Puttin in work

Remember that line from Inspectah Deck on "Back in the Game" ... "The employees of the year, yeah/ we're back to work/ We took time off/ while other rappers got jerked." I don't doubt they're the best group ever, but I wonder who called 'em the employees of the year in 2000 or whenever that record dropped. And even though on paper they all work for one mammoth label or another, aren't they basically self-employed at this point? Haven't they always been, legal or not? Who knows. Either way, great verse on a record that came dangerously close to an unqualified embarrassment. But it had just enough energy to stay fly. I bobbed my head 'n shit. 'Nah mean? Fuck.

still ain't seen it

Everybody tellin' me Man With The Iron Fists is the shit, but I been side-tracked. Maybe I'll go tomorrow, when all the fuckin' morons who usually flood the theaters are at the big box stores instead. Whatever, I'm-a see that shit at some point. Trust me, RZA. 'Nah mean? Fuck.

Rock Out

Anyone else heard Raekown's cut "Game of Rock?" Hearin' it right now, courtesy of the RZA channel on Pandora. Prodigy's on that shit too, along with Ghost. Sounds like everything else Chef's ever recorded, which is fine by me. Angry mothafucka. 'Nah mean? Fuck.

Dirty Pictures

TMZ had a photo montage of Ol' Dirty Bastard on their homepage the other day. Assume it was meant to coincide with the anniversary of his death, but fuck it. Sometimes you don't need a reason. Nah mean? Fuck.

Masta Killa should run a marathon

He has to be extremely well-conditioned. Srict vegan -- or at least vegetarian, can't remember the details -- no red meat and a face that says "I can take as much fuckin' pain as you can dish out." So yeah -- Masta Killa gotta gear up and run a marathon. Maybe the NYC marathon next year. Mix in some charitable angle. Nah mean? Fuck.

got it locked

Then there's that other passage in the Tao of Wu where RZA talks about gettin' locked out of his mansion upstate and sleepin' on the grass. He found the good in that shit, predictably. He never loses his connection to the whole beautiful terrifying natural cycle of it all. To life. Learn from that shit. Nah mean? Fuck.

Party politics

Read a handy Pandora primer the other day that said Killah Priest and some other Wu satellite cat formed Black Market Militia -- a satellite crew within a satellite crew -- after hitting it off at an industry function; believe it was a Source party. Good to know that when you put in a bullshit appearance for purely political reasons, some genuinely good shit can come of it. 'Cause I heard a couple Black Market tracks the other day and was like, "Yo, imaginary friends, peep this shit. Some under-the-radar NY vintage mid-90s shit right here that went completely by the boards. Hard as fuck!" And Killah Priest prolly thought he was just meeting a professional obligation when he attended that party -- he prolly wanted to go to the hipster poetry reading that night at Pete's Candy Store instead. Low and behold, he ended up meeting a collaborator. How fuckin' serendipitous. Nah mean? Fuck.

Have to say RZA tugs at the fuckin' heartstrings in that passage in the Tao of Wu where he recounts his final moments with ODB; poor guy looks at him with glassy eyes and says "I don't understand." Haunting shit.

Another hiatus on the posting....

But a better excuse this time; been so fuckin' deep into the Tao of Wu [got like, 10 pages left] that I haven't had time for anything else. And I'm not just readin' that shit. I'm annotating -- in the margins.

Guess GZA playin' long, mothafuckas!!!

So WERS tellin' me like every night GZA gonna play the whole Liquid Swords catalog at the Paradise Rock Club. I can hang in for a long-ass show, even though I'm fuckin' old. Nah mean? Brew up the coffee, mothafuckas!!!!

Fisticuffs; and RZA got a new movie

I wanna know who this Eli Roth guy is who collaborated with the RZA on the screenplay for The Man With the Iron Fists. He some dude in Russell Crowe's outfit? Probably. I hope Russell Crowe quit wilin' out at hotels. We can't have that fuckin' enmity. Nah mean? Fuck.

out in LA see

So how come when RZA does some responsible civic shit like work with inmates in LA the only fuckin' outlet that covers it is TMZ? I want Pitchfork and the Post on that shit. Nah mean? Fuck.

as reported here on this fuckin' blog last nite

Ghostface got a new record called Twelve Reasons to Die. Since Method Man's the funny one, he might follow that shit up with Thirteen to Reasons to Live Or maybe Thirteen Reasons to Keep Touring. Funny shit, right? Right? Fuck.

ghost got a new record

Twelve Reasons to Die is a great title, and a little more subtle than I'd expect from Ghostface. Dude usually brings the energy, rather than the nuance. Whatever, though, dude can do whatever the fuck he wants. Nah mean? Fuck.

technique is ill, son/watch how i spill one

Too bad we'll never hear another Isaac Hayes collaboration. His vocals on "I Can't Go To Sleep" redeemed The W for a lotta fuckin' malcontents out there who wanna hate the Wu every time they try somethin' different. Personally I like the whole fuckin' W but not even the fuckin' malcontents can hate on the Isaac Hayes vocals. Nah mean? Fuck.

