Wu-Tang "8 Diagrams" has to be...

[shoot that beast]

the most slept on album of the past year. Maybe it's just me...I've had it on my iPod since like the winter and I'm listening to it right now (I've only listened to it a few times before) and everyone is just killing-beating shit up lyrically. The less well known dudes like U-God, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa stepped it up lyrically like 500%.

Don't sleep on this album if you have been like me...

[PolarVibez]

I beg to differ with you on "Heart Gently Weeps". Go back and listen to Ghost and Rae's verses, they killed it! I think the genius of the track is the juxtaposition(?) of the soft melody with how hard Ghost and Rae spit their narratives. The live instrumentation gives it an organic feel but the drums are screaming hip-hop. There are so many opposing elements that shouldn't be working together and yet somehow they all gel. IMO the track is a sonic representation of Yin and Yang. I bet this is what RZA was going for. Plus Ms. Badu is the icing on the cake. I was pleased with the rest of the album but not initially blown away. I think this is one of those records that reveals it's gifts over time.

I still gotta pick up that "digi-snacks". The reviews I've read have been polarizing at best, so it must be interesting. But I'm a wu head so it would've got copped eventually anyway.

[El Machetero]

Shoot, i like it. A lot, actually.

But then, i also liked "Electric Circus", "Phrenology" and parts of "New Danger" as well, so go figure.

[Janus Spills]

yeah, I like the album. But like Polar said, I wasn't blown away. It's good nonetheless, and I think RZA is tapping in to a future sound of Hip Hop of mashing up the live instruments with machine drum beats. I think Rae and Ghost are nostalgic when it comes to Wutang and want to sound the way it always has.

El, I also liked Electric Circus. You're not crazy. It seems Erykah Badu has a career effect on all her men. lol.

[PolarVibez]

I respect your opinion on 8 diagrams. I gotta check out those other Ghost joints you speak of. And I agree with your #1 spot for 2007 with EL-P. That dude never ceases to amaze me. I would round out my top 5 with the criminally underated album by Shape of Broad Minds. All the Dilla/Madlib fans need this one in their lives. Also Phoroah Monch's Desire and Lupe Fiasco's 2nd. I know dude can be overly ambitious but as far as being technically skilled, he is one of the best new schoolers in the game right now.

Golem_3 said:

oh, before I forget,
if you wanna hear juxtaposed Wu-Tang composition at its finest, listen to-
"The Sun" (from Ghostface Killah's unreleased vault, I think its called "Poisonous Darts", which are a bunch of songs that should've been on "BulletProof Wallets". You can download it, if you do the torrent thing).
btw, the song has Raekwon and Slick Rick.