In 2010, Frederick "60 Second Assassin" Cuffie released his debut studio album, entirely produced by Bronze Nazareth. The album is therefore a Wu-Tang collaboration that sees a member of Sunz of Man rapping and a member of Wisemen on keyboards, remaining fully within the Wu universe with guests coming from groups affiliated with the Staten Island one.
Cuffie grew up in Brooklyn with his cousin Ol' Dirty Bastard, going to battles with him around New York. In 1994 he recorded the single "Dirty and Stinkin'" with ODB, which was never officially released. Close to the Brooklyn Zu Fam, in the mid-nineties he joined the first group affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan, Sunz of Man, becoming the last member of the group following the leaving of 7th Ambassador. The boy joined the group composed of Shabazz, Hell Razah, Prodigal Sunn and Killah Priest: it was the latter who gave him the moniker 60 Second Assassin. One of the first recordings with the group was "Five Arch Angels", which is also the only one of the artist made with all the members of the group, including Shabazz the Disciple, who also left the group shortly after. In 1995, 62nd appeared on two records by Wu-Tang Clan members that would later be considered classic albums in hip-hop history: "Return to the 36 Chambers" by Ol' Dirty Bastard, in a collaborative posse between Sunz and Brooklyn Zu, and "Only Built for Cuban Linx..." by Raekwon, singing the outro on "Glaciers of Ice", a track with Ghostface Killah and Masta Killa.
In 1998, Sunz of Man released their first official CD, "The Last Shall Be First", where 60 Sec appears on almost every track. In the same year, he's a guest of Killah Priest on the song "Tai Chi" along with Hell Razah and Father Lord for his debut album "Heavy Mental". In the same year, the rapper is also present in the Wu-Tang Killa Bees compilation "The Swarm", appearing alongside Prodigal Sunn and Hell Razah as a member of Sunz in "Concrete Jungle". The following year, the new album of the group leaks on the internet and the boys decide to take solo paths: 60 Second Assassin is called by Ghostface Killah for "Stay True" of his second LP "Supreme Clientele".
A few years later, Sunz of Man released an official album again with "Saviorz Day" (2002): 62nd Assassin appears on a few tracks and decides to use a different moniker for the vocal contributions, Black Satin. He's therefore present in the remix of "Must B Tha Music", a piece that reunites Sunz of Man in the 2004 reissue of Hell Razah's debut album, released by his label: this version boasts the presence of the four members of the group, while the original released in 2001 had as guests only Killah Priest and Royal Fam leader Timbo King. Over the next five years, he collaborated with Prodigal Sunn (becoming the only Sunz member to be featured on all of the other members' solo debuts), Hell Razah, Killah Priest, Shabazz the Disciple, Buddha Monk, Kinetic, 9th Prince, RZA, Cilvaringz, Popa Wu, CCF Division, C-Rayz Walz and Black Knights.
The album
Opens with a kung-fu movie sample, reminding you that the guy is a Wu-Tang and that you are on a Wu-Tang Clan album in case you hadn't noticed. Even if you hadn't noticed, 62nd reminds you again on track number two, placing a skit from the kung-fu movie "Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang" (1983), which is the same as "Bring da Ruckus", the introductory cut of the Wu-Tang Clan's first studio album "36 Chambers" (1993). Beautiful boom bap, dirty sax loop, solid bass, light drum, smoothness delivery from the rapper in one of his rare solo cuts. Shawneci invents the next beat, the producer has already collaborated with Dom Pachino and 9th Prince of Killarmy and with the duo Thug Angelz formed by the rappers of Sunz of Man Hell Razah & Shabazz the Disciple.
Next up is a Sunz of Man posse, "M.O.A.N.": gorgeous soul sample from Bronze, dry dirty dusty drum, chunky bassline, dirty strings, silky hardcore delivery from Sunz that wraps the beat, one of the strongest joints on the project. Intro and first verse by P Sunn who attacks the beat with a hardcore style, smooth, breathless, flies on the beat. Regular 60 Second Assassin in the second stanza, followed by a series of scratched samples and a soul break from Bronze. Velvety entrance by Killah Priest who travels to another dimension to drop these bars. Hell Razah annihilates the beat with his own style, lyrically derivative of Masada, brilliant hardcore delivery.
Choice number four is the first with guests outside of Sunz. The title refers to the performers. Boom bap production by Bronze, chunky bassline, dry dirty light midtempo drum, dirty horn loops, cymbals, guitar, vocal sample, layered rhythm by Bronze. Hook and first verse by 62nd Assassin who drops a verse in battle before leaving room for the guests. 12 O'Clock of Brooklyn Zu enters introducing himself as part of the Cuffie family (the same as 60 Second, who's a blood cousin of ODB) and delivers bravado bars in a slow, irregular, dope, sing-song style. Hook, verse by Chi-King, affiliated with Brooklyn Zu Fam who is welcomed by an exquisite bridge by Bronze to support his battle. The posse is closed by Timbo King of Royal Fam with an extra-verse.
The title track follows. Intro by Popa Wu, the Wu-Tang Clan mentor who contributed to several of the group's songs, including the closing of "Purple Tape" (1995) "North Star (Jewelz)". Bronze Nazareth starts right from there to create this piece: the Wisemen producer inserts the same sample of that track, Syl Johnson's "Could I Be Falling in Love". Light midtempo drums, dusty violins, deep bass, iconic rhythm. After listening to it a couple of times, that sample that gives the track its title comes from Jay-Z, "Cashmere Thoughts", from his debut album in 1996. Masta Killa enters with a slow, dirty, calm flow, traveling on the wings of the beat. M-Eighty in the second verse delivers with a lively, irregular style, that somehow the rhythm manages to make it work, closes 60 Second, outro by Popa Wu. The piece had potential, but isn't fully exploited by the performers.
