felt that Inspectah Deck is
one of the Wu‘s true unsung heroes,
a claim that he proves on Above The
Clouds with Gang Starr where he leaves scientists mentally scarred/triple
extra large/wild like rock stars who smash guitars. However, the best cut
comes near the end, a radio freestyle session by Gza and Masta Killah.
These two rock of the top over two different beats, the first of these being
particularly potent. Masta Killa‘s
verses are truly unorthodox but upon inspection are quite good in all their
complexity, while Gza‘s are simply
remarkable.
Wu-Chronicles Chapter 2 is a good
representation of what the Clan has
done in the latter half of their careers. However, not all of the tracks are
tight and many consumers will have these songs on other discs. But for die-hard
Wu fans this album will save the trouble
of having to change CD’s time again in their players.