Reviews
Raekwon
When I think of the Wu-Tang Clan, I’m instantly reminded that Cash Rules Everything Around Me, and I can’t watch a random kung-fu flick without the infamous yellow W symbol flashing in my mind. In truth, rapper Raekwon isn’t the first thing that pops into mind. Even though being one of the founding fathers of the infamous group that unarguably redefined hip-hop in the nineties, it’s the late and legendary Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the production pusher man RZA, and the dynamic duo Method Man and Redman that resonate more strongly. But in his most recent solo release ‘Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang’, Raekwon tries to take the stage by standing front and centre. While he solicits the talents of fellow Clan members Method Man and Ghostface Killah (amongst other hip-hop royalty including Nas, Rick Ross and Black Thought), Raekwon makes it a point in wanting to establish himself as an individual artist and to show that he can hold his own.
The album immediately starts in what is quintessential Wu-Tang form, with a scene swiped and sampled from a classic kung-fu movie. There are sounds of swords being wielded and following is an exchange of dialogue. The line “Are you afraid the Wu-Tang would become more famous than you?”stands out. Does Rae really think that his fame can be separated and recognized through himself alone?
Despite the absence of RZA’s production, the album still strongly emanates his style. Raekwon manages to carry the recognizable old school sound through the album with use of old movie samples in at least half of the tracks, including the head bob inducing ‘Snake Pond and Rich and Black’. What also helps ‘Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang’ from falling entirely short is Raekwon’s atypical lyrical rapping of story-telling quality, which is one constant that defines his talent.
What becomes evident through listening to the album is that he still heavily relies on his Wu-Tang persona, defeating his purpose of branching out solo. The album is an overall weak attempt at making a distinction of his musical talent from the rest of his comrades. Frankly, if I wanted to listen to Wu-Tang, I’d put on ‘Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)’. Instead of trying to mirror the success of Wu-Tang’s legacy, the album would have benefited more from Raekwon’s individual talent to take him and his music to more legit and respectable realms.
With the constant references to the Clan, keeping the word wily ways of the Wu-Tang alive, and even with a final nod with the ‘Wu Chant (Outro)’, it is obvious Raekwon knows where his roots lie. The only thing that is made clear by the album is that the Clan is a family in every sense of the word. Once you’re in it, the family name will stay with you for life, becoming a fleeting challenge to shed it. Raekwon is clearly a connected member of the family with access to some of the best musical talent, but can, and will, he ever truly hold his own? Based on his ‘Shaolin vs.Wu-Tang’, this seems to point to the direction of unlikely. But perhaps, time will eventually tell.
Words: Karen Tran
‘Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang’ is out now on Ice H2O / EMI.
