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Wu-Tang
Clan
Iron Flag
label:
loud records
released: 12.18.01
our score: 3.0 out of 5.0
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Attempting
a comeback in the music industry is never an easy task. In the
urban music genre, which is always riding on the newest trends,
it's basically impossilbe to mount a successfull one. But that's
exactly what the Wu set out to do on their fourth album (minus
countless solo albums), Iron Flag. The
Clan has to overcome the lack of success The W saw, as
well as the challenge of making an album without m.i.a. member
Ol' Dirty Bastard, who's currently serving time in prison.
Right out
of the box, "In The Hood" takes a step back in time
to a more street-oriented WTC, like that found on Wu-Tang Forever.
Stripping back the glitz and glamour, "In The Hood"
aims at getting the Wu back onto the forefront of ghetto hip-hop
making use of gunshot samples, sirens, and a blaring R&B horn
section so familiar to the Wu.
As if "Soul
Power" didn't sound old school enough with classic dj-looped
beat behind a flute sample and freestyle-emulating rhymes by various
members, RZA brings in Flava Flav to lay down the catchy refrain.
"Uzi (Pinky Ring)" has RZA inserting some classic Wu
samples and scratching behind another R&B horn sample.
"Babies"
is the Iron Flag's "Can It All Be So Simple".
Emotional, slowed up tempo, ghetto story, "Babies" fits
the bill. And for everyone still trying to compare the new Wu
to the one that surfaced nine years ago, "Ya'll Been Warned"
and the first half of "Iron Flag" will stand out.
Each member
provides his input as usual on Iron Flag. Raekwon the Chef
is under-utilized however, and Ghostface doesn't make an impressive
appearance. The GZA is lyrically tight as usual, and Inspectah
Deck and U-God once again play the supporting roles and don't
disappoint. Method Man is, well, Method Man, nothing more can
be said about that. The real improvement on Iron Flag,
however, is RZA. He not only more than adequately fills the production
end, he shows refinement in his normally edgy, sketchy rhymes.
While the
Wu-Tang Clan may have experienced varying success over the years
with their solo and group albums, they have never really left
the hip-hop scene. Iron Flag will once again attract attention
to the hip-hop-evolutionary group.
27-Feb-2002
11:30 AM
If you
liked Iron Flag...
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| Tracklist:
1.
In The Hood
2. Rules
3. Chrome Wheels
4. Soul Power (Black Jungle)
5. Uzi (Pinky Ring)
6. One of These Days
7. Ya'll Been Warned
8. Babies
9. Radioactive (Four Assasins)
10. Back In The Game
11. Iron Flag
12. Dashing (Reasons)
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