For real I seen this one interview....

where U-God said, "I'm not going to be the one that's going to sit here and try to save the fucking day." Good to know. That attitude's reflected in Dopium, which is a great record but never gets preachy. Glad Baby U's found his niche. Stay there and make great records all fuckin' day. Let the preachers preach and the teachers teach and the TV columnists write retrospectives about Screech. Stay drunk everyone. Fuck.

Inspire me, mothafucka

Raekown said last year that 36 Chambers "inspired" a lot of people, and it didn't sound like he meant creatively. Sounded like he meant, "this shit makes a lot of everyday people wanna go out and take on the day." To a degree, maybe. But if that was really what he meant, I think he could be reachin' a little. I mean, top 5 rap album, no doubt. Maybe even top 3 (Forever's the undisputed champ, so don't even start with that shit). But a Rocky theme that kept the motor runnin' for John Q. Public? I dunno. Maybe shouting bring the mothafuckin' ruckus on a continuous loop helped bus drivers, school teachers, and i-bankers stay sane and true to the people they love. Or maybe it just made you feel like a fuckin' bad ass. Like Rae or some shit.

Meth in Memphis

Never knew Method Man got pinched in '98 for allegedly blocking traffic while signing autographs in Memphis. Hard to believe people down south -- where the worst fuckin' hip-hop is produced and distributed -- appreciated the colossal talent in their midst. But good for them. Shit.

fuckin' beat down!!!!!!

Inspectah Deck told some dude back in '05 that "I'm not into who did your fucking beat." Surprising stuff, 'cause you could read it as "I don't give a fuck about the production value, all that matters is the lyrics," which would be a real slight to the RZA. I doubt Deck would say that on the record. He probably meant, "I don't care who your fuckin' producer is,'cause I know he'll never touch the Abbot." Or maybe he just felt cranky giving an interview at a studio in Hoboken, N.J. No disrespect to Hoboken, but you expect more after you move millions of units. C'mon, now.

arriving about 4 years late...

... to this crazy fuckin' beef between the Voice and Ol' Dirty Bastard's former manager, Jarred Weisfeld. Wonder how everything sorted itself out. My guess is that Weisfeld and ex-Voice scribe Jamie Lowe settled outta court. No one ever takes this shit down to the fuckin' wire in front of a jury. No one ever has the sack, or the money, or the stamina.

Lex

Still waiting for Raekwon to smile on an album cover. Even if he did, he'd still be the baddest motherfucker in the rap game. Anyone else who tries to lay claim to that mantle, even Blaq Poet or Mike D or Nelly, is selling you a total line of shit. Believe it.

Go Pro

Lotta people sound like they slept on Pro Tools, but GZA also sounds like he doesn't give a shit. He sounds that way on tracks and in interviews. So I guess it's all good. And I guess these young critics who don't have any fucking respect can go snort coke in the Brooklyn apartments they can't afford and keep living and breathing and struggling through their miserable fucking lives. I'll do the same on my planet.

Back to Ohio

Someone who read the Tao of Wu told me RZA beat that attempted murder rap in Ohio. No living breathing raging beautiful fucking genius belongs in Ohio, unless it's to visit the International House of Pancakes after a triumphant bender. And I mean triumphant, like on some Socrates philosophies and hypothesis shit. Yeah. Some straight up hemlock-type shit.

High in the Clouds

Great track, and further confirmation that ODB was primed for a major comeback when he died. Plus who the fuck knew Black Rob still existed? Yay life, and hip hip hooray for its constant surprises!

Memba when U-God said....

"Skip the introduction/proceed to lip function." MCs should do that way, way more often. Props to U-God.

Collaboratin' on tracks wit' Bobby Stills

Which Wu member would do a track with Fatlip? I vote for Meth. Similar sense of humor, though John John's never self-deprecating. Still, though -- I fuckin' vote for Method Man. Just take that shit in, okay?

Stayin' on the Ghost tip for a minute

Watched a clip today of Ghostface tellin' an interviewer that he personally witnessed ODB wrap gauze around a certain part of his anatomy before indulging in a certain recreational activity that requires a partner. He didn't mention where they were at the time, but I'm guessing it happened in a pemrissive European capital during the Forever tour. RIP Russell.

Not mad just disappointed

Sad to hear Ghostface canceled his show tonight in Providence. When Wu members play Lupo's you can get shit-faced in the balcony and bob your head all night. Live for that shit.

Cappuccino the Great

Or the Opaque, nah mean? Remember this one:

"Two miles an hour/Cappa do it with the power."

Question remains, do what? In the context of the verse, always sounded like Cappadonna was referencing a getaway car; but he never fully laid things out.

