Let me be the first to say it: It’s good to finally have a solid full-length from the RZA, even if it's another soundtrack to the second season of a Japanese dōjinshi manga series. Hell, it only took seven Wu-Tang propers, a terrible debut (Birth of a Prince), two alias efforts under the Bobby Digital moniker (one good, one meh), two Gravediggas records, a shitload of RZA-backed groups like Killa Army, a mountainous slew of spin-offs, solos, and soundtracks, a few film productions, a cologne, a fashion line, Wu Day Care, a full line of softcore pornography, an unfortunate cheese-grating accide-HEY WHAT THE FUCK, MAN! DID YOU REALLY HAVE TO LET A FUCKING DECADE PASS? WAS THE WHOLE “OOH I LOVE YOU RAKEEM” THING REALLY THAT DISHEARTENING FOR YOU? Good LORD.
It’s purely pathetic the man who provided some of the best guest spots known to rap (I would paste a sample of “Wu Gambinos” or “Snakes,” but if you don’t already have these albums and know these cuts, you’re probably lost and feeling dithered anyway, losing your composure under the weight of so many references. “I mean, did the Wu-Tang really even open a Day Care?” you ask. Well, let me be the first to say that you, sir, are a JOKE. Why are you even here? Ya jerk.) couldn't manage a more palatable solo effort until now.
That said, holy shit: Afro Samurai Resurrection has already pumped enough hip-hop oxygen into my depleted veins for the rest of ’09. Devoted Wu-agains since 8 Diagrams will notice the cuts of Samurai tap even deeper; they’re crisper, darker, and loopier. “Bloody Samurai,” a banger in the Forever mold if ever there was one, personifies the deep-down emotion tamped into each song, the Black Knights jumping head-first onto the track’s rhythm with precision and aplomb, eclipsed in intensity only by the absolutely lovely hook, furnished care of the sultry Thea Van Seijen. I can’t guarantee RZA oversaw the rhymes his guests laid on top, but there HAS to be a reason for the unflinching quality of just about every verse to be found, as the array of different voices makes for an alchemy not unlike the spectacular, at-least-15-song excursions found on the first wave of Wu solo releases (17 this time around).
High praise, indeed, but I fucking dare you to peep the synth squeal about 40 seconds into “Brother’s Keeper” and not have your memory of the early Ghostface/Rae albums jogged, or the classic Wu-model modal production of introductory track “Combat” and not flashback to “Galactics” from Dirty Weaponry, or even “Blood Thicker Than Mud Family Affair,” which reeks of the plugged-nose rapping from The W’s “Conditioner” but production-wise is much more modern Ghostface than rugged rap fodder, and not worse for it. “Whar” is the most evocative of older work, but it cheats a bit, cribbing the bass sample from “Clan in Da Front” and slowing it down to a serviceable strut.
“Take the Sword Pt. III” – much like “Bring it On” from the Geto Boys’ Till Death Do Us Part and/or a litany of other crew-spanning rap odysseys from the Wu – is the deal-sealer, the block-locker, the dope-dropper/dealer/diddler. It’s more than 10 minutes long and includes nine rappers, among which is our very own Bobby Digital, and sends Afro Samurai Resurrection to bed with a dynamite tuck-in, complete with a closing narration that sounds like Terri Gross questioning the veracity of our hero, whoever he is.
Thing is, I don’t really care about the series this album is intended to accompany – which isn’t a slam, I’ve just grown weary of the rapper-as-actor/director hybrid – nor will you need to. This is a soundtrack that is completely at-home on its lonesome. It’s a rare feat, but then again a Wu-affiliated album this chock-full of vigilant hip-hop is too.
1. Combat (Afro Season II Open Theme)-The RZA & P. Dot
2. You Already Know-Kool G Rap, Inspectah Deck & Suga Bang
3. Blood Thicker Than Mud Family Affair-Reverend William Burks, Sly Stone & Stone Mecca
4. Whar-Kool G Rap, Ghostface Killah, Tash Mahogany & The RZA
5. Girl Samurai Lullaby-Rah Digga & Stone Mecca
6. Fight For You-Thea Van Seijen
7. Bitch Gonna Get Ya-Rah Digga
8. Bloody Days Bloody Nights- Prodigal Sunn &Thea Van Seijen
9. Kill Kill Kill-Rugged Monk
10. Nappy Afro-Boy Jones
11. Bloody Samurai-Black Knights, Dexter Wiggles & Thea Van Seijen
12. Dead Birds-Killa Priest, Prodigal Sunn & Shavo
13. Arch Nemesis-Ace & Moe Rock
14. Brother's Keeper-Reverend William Burks, The RZA & Infinite
15. Yellow Jackets-Ace & Moe Rock
16. Take The Sword Part III-60 Second Assassin, Leggezin, Crisi, Christ Bearer, Rugged Monk, Tre Irie, Kinetic, Reverend William Burks & Bobby Digital
17. Number One Samurai (Afro Season II Outro)-The RZA & 9th Prince
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