In 2007, producer Mathematics released a compilation featuring previously unreleased tracks from Wu-Tang Clan and affiliates. The music is credited entirely to Mathematics. The performers are the entire Wu-Tang Clan (Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, U-God, Masta Killa, GZA, Cappadonna, Method Man, RZA, Inspectah Deck), Sunz of Man (Killah Priest and Hell Razah), Superb of American Cream Team, Solomon Childs of Theodore Unit, Wu affiliates Streetlife, Shyheim and Allah Real, as well as Eyeslow, Buddha Bless, Bad Luck, All Day, M-Speed, Drama and Hot Flames.
The friend of Mathematics Buddah Bless opens this tape with a verse in the intro, over a poor and scarse beat by Allah Mathematics, who puts a crazy hi-hats, raw bass, wack drum and chaotic sounds in this mix. The following choice is a remix of "Maxine", Ghostdeini cut from "Bulletproof Wallets" (2001) with a original beat provided by The RZA. Mathematics rhythm is better than that of Bobby Digital, melodic production, midtempo skeletal drum, guitar riff, robust bass, vocal sample: this soundscape is perfect for Tony Starks & Lex Diamond. "King Toast Queen" boasts a beautiful soul sample that breathes freely, then deep bass, elegant piano keys, dusty drum, slow delivery by U-God. Buddah Bless with a similar style in the second stanza. Short interlude, Masta Killa drops a couple of bars, then the joint is closed by former Theodore Unit emcee Solomon Childs, with a slow, hardcore, heavy rapping. The voice of Biggie Smalls opens "Where's Brooklyn @?": over a bouncy hard rhythm invented by the producer, Bad Luck and All Day trade a couple of verses each, before an outro of Allah Real.
Shallah Raekwon gest a solo in "Treez": boom bap production, dirty drum, hypnotizing piano keys, raw bass, dusty strings, velvety delivery by the Staten Island emcee. M-Speed and Drama spits some lines in the next cut, while Streetlife is engaged in the chorus over a bleek beat by Mathematics. Skit, then the author places a remix of a track of his debut "Love, Hell or Right" (2003), his friend Eyes Low goes solo over a soul musical carpet. Killah Priest rips the beat of "U Don't Care", over a soul loop, dirty drum, elegant piano keys, dotted bass, Hot Flames and Buddah Bless are both inferior to the column of Sunz of Man, despite a tight extra-verse by the latter. Some bleek piano keys welcome the performers of "Masked Avengers": the joint is opened by Lord Superb of American Cream Team, inside Squigg Trust (uncredited) with a good rapping style, Shyheim rips the cut before the last verse of Hell Razah, that drops hardcore and completes one of the finest posses of the tape.
Skit, then Bad Luck gets another showcase to shine, in an album that must be remembered is promoted as a record where the Wu-Tang Clan should be. Allah Real sings something in this four minutes. For the choice number thirteen, Allah Mathematics puts a remix of "Wu Banga 101" from Ghostface's "Supreme Clientele" (2000), the original track is produced by Mathematics himself. Where the music of that original is epic, here there's something else, it goes in another direction, not necessarily a good one: over a tortuous and carefree rhythm, co-produced by Method Man, all the rappers involved (GZA, Ghostface, Raekwon, Cappadonna and Masta Killa) kills the cut, ma the final result isn't as dope as you might expect from a remix.
"Da "N" Remix" is a new version of Wu-Tang Clan "The W" (2000), title track of their third album. Mathematics change the original beat realized by Steelz with a sample of Dennis Coffey and The Lyman Woodard Trio's "Hey Jude", cover of the Beatles' song. Phat bass, heavy drum, horns, slick keyboards, inside GZA, RZA, U-God, Chef Raekwon and Method Man. Skit, then M-Speed gets his solo over a sample of Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black". "Non-Equivalent" is credited as a solo track by Wu-affiliate Shyheim, instead there's Lord Superb along with him in the hook, but he's uncredited. The drum is rough and tough, heavy, solid bass, few piano keys, robust production to support the hardcore rapping of the Staten Island MC, which seems to relive his golden age in this tune. Outro. There are a couple of tracks after the outro. The first is a personal remix of Mathematics of Ghostface Killah's "Wise", with a sweet, soul and melancholic production. The last pick of the tape is "Rap Burglars", where the same protagonists of "C.R.E.A.M." spits for three minutes over an hard soundscape provided by Mathematics.
Often mistakenly considered a Wu-Tang album, this effort by Mathematics is released through Nature Sounds, appreciated by critics. Raekwon is the effort's lead performer appearing on five tracks, followed by Ghostface Killah and Buddah Bless with three songs each. With 20 pieces and 71 minutes of play, it's a kind of mixtape with some nice choices and plenty of space for Mathematics' personal friends who make their way among the remixes and rare unreleased tracks from the official Wu-Tang members.
Rating: 6.7/10.
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