The Greatest Wu Solo Albums

The Wu-Tang Clan is probably one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all-time and when they entered the hip-hop scene in 1993, the nine man collective changed the face of hip-hop.  The group released their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, in November 1993 on Loud Records and at the time, the group’s contract with Loud Records was considered unique because it allowed the individual group members sign solo deals with other record labels.  As a result, a year after the release of their debut album, Method Man would be the first of the individual members to release his solo album Tical, and multiple members would follow.  What follows is my list of the top 5 Wu solo albums.  Remember this is my list, not your list, so if you disagree, give me your top 5.

#5 Method Man – Tical

 I know a few people that didn’t like this album.  One of my boys hated the album so much that he was going to return it to Camelot Music and he said if they didn’t take, he was going to throw it at them and tell them to keep it.  Another one of my boys said he was never buying another Wu solo album, even though he changed his mind when Ol’ Dirty dropped his album next.  Call me sentimental though because the album holds a special place in my heart as being the first Wu solo album.  I also thought it epitomized the griminess that Wu-Tang represented at that time with the dark, hard beats of songs such as Bring The Pain, P.L.O. Style and Mr. Sandman.

#4 Ghostface Killah – Ironman

Most Wu fans should know this, but the original pressing of this album included a joint called The Soul Controller, but due to sample issues, the song was removed from later pressings.  I actually had the original pressing, but the CD got scratched and then I lucked up and found it in a used CD shop for dirt cheap. 

#3 GZA – Liquid Swords

I believe this was the fourth solo album from the Wu and it came out in November 1995.  It was my freshman year of college and I didn’t have a car, so my boy Shun who was at Michigan State, copped it for me and sent it to me.  I remember the back cover telling a story with the song titles, but nowhere in the CD were the song titles in order, so you had to guess the title of the songs.  In my opinion, GZA is probably the dopest lyricist in the Wu and while I think most people appreciate the album, I don’t think it gets its proper respect.  On some days, I could probably put this album at #2 on the list.

#2 Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientele

Out of the sophomore solo albums from the Wu, this is easily the dopest one.  It came out in January of 2000 and I remember it spent the entire semester in my Walkman.  I can still put this album on today and play it straight through.  I love this album.  If it were a woman, I’d probably waive my “only marry Oprah” rule.  I think Ghost probably has the best solo catalog among the Wu and this album is the crown jewel.  This album is one of my favorites of all-time and if you call yourself a Wu fan and don’t have this album in your top 5, you might want to reconsider giving yourself the title of a Wu fan.

#1 Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… 

The purple tape.  This album came out August 1, 1995.  Up to this point, we had gotten solo albums from Meth and Ol’ Dirty which were both dope, but this album, it changed hip-hop.  I consider it the apex of Mafioso rap.  I still remember when I got this album.  I rode down to the mall with my mom to cop the album from Camelot Music and then I went to the laundry mat with her.  In the ride over, I remember ripping off the packaging and reading the tracklisting on the back of the CD.  The Wu members had given themselves Wu-Gambino names and I was studying the back of the album cover trying to learn their Wu-Gambino names.  While this was Rae’s solo album, it was billed as Raekwon the Chef guest starring Ghostface Killah, so it was almost like a group album.  This album also featured one of Nas’ best verses on Verbal Intercourse and it also featured the interlude Shark N****s where Rae and Ghost took shots at Biggie by accusing him of biting Nas’ album cover.  A couple of Christmases ago, I began giving my acknowledged nieces and nephews a classic album and I love this album so much that this was the album that I gave them last year. 

***Picture of album covers from www.amazon.com***

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!

A lot of people that know me would accuse me of not having a romantic bone in my body or being incapable of love.  I’m actually ok with that description and I do my best to embrace it.  However, just because my heart is an icebox, it doesn’t mean that I can’t still give out some music advice as we approach Valentine’s Day.  So, for all you guys out there looking to bring the hip-hop purist out of your lady, put the following playlist together and she’ll be putty in your hands. 

Method Man – All I Need (Original Version)

You’re tempted to replace it with the remix featuring Mary J., but don’t, you’re trying to bring the hip-hop purist out of your girl.  You need the grimy version.

Pharcyde – Passing Me By

MC Lyte – Poor Georgie

It’s not only a love song, but a PSA for drunk driving…Poor Georgie indeed.

Mos Def – Ms. Fat Booty

Ghostface – Camay

For that grown woman in your life that makes baked macaroni and turkey wings.

Lost Boyz – Renee

J. Cole – Dreams

If she has a man, this will persuade her to leave him for you.

UGK & Outkast – International Player’s Anthem

Notorious B.I.G. – One More Chance (Original)

Refer to the comments on Meth’s All I Need.  You need the grimy version.

Goodie Mob – Beautiful Skin

The sentimental moment of the mixtape.

Dogg Pound – Let’s Play House

Outkast – We Luv Deez Hoez

Don’t focus on the misogynistic word.  Focus on that they luv you despite the weave and fake nails.

2Pac – How Do U Want It

Naughty By Nature – O.P.P.

This is for the couples like Will and Jada.

Little Brother – Slow It Down

Mobb Deep – Shook Ones Pt. II

This joint is to mixtapes what ranch dressing is to food, it goes with anything!

Andre 3000 – Happy Valentine’s Day

My Intro To Let U Know

Welcome everyone.  This is my first official blog.  I think every now and then, I would attempt to start a blog a few years ago, but never stuck with it.  However, this time it is a class requirement and I’m hoping it’ll turn into something that I’ll stick with even after the class ends. 

I was told to blog about something that I’m passionate about and the first thing that came to mind was hip-hop.  I remember in the movie Brown Sugar, Sidney’s first question to interviewees was “When did you fall in love with hip-hop?”  My answer would’ve been 1990 when I was 13.  Before then, I was just in “like” mode with hip-hop.  I remember my older brother playing LL, Beastie Boys and Kool Moe Dee, but I remember the first hip-hop tape I bought was Digital Underground’s Sex Packets and after that I became obsessed with hip-hop.

As I’ve gotten older though, my passion for hip-hop has remained, but it’s had its fair share of ups and downs.  When I was younger, I swore I would always be into hip-hop and would stay on top of the new artists.  I turned 37 recently though and I feel like I’ve turned into some of the older people I used to criticize.  The ones that always cry about the good ole days of music.  Sort of like Steve Harvey’s crybaby rant in the Original Kings of Comedy when he talked about why he couldn’t get into hip-hop because they didn’t talk about anything. 

I cussed Steve Harvey out for that rant and now I’m the one sitting around criticizing today’s hip-hop artists, but I swear the music today isn’t as good as when I came of age in the 90s.  I had Wu-Tang, Biggie, Pac, Tribe Called Quest, Redman and the list goes on.  Now my nieces and nephews are stuck with Wacka Flocka, Gucci Mane and Lil Wayne.  Don’t get me wrong though, there are some dope artists out there now like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole, so hip-hop’s not entirely dead like some people would believe.

Don’t worry though, not all of my blogs are going to be about trashing the current state of hip-hop.  Part of my purpose for this blog is take you back to the 90s era of hip-hop as I reminisce on what it meant to me, but I also want to give some shine to some of the artists that I think are carrying on the tradition that I fell in love with.  I know we won’t agree on everything, but I hope this blog entertains you and please feel free to contact me with any comments, criticisms, suggestions, etc.

One last thing, for those that don’t know, the title of the blog was inspired by Common’s song from 1994 titled I Used To Love H.E.R.  With H.E.R. standing for “Hip-hop in its Essence and Real”.  Peep the video.