Another effort in the boundless discography of Solomon Childs, former member of Theodore Unit, now part of School of the Gifted, always affiliated with Wu-Tang. The music is provided by BigBob, while alongside the Wu-swordsman are Ghostface Killah from the Wu-Tang Clan, Killah Priest of Sunz of Man, 9th Prince & Dom Pachino of Killarmy, Dungeon Masta of the crew Brooklyn Zu Fam and Shyheim.
After the intro, the album places an immediate banger with "Dungeon Masters": boom bap, midtempo drum hard, dry, rough, rusty, aggressive with pleasant samples. The rhythm gives oriental vibes from a Shaolin temple to this joint by the two Theodore Unit in which the slow, dry and hardcore delivery of Solomon Childs is combined with the fluid and energetic one of Ghostface Killah, Wu-Tang Clan's only guest on this project, which comes with a dope flow and delivers one of the best tracks in Solomon Childs' catalog.
BigBob continues to do noteworthy work even with the next choice, where the author, one of the major affiliates in the history of the double v, meet the group's youngest affiliate ever: boom bap, dry and hard midtempo drum, fine flow by Childs, raw and hardcore delivery by Shyheim that rips the cut. This is followed by two solo pieces in a row from the main rapper who seems to be losing a bit of momentum: "My Son" is a rap rock attempt with a guitar lick that is simply there and a lively, regular, discreet drum, the sample is honest, Solomon Childs doesn't nail the track, but he doesn't disappoint either. The fifth pick presents a rhythmic solution that keep its position, there's a boom bap with slow drum, light, dusty, good samples, the rapper delivers decently, but the tune doesn't stand out from the others.
Skit, then the product rediscovers its brilliance. "Wushu" boasts a boom bap production with dry and light midtempo drums and good samples that give oriental vibes to the beat. Supporting the author inside are the key rappers of Killarmy, one of the main groups affiliated with Wu-Tang, 9th Prince & Dom Pachino, who come down with a slow, hardcore, clean style, are both more inspired than usual on this track, their collaborations have become rare over the years. In the track, as in the entire tape, there are kung-fu movie skits and saber rattling along with the omnipresent scratches to remind you that you are listening to a Wu-Tang album, in case it was still needed. Immediately after putting Killarmy on, Solomon Childs also takes the opportunity to collaborate with one of the most well-known and appreciated affiliates of the Wu-Tang Clan, the icon Killah Priest, former leader of Sunz of Man, another group that has firmly linked its name to the Staten Island group. Also in this track the album producer BigBob creates a splendid rhythm: boom bap, quality samples, oriental vibes, Childs delivers with a regular style, then Killah Priest arrives and destroys the cut with a composed and driving flow, spectacular.
“Kung Fu” is one of the author's latest solo tracks that delivers bars with a well flow over a good boom bap that offers positive vibes. In "Swordsman" the last guest of the tape is present, Dungeon Masta, Wu affiliate unknown to most fans, part of the large collectives Brooklyn Zu Fam and United Kingdom and who has collaborated in the past with Buddha Monk, Killah Priest, Beretta 9, Brooklyn Zu, Da Manchuz, Zu Ninjaz, Warcloud, Dark Skinned Assassin, Free Murder, Popa Wu, Judah Priest, Jus P and Silkski. BigBob's production is effective in its simplicity, dry and light drums, honest samples, another boom bap that manages to give oriental vibes to support the regular rapping of Solomon Childs and the rough but composed execution of Dungeon Masta. The album ends with "Dare with the Devil", where the author recites lyrics with a hushed delivery over exquisite boom bap soundscape by BigBob, which places a light downtempo drum and distorted, minimal, accessible, excellent samples.
The album is released by Elite Sound International (ESI). 11 tracks for a total of 36 minutes of material offered by one of the most constant guys among Wu-Tang Clan affiliates and ultimately also among the hip-hop artists who tried to emerge from Staten Island in the direct wake of the success that those nine pulled out of nowhere. It's a jewel in terms of setting and atmosphere, the whole series of swords and skits from kung-fu movies scattered everywhere take you back to the nineties and to the Wu records that kept coming out as if there would never be an end. BigBob behind the keyboards creates coherent, solid, crisp production, ideal for Solomon Childs' rapping, that here he's in one of his finest moments, sometimes suffering the absence of guests for a few minutes. The emcee has the merit of managing to bring emcees from Wu-Tang Clan, Sunz of Man and Killarmy to his album, as well as Shyheim and Dungeon Masta, definitively finding the right fit in this project after many attempts: this is in fact one of his tightest efforts together with the collaborative album with Tone Spliff "The Prophet and the King", with which he proves to be the last one left in Shaolin with the Shaolin mentality, this is a real Wu record by one of the last Killa Beez.
Rating: 6.5/10.
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