Quietly, RZA releases a new album under the pseudonym Bobby Digital. There's no promotion, no one knows this thing is really out. And it's good, honestly, if one of the names I wrote just before is even slightly familiar to you. Eight songs, just under half an hour of material. The album is released by MNRK Music Group and 36 Chambers in a limited edition of a few thousand copies on vinyl. The disc is entirely self-produced except for one track signed by Core Mason, and it features Reverend William Burk aka Rev. Burke on all tracks, Earth, Dontius and Young Dirty Bastard aka YDB.
The first track is a dancehall / reggaeton thing where Bobby Digital spits something along with Burke, rnb chorus sung by Earth. The second choice falls into the category of dance / club songs, RZA recites bars with a calm, almost spoken style. "Garden State" is Core Mason's production: the beat is weak. The downtempo drum is tired, this doesn't help the cumbersome flow of Bobby Digital, the whole rhythm lacks the right inspiration. The man sounds boring here, it seems that he's falling asleep with every syllable. It goes on for five minutes, it's hard to finish this piece, exhausting. Thus ends the "Digital Side" to kick off the "Potions Side".
Four tracks in this side, can't be worse than the other. RZA goes back behind the keyboards. There's a shrill horn and hints of scratch in the construction of the rhythm, the drum is really directed towards dance tones. The performers, RZA, Burke and Dontius on the hook (I guess), bring what is the shortest track on the vinyl to the bottom. Shorter certainly doesn't mean better, at least not here. Burke is trying hard, I don't think I can tell him anything, sadly that doesn't improve RZA's very poorly chosen music.
"Rain on 'Em" has dancehall/reggaeton leanings, inspired by Jamaican tunes. The rhythm isn't bad, but it's not doing anything for me. A girl sings on "Attack of the Lioness", maybe Bobby Digital has rediscovered how to make good music behind keyboards? The answer comes quickly, because the author farts on it before dropping more bars with a style that makes me positively reevaluate at least three-quarters of the mumble rap scene. The beat is just ok. The last rhythm is skeletal, almost none, the boy keeps muttering something for four minutes. YDB is singing, probably, whatever.
Three projects in one year for RZA. One worse than the other. This is directionless, a bunch of experimental songs thrown together, it doesn't work. Youtube suggests to me the latest album by Remedy, a far better listen than those three CDs put together.
Rating: 1.5/10.
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