Still, you know exactly what you did the first time you heard that shit -- you went with it.

Ghost in the house

We got Big Ghost comin' to Providence in a couple weeks. Last time he came by himself, my man spotted him walking along the river on the morning of his show. Big-ass white fur coat. Nobody fucked with him. Ghostface, motherfucker. Still shamanistic.

Off rhyme

Inspectah Deck once rhymed Kenny Rogers with piranhas. Find another MC who can do that. I defy you, bitch.

Hear me out

'Cause I really think Florence of Florence and the Machine could stand in for Tekitha if she ever got sick before a session. Wouldn't surprise me if the RZA's already approached Flo at some German festival or some shit. Nah, for real. Nah.

Club circuit

Someone tell me if any Wu members have opened clubs in the Five Boroughs. Can picture Method Man trying to revitalize Staten, and I can also picture narcs swarming the place on opening night.

"I Had to Get Some Real Professionals for the Job"

Then Raekwon jumped in and said "Numerous catz." The Wu clique, to be sure, has numerous cats. Count the satellite crews and you're probably in the neighborhood of about 50 or 60. Waiting for the definitive Wu genealogy. Wouldn't surprise me if a few legendary sidemen, post-war poets, and confidants of Barry Gottehrer are in the mix.

Windpipe

Ol' Dirty Bastard said "Now what party can you go to/and I ain't there/you bitches actin' like you don't care." He never indicated why he didn't make the party. I'd guess too much booze beforehand but I'd like some clarification on this point.

Don' test test a champion if you not ready ready ready

Ask yourself if Suga Bang Bang sang at any Wu members' weddings. Ask yourself why the Ghost Dog soundtrack, on which he appears, still fuckin' moves people when they least expect it. Forest Whitaker gotta bankroll a serious experimental acid trip type record laced by Bobby Digital. I mean some superhero phantasmagoric type shit. I mean what keeps all of us alive in the chamber of antimatter.

Personally

I bet the atmosphere before a Wu-Tang video shoot is pretty tense -- 'specially now with some of the creative differences emerging between RZA and Rae. Plus the notion of waving your arms in front of a blue screen for an hour probably feels a little tiresome to a bunch of 50-year-olds. Fuck it, though, the "Tragedy" video was hot. RZA on that throne 'n shit. Lookin' all regal.

Dirty and Dylan

Have a similar vocal quality if you think about the wheezing and the yearning and the real hot shit that's borderline incomprehensible. Listen to "Doe Rae Wu," then "Please Crawl Out Our Window" and then come talk to me, bitch. Ol' Dirty Bastard, Bob Zimmerman, and lots and lots of vodka will carry you through any public function.

Just for fun

Imagine Raekwon with an ownership stake in Lupo's. Lotta shitty acts would finally go by the boards.

And...

I'd expect RZA to start investing in real-estate in lower Manhattan at some point, if he hasn't already. Picture the fuckin' marquee. Condos by the Prince -- Inquire Within. I'd inquire, 'cept I'll never have that kinda cash. Fuck the movie stars and the i-bankers and the rockstar painters who destroyed lower Manhattan for the rest of us.

Plus

He also directs. Looks like RZA got a feature-length Kung Fu flick comin' out with Russell Crowe. Bobby directed. Wonder if Russell kicks as much ass in the movie as he did that one time in the fancy hotel when he chucked the phone at the concierge. Allegedly. Triumphantly. Fuck it all.

What a fuckin' ham!

Imdb lists 23 acting credits for the RZA, including Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas. Missed that one.

Anybody home?

How come more people aren't praising Legendary Weapons?

Turntable days

Ask yourself how mothafuckin' ill 4th Disicple can still get on the turntables and see if it happens. For real. See if you can find that crew and see if they'll do a show. Bet they will. Some public space, impromptu shit. Some Dos Passos shit. Make today Wu satellite day. Make some changes in your own life. Drink more water.

Serious Delirium

GZA blamed a shitty SXSW set last year on shots with Bill Murray before the show. I can accept that. Also think it's pretty great that Bill Murray drinks shots -- most film stars live like church ladies for fear of alienating Harvey Weinstein -- and that these guys have remained friends after Coffee and Cigarettes. Lemme also say I got no beef with the vignette format in film. Keeps shit hot.

yeah, fuck that

Some guy named Ian Cohen over at Pitchfork took a shit on Manifesto, a recent solo album from Inspectah Deck. I'm sure the record's weak, but negative reviews do lasting damage to the legacy. ALL OF US must protect the legacy. So if you can't think of anything nice to say, don't say shit. Just sit there in your overpriced Williamsburg studio with your black-rimmed glasses and your constantly bouncing checks. Motherfucker.

