This is a mixtape for which you really have to delve into the darkest corners of the internet. It sure exists somewhere on the deep web, but on the surface, you might struggle to find it. Sequel to "The Resident Patient", it's not thought of as a follow-up to that studio album: this is a promotional mixtape released in the summer of 2008, in anticipation of the release of a subsequent self-titled studio album scheduled for the following fall. Unlike this mixtape, that LP never sees the light of day. This effort, after seeing the light of the sun for a few moments, is forever locked away in a dark basement, in a sort of Platonic allegory of the Cave in reverse.
The album is completely ignored by everyone. There's a good reason behind this fact. Inspectah Deck has been stealing beats from other rappers' songs much of the time, the rest of the production is an almost unlistenable disaster, and he spits on it with one of his worst deliveries and a flow that doesn't stand up. The first song is terrible and the second is even worse, due to an unlistenable and inaccessible rhythm, as well as the poor rap of the MC. "Streets" has a sample that isn't bad, but the drum pattern is ridiculous, while "Queen" is a clear sign that something went wrong in the construction of this tape: the song makes one of the worst uses of the Isley Brothers' "Between the Sheets" I've ever heard, it's absolutely ridiculous and embarrassing, it manages to make that song bad, which is a really complex thing to do, but he here he succeeds.
The Internet hides the songs from 5 to 8, the entire section isn't good, but it's not the worst on the tape, it seems that Deck is spitting badly on other stolen beats and nothing more. There's absolutely nothing memorable. "No Words at All" has a bad drum machine and bad sample to support the poor Deck execution. The Inspectah also lazily performs the next track, where the sound elements still leave something to be desired, the sample is decent. In "Who's Who", the MC surprises everyone and steals a beat from Jay-Z, spitting with the same flow as Hova, it's something out of the ordinary: the beat itself isn't weak, even if it's a few kilometers away from the best used in career by Carter. "S.I" has shoddy drum and almost decent rhythm, it's fine I guess, if you still have a little patience you can take it.
"Gotta Luvit" is a ballad: the soul loop is honest, the drum is decent (not good), and the guy delivers in spoken word. The song doesn't suck and it's not his best work, but it's probably one of the best songs on this set. "Certified" confirms my thesis: the loop is dark and haunting, it's not fully accessible, it's not good. In addition, the drum machine is poor and the Rebel INS rapping doesn't work. "U Know U No G" steals straight from one of the worst albums in Jay-Z's discography: production is bad, loops are scarce, his hardcore rap is weak, nothing goes as it should. "Monster 2" is a step, maybe a step and a half above the first version: cheap beat, poor rap, it's accessible, but it's not a good track.
Track number thirteen has a mediocre beat and the energy-less rap of Deck, plus it boasts the presence of a rare guest, Babyface Fensta, member of Da Manchuz, Killa Beez group part of the Brooklyn Zoo Fam. "A Rebel" sounds like the best beat of this disastrous mixtape: poor drum machine but more distant than usual, urgent and honest loop, decent hardcore rap from Inspectah Deck. It should be noted that this song is different from "He's a Rebel", made by the rapper in the early 2000s. "Wooden Soldier" is a little gem, yes, actually not everything sucks in this tape forgotten by all: boom bap, dry and dirty drum midtempo, dusty strings, Rollie Fingers remembers that he was once one of the top hardcore rappers in the scene and brings out bars with newfound energy, raw, good flow. Good track. The next song features a poor beat, mediocre loop and poor rap, a sign that the previous piece was just a coincidence.
The beat of "Nobody But You" sounds decent, there's a decent loop, a decent rap, a poor drum, but the hook is awful. "Hood" has an almost imperceptible rhythm and INS's style is limp. "Nyc" is a little better than what I expected, I only find the lyrics on "genius", originally: the production is honest and accessible, the drum is poor and the samples are acceptable, unfortunately, Dek delivers effortlessly, lazy, without energy. He pulls out random bars in a track that is supposed to be crime / mafia type, extrapolating random quotes to "Once Were Warriors" (1994), "King of New York" (1990) and "Mean Streets" (1973), and obviously naming Gotti, it's not a real mafioso track if you don't mention The Teflon Don at least once. "Do It 2 Def" is one of the rare good beats on the tape, the drum doesn't mess and the rap is correct. "Sometimes" steals "Just a Moment" by Nas, to pull out bars without too much desire, there's only one verse and it's interpreted in a dull way. "How I Get Down" boasts an horrible rhythm, not good hardcore rap by the performer. Finally, "Swaggin" has a shoddy rhythm like the others, the loop is good, the rap is bland, there's the latest appearance of Babyface Fensta, and the title, what should I say? That damn word hasn't aged well.
This effort is bloody bad, it's a mess, it's in the same class with "Manifesto Redux" as the worst disk in Inspectah Deck's discography. It's one of the most generic and bad products in the history of the Wu-Tang Clan, nothing seems to work in these 23 tracks. It's a big point in favor of the detractors of the group and the rapper. Not recommended, if you can, and the internet gives you every opportunity to do so at the time of writing (early 2022), avoid it. 2.5/10.
Thanks to Patrique of RYM for the help.
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