http://wutangbook.com/2015/03/09/raekwon-breaks-down-which-modern-rap-crew-is-most-like-wu/

Is any modern crew really close, though? Wu had six of nine members with gold albums out within five years of the first group album. I don't think any modern crew is gonna see that kind of run again. Is anyone close though?

Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com

The only way you have that level of success is with
a leader of that caliber.

That's it.

He had artistic vision, knew how to negotiate deals,
understood branding and emphasis, knew each member than
they knew themselves

Not popular around these parts, I know, but undeniably true

----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

Seems like the Wu fell apart in 99 while Ghost did that short bid. Didn't get really get back on track until Supreme Clientele. Even if Ghost's only role is to yell "Yo STFU and listen to Rza!" it's still vital (although his role as executive producer on a lot of the Wu's best records surely can't be a coincidence).

Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com

due to the fact that RZA was the executive producer, engineered it, sequenced it, made more beats for it than almost any post-Forever Wu solo, helped select outside beats, rapped on it a few times and basically had Ghost holed up in the studio with him while he was making it.

Ghost, like most Wu MC's, was not able to match the level of this album on subsequent albums without RZA's hands-on involvement in the project from start to finish.

I'm not sure he spent that much time with any other post-millenium solo Wu album ever since, Cuban Linx 2 was probably the closest but that was more done-by-legendary-committee production-wise over a long period of time.

RZA is about as good an example as there is on
earth of "sometimes you have to leave everything....and
I mean EVERYTHING to the smartest dude in the room"

And again: the key genius was in how he knew these dude's
styles were...he crafted them independently and EVOLVED
them

The Supreme Clientele sound was *different* than the Ironman
sound, which was *different* than the Meth sound

Its the only way it worked


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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

People like cosign everything he does regardless of the fact his music has been balls for over a decade.

>People like cosign everything he does regardless of the fact
>his music has been balls for over a decade.

Without him it's likely none of those guys would have made it. Most of these guys won't ever be able to do anything notable in the future without his assistance.

Where are these people that are caping for everything he does? Are you talking about the guy you replied to?

Let my love slide in and never slip out

And his "fall off" isn't anywhere near as bad as people
like Rick Rubin, who white nerds still go to bat for

Not sure RZA has *any* album as poorly produced as that
Rubin-Eminem one...yeesh

And RZA produced 'Dark Fantasy', which opens the best
album of the last decade

So his "fall off" has been him mostly being
inactive, doing shit from time to time, learning new
things.

But that he hasn't had his head in the game overlaps
exactly with everyone else's fall from relevance

Raekwon has a nice little second/third act going now...finally


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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

Almost like you don't want to admit he's fallen off.

He produced the opening song of one of the best
3 albums in the 2000s (not my opinion, consensus).

Better than anything Rick Rubin has done in 10 years.

Admit you lied, and that Rubin is worse and get less
criticism, and we're fine. That latest Wu album was
almost as bad as that Danny Brown album...it also proves
the point: it sucked because RZA had a to piece together
a record from cranky 40-somethings who are mad at him
for raising them and knowing it


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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

Or will ever do

n/m



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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

feature. A 1/3rd of the Wu went to grade school together, another 1/3rd are blood related. Do any of these crews have that interpersonal dynamic?


Let my love slide in and never slip out

But blood-related to the extent that Wu is? Can't think of anyone.

And I'm not sure if rapping together in the same studio breeds the kind of closeness evident in the Wu. Some of those guys actually owe their lives to one another. I included an anecdote in my Wu book explaining how Rza saved Meth's life (citing to the source in the endnote).

90059 and Vice City (Jay Rock) is WuTang

them cats are RAPPING rapping and clearly not afraid to experiment with their creativity and push the envelope.

challenging the listener, etc.

You barely have rap groups out nowadays. TDE and Cash Money are more like collectives, ala Native Tongues. That might be a more apt comparison method.
______________________________________________________________________________

"To Each His Reach"

but.....

Fuck aliens.

>You barely have rap groups out nowadays. TDE and Cash Money
>are more like collectives, ala Native Tongues. That might be a
>more apt comparison method.
>______________________________________________________________________________
>
>"To Each His Reach"
>
>but.....
>
>Fuck aliens.


Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com

It's rare that you see ALLLL of them in the same place at the same time.

Benny
.38 spesh
Conway
Westside Gunn
Mach Hommy
Fahim the God

I could be wrong but I think Mach is not Griselda, but he still a Fashion Rebel...no?

And they aren’t anywhere near as culturally resonant.

Surprised no one threw up Odd Future. Even tho they don’t get close either.

Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com