Rating: 3.5/5 stars
It has been 25 years since “Enter the Wu-Tang” debuted, kicking off the long reign of one of the most charismatic and energetic rap groups to ever grace the planet. The Wu-Tang Clan, comprised of a host of talented MCs such as Method Man, Ol’ Dirty Bastard and RZA, now have an impressive 17 albums under their belts. Their run of great albums ended for the most part at the start of the 21st century, with most of their releases since then feeling like a string of flashy victory laps.
Their most recent cruise across the finish line came with the limited, one-copy release of “Once Upon A Time In Shaolin,” which, unfortunately, was auctioned off for $2 million to infamous hedge fund manager and con-man Martin Shkreli. Consequently, almost all news related to Wu-Tang Clan over the past couple of years has been about how Shkreli has been handling his purchase, teasing hardcore fans over the internet with clips from songs, like when he played the beginning of the first track after Donald Trump won the presidency. Something that had started out as a cool idea when they originally intended for the album to be distributed in 2013 had turned into an unnecessary fiasco.
“The Saga Continues” was the perfect way for them to bounce back – an album that scratched the polished production of their last commercial release, “A Better Tomorrow,” returning back to the classic sound that defined the rap group throughout the ’90s. Much like A Tribe Called Quest’s most recent album, “The Saga Continues” tries to appeal to fans by bringing back everything that made their older work so beloved. Scattered all over the album are mashed-together sound clips from old samurai movies, vintage beats and verses delivered with the same aggression and personality that kept fans listening back when they were at their peak. Rappers tend to mellow out as they age, so naturally, the delivery from the MCs lack a lot of the raw energy that used to make them so compelling. Despite this, the lyrics are still what shine through the most and make up for most of the shortcomings in their delivery.
“I splash bravado / fast cash aficionado,” raps Inspectah Deck on the track “Lesson Learn’d.” “Savage vandal / I’m a legend of tomorrow.” The song makes use of a classic boom-bap beat, featuring one of the catchiest hooks the group has written in years. Redman from Def Squad is featured and does a great job delivering the hook and trading lines with Inspectah Deck.
For the most part, a track will only include one or two of the group’s members, unlike the older days when they would jump between four or five. “If Time Is Money (Fly Navigation)” has one of the most memorable instrumentals on the album and shows Method Man returning to basics. “Rappers stuck in limbo ‘cause they were setting the bar low,” he raps effortlessly. “Hood Go Bang!” is a hilarious gem off the album, a track so idiotic that it manages to really go off.
Beyond being a source of nostalgia for Wu-Tang fans and an opportunity for the group to brush up on what they love to do, “The Saga Continues” does not seem to exist for any other purpose than to just extend the Wu-Tang brand. Did the world really need another Wu-Tang album? It seems they have nothing new to bring to the table and are just stuck celebrating the cultural phenomenon they used to be.
Photo:WuTangClanVEVO via YouTube.com