Fuck that

The Come Up Show interview with Ghostface where he talks about his reception in Canada and his religious beliefs and his live MO is NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE iPAD!!!! At least you can't get that shit off the blog, as posted. You gotta bounce all over YouTube to find that shit. We all work too fuckin' hard to go on scavenger hunts at night! Just make all this digital shit fuckin' compatible on all the platforms. The fuck, nah mean?

Paper Plates

Best diss track ever, props to GZA for calling out 50 Cent -- some clown shows just need to end. Period.

Been away

I apologize and I'm rockin' a little Neko Case right now and I'm thinking how she could be the white Tekitha. Bad-ass bitch with a hypnotic voice. Could work on a RZA loop. For real.

And actually

Method Man had some strong verses on Sunz of Man tracks in the late 90s. No trace of the ringtone era lurking just around the corner for John John. He's put all that behind him, though. He's living proof that an artist can bounce back. Good good good. How 'bout a redemption hashtag?

Sunz out

It's clear to any discerning fan that Sunz of Man is the strongest Wu satellite group. It's not clear what they do in between albums. Probably read a lot.

Masterful

Masta Killa said he put the live album out to lure more fans to the shows. He knows where the real money's at in the digital age. Way to cut though the bullshit, Elgin.

Thinking of U

I'll admit I used to hold U-God in contempt. Thought he was uninspired, even dumb. Now I realize he's the smoothest guy in the collective.

Man oh man

Lotta speculation on the blogs as to whether the Gods owned the Wu Mansion or rented. We shouldn't probe too deeply into the mystery.

Good times

RZA told some online mag in '07 that he used to be aggressive and unfriendly, but "now I feel like I'm good." Money does that to people. He's still the shit, though.

Killin it

Could Killah Priest sell out an East Village theater by just standing there reciting fables? Do you believe in oral traditions, to the point where you'd pony up $50 for a ticket?

Yeah

Heard "Get Familiar," that unreleased RZA cut, the other day -- I'll say wow and nothing more. Find a way to hear that song on one of your innumerable electronic devices. No, I don't provide links on this blog. You gotta find that shit for yourself.

After careful consideration

I've decided ODB's the one who brought the Black Knights into the fold as a satellite crew. They party as much as he did. That comes across in gems like "Bar Mitzvah."

Moving parts

Early Wu engineer Carlos Bess, in a revelatory moment on some online forum, listed about 50 different pieces of recording equipment they used to make 36 Chambers. How'd they keep track of all that shit? And how come they all record audio files on their laptops now and send them back to base command (I.e. Bobby)? They should hang out more. Bring booze.

To the whole wide world....

Anyone know if Inspectah Deck's Urban Icon imprint's still active? Did he put his solo shit out on that label? Did he sign anyone? Can't picture Rolly Fingers scouting new talent for some reason. Doubt he's comfortable at shows. Too many younger catz bumping into him.

Wait for it...

RZA will lace a Donna Summer tribute track. Or at least he'll loop her voice on a lot of new material. It has to be.

Plus...

Why'd fifty have to shit on RZA and Ghost's rings? Everyone knows they're a little gaudy, but you don't disrespect the vet like that. That said, "The Art of Getting Robbed" was a tremendous breakout single. But lay off the rings, fifty. Come on now.

If time truly heals all wounds...

Has Raekwon forgiven 50 Cent?

And for that matter...

I bet GZA has a place in Williamsburg. Big-ass brownstone valued at about $3 million. He's always been the quiet, subtly refined one. Guy probably reads the Sunday Magazine.

Why not?

I bet Wu affiliate Junior Reid has beachfront property in the Caymans.

Ask yourself...

Think RZA writes his lyrics on yellow legal pads? Saw Raekwon using a pad in that shitty movie "Black and White," which shocked me. Always figured Rae improvised. Writing seems beneath him.

Suzette

RZA writes in the Wu Tang Manual about a young lady named Suzette with loose morals. GZA wrote about her in "Bring Da Ruckus," circa 1992. What became of her? It's possible she was just the target of ugly rumors and in fact owns property now.

Yeah,

RZA shouts a lot on tracks, but he must've had vocal training at some point, because he never sounds raspy. Wouldn't surprise me if he shelled out top dollar for a coach in New York.

Just occurred to me...

If most of the Wu MCs are in their mid-40s right now, then Popa Wu probably has to be pushing 60. Which in turn has me thinking, have we already reached a point where a substantial number of senior citizens can abide hip hop music? Which in turn has me thinking, am I even older and more decrepit than I originally thought? Help, world. Help.

Okay...

Came across a 2010 interview that GZA gave to Slug, some online magazine I didn't know existed until this morning. First question they ask is what inspired All in Together Now, the pre-Wu clique that included RZA and ODB. They quote GZA as saying "Hip Hop!" in response. Sorry, but I doubt he shouted at the interviewer. Save the exclamation points for your exclusive with King Lear.

