Best Ever Albums

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

drakonium — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 13:20:12 GMT

Author: drakonium

Posted: 02/26/2014 18:20

A bit shocked at the number of votes for Liquid Swords, too. I love it obviously, but wow, it's a landslide here.

6 Feet Deep by Gravediggaz was an instant love for me. First, it's catchy as hell. The choruses are just the catchiest ones I've ever heard, and they're not even sung. If not too fond on sung choruses in hip-hop anyway, unless it's done by a woman (not sure why, I don't care, you neither). Impossible to transcribe in a post, obviously, but their rhythms, the tone of the voice, they are incredible. Check songs like Nowhere To Run, Nowhere To Hide, 1-800-Suicide (it's cheating, as it's a famous line form KRS-One, but I don't care) and Death Trap to see it.

Also, the beats. From the sad, emotive synth thing of Suicide, to the slightly dissonant guitar riff of Detective Trip, to the downright noisy electronic bzzz of Bang Your Head, it's all gold. Not sure what else to say apart from the fact that they are some of my favorites.

Finally, the flaws are pretty unique, being between the calm, dark, laid-back side of GZA, and the hysterical, spitting style of Ol' Dirty Bastard (though never being annoying as he sometimes is, IMO). This is really flagrant in tracks like Constant Elevation (right at the beginning, it's fucking amazing and doesn't lose its time) and Graveyard Chamber. The verses themselves are catchy, actually.

Not much to say about the lyrics though, first because I've never read them so I only really understand a few lines here and there, and because the ones I've understood are not particularly incredible or anything, just classic horrorcore things telling you that they will do really shocking shit and such.

Well, it's just one of my favorite records ever, so don't hesitate to give it a chance if you trust my tastes 🤣

drunkonium wrote:

Yeah some dark shit agin look how coocl iam to like this dark qshit, awesoeflows though, not sure about the luyrics but its pretty frightening actually take you at the trhoayt and never leaves you ,you cant breathe yet you fucks xith it

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

GeevyDallas — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 12:11:20 GMT

Author: GeevyDallas

Posted: 02/26/2014 17:11

I went for Liquid Swords, but Grandmasters, Heavy Mental and Ironman could run it close on their day.

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

Norman Bates — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 03:17:55 GMT

Author: Norman Bates

Posted: 02/26/2014 08:17

Yeah, another one Liquid Sword's way.

Then Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Return to the 36 Chambers, Ironman, Czarface (all 4 excellent), Ghost Dog, Fishscale, Only Built 2 (all 3 very good, the latter a recent re-evaluation after years of denying its goodness).

I am yet to listen to Supreme Clientele, the only song I know from it is "One", obviously excellent.[/i]

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 02:34:32 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 02/26/2014 07:34

Mercury wrote:

the qay it starts with that creepy kid story of her dad

That's a boy bro, and the dialogue is culled from Shogun Assassin. It's a dope movie, you should check it out.

Hayden wrote:

6 Feet Deep comes pretty close though.. But I wouldn't consider it a solo Wu-Tang album :?

Second sentence of OP:

lethalnezzle wrote:

Thought I'd make a thread to figure out what people's favourite Wu-Tang solo/side-project records are

Anyway, didn't expect Liquid Swords to be winning by quite this big a margin. It's a fantastic record, but there are at least three albums on the list I prefer to it. Also, everybody who voted for it should check out Grandmasters, which is nearly as good and criminally underheard.

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

junodog4 — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 22:01:35 GMT

Author: junodog4

Posted: 02/26/2014 03:01

It's not the best on the list, but I gotta give a plug for ODB's Return to the 36 Chambers. The #1 personality from Wu-Tang, if not the #1 artist. Remember - he's a role model...

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

HigherThanTheSun — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 20:41:36 GMT

Author: HigherThanTheSun

Posted: 02/26/2014 01:41

There's a couple I haven't heard which I will get onto soon. Pretty much all the albums I know here are so strong though, could easily vote for Tical, Supreme Clientele, Ironman, ODB, OB4CL2, in particular.

For me though, Liquid Swords and Only Built 4 Cuban Lynx are the masterpieces and stand out way above all the others, which says a lot, would have to go for one of those two.

A best member of the Wu Tang poll/discussion would interest me also.

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

Hayden — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 20:21:48 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 02/26/2014 01:21

Supreme Clientele.

6 Feet Deep comes pretty close though.. But I wouldn't consider it a solo Wu-Tang album 😕

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

Mercury — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 19:27:42 GMT

Author: Mercury

Posted: 02/26/2014 00:27

For me it's undoubtably "Liquid Swords" out of what i have heard. its not that close. My number 2 is "Fishscale". But anyway, back to GZA's masterpiece... There are seriously no perceptible weaknesses here in this album. All the tracks are dense and dark and immaculately produced. All the raps are on point and incredibly rhythmic. GZA's flow is so natural and relaxed, and yet it feels threatening and just confidently deadly and powerful. The guest spots by some other BA Wu-Tang members are all excellent. The tracks are classic after classic one after another after another. Aomething about the mood of the album, the qay it starts with that creepy kid story of her dad, the just almost wildly nonchalant way the beat drifts in to start the album in earnest on the opener, the sequencing of the tracks, all these successful and killer elements just one after another just does not let up for a minute. There are absolutely no dud tracks, no overlong skits, the skits that are here are short and add to the story and vibe of the album very nicely. It's a cohesive album. I'm no expert on rap, but damn! this has got to be as great as any.

