Somehow, Russell Jones manages to record his third and final studio album alive. It should be released in 2005, after his death, in a collaboration between Wu-Tang Records and Dame Dash's Damon Dash Music Group, a subsidiary of Roc-A-Fella with which it was about to start a split. It would be distributed by Universal via Island Def Jam.
Probably, due to these problems that add to a legal battle between Jones' family after his death that also involved the release of this project, the album is shelved. New dates are found in 2006 and 2009, however, the record is continually rejected and permanently abandoned by Roc-A-Fella. It remains available on digital music distribution services, even if it has never been officially released. The release of the disk is also expected to be accompanied by a documentary chronicling Jones' release from prison, his signing with the label and his work on the record itself. Shortly before his death, Big Baby Jesus had changed his pseudonym, not to Ol' Dirty Chinese Restaurant, but from Ol' Dirty Bastard to Dirt McGirt, which should also be the title of his new album. Nonetheless, "A Son Unique" is chosen, another of his many names.
The Wu-Tang Clan takes an active part in the project. RZA is the lead producer of the album with four rhythms, along with DJ Premier, Rockwilder, Dame Grease, Boola, Mark Ronson, Damon Elliott, Soul Diggaz and Pharrell Williams. Guests are MCs of the supergroup Ghostface Killah, Raewkon, RZA and Method Man, as well as Missy Elliott, Clipse, Pharrell, Lil' Fame, NORE, Macy Gray, Young Chris and Joe Budden. The CD is packed with guests and features, just three solo songs are performed by ODB.
The production is dirty and rough, it maintains its own quality for most of the time, despite the presence of numerous producers with different styles. The guys are all pretty good, there's no spectacular beat, the music is accessible and honest most of the time. The Abbot creates acceptable sound carpets for the Wu-songs "Back in the Air" with Tony Starks and "Intoxicated" with Lou Diamonds and Johnny Blaze, as well as ODB's solo piece "Skrilla". The worst beat on the record is "The Stomp", provided by RZA, due to a tight and important snare drum, totally inaccessible. At that point, you have to pray that the boy doesn't make such weak rhythms in the following songs and, luckily, it doesn't happen anymore.
The other guests are almost all competent, in particular Clipse, NORE and Lil' Fame stand out. Missy Elliott is featured on one of the best tracks ("Lift Ya Skirt"), but I wouldn't say that is her merit. Young Chris of Young Gunz, a group that is part of State Property and linked to Roc-A-Fella, and Macy Gray sing, while Joe Budden does one of his worst thug poses in "Danger Zone", he's certainly the worst performer in these three quarters of an hour. There are tracks that stand out clearly on others in this release, that said, none have the strength to resist the best of the debut. Dirt McGirt replicates songs he has already done on his previous LPs, some rapping, some singing, there's a little spoken word, nothing really new for him. Elton John's cover "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" is something BZA has experienced in the past with better results in "Goin' Down" (1995) and "Cold Blooded" (1999). Recommended for fans, it's not an essential tape. 6.5/10.
No comments:
Post a Comment