Familiar

Heard a young kid from Gotham -- early 20s maybe -- freestyling last night on college radio and thought he sounded very much like Ghost circa 1994. Boundless energy. Sharp wit. Borderline nihilistic. Didn't catch his alias, otherwise I'd recommend. Pretty Tony might like to hear that shit; little walk down memory lane.

Prior world tours....

Bet when they were younger they tore up the beer gardens in Munich when they went on tour. Dirty especially. Bet he was out all night.

Gotta say...

Trife gives a pretty bland fuckin' interview. I like most of his verses, but he needs to lose the PR consultant and just lay back.

Anatomy of an imprint

Who thought up the name for Loud records back in the day? I'd bet on Ghost. Pretty Tony has a marketing savvy combined with a certain edge that's conducive to palatable names for imprints.

The question remains

What kind of health insurance does Wu Tang carry? The question's moot, since insurance pays for drugs, and the Wu goes holistic, except for maybe Method Man. He probably has Blue Cross.

In a perfect world

ODB and Curtis Mayfield would still be alive, and we'd get a team-up album.

Did you know

Cappadonna once told Baltimore City Paper that he's seen a UFO, but the details were a little murky. I believe him, though. Dude's touched by a particular sort of fire I can't really explain. Wouldn't surprise me if space aliens dig it.

Sharp

Masta Killa's got that line on "Made in Brooklyn" where he says "sharp as a n---a, on prom night." Somehow I can't see him at the prom.

Pissy

Method Man had that one line that went something like, "pissin' down your elevator shaft/no class." I could, in fact, picture John John pissing down an elevator shaft. It's the sort of harmless ballyhoo that's made him a hit on campus (and perhaps the wealthiest Wu member).

Case in point

Someone tell me if any of the Wu Tang lawsuits over royalties -- which were filed a few years ago -- have been resolved. Shit like that usually ends with a settlement, so I wonder if U-God got anything even close to his original asking price of $170,000. Just when you think that guy's asleep, he pops up to show you he knows what the fuck's happening.

Geez

So GZA tells Pitchfork a few weeks ago that Wu hasn't been "on the same page in years." I'll file that one under "shit that would come as a total shock if I was a moron." Everyone knows they have poor chemistry, but the group's on the mend 'cause they've gone back to letting RZA call the shots.

Still pretty in his 40s

Wikipedia says Pretty Tony's turnin' 42 next month. Think he'll rent out a hall? He's always been the Wu MC who digs controlled chaos -- you can tell by the production value on his solo tracks. So renting out a hall for a birthday bash would make sense.

Beastly

Daily Beast ran a pretty wretched story back in January on ODB's FBI file -- a highly suggestive piece that implicated other Wu members, and the writer apparently didn't even go at them for comment. Guess Marlow Stern treats informants' allegations, transcribed by the feds, as the gospel truth. Hope they never call him for jury duty.

True

Just read about True Master's bizarre rant in a Manhattan courtroom last year. Pretty hilarious that he threatened to fire the judge and still got bail.

Judge must be a fan.

Question

If RZA played chess in the park for 24-hours straight, would he have to break his prohibition on caffeine?

Maybe, but then again maybe not. Guy's superhuman.

Furious Anger

Shyheim's never been my favorite satellite member, but that cut he did with Big L has a lot of energy. I can live without the Samuel L. Jackson loop, though -- adds very little.

Deck (still) not dead

Just reading now about the donnybrook in '10 when everyone thought for about an hour that Inspectah Deck was dead.

More proof that the Internet lies at the root of every problem -- yeah, I said it -- afflicting our lives.

Royal Highness

Seen that article from Aug. '11 on Pitchfork where Ghost says he's suing Universal for unpaid royalties.

Love Pretty Tony, but how much can the guy possibly make on royalties at this point? All the money's in touring, so dude should just show up to concerts -- traditonally a tall order for all the Wu members, but they're getting better at it.

Street Corner

The Masta Killa track "Street Corner" has an expertly placed vocal loop, a hallmark of pretty much everything Mathematics does.

RZA's finest apprentice by far.

Hanging in

So which living Wu member woke up with the worst hangover on the Forever tour? And please note, I said living Wu member. Dirty doesn't count.

Ninjas on some next shit...

Heard that Raekwon track, "Ninja Chop Chop" or some shit, for the first time today. Pretty loopy aesthetic, not the kind of thing he usually goes in for (remember the "hippy shit" drama with RZA?).

Still though, this track is fuckin' great. And who the fuck is that Estelle chick? She murders the hook.

Tekitha in 3

I think Lana Del Rey would put up a decent fight against Tekitha for two and a half rounds, then she'd cave.

RZA may not be an internationalist...or I could just be a moron

"Now you're bein' persecuted by that universal court court court..."

RZA, you'll remember, spat that shit on "Sunshower," one of those 9-minute tracks that remind you why he's the best hip hop artist on the planet.

