Search - The RZA :: Afro Samurai

Joseph M. (RoboticJoe) from TOLEDO, OH
Reviewed on 1/28/2010...

Great producing, what could anyone ask more for? ~ Joe

Best Soundtrack Project RZA Has Ever Done

Michael C. Chan | Midtown Manhattan, NY USA | 02/03/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If the rating system was 1 to 10 (10 being a classic, 1 being trash), the review number I would give is 7.8. The biggest draw is (of course) the RZA produced tracks (except for like two songs), the album strikes me as being part soundtrack and part songs inspired by. The instrumentals for the anime are mixed between the vocal hip-hop tracks. RZA raps on three tracks, one of them being the theme for the show ("Afro Theme"). Other than "Afro Theme", I don't believe that there are any other rap tracks in the actual show. The instrumentals from the anime are alright, they are thankfully short and are diverse. Most of the instrumentals are not so much hip-hop influenced, instead they sound like blaxploitation movie soundtracks or like the Fight Club soundtrack from the Dust Brothers. Also, snippets of dialogue from the cartoon are nicely utilized to stamp the project with the Wu/RZA signature sound. The favorite instrumental of mine is "The Empty 7 Theme". I don't think most of the instrumentals are so experimental that I would consider them replayable like the Fight Club soundtrack is.

The rap tracks are very good. We get to hear Talib Kweli and Q-Tip rap on a RZA track. We get to hear Big Daddy Kane bless a RZA track. Those tracks are awesome, the favorite is "Certified Samurai" feat. Talib, Lil Free(?) & Suga Bang. But we get reminded that even a RZA-produced beat can't rescue a song with a horrible hook, like "Who Is Tha Man" (ft. Rev. William Burk). I'm not a Rev. William Burk fan, in fact I think his lyrics need work. Actually, that is a gripe I have with the album, not enough Wu-Tang representation. I'm not talking affiliates, I want original Wu-members. Only GZA appears (on the track with Big Daddy Kane). However, this is just a RZA project. Which leads me to my next issue.

The CD has 4 bonus tracks from the upcoming Bobby Digital album. I understand that most folks can't get enough RZA, but the tracks are kinda filler. What sucks about them is that none of the tracks have the Bob Digital noise (y'know that chirping he does that sounds like a morse code signal). You will still be able to tell them as being Bobby Digital because of the B-O-B-B-Y chants and the constant reminders of "Bobby", however that noise is critical! I hope that when the next Bobby Digital album really comes out it has at least 20 tracks to make up for these 4 tracks that we have already heard. If you buy J-Love mix CDs you will have already heard "Insomnia", that was like 6 months ago.

So why the low grade of 7.8? It is based on the album as a whole. It is hard not to give the album big props because it is RZA, however the whole album is not made out of great tracks. The tracks that shine really do shine brightly, but the album suffers from inconsistency. The use of the R&B/smooth soul tracks by Stone Mecca (not produced by RZA) bring down the underground attitude of this album (although "Oh" by Stone Mecca tries to emulate a similar vibe). Also some of the instrumentals are orchestral, with an array of strings and percussion, which also brings down the flavor and energy that the beginning of the album has. I find myself skipping through alot of the tracks to get to the really good rap tracks. Thankfully, if you like RZA, like I know you do, you will be happy to hear that he saves his best beats for himself to rhyme on. Regardless of issues such as inconsistency, and the inclusion of Rev. Burk & Division, I will say that this is the best soundtrack project that RZA has ever done. Its closest competition is the Japanese version of the Ghost Dog soundtrack."

RZA Presents: Afro Samurai Soundtrack

Wu-Tang_Assassin | California | 03/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To tell you the truth, I actually had no idea how this album would turn out musically at all. I am really familiar with RZA's different styles of production, but I was eager to see how this would turn out.



The production on this album is what caught my ear the most. If your a Wu-Tang Clan fan, you can hear some of that style integrated into this album, but one thing that shocked me was that there was SO much versatility! You got some bangers like, "Certified Samurai", "Just A Lil Dude", "Cameo Afro" and so on, then you got R&B type tracks like "Oh", "The Walk" and "Baby". Hearing RZA produce these R&B tracks lets you see how good of a producer he actually is. Instead of sticking to one style of production in this album, he approached it from quite a few different angles to keep you listening throughout the album. This album shows RZA's true production talent.



The lyrics are on this album are also great, appearances from quite a few different artists. Most are Wu-Related, but you have some like Big Daddy Kane, Q-Tip, Stone Mecca. But mainly, most appearances are Wu-Affiliated which is of course good!



I definately reccomend this album to RZA fans, Wu-Tang Clan fans and the real hip-hop fan. You shouldn't be dissapointed with this album cause its so versatile!



Check it out!



Peace