Cyrus Langhorne
Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon recently talked about his crew's recently released A Better Tomorrow album and explained why he will be distanced from them this year.
In Rae’s opinion, their mixed-received album could have been fine-tuned.
“That album felt kinda bored. And that’s not just my opinion. The music was just too soft. Too humble. I felt like the album could have been better. I voiced my opinion, like, ‘Yo, let’s give them some real sh*t!’ The album was driven more to [producer and fellow founding member] RZA’s expectations. He was coming from one way, we was wanting to try something new.” (NME)
Check out why Raekwon isn’t touring with Wu-Tang this year on the next page…
Rae also explained why he would not be hitting the road with Wu in 2015.
“I ain’t going on the road with Wu-Tang this year,” Raekwon continued in reference to the group’s upcoming UK live shows. “Fans will think it’s beef in the group, but it’s all management.” He added: “I didn’t know sh*t about the tour. They just assume I’m good to be there and put it all together, but by then I got obligations, a f*cking schedule. It’s frustrating, ‘cos I’d love to be there.” (NME)
Back in December, Wu head RZA talked to SOHH about the project’s album sales.
“Look, people like to sell a lot of records. It’s an ego-booster. It’s a lot of things. It is what it is. But for me, there were two reasons to do an album. The first was to celebrate and commemorate 20 years in the business, still being healthy, still being capable and able to show these minds that were great were made to be great. It wasn’t a fluke.” (SOHH)
Bobby Digital also told SOHH the inspiration behind A Better Tomorrow was to motivate other artists.
The second reason was to potentially inspire a better tomorrow into somebody else. I don’t doubt that there’s an emcee that’s in our business that also has this record. He’s one of 25,000 kids. If he gets it, then he’s really going to get it. That person will come out with an album for this generation that will resonate in their minds because he listened to us. If I’m saying it, it’s like your father’s saying it and then you get your friend to say it. So maybe a 22-year-old rapper or 25-year-old rapper might say, “Yo, this is what the gods are trying to say.” He got it.” (SOHH)
The Wu really is fkn up lately, so divided
People grow apart. Which is sad. When it comes to the Wu it’s too much talent in that group to create a lackluster album. It’s disappointing.
I dont doubt for a second that plays a role bro.
I thought that it seemed to be about money and creative differences mainly.
It’s a shame because I still feel they have one classic left in them as a group. It’s too bad they going out this way.
Yeah too bad
I think they may be past their prime though. They dominated from 93-97. Everything after that (except for some of Ghostface’s solo albums) has been subpar.
I think Raekwon’s solo work has held up well too
Immobilarity was alright. Other than those two I’m not sure. I need to hear Lex Diamond Story again.
Have you heard the other members albums??? Meth & Rae have dropped good solos. Did you forget OB4CL 2??? I also heard that Masta Killas No Said Date was good. The Pillage by Cappa. Others have dropped bangers.
No Said Date by Masta Killa was alright. Not on par with the first round of Wu solos in the aforementioned period. What I’ve heard of Only Built For Cuban Linx 2 was okay. It wasn’t as good as people hyped it up to be and nowhere near tight as the original.
Your bugging. lol. OBFCL 2 was the s**t. To me it’s the best Wu joint since the first round of solos. If the original is the 5 then 2 was a 4.5. I still listen to it now. Which says something. I haven’t heard the Killa album but I will eventually get it myself. I just feel like others have represented the Wu just as well as Ghost not with sub par material like you stated. We’ll agree to disagree tho
I’ll give it another listen, but I don’t remember it being anywhere near the first as far as quality production and stories. The subsequent Wu albums I’ve heard post 1997 have been pretty weak with the exception of Supreme Clientele, Bulletproof Wallets, Fishscale, No Said Date, and maybe Method Man’s Tical 2000. Inspectah Deck’s albums were weak even though he is one of the best members in Wu (the others being Gza and Ghost).
I will say I neglected Gza’s albums as Beneath the Surface and Pro Tools were both pretty solid records. I havent heard Legend of a Liquid Sword in its entirety.
I mean your taste is your taste so if you don’t like it you don’t like it but me personally I will take ob4cl 2 over any ghost album except Ironman. Wu have so many joints that I haven’t caught up to everything but I will. Especially from U & Masta. I gotta give them a solid listen.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. You don’t know WHAT you talkin’ about!! LOL Nah Im kidding but OB4CL2 is definitely not better than Supreme Clientele.
That’s your opinion my brother. lol. I’m one of those cats NOT in love with SC. It was a good album but to me Ghost catalog is Ironman and then everything else. To me Ironman is head and shoulders above everything he’s released. We can’t say definitively what album is better because it’s based on our opinions. I would take CL 2. You SC. That’s fine tho. lol.
Haha I know. I was making a reference to Method Man in the documentary called “The Show” .
Rza created it and right now he’s about destroying it
36 Chambers = a hip-hop masterpiece. Before all the money,ego, and bullsh*t got in the way and made them dudes vunerable.
The Purple Tape was by far the best Wu album…then 36 chambers….Lot of yall slept on the Wu Massacre album a lost jewel
Liquid Swords was.
Liquid swords was a good album it leaned more to.the left conscious side….but it lacked that up tempo radio banger classic for that era….
That album could of been so much better man. You could tell it was rushed.
Rza needs to go back to sampling. It’s his production that’s ruining the Clan. His production is horrible. He needs to get off of that “vision” crap and make some dope beats.
I agree one 100 percent….Fam…He let Kanye run with his technique….RZA composed tracks don’t. Bang…That why he only had 3 tracks on OB4CL2 if that……his tracks are cool for movie and animation sound tho
I been saying that for years. He needs to go back to the breakbeats and soul.