Funny though, the line got me thinking. You can see it as an indictment of the Hague, if you're a fuckin' literal minded numbskull like me.

Granted, I know RZA had a rough time with county prosecutors in Babylon as a younger man, and that's probably what he's getting at with the line. But once he throws "universal" in there you start thinking bigger. That is, you start to pigeon hole the man into whatever absurd political context is confronting us in the moment.

And this must never be done with Bobby Digital. Fucketh not with inspired content. Not ever.

Weapons!

That "KFF 2000" joint from the GZA has an amazing beat -- sounds like he snatched it off the "Ghost Dog" cutting room floor.

And in the upload on YouTube, some guy added a picture of Gary pointing two handguns at the lens -- bet they were replicas.

And speaking of Deck....

'Member that line on "Forever" where he says, "I sold bottles of sorrow/ then chose poems and novels."

I can see a guy like Deck getting into the novelist Richard Price. They both write crime narratives that are pretty non-judgmental and pretty layered. And obviously they both have an encyclopedic knowledge of Babylon.

Memory Play

I first heard "Uncontrolled Substance" at a kitchen table in the UK. Deck reminded me of home that night. Not a great record, but "Word on the Street" is an obvious classic. A direct rebuke to pseudo-intellectual, head heavy abstractions grounded in absolutely nothing -- i.e. the stuff from the Anticon crowd.

Tell a story like Deck did on that track and then come talk to me. Otherwise shut the fuck up.

Supreme

The tracks on Supreme Clientele feel like the mid-90s -- operatic, scary at times, the product of smarts and excess.

Ghost could play around on that album because the whole fuckin' country played around back then. Now we all stay sober and connected. Internet shit. Fuck every waking minute of it.

Chef cookin' up some marvelous

Raekown always murdered the cuts when he collaborated with Mobb Deep in the mid-90s. Those guys understood each other.

Parlor game

Anyone think they can guess Popa Wu's age? I'd say mid-50s at least, since his protégées are all pushin' 40.

Fuck. Life's too short. Or too fast. Both, I guess.

Across the fuckin' pond

Remember reading several years ago about a pub crawl the RZA took with Bono in Dublin. Bobby said they drank ice cold vodka all night and met up with Naomi Campbell at one point.

I can see RZA drinking vodka, but I always pegged Bono for a wine and porter man. And I doubt Naomi Campbell drinks at all.

If anyone has evidence to the contrary then I'll stand corrected.

If they played Park Hill

How many guys from the Staten Island precincts would they put on that night? Probably not a ton. Sadly a lot of the younger guys who might cause problems at an outooor show don't even listen to Wu Tang.

Just the other day a 20-year-old kid told me the Godz were "a little before my time."

Tried tellin' him he wouldn't have a fuckin' time if not for these guys, but he wasn't hearing me.

Easy Street

Streetlife issues a lot of threats in his verses, but he always sounds good-natured. Something about those dulcet tones just always has you thinking, it's okay, man, no worries.

Meth Missed

Caught a stage dive from Johnny Blaze in the YouTube archives that made me laugh. Guy leapt from an amp and ended up on the floor. Those fuckers dropped him.

John John was a good sport about the whole thing. Came up smiling once they lifted him above the masses.

Guess at the end of the day he doesn't have much to be miserable about. And it's good to see some energetic hijinx from an old man.

Junior

Junior Reid was a solid collaborator on The W. The right vocals for the right tracks on the right album.

During the right time, no less. See, this is the kinda fuckin' serendipity that makes the Wu clique the Wu clique.

Some mystical shit, for real.

Bombast

Completely agree with what Meth said in a recent interview on Sirius. Seated with Ghost and Rae, he unloaded on bloggers -- telling them to at least put their pictures or home addresses on their sites, to take ownership of their hostile commentary.

No doubt, all these punk bitches should identify themselves on their blogs. I mean, what the fuck?

Still, Johnny Blaze shouldn't dismiss the constitutional protections for anonymous speech, a bedrock principle of any free society.

Meth of course has repeatedly asserted the due process rights of criminal defendants on his tracks ["Filthy/ "Innocent until I'm proven guilty"] , and he probably knows as well as anyone that civil liberties giveth and taketh away, depending on the context.

Still, bloggers, put your pictures online. Sack up. I mean, what the fuck?

Caffeine

A lot of Wu members, RZA and GZA especially, disavow it completely. But I gotta believe Trife, one of the more energetic satellite members, drinks at least six cups of coffee a day. Guy's got a manic presence on all those Ghost tracks.

Great to listen to, but you can't hit that fever pitch without a little help.

Rush

Can't stop playing that Meth track "Rush," GZA's got great vocals on it too. Basically a dance track with an edge.

As I've said many times on this widely read blog, Meth has regained his edge after a 10-year hiatus.

The Gravel Pit Video....

