Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)

Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)

1) Bring Da Ruckus
2) Shame On A Nigga
3) Clan In Da Front
4) Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber
5) Can It Be All So Simple
Intermission
6) Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'
7) Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit
8) C.R.E.A.M.
9) Method Man
10) Protect Ya Neck
11) Tearz
12) Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - Part II
13) Method Man (Skunk Mix)
14) Conclusion

my comment : 

 

Without wishing to sound like a Dream Theater fan or something, this is something I’ve been thinking about for quite a while now: on a purely technical level, I believe “Protect Ya Neck” by the Wu Tang Clan to be the peak, the pinnacle, the unadulterated high point of music composition, and something that will never be topped by future generations. And I know it’s catchy and destructive as fuck, I’d never doubt that, but let’s give this a bit of analysis:

- The detail! Take that short, scratchy two note sample in the background when Inspectah Deck’s verse begins, for instance.
- The way “your neighbourhood Spiderman” is almost sung, yet has nothing on ODB’s later operatic heroics.
- RZA’s subtle change in sample choice when the mic gets handed over to Raekwon, coupled with the whistling kettle sound that accompanies his and Meth’s verse.
- “Moving on your left, AH!”
- The fact that U-God (that dork…) is given only three seconds, none of it proper rapping.
- SOOOOO!!
- OBD’s singing! Oh man, the centrepiece of the track, no doubt. The way he rides the chants of “protect ya neck!” and “watch ya step kid” is just sublime, only to break out into one of his tightest ever verses. No father to his style.
- Ghost storming in with “for cryin’ out loud my style is wild so book me” before Ol’ Dirty could even finish his last line, showing more raw passion and aggression than most suckers can pack in their entire career.
- The subtle, nuanced piano lines that run through the entire thing.
- “Feelin’ mad hostile, ran the apostle / Flowin’ like Christ when I speaks the gospel”
- The glorious noises that cloud the swearing (on the CD version, at least).
- GZA bringing this whole circus to an end with one of the classiest, chilled verses ever laid down onto wax. He took us the fuck outta here.
                                         

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