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8 Diagrams is the fifth studio album by New York hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released through Street Records Corporation on December 11, 2007.
[edit] BackgroundThe album's title is derived from the Kung Fu film Eight-Diagram Pole Fighter.[1] The Clan, which has not released an album since 2001's Iron Flag, signed a one-album deal with Steve Rifkind's SRC Records in December 2006. The group's four previous albums were all released on Rifkind's now-defunct Loud Records. On Sunday, August 5, 2007, at the Virgin Festival in Baltimore, RZA announced that the new release date for the album would be November 13, 2007, noting that this is the third anniversary of the death of Ol' Dirty Bastard. However, the date was pushed back to December 11, 2007.[2] In a released statement, group leader RZA commented on the need for the Clan's return:
At the public premiere of Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang in New York, Cappadonna revealed that the Clan had recorded between 40 and 50 songs for the record, of which around fourteen would make up the album. Prior to the album's release, Loud.com issued a free 8 Diagrams mixtape containing exclusive and unreleased tracks, including "Thug World", "Life Changes", "Stick Me for My Riches" and "Weak Spot".[4] [edit] Music[edit] Collaborations8 Diagrams featured all eight current members, with previously recorded material from Ol' Dirty Bastard, the ninth member included, as well as a tribute track titled "Life Changes." Auxiliary members Cappadonna and Streetlife also appear. In an article from Nme.com, it was stated that the album would feature production from Easy Mo Bee, Marley Marl, Q-Tip, DJ Scratch and Nile Rodgers.[5] George Clinton, of P-Funk; Dhani Harrison; John Frusciante; and Shavo Odadjian, bassist of System of a Down are also on the album as well.[6] This is the Wu's first collaboration since the passing of original member Ol' Dirty Bastard, who died in 2004. "We still miss him every day," GZA added. "It's like you lost an arm or a leg; you feel incomplete. You can still walk or do other things, but you're limited to a certain degree." With the RZA adding, "He was a very special person, like a very rare diamond. You know, it's like you wake up one day and they're saying, 'There are no diamonds in the world anymore, just cubic zirconia...'"[citation needed] The back of the pre-album mixtape states that the album will feature "the entire Wu-Tang Clan (including Cappadonna and Streetlife)".[citation needed] [edit] Artistic disagreementsUnlike the previous albums, which used the "darker, sinister, and street-oriented, signature Wu sound", RZA utilized a more experimental, orchestral, and more universal choice of music production for the album. Ghostface Killah and Raekwon have stated in interviews that they weren't comfortable with the album's release as it didn't contain the signature "Wu-Tang sound".[7][8][9] Raekwon has also stated in an interview with Miss Info that he and the rest of the Clan will follow up with another album entitled "Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang" without input from RZA.[10] [edit] SinglesIn a BBC 1Xtra interview, Method Man stated that the first single would be called "Watch Your Mouth" and that it is produced by DJ Scratch. However, sample clearance issues were rumored and "Watch Your Mouth" was not included in the final release of the album. Instead, the first official single was "The Heart Gently Weeps", an adaptation of The Beatles song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". George Harrison's son Dhani Harrison and John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers were involved in making the song. Originally thought to be a sampled track, it was later revealed as an interpolated version, sampling Jimmy Ponder's cover of the song. The song features Raekwon, Ghostface, and Method Man rapping and guest singing provided by Erykah Badu. The RZA also confirmed that Stone Mecca, one of the newer Wu-Tang-affiliated groups, contributed backing music to the track.[11] [edit] ReceptionThe first official review of the complete album was posted on Hip-Hop Connection magazine's website on November 19th.[12] "Watch Your Mouth" was praised by Evan Serpick of Rolling Stone magazine, calling the song a relief from the "simplified ringtone rap" that he claimed was dominant of the hip-hop industry while Wu-Tang Clan was inactive from 2001 to 2007. Serpick also highlighted the lyrical parts of U-God and RZA.[13] Serpick gave the song 4 out of 5 stars. Rolling Stone also praised "The Heart Gently Weeps".[14] Allhiphop.com gave the album a 7/10, claiming that while the album is "arguably RZA's most diverse group of beats," the "lack of cohesiveness found throughout the album bolster and prove some of the members' claims of friction." Similarly, About.com's Ivan Rott noted that 8 Diagrams proved to be "like no other Wu-Tang album to date."[15] Marisa Brown of Allmusic.com stated, "8 Diagrams is certainly not perfect. There is far too much singing, particularly in the second half of the album, where things slow down considerably, which helps substantiate the criticism that's surrounded it: that it's too pretty, too soft. This is indeed a record that will be debated for a while and one of the few about which pretty much everyone will be right, whether they love it or hate it. It is a departure from previous releases and it does focus on melody and guitars and strings, but it is also lush and well-crafted and smart and addictive."[16] [edit] Track listingAll tracks produced by RZA, unless otherwise noted.
[edit] Chart history
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