Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 8, 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2010 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 49:05 | |||
Label |
| |||
Producer |
| |||
Raekwon chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang | ||||
|
Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang is the fifth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan-member Raekwon, released March 8, 2011, on Ice H2O and EMI Records. Guests for the album include Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, Ghostface Killah, GZA, Inspectah Deck, Lloyd Banks, Method Man, Nas, and Rick Ross, among others.
The album debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 29,000 copies in its first week. It produced three singles, "Butter Knives", the title track and "Rock n Roll". Upon its release, Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang received positive reviews from most music critics, who complimented Raekwon's performance and commended him for his musical direction.
Due to the 8 Diagrams controversy, which took place in late 2007, Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang was initially planned to be a Wu-Tang Clan group album, minus production from RZA. [1] Raekwon later revealed that it would instead be his fifth studio album, and as originally intended, would not feature contributions from RZA. [2] In regards to this decision, Raekwon clarified in an interview with Vibe "RZA doesn't have to be on every album. I wanted to give some other producers a chance. It's not about beef." [2]
When Raekwon was asked about the album in an interview with Entertainment Weekly , he explained "It's not nothing derogatory towards Wu. It's just that Shaolin (i.e. Staten Island) is the place, Wu-Tang is the crew that came from that place. It's like me just going back to my history of being an emcee first, before I actually became part of Wu-Tang. I always give RZA that support as far as saying he brought Wu-Tang to the table. It was his philosophy. He picked certain dudes to be part of this group, and he said, 'This is what it's going to be called'. Before that, I was on the block. I was living in Shaolin. So this album just shows the street side of me, challenging the great side of Wu-Tang. Which is almost like how T.I. did T.I. vs. T.I.P. You're going to get sounds that relate to Wu-Tang. You're going to get sounds that relate to great Rae at his best shit, too. You're going to get a lot of animation as far as the skits are concerned. It's going to be a hot one. Everyone's going to love it." [3]
Writing and recording for Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang began in early 2010, and finished later that year, with the album's completion being announced on December 7, 2010, on the Shade 45 Morning Show. [4] Unlike Raekwon's previous album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II , Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang contains more collaborations from non Wu-Tang members, such as Nas, Havoc, Black Thought, Lloyd Banks, Rick Ross, Raheem DeVaughn, and Estelle. In regards to their collaboration, Lloyd Banks explained in an interview with Vibe magazine how he had Raekwon as a guest on his song "Sooner Or Later" (from the H.F.M. 2 album), stating "I had the beat for a minute, just rocking, vibing with it. I wrote about three verses to it and the sample, the beat—everything just reminded me of the Wu-Tang sound… So I was like, it's gotta be somebody from the Wu. And I really respect what Rae's been doing recently. He killed it." [5] Soon after this collaboration, Raekwon offered Banks a spot on the Scram Jones produced track "Last Trip to Scotland". [5] Banks explained "Soon as I heard Raekwon's verse it was on some storytelling shit, so I already knew what I had to do with it. Rae is one of the best at that, so his verse opened up my mind. It wasn't like I had a blank beat to go off of." [5]
Although a number of artists such as Scoop DeVille, [6] Pete Rock, [7] and Kanye West [8] were reported to have worked on the album at one time or another, their contributions did not surface on the final version. In spite of Erick Sermon being inaccurately credited for production on the track "Every Soldier in the Hood", Oh No was later reported to be the song's producer. [9]
In November 2010, Raekwon confirmed the album's March 8, 2011 release date. [10] On December 7, 2010, Raekwon announced on the Shade 45 Morning Show that Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang is completed. [4] Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang was released by Raekwon's Ice H2O imprint label and distributed through EMI, [11] on March 8 in the United States and on March 7, 2011 in the United Kingdom. [12] The album's first single, "Butter Knives", was produced by Bronze Nazareth and released on December 8, 2010. [13] The album's title track was released as the second single on January 11, 2011. [14] The song "Rock n Roll", featuring Jim Jones, Kobe and Ghostface Killah, was released as the album's third single in February. [15] In March 2011, Raekwon promoted the album with a five-date concert tour in the United Kingdom. [16]