"The liquid soluble that made up the chemistry,
a gaseous element that burned down your ministry.
Herbal vapors and biblical papers.
Smokin' exo-dust, every square yard is plush." - GZA (I think.)

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

drakonium — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 19:25:07 GMT

Author: drakonium

Posted: 02/26/2014 00:25

I haven't listened to much actually : 6 Feet Deep, Liquid Swords, Return To The 36 Chambers and Ironman, ranked in this order when it comes to my preference. The first one is absolutely amazing and isn't leaving my chart soon, the following two are excellent, and the last one is pretty good. I might write something about Gravediggaz later, it's late here and I'm tired.

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

RockyRaccoon — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 18:41:19 GMT

Author: RockyRaccoon

Posted: 02/25/2014 23:41

So I know everyone loves Liquid Swords (and I do too), but Tical was amazing and that's what I'm going with.

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

Patman360 — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 17:53:00 GMT

Author: Patman360

Posted: 02/25/2014 22:53

Going with Liquid Swords, makes my overall chart, I love it. Most of what I heard is fantastic but I guess I've only really heard the 'bigger' albums, I guess my next 2 would be Supreme Clientele and Czarface.

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

ButterThumbz — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 16:50:48 GMT

Author: ButterThumbz

Posted: 02/25/2014 21:50

An amazing list. Almost impossible to choose a favourite but plumped for Cuban Linx. Raekwon really knows how to spin a yarn, with RZA on top form and plenty of Ghostface too.

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 16:38:27 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 02/25/2014 21:38

I've never listened to an entire one though I've tried Supreme Clientele and ODB's Return to the 36 Chambers: Dirty Version (which I was actually enjoying, I just didn't commit to listening to the whole album. ODB is my favourite I think, his voice is the most memorable and he's kind of goofy, I like it)

I've managed to connect with genres seemingly alien to me such as punk and metal so I don't see why hip hop shouldn't be next. It is frustrating though, still not finding any from the genre I personally connect with outside of Sole, and I'm not head over heels for him. But, I still think hip hop will give me something someday, and there are enough songs that I enjoy from the genre that I'm not gonna give up on it. I think maybe I should try Liquid Swords next...is that a good idea?

Edit: Yes, yes, that was a brilliant idea. Liquid Swords is increditastic.

Re: Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 16:33:36 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 02/25/2014 21:33

I've only heard Supreme Clientele, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx and Liquid Swords.

I think GZA comes across very laid back, but also wise - I really enjoy his writing and delivery, so Liquid Swords is my favourite of the three.

I've never been mad for Wu-Tang though, something about their sound just doesn't resonate with me as well as other artists I suppose, but it's high time I gave them more of a chance, I'll try to work my way through all of these one way or another.

Best Wu-Tang Solo Album

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 16:26:43 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 02/25/2014 21:26

OK, obviously I'm a Wu-Tang fanatic. Thought I'd make a thread to figure out what people's favourite Wu-Tang solo/side-project records are and why (was tempted to just do a best Wu-Tang album, but 36 Chambers would win and we'd learn nothing). Anyway, I've noticed a few people around here trying to get into hip-hop recently and I thought this thread could help sway some of those users in the direction of albums you love. Please give some sort of explanation if you can; it would help to persuade others to listen to (or perhaps relisten to and reconsider) your favourites, as well as giving people an insight into why you love the albums you do. I don't expect essays or anything, but a few words certainly wouldn't go amiss. I've attempted to fill the poll with the most widely acclaimed works, but there is an 'Other' option that I urge you to use if you want to. Obviously I know this poll is going to be dominated by a few albums, but I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised nonetheless.

Right, so my favourite is Supreme Clientele by Ghostface. It's peppered with some of RZA's best production, his trademark grimy soul with a decidedly old school fascination, but consistently memorable and often catchy (not to mention some great work from a few choice RZA protegees who come through to offer some absolute bangers). Ghost's rhymes are as urgent as they've ever been, a perfect mix of the storytelling he's since become renowned for and his own raucous, hilarious and totally unique brand of braggadocio. The slang is often completely indecipherable, but that's where the beauty of this album lies. It doesn't attempt to pander to the uninitiated, but at the same time he opens a door to a world of colourful, often totally abstract rhymes that you won't find on your average Jay-Z or Kanye West record. His delivery is perfect, rat-a-tat Kool G. Rap spitting with the weathered croak of an old soul legend (think Bobby Bland), always prioritising sheer emotion over technical perfection. It's a scattershot album that takes the listener through a world of pimps in minks, crackheads worth keeping close, and ghetto superheroes, and it never lets up in its beautiful, twisted, relentless assault. An absolute must-hear for those who are unfamiliar.

Anyhow, there's my choice. Get voting people.