Chewing Pine

Wu-Tang Clan – 8 Diagrams (Street Records Corporation, 2008)

“Wu is for the kids.” -ODB

The recorded life of the Clan began more than a decade ago and covers innumerable solo efforts, mix-tapes, soundtracks, bootlegs and full length efforts. Beginning with 36 Chambers, a stated point of trajectory was made and has ostensibly been carried out. Method Man, during an interview, included on their debut, figures that this group works “to make a business outta this” so that their “seeds got something for theyselves [sic].”

For this to be included on their first album speaks to the forward thinking positioning that the Clan took from the onset. They weren’t in it for some fast money. Each of the nine, now eight members, have branched out to all types of media creating a massive back log of accomplishments. But outside of the gushing enthusiasm that Wu may inspire, if a listener missed everything between 36 Chambers and 8 Diagrams, they would be, understandably disappointed. Not to say that their latest album doesn’t possess extraordinary moments, but between the beginning of the ‘90s and current recordings there is a marked difference.

What needs to be kept in perspective is the sprawling work of the RZA, including his recent appearance in American Gangster. Figuring that he has produced the five proper Wu albums as well as a large portion of the Clan’s solo work, in fourteen years the RZA has easily produced hundreds of tracks. For there to be a consistent level of work, that could well be referred to as the RZA cannon, easily astounds.

An apparent difference between earlier work and 8 Diagrams presents itself in the musical focus of the album. In many places, this disc more closely reflects its’ time than earlier Wu discs. “Campfire” sports a beat that would be almost unthinkable on an earlier Wu full length. The immediate soul vocals coupled with the overtly dance oriented beat is eventually saved, by what sounds like a foreboding 21^st century version of the Clan. However, the best beat from these folks in the past recalled dank dungeons, whereas that feel is disappointingly absent from a majority of 8 Diagrams. The samples here too seem distant from previous releases, choosing to utilize more guitar oriented fare as opposed to bubbly, funky keyboards.

Already obvious on the first track is the ubiquitous singing though-out the disc. With the absence of ODB, somewhere along the line a body made the decision to invite various soul related singers to an overwhelmingly large portion of the tracks. This decision might be related to the maturation of the crew, but it also removes a significant portion of the comedy inherent in a number of other Wu offerings. In the case of George Clinton’s appearance on “Wolves”, the funk ne’er do well only distracts from a track that, even with his presence, pulls a bit of a western sound atop of a well crafted beat.

With Badu following suit on the interpolation of the Beatles’ “My Guitar Gently Weeps”, the cover (I suppose that term can be applied) not only sports a bizarre line-up with George Harrison’s kid and RHCP guitarist, John Frusciante, but a decent bit of violence being blurted over a Beatles beat. Even more bizarre is the caterwauling Badu stating, “We’re just babies,” perhaps referencing Digable Planets. This quoting of past raps is recurrent and in a way exerts Wu’s standing in the hip-hop community as torch bearers and keepers of history.

If there was to be a hit single, which historically hasn’t been a problem for the Clan, it should be “Rushing Elephants”. Even with the “yea, yea, yea, yea” lasting too long at the head of the track, the beat has an MF Doom quality to it – or does Doom recall Wu? Regardless, “Elephants” is easily enough digestible for the listening public.

With 8 Diagrams introducing the Clan to a newer, younger collection of heads, despite the luke-warm sales, it asserts their standing as figure heads of a movement. Forget Jay-Z, who oddly made a record based upon a movie featuring a Wu member, forget Bun B or whoever else you may see on a billboard if you roll through the ghetto. This 8 man crew still is rightful ruler of this genre and have to begin to function as such. Wu is for the kids, but how will they enthrall them in the future? Maybe there’s a kung-fu concept album or a disc focused on the teachings of Bruce Lee brewing. There will assuredly be more albums by the Clan as well as endless solo efforts. Whether or not they continue to measure up to the past remains to be seen…er…heard.