Some caveman shit that I never quite understood. But I'll accept it. I'm sure RZA had a hand in the direction, and he likes trying new shit.

Sue the fuckin' guy.

Dude on the periphery

A part of Cappadonna will always sound like Cookie Monster, and I can fuckin' dig that. You can certainly find the menace, the nefarious underbelly of the whole rigged fuckin' game, in cartoons and puppets and the like.

Everything is everything, as the man said on "The Pillage."

Also on Cap, how come I've never heard anyone mention other aliases for him? Everyone else has a laundry list.

The fuck?

Meth and Baby U in Britain

Heard Meth and U-God freestyle inside a British radio station recently, and afterward John John said something like, "Tryin' to show the younger cats we still got it."

In fact I'd say they've put out better work in the last two or three years than they had in the intervening period after "Forever."

They sound angrier and more focused. Wittier too, with very little tired imagery coming out of the new stuff.

On the diamond

You figure nine generals, I'd put RZA on the mound, Raekwon at third, Ghost at short, Masta Killa at second, Capp at first, Deck in left, Meth in center.

Not sure who'd fill the other spots 'cause I gotta run. Feel free to weigh in. Matter of fact, someone leave a comment somewhere on this fuckin' blog.

Cameos

RZA needs to move beyond them and play a starring role in one of the films that he scores. He surprised me in American Gangster. Didn't think he could credibly play a cop, but he did.

Of course the Ghost Dog score is one of the most stunning achievements on record in contemporary American cinema. So in one respect you could say, who gives a fuck if the guy never plays any leading roles?

But I think Jarmusch or Tarantino could find the right part for him. Who knows? Maybe they already have.

That old Rolling Stone photo

You know the one: it ran with the article on the abbreviated tour with Rage Against the Machine, circa 96 or 97. A black-and-white shot of the RZA's face, inches from a light bulb. He didn't look thugged out or self-consciously mysterious.

Just genuine, and it's tragic that Rolling Stone won't run shit like that anymore.

Whose helping?

Raekwon calls himself the chef so often that whenever I hear him talk I start wondering what kind of restaurant he'd open if he felt up to it.

I'd bet on something French, just to fuck with everyone.

The Legend

"Legendary Weapons" has a funk vibe that I haven't ever heard on a Wu group album. And as usual, they turn a celebratory style into some truly haunting shit.

Who the fuck does it better? Who?

Pub Crawl

Anyone else remember that frame in the "Brooklyn Zoo" video where Dirty's stumbling around the bar and swinging his arms in the middle of a tiny entourage?

It broke the hip-hop video mold because it showed a guy completely unhinged, instead of utterly composed and content with his harem.

Great, great stuff.

Killa vocalist

Tekitha should figure much more prominently in future Wu group albums. She fits their scheme perfectly -- all soul, no glamour.

LL

Ladies Love Cool James mentioned great moments in Grammy history during his intro tonight and missed a golden opportunity.

He shoulda repped ODB's cameo back in the early 90s, when he crashed the stage in a red tux, ripped the mic outta Shawn Colvin's hands and said all that crazy shit.

A great moment? Nah -- the fuckin' greatest in the history of an otherwise incredibly vapid ritual.

Essential items

Hope they've got flashlights and bug spray in the Wu Mansion. As I understand, it's in the Catskills. Lotta mosquitoes and power outages up there.

Flasher

Listening to "Martial Monks" and taking note of Raekwon's verse where he says "flash-dance on the universe."

Even Rae, the most menacing Wu member by far, will say shit that doesn't quite belong in the thug lexicon.

The witty unpredictable indeed.

Birds of a feather

It makes sense that the RZA would gel with Jim Jarmusch and Forest Whitaker. All three men have quiet quirks, devoted followers, and well-deserved reputations for putting out pretty fearless shit.

Still waiting for it...

Meaning the defining Wu Tang documentary. Suggested filmmakers include DA Pennebaker, Hype Williams, Spike Lee, Martin Scorcese, Julian Schnabel, and -- if they wanted to take a huge risk -- some kind of collaboration with the Wooster Group directors.

I raise that possibility not because the Wu clique is highly theatrical in its musical or performance aesthetic -- quite the contrary. But the Wooster Group stable may understand how to portray a group of artists who are, at their core, pretty fucking unknowable.

Tao, Now

Still haven't read the Tao of Wu, the RZA memoir/theological treatise, in its entirety. Read the first couple pages in a bookstore ('member those?) and made a mental note: buy this book.

Hasn't happened, which I regret. Have to move forward. Have to buy the book. I could tell after skimming that it's far more coherent and engaging than the Wu Tang Manual, which had its moments.

Identity Politics, Shaolin Style

I remember one line from Cappadonna -- track title escapes me -- where he says to an adversary, "You a homo thug."

Interesting how he concedes that a homo can still be a thug, especially since I'm pretty sure the track was recorded before Omar Little became a cult phenomenon.

