It’s time for another New World (Au)der where we take hot albums and re-order the tracks for your listening pleasure. This week’s is Raekwon’s new classic Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang.
NEW WORLD (AU)DER: RAEKWON THE CHEF “SHAOLIN VS WU-TANG
Remember all the drama that select members of the WU had with the crew’s 5th studio release, “8 DIAGRAMS”?
Remember the rumor, that an album called “SHAOLIN VS WU-TANG” would eventually be released, (in spite of…), as a collective Wu-Tang Clan effort, minus production from RZA? Let’s just say, in my opinion, at some point in the last few weeks, RZA had to let out a proverbial “PHEW!” that CHEF’s latest release (utilizing the aforementioned title) did not go down like that. Be clear, Rae revealed well before the album’s release that #SVW would instead be his fifth solo album, but I’ll be damned if he didn’t accomplish an (arguably) unintentional feat of getting that signature WU-TANG sound, sans any production from Bobby Digital.
With that said, Rae and Ghost are definitely the only two members keeping that WU-TANG “IRON FLAG” standing. Both artists, with their last few releases, are musically prolific and critically acclaimed by the Hip Hop community-at-large. They are the only ones from the “THE W” that seem to be able to substantially move the needle on the “cool kid” meter. Not to mention Rae is the only cat still able to kick CRACK rap and COKE metaphors, convincingly and successfully, in a new millennial, (almost) crack-free hood.
I don’t really feel the need to mention the apparent CLASSICness of this latest effort. Instead enjoy this alternate way to rock this album. You do remember: this is what we do here? Right? Let’s get into it.
WU CHANT (OUTRO) – So in my world, OBFCL2 just finished rocking on the pod/pad (take your pick). This track is merely an interlude for more Rae heat
MOLASSES (feat. Rick Ross & Ghostface Killah) – I hope you been following the posts. This is the main reason I do this. You know you’ve skipped thru a few to hear this track earlier…
CHOP CHOP NINJA (feat. Inspectah Deck & Estelle) – *mean face* This one could rock in the clubs w/o being a club record. The drum loop is extra ripe bananas!!!
RICH & BLACK (feat. Nas) – GOD’S SON’s verse is a lot iller than any penned for the entire DISTANT RELATIVES album (and I’m a fan of that one…)
EVERY SOLDIER IN THE HOOD (feat. Method Man)
ROCK N ROLL (feat. Ghostface Killah & Jim Jones) – This track is why Ghost and Rae are dope. This track sounds like it was crafted for Dipset, and Rae and Ghost float on it like they were originally recruited for it but took it over.
SHAOLIN VS WU TANG – Peep the vid if you need an interlude.
FROM THE HILLS (feat. Method Man & Raheem DeVaughn)
CRANE STYLE (feat. Busta Rhymes)
LAST TRIP TO SCOTLAND (feat. Lloyd Banks)
MASTERS OF OUR FATE (feat. Black Thought) – Is THOUGHT finally getting the respect (in a mass appeal kinda way) that he’s deserved all along?
SILVER RINGS (feat. Ghostface Killah)
*BONUS*: Check the NW(AU) for GHOST’S most recent winner: APOLLO KIDS.
Click here to buy Raekwon’s Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang.
@omarakil3
“you smoke crack don’t you?” ~ Clarke