The RZA should probably be considered among the great samplers and groove craftsmen in hip-hop history on the strength of Enter and the various side projects that followed it. However, this album is a musical misstep for him. Some of the ideas remain very interesting, especially his continuing obsession with violins and acoustic guitars. But the bass sits in place and won't budge. The chords above those lines exhibit a similar inertia. There are no rumbling grooves and organ sample spasms to set you jumping. I just can't get up and dance to this one.
Then there's the marketing issue. I realize that this group is trying to create something for their families, that they "ain't tryin' to hop in and hop out or nothin'," as they state plainly in the first album. But just looking at the predominance of advertising for America Online and the Wu's formidable collection of 900 numbers taints the quality of the music further. It probably shouldn't, but it does. There's no question they're still one of the most brilliant hip-hop outfits of the '90s. They got skills. But it looks like they also got a little complacent. (JD)
(Loud Records)