It almost seemed like this record would never come out. It's been six years since Iron Flag and 14 since 36 Chambers revolutionised hip hop, and in that intervening period, the genre has seen the rise of the shallower side of the performers, with quality production often sidelined in favour of bold statements and styles without the musical muscle to back them up.
To further oppose the return of the New York pioneers, internal feuding cast doubt over the status of the record. Both Raekwon and Ghostface Killah expressed doubts about the quality of 8 Diagrams in the buildup to its release, citing producer RZA as too controlling and veering away from standard Wu material to guitar sampling and R&B. And then there's the matter of founding member O.D.B.'s death in 2004. This is a changed Clan; solo success has changed them and developed egos to the point that gathering eight world-class MCs onto one record has become a daunting task.
But if any hip hop act in this climate can rise to such challenges, it's the Wu-Tang Clan. Named after a kung-fu movie and referring to the crew's remaining 8 members, 8 Diagrams is a shapeshifting record showing a Clan who are slightly more diluted than the crew which produced 36 Chambers, perhaps occupying different spaces in their various orbits.
We kick off with "Campfire", opening up with some Wu-traditional movie samples. Method Man brings in the first verse, namechecking like only the Wu can, culminating in a record that mentions both Justin Timberlake and J.R.R. Tolkien on the same album. Wu affiliate Cappadonna takes a verse on the track to a booming "Aiyo Cappaaaaa!", perhaps cementing his status as the closest unofficial member now O.D.B.'s formidable presence is gone.
Up next is "Take it Back" with a classic RZA production (with a little help from Easy Mo Bee) featuring muted strings with a contemplative feel. Backing vocals of "it was all a dream" referring back to "C.R.E.A.M" on 36 Chambers are particularly poignant in the current Wu climate. Inspectah Deck and Ghostface deliver some quality lyrics and the distant U-God even spits some lines.
"Get Them Out Ya Way Pa", like "Take it Back", has a catchy group-vocal chorus, but the verses seem to lack something, with Masta Killa's first appearance feeling lackluster and boring. It even ends several bars before the final chorus, trailing off awkwardly and making the track seem embarrassingly bare with its mostly bass and drums production. While such stripped-down beats are normally amongst the Wu's best work, this one is a little dull.
Luckily the horn-laden "Rushing Elephants" is up next and Raekwon's effortless flow puts 8 Diagrams back on track. GZA makes his first appearance as does the RZA, who also features prominently on the sinister "Unpredictable", with his menacing shout of "Wu-TANG!".
Track 6 is perhaps the most talked-about element of 8 Diagrams: "The Heart Gently Weeps". When I first heard that the Wu were releasing a track which sampled the Beatles and featured John Frusciante, I could hardly contain my inner fanboy, since this track features my favourite hip hop crew, favourite 60s band, and favourite living guitarist, respectively. I guess it could never live up to my expectations, but even so, the track is a mild letdown. The chorus is a little like elevator music, although Erykah Badu's vocals add something. Ghostface's singing during the chorus is a little ill-advised and the warblings of "that bitch is crazy" seem a little out of place on a George Harrison backing track.
"Wolves" features a George Clinton vocal which sounds a little like O.D.B., whose talents are beginning to be missed as 8 Diagrams progresses. A classic eastern-tinged RZA beat sees us through the track with standout verses from Meth.
The latter half of the record is where things start to come unstuck a little. "Gun Will Go" is a little drab and "Sunlight", with sole RZA vocals, features some nice lyrics ("I've been highly misunderstood by those who met us / They had ears of corn and minds of lettuce") but is slow and dirgelike. "Stick Me For My Riches" is an R&B number which isn't bad but seems mildly out of place. "Starter" features a great beat and some contributions from the other contender for official membership, Streetlife.
Finally we close with "Life Changes", the O.D.B.-dedicated final track. Ghostface chooses not to appear, while each of the other 8 remaining members gives a dedication to their missing brother. It's a poignant end to what could be the crew's final record, although the bizarre Chinese samples at the very end are mysterious.
Let's face facts: this is the Wu-Tang Clan. They're nothin' ta fuck with. Even at their worst, they still crush most pretender MCs. Infighting, missing members, mismatched tracks and poor rhymes aside, 8 Diagrams is still a good record. It has its, um, weak spots ("Weak Spot"), but likewise, has some future classics and some standout moments from Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Method Man, the MCs who enjoy the most successful solo careers outside of the clan. RZA too has pushed himself with a wider sound that may have upset the more outspoken members, but shows his growth as a producer. Although Wu-Tang is forever, it seems improbable that the crew could produce another full-length after all the history. If this is the case, 8 Diagrams is a good record to bow out undefeated from the world of hip hop with.