Pick number six is a cypher featuring guys from Wu-Tang Clan, Sunz of Man, Royal Fam, and CCF Division. The track is a remix of a CCF Division track with the same performers. Dry drums, raw bass, cinematic rhythm attempted by RZA. The track is opened by Wu affiliate La the Darkman with a tight execution, Prodigal Sunn rips the raw rhythm devised by Steelz with lethal hardcore rapping. Hook by Free Murda, irregular verse by ShaCronz, break by The Abbot who places dark and tense violins along with a sustained bass for the interlude by Terra Tory, third member of CCF Division aka Da Division. 60 Second Assassin drops his battle anticipating Timbo King, good contribution, the cypher is closed by Terra Tory.
Kristina Green opens "Cloud 9" overbeat, then Bronze unleashes a cinematic boom bap: dirty and dark violins in loop, downtempo muffled drum, raw bass, chipmunk sample that remains confined to the background. Hell Razah and 62nd perform what could also be a hook, while the first one remains tied to rapping, the other splits between singing and spoken word. Son One of Almighty drops the first real verse of the piece, also supported by a pleasant sax loop. Chorus by Sunz, then the piece welcomes the former member Shabazz the Disciple: breakbeat by Bronze, oriental vibes to accompany the hardcore battle of Bazz.
"No Face" is the second solo cut of 60 Second Assassin after the introductory track. Boom bap by Bronze, hard drum midtempo, guitar riff, keyboards, sax, regular delivery of the author who drops a couple of verses in battle. "Paradise" features an intro that anticipates the soul hook by Kristina Green, Timbo King opens the track on a sweet beat by Bronze: light midtempo drum, sweet strings, tender bass, graceful keyboards. Velvety rapping by Timbuktu on this soundscape that is among the best of the project. Hook sung by 60 Sec and Kristina Green. The following stanza is provided by Killah Priest whose entrance sounds like a blessing in the beat, clean, silky, iconic with his stream of consciousness.
"Love Burns" could be a spoken word solo by Smithers, but instead it's a love ballad performed by Sunz. Deep tender bass, vocal sample, midtempo drum charge, distant organ, elegant piano. 60 Sec drops his lyrics in a messy and irregular style, almost in spoken, going a bit where he wants, hook and regular verse by Sunzini that maintains the theme of the song. Wisemen emcee Phillie completes the piece by going somewhere else lyrically, but managing to handle the theme unlike Cuffie. On exquisite production by Bronze, with lively sparse drums, robust bass and smooth keyboards, 60 Sec competes for the throne with Planet Asia, the only guest outside the Wu universe who has collaborated with all of Killa Beez and almost the entire Wu-Tang Clan over the years, also taking part in the Almighty project as the main rapper for the crew's second CD a few years after the release of this album.
Intro, hook and verse by Frederick Cuffie Jr. for the last posse of the album, on solid production, sparse downtempo drums, rough bass, shrill horns, vocal sample. Regular delivery of 62nd Assassin, second stanza entrusted to Almighty rapper C-Rayz Walz, then Bronze Nazareth also goes down to the mic to further support the main rapper in this effort, dropping bars with good style. C-Rayz Walz and 60 Sec drop another verse each in what is a legitimate sequel to one of the best joints from Almighty's first album, featuring the same performers over phenomenal production by Bronze. The record closes with a final solo from the author over exquisite production by Bronze Nazareth, deep throbbing bass, sparse midtempo drums, sweet strings, electric guitar riffs, regular delivery by 60 Sec.
Final Thoughts
Sunz of Man artist 60 Second Assassin's debut studio album. The author is the last member of Sunz to debut after Killah Priest (1998), Hell Razah (2001), Shabazz the Disciple (2003) and Prodigal Sunn (2005). Entirely produced by Bronze Nazareth, on the mic the boy is joined by Masta Killa & RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, Prodigal Sunn, Heaven Razah, Killah Priest and Shabazz the Disciple of Sunz of Man, Timbo King of Royal Fam, 12 O'Clock of Brooklyn Zu, Bronze Nazareth & Phillie of Wisemen, C-Rayz Walz, Son One, Planet Asia & M-80 of Almighty, CCF Division, Popa Wu, La the Darkman, Chi-King and Kristina Green.
After collaborating on Almighty's album, M-80 (here executive producer) and Bronze Nazareth (sole producer) decide to help 60 Sec to have a real official solo album worthy of being called such and structured just like an Almighty album, with the same quality and guests. Wisely, it's decided to place as many guests as possible to support the artist and some of them are top notch coming directly from Shaolin. Interesting cover, where the name of Sunz of Man has a font much larger than that of the actual author and where even the Wu-Tang logo stands out more than that of Sunz of Man. Bronze's production is solid, at times excellent, and gives the album freshness and a modern Wu sound that also manages to be nostalgic, Killa Beez's rapping is sharp with their hardcore verses and the author provides a series of battles with a lyricism similar to that of Killah Priest and Hell Razah, with some socio-conscious traits, thug, gangsterisms and random inserts on love ballads.
Published by Sounds Records & Entertainment and Holy Toledo Productions which is owned by M-80, the album is distributed by 101 Distribution. Cohesive, solid, with few flaws, the album maintains the typical Wu-Tang sound and is among the most robust releases of Killa Beez in recent years.
Rating: 7/10.
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