Rating: NNN
Nobody knows what happened, or what will happen, to Wu-Tang. Since 8 Diagrams confused the rap universe, it’s been a mystery what to expect next from Shaolin’s finest. Now almost randomly, one of the Clan’s most silent ninjas succinctly yet fiercely strikes back with Pro Tools, 12 new songs of Shogun Assassin throat-slashing rap.
Alphabets picks up where Animal Planet left off and the devastating Labels began in 1995, but it suffers from the law of diminishing returns.
Paper Plate, about the best-left-unsaid beef between Soulja Boy and 50 Cent vs. GZA, is included, too. We know GZA can write brilliant scripts around Curtis Jackson’s murderous nursery rhymes, but sadly, the underwhelming beat doesn’t support jaw-crushing punches like “sweet tooth dudes stay out the candy shop / you don’t have to handcuff him to see panties drop.”