As usual, the Wu clique was ahead of the curve.

Ghostly

If he wasn't a Wu member, Ghost would be in MOP. Can't think of another group that even approaches the same energy level on the vocals.

Signs from Meth

Another great Method Man line from the mid-90s: "Sign of the times/conspiracy to overthrow the mind/behind every fortune there's a crime."

To think he wrote that during the Clinton boom years! What did he see coming?

Why did he take a comedic turn in the late 90s and early aughts, and why does he seem to be abandoning it now? This guy's a mystery.

Awkward Slang

On "Tragedy," you'll remember, RZA said: "I talk wit'/the awkward/slang/I walk wit'/the Wu Tang."

I wouldn't describe any of his slang as awkward. Strange to many listeners, and that's probably what he was getting at.

Even stranger: how do you develop a global fan base, sell 50 million records, and never surrender your cult status?

See this guy.

Method Man, religiosity of a sort

Remember that line Meth had on the first RZA solo album? "Battle with Leviathan/The Methodist." Interesting for a couple reasons. One, he identifies himself with an evangelical tradition far removed from the rough neighborhoods in New York. When you think Methodist, you think Midwestern, lily white, and solidly middle-class. And when you think Leviathan in our current political climate, you think Tea Party windbag.

I doubt Johnny Blaze would put himself in either category if you asked him, but parsing lyrics can take you to strange places.

You and whose army

Blasted a little Killarmy last night on my way home from work. That song "Monster" could wake the dead.

Better Live

The entire crew has started showing up at concerts, and the performances have clearly been plotted out in advance.

That never used to happen. They've grown.

My New Favorite Satellite Member

Just stumbled across "Heist of the Century," an album LA The Darkman cut at the end of the last century, according to some guy's YouTube upload (he put the release date at '98).

Not sure how many people outside the five boroughs bought this record when it dropped, but everyone should give a listen. Guest appearances from Rae, Baby U, et al. Same mournful drug rip tales with the same precise sampling that constantly spilled out of RZA and his acolytes in the mid to late 90s.

Snack time

More people should own "Digi Snacks." The two European bonus tracks are classic RZA, especially "Insomnia." The right distorted vocal loop, the staccato flow, and a haunting production value that feels ancient.

And somehow new.

Caffeine

A lot of Wu members have said for years that they don't drink it. I'd believe Masta Killa hasn't touched it in at least a decade. Guy has a very low-key delivery on the tracks. Always enjoyed his stuff, but he's clearly pretty drowsy.

That said, what dude in his early thirties can't recite his verse on "Assassination Day" by heart, forwards and backwards?

What never came...

I remember reading in all the magazines back in high school that RZA and ODB had a team-up record in the works called "The Abbot and the Drunk Monk."

It was never released, and I think it should be. All the Wu members and their affilates constantly pay tribute to Osiris at concerts, during interviews, and in their album liner notes.

But releasing "Abbot" would be the most fitting tribute of all. With RZA behind it, the record can't possibly have failed in any substantial way. And I'm sure there are flashes of brilliance.

There always were with Dirty.

Remembering Black Shampoo

Everyone makes fun of this track, but it has a certain nostalgic appeal. For many adolescents in the late 90s, it was the first time we encountered any kind of heartfelt, escapist sentiment from an artist.

And that string loop -- is it bass? -- transports all of us. Truly.

Wu tweets

Noticed that a lot of Wu members are following scantily clad women on Twitter. Makes you realize that even iconic rappers aren't immune to a mid-life crisis.

Free to mail it in

Wu members often recite written verses when asked to freestyle during radio station interviews. They'll dust off material from 36 Chambers or Forever, stuff we all grew up on, so I have a hard time believing they think no notices.

Maybe they figure freestyling is beneath them, which I'll go along with. Up-and-comers have to perform well in that setting to get noticed. But royalty? They don't need our attention.

They've had it for 17 years.

A Backward Glance

The W has aged well. When it came out in 2000 (or was it '01) I thought it had a sloppy production value compared to Forever. And I also thought the MCs had less energy.

But as I approach decrepitude (my early 30s), I've come to realize that sometimes what sounds like a lethargic verse is really just a quiet lament. And as for rougher instrumentals, beats that frankly sound unfinished, old men don't dance anyway.

So I'm good with those too.

Providential

Saw the Wu show at Lupo's the other night in Providence and came away satisfied. Six out of eight showed up, minus GZA and Raekwon. The Chef had tweeted that he was skipping the tour to work on his new album, so I expected that. And the Genius has distanced himself from the group for some time, so his absence didn't surprise me either.

Deck, RZA, and I think Ghost wore sunglasses; anyone who does that indoors without looking ridiculous clearly has a devoted following.

Fun night, heard all the standards, took in the eclectic crowd -- which demonstrates their broad appeal to disillusioned thugs and suburbanites of all ages.