The album debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 29,000 copies in the United States. [11] It also charted at number three on Billboard 's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number two on its Rap Albums chart. [17] [18] In its second week, it sold 9,400 copies and dropped to number 45 on the Billboard 200. [19] As of April 2015 the album has sold 79,000 copies in the United States. [20] In the United Kingdom, it entered at number 21 on the Top RnB Albums chart. [21]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 73/100 [22] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
BBC Online | (favorable) [23] |
Entertainment Weekly | (B+) [22] |
Los Angeles Times | [24] |
NME | (1/5) [25] |
Pitchfork Media | (7.9/10) [26] |
PopMatters | (7/10) [12] |
Rolling Stone | [27] |
Slant Magazine | [28] |
Sputnikmusic | [29] |
Vibe | (favorable) [30] |
Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang received positive reviews from most music critics. [22] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 73, based on 21 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". [22] Los Angeles Times writer Jeff Weiss commended its producers for "faithfully re-creat[ing] the RZA's sword-swinging and bell-ringing aesthetic" and dubbed it Raekwon's "successful quest to return to the days when it was simple, blessed with the wisdom to know which philosophies work". [24] John Kennedy of Vibe wrote that his "dense storytelling veers from Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2's powder-white tales", concluding that "RZA's dark instrumentals are missed, but copious kung fu paraphernalia provide enough hard kicks and sample chops". [30] Rolling Stone writer Jody Rosen commented that he "sounds at ease — as loquacious as ever, unfurling martial-arts-movie allusions and street-crime narratives in a weave of internal rhymes". [27] BBC Online's Mike Diver praised his "typically dense and detailed wordplay", adding that "the sinister string samples and mystical talk of fantastical warriors is as good here as it's been on any previous Raekwon album". [23]
However, Miguel Cullen of Clash expressed a mixed response towards its production and called it "patchy with flashes of killer bee sting". [31] Ailbhe Malone of NME panned it as a "cringe worthy attempt at old school revival". [25] Slant Magazine's Jesse Cataldo commented that Raekwon "sets out to co-opt and ape the signature Wu-Tang sound, a chop-socky blend of martial arts sound clips, gang-feud lyricism, and materialist nihilism", but viewed that "the scattershot collection of new names and old hands inevitably has mixed results" and concluded, "by attempting to break free from his group's guru, Raekwon inevitably only proves how vital RZA has been to nearly everything its members have produced, and how Raekwon has been unable to break free from his influence". [28] Despite noting "some really awful bits, particularly 'Rock n' Roll'", David Morris of Tiny Mix Tapes gave it three-and-a-half out of five stars and complimented its "paranoid and high-tension" beats, as well as Raekwon's performance. [32] Drowned in Sound's Kyle Ellison gave it a seven out of 10 rating and also viewed that it "is by no means perfect [...] 'Rock 'n' Roll' leaves me a little cold despite strong production, but the hits easily outweigh the misses". [33]
Despite noting that "nothing quite comes close after 'Every Soldier'", Sputnikmusic's Sobhi Abdul-Rakhman gave the album four out of five stars and wrote that its guest rappers "all lend some of their best bars in recent history [...] these featured artists and nearly all of Raekwon's performances emphasize the lyrical focus of the record". [29] Steve Juon of RapReviews praised the album's collaborations and commended Raekwon for "assembl[ing] talent for a Wu related album". [34] Pitchfork Media's David Drake called it "a reverent record created for Wu fans, with all the requisite cinema samples and minor-key melodies", writing that "there is enough variation in the production and craft-conscious rhyme construction to make it a worthwhile project, one that unexpectedly stands out in Raekwon's catalog". [26] David Amidon of PopMatters criticized its "DOOM-like arrangement", but praised Raekwon's "blunted, effortless delivery" and stated "Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang might not be an album that sinks its teeth in, but it's definitely breezy, entertaining and another worthy addition to Wu-Tang's ever-strengthening third or fourth wind". [12]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang" | Corey Woods | Scram Jones | 2:30 |
2. | "Every Soldier in the Hood" (featuring Method Man) |
| Erick Sermon | 2:54 |
3. | "Silver Rings" (featuring Ghostface Killah) |
| Cilvaringz | 1:48 |
4. | "Chop Chop Ninja" (featuring Inspectah Deck and Estelle) |
| Bluerocks | 4:24 |
5. | "Butter Knives" | Woods | Bronze Nazareth | 2:47 |
6. | "Snake Pond" | Woods | Selasi | 2:29 |
7. | "Crane Style" (featuring Busta Rhymes) |
| Scram Jones | 1:55 |
8. | "Rock 'N Roll" (featuring Ghostface Killah, Jim Jones and Kobe) |
| DJ Khalil | 5:40 |
9. | "Rich & Black" (featuring Nas) | Sean C & LV | 3:35 | |
10. | "From the Hills" (featuring Method Man and Raheem DeVaughn) |
| Kenny Dope | 2:55 |
11. | "Last Trip to Scotland" (featuring Lloyd Banks) | Scram Jones | 2:42 | |
12. | "Ferryboat Killaz" | Woods | The Alchemist | 2:00 |
13. | "Dart School" | Woods | Mathematics | 2:28 |
14. | "Molasses" (featuring Ghostface Killah and Rick Ross) |
| Xtreme | 4:13 |
15. | "The Scroll" | Woods | Evidence | 2:34 |
16. | "Masters of Our Fate" (featuring Black Thought) |
| Tommy Nova | 3:22 |
17. | "Wu Chant (Outro)" | Woods | Tommy Nova | 0:42 |
Total length: | 49:05 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
18. | "Wu Crime" (featuring GZA and Killah Priest) | BT | 2:58 | |
19. | "Your World & My World" (featuring Havoc) |
| Havoc | 4:23 |
Total length: | 56:26 |
Credits for Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang adapted from Allmusic. [35]
|
|
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK R&B Albums [21] | 23 |
US Billboard 200 [36] | 12 |
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums [17] | 3 |
US Billboard Rap Albums [18] | 2 |
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop musical collective formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its members include RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and, until his death in 2004, Ol' Dirty Bastard. Close affiliate Cappadonna later became an official member. They are credited for revitalizing East Coast hip hop and are considered one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time.
Lamont Jody Hawkins, better known by his stage name U-God, meaning Universal-God, is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He has been with the group since its inception, and is known for his deep voice and rhythmic flow that can alternate between gruff and smooth.
Corey Woods, better known by his stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which achieved mainstream success following the release of their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang , in 1993. Raekwon would subsequently pursue a solo career, releasing his first solo album, entitled Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., in 1995. The album received critical acclaim, and is regarded by many critics as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, as well as a staple of 1990s rap.
Dennis David Coles, better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success. Ghostface Killah debuted his solo career with Ironman, which was well-received by music critics, in 1996. He has enjoyed continued success in the years that have followed, releasing critically acclaimed albums such as Supreme Clientele (2000) and Fishscale (2006). His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film The Mystery of Chess Boxing. He is the founder of his own record label, Starks Enterprises.
Enter the Wu-Tang is the debut studio album by the American hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released on November 9, 1993, by Loud Records and RCA Records. Recording sessions took place during late 1992 to early 1993 at Firehouse Studio in New York City, and the album was produced by the group's de facto leader RZA. Its title originates from the martial arts films Enter the Dragon (1973) and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978).
Liquid Swords is the second solo studio album by the American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, released on November 7, 1995, by Geffen Records. Recording sessions for the album began midway through 1995 at producer RZA's basement studio in the New York City borough of Staten Island. The album heavily samples dialogue from the martial arts film Shogun Assassin and maintains a dark atmosphere throughout, incorporating lyrical references to chess, crime and philosophy. Liquid Swords features numerous guest appearances from the other eight members of Wu-Tang Clan along with Wu-Tang affiliate Killah Priest.
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II is the fourth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon, released September 8, 2009, on Ice H2O/EMI Records in the United States. The album experienced numerous delays to its release due to Raekwon's approach of continual re-writing, as well as distribution issues with his record labels. Serving as the sequel to his critically acclaimed debut album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... (1995), Pt. II maintains many of the themes covered on its predecessor, and features guest appearances from several Wu-Tang Clan members, as well as Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss and Beanie Sigel.
Made in Brooklyn is the second solo studio album by Wu-Tang Clan member Masta Killa. The album was released on August 8, 2006, by Nature Sounds. Recording sessions took place during 2004 to 2006. Production was handled by Pete Rock, Bronze Nazareth, Whyz Ruler and MF Doom, as well as guest appearances from all the other seven surviving Wu-Tang Clan members. Upon its release, Made in Brooklyn has received generally favorable reviews from music critics. The album peaked at number 176 on the US Billboard 200.
"Can It Be All So Simple" is the third and final single from Wu-Tang Clan's critically acclaimed debut album Enter the Wu-Tang . It features production from RZA that samples Gladys Knight & the Pips' cover of "The Way We Were". The song reached number nine on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart, number twenty four on the Hot Rap Tracks chart and number eighty two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.
8 Diagrams is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released December 11, 2007, on SRC/Universal Motown Records. The album was released three years after the death of Ol' Dirty Bastard, and six years after the group's previous LP Iron Flag.
The Big Doe Rehab is the seventh studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released on December 4, 2007 on Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from fellow Wu-Tang members Raekwon, Method Man, U-God, and Masta Killa as well as from Kid Capri, Cappadonna and members of Ghostface's Theodore Unit crew. The album features production from LV & Sean C. among others.
"Heaven & Hell" is the solo debut single by Wu-Tang Clan rapper Raekwon from the soundtrack to the 1994 film Fresh and later featured on his 1995 solo debut album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.... It features fellow Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah and backing vocals from Wu-Tang affiliate singer Blue Raspberry. It was the first song recorded for the album. Allmusic stated "everything culminates in "Heaven & Hell" and its longing for redemption."
Wu-Massacre is a collaboration studio album by American rappers and Wu-Tang Clan members Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, under the group name Meth • Ghost • Rae, released March 30, 2010 on Def Jam Recordings. Production for the album was handled by several hip hop producers, including RZA, Allah Mathematics, Scram Jones, Emile, Ty Fyffe, BT and Digem Tracks Productions.
Wu Block is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch. Louch announced the album in 2011, in an interview. The album was released on November 27, 2012, by E1 Music. The album features guest appearances from Raekwon, Jadakiss, Cappadonna, Method Man, Styles P, Masta Killa, GZA, Erykah Badu and Inspectah Deck.
A Better Tomorrow is the sixth studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. The album was released on December 2, 2014, by Warner Bros. Records. The album was supported by the singles "Keep Watch", "Ron O'Neal" and "Ruckus in B Minor". A Better Tomorrow received generally mixed reviews from music critics. The album debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 24,386 copies in its first week of release.
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... is the debut studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon, released on August 1, 1995, by Loud Records and RCA Records. The album was loosely composed to play like a film with Raekwon as the "star", fellow Wu-Tang member Ghostface Killah as the "guest-star", and producer RZA as the "director". It features appearances from every member of the Wu-Tang Clan. The album also features debut appearances from affiliates Cappadonna and Blue Raspberry, and an acclaimed guest appearance from rapper Nas, which marked the first collaboration with a non-affiliated artist on a Wu-Tang related album.
Ironman is the debut studio album by American rapper Ghostface Killah, released on October 29, 1996, by Epic Records. It was produced by fellow Wu-Tang Clan member RZA. The album's music draws prominently on blaxploitation films and soul samples. More so than on other solo debuts from the group's members, Ironman contains references to the Nation of Gods and Earths.
Supreme Clientele is the second studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released on February 8, 2000, by Epic Records. The album showcases Ghostface's signature up-tempo, stream-of-consciousness rhyme style, and features guest appearances from Cappadonna, GZA, Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon, Redman, RZA, U-God, and others. It features affiliates of what would become members of Theodore Unit and T.M.F. Supreme Clientele contains a large amount of production from group member RZA, who also re-worked and remixed beats from other producers involved, as a means to create a unified and cohesive sound for the album.
"Wu Tang Forever" is a song by American rapper Logic, featured as the sixth track on his 2018 album YSIV. The song is a homage to the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan and features all living members of the group: Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, RZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, U-God, Masta Killa and GZA, as well as Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Jackpot Scotty Wotty; deceased member Ol' Dirty Bastard received a writing credit. The song shares the same title as the group's second studio album.
"Shadowboxin'" is a song by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, featuring fellow Wu-Tang member Method Man. It was released, along with "4th Chamber", as the fourth and final single from GZA's second studio album Liquid Swords (1995), on March 28, 1996. The song was produced by RZA.