8 Diagrams

Infobox Album
Name = 8 Diagrams
Type = studio
Artist = Wu-Tang Clan


Released = December 11 2007 (U.S.)
Recorded = 2007
Genre = East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop, hip hop
Length= 71:05
Label = SRC/Universal Motown Records
175 342
Producer = The RZA (exec.)
Easy Mo Bee
George Drakoulias
Mathematics
Reviews = *About.com rating|4|5 [http://rap.about.com/od/2007albums/fr/WuTang8Diagrams.htm link]
*Allmusic rating|4|5 [http://wm08.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kvfwxzuhld0e link]
*"Blender" rating|4|5 [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=4896 link]
*"The New York Times" (mixed) [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/arts/music/10choi.html?pagewanted=2&ref=music link]
*Pitchfork Media (8/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/47534-8-diagrams link]
*PopMatters (8/10) [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/51840/wu-tang-clan-8-diagrams/ link]
*RapReviews.com (8/10) [http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2007_12F_8diagrams.html link]
*"Rolling Stone" rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/17395643/review/17437159/the_8_diagrams link]
Last album = "Iron Flag" (2001)
This album = "8 Diagrams" (2007)
Next album =

"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. [ [http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/102207/ Mixtape Monday: Nas Talks About 'Crazy Joint' With Jay-Z; Wu-Tang Delay LP For Ghostface's Sake | MTV NEWS ] ]

Background

The album's title is derived from the Kung Fu film "Eight-Diagram Pole Fighter". [ [http://www.freshhiphopnews.com/8-diagrams-wu-tang-clan-new-album/ "Wu-Tang Clan close to releasing new album “Eight Diagrams”"] , hiphopnews.com.] 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. [cite web|last = Montgomery|first = James|authorlink = MTV News|coauthors = Aswad, Jem; Roberts, Steven|title = Wu-Tang Clan's First-Ever Cleared Beatles Sample Claim Is Incorrect|work =|publisher = MTV News|date = 2007-10-03|url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571114/20071003/wu_tang_clan.jhtml|accessdate = 2007-10-14]

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". [ [http://www.loud.com/news/article_55/ » Loud.com ] ]

Collaborations

"8 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. [ [http://www.nme.com/news/wu-tang-clan/29033 Wu Tang Clan reveal new album plans] .www.nme.com.] 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.Cohen, Jonathan. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003609463 Wu-Tang Clan 'Unique' As Ever on 'The 8 Diagrams'] . "Billboard.com" (2007-July 10). Retrieved on July 10, 2007.]

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...'"Fact|date= September 2008

The back of the pre-album mixtape states that the album will feature "the entire Wu-Tang Clan (including Cappadonna and Streetlife)".Fact|date= September 2008

ingles

In 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. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfjqZC5iTU8 YouTube - RZA talks to Kotori on the Beatles' "My Guitar Gently Weeps" ] ]

Artistic disagreements

Unlike 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". [http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=16812 Ghost Disses The Wu Album] [http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=16052 Raekwon Opens up About Wu-Tang’s Internal Conflicts] [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1575174/20071127/wu_tang_clan.jhtml?rsspartner=rssFeedBurner RZA Insists Infighting 'Evaporates' When Crew Is Together] 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. [ [http://www.missinfo.tv/?p=391 MissInfo.tv BLOG » Miss Info Exclusive: Raekwon reveals the turmoil within the Wu-Tang Clan ] ]

Reception

The first official review of the complete album was posted on "Hip-Hop Connection" magazine's website on November 19th. [ [http://www.hhcmagazine.com/blog/?p=203 THE HHC NEWS BLOG » Blog Archive » Wu-Tang ‘8 Diagram’ Review ] ] "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. [Citation|last = Serpick|first = Evan|title = Downloads - "Watch Your Mouth"|newspaper = Rolling Stone|pages = p. 82|issue = 1036|date = October 4, 2007] Serpick gave the song 4 out of 5 stars. "Rolling Stone" also praised "The Heart Gently Weeps". [Citation|last = Hoard|first = Christian|title = Downloads - "The Heart Gently Weeps"|newspaper = Rolling Stone|pages = p. 88|issue = 1038|date = November 1, 2007]

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."

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." [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kvfwxzuhld0e~T1]

Track listing

"All tracks produced by RZA, unless otherwise noted."
#"Campfire"
#*Verse 1: Method Man
#*Verse 2: Ghostface Killah
#*Verse 3: Cappadonna
#*Contains samples from "Gypsy Woman" by Curtis Mayfield, and from the film "Shaolin vs Wu-Tang"
#"Take It Back"
#*Verse 1: Raekwon
#*Verse 2: Inspectah Deck
#*Verse 3: Ghostface Killah
#*Verse 4: U-God
#*Chorus: Method Man & U-God
#*Produced by Easy Mo Bee & RZA
#*Contains samples from "Nautilus" by Bob James & "This That and The Third" By Ilacoin
#"Get Them Out Ya Way Pa"
#*Verse 1: Method Man
#*Verse 2: U-God
#*Verse 3: Masta Killa
#*Chorus: Ghostface Killah & Raekwon
#"Rushing Elephants"
#*Verse 1: Raekwon
#*Verse 2: GZA
#*Verse 3: RZA
#*Verse 4: Masta Killa
#"Unpredictable"
#*Verse 1: Inspectah Deck
#*Verse 2: RZA
#*Chorus: RZA & Dexter Wiggles
#*Contains samples from "Wailing Wail" by Nicholas Flagello
#"The Heart Gently Weeps"
#*Verse 1: Raekwon
#*Verse 2: Ghostface Killah
#*Verse 3: Method Man
#*Chorus: Erykah Badu
#*Produced by RZA & George Drakoulias
#*Lead guitar: John Frusciante
#*Rhythm guitar and percussion: Dhani Harrison
#*Contains samples from "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by Jimmy Ponder
#"Wolves"
#*Verse 1: U-God
#*Verse 2: Method Man
#*Verse 3: Masta Killa
#*Chorus: George Clinton
#"Gun Will Go"
#*Verse 1: Raekwon
#*Verse 2: Method Man
#*Verse 3: Masta Killa
#*Chorus: Sunny Valentine
#"Sunlight"
#*RZA solo
#"Stick Me for My Riches"
#*Verse 1: Method Man
#*Verse 2: Inspectah Deck
#*Verse 3: RZA
#*Verse 4: GZA
#*Chorus: Gerald Alston
#*Produced by Mathematics & RZA
#"Starter"
#*Verse 1: Streetlife
#*Verse 2: GZA
#*Verse 3: Inspectah Deck
#*Verse 4: U-God
#*Chorus: Sunny Valentine & Tash Mahogany
#"Windmill"
#*Verse 1: Raekwon
#*Verse 2: GZA
#*Verse 3: Masta Killa
#*Verse 4: Inspectah Deck
#*Verse 5: Method Man
#*Verse 6: Cappadonna
#*Contains samples from "Bang Bang" by Nancy Sinatra
#"Weak Spot"
#*Verse 1: RZA
#*Verse 2: Raekwon
#*Verse 3: GZA
#*Produced by RZA & George Drakoulias
#"Life Changes"
#*Verse 1: Method Man
#*Verse 2: Raekwon
#*Verse 3: GZA
#*Verse 4: Masta Killa
#*Verse 5: Inspectah Deck
#*Verse 6: U-God
#*Verse 7: RZA
#*Contains samples from "The Road We Didn't Take" and from "Easiest Way to Fall" by Freda Payne
#"Tar Pit"
#*Verse 1: U-God
#*Verse 2: Cappadonna
#*Verse 3: Streetlife
#*Chorus: George Clinton
#"16th Chamber (ODB Special)"
#*Verse 1: Method Man
#*Verse 2: Ol' Dirty Bastard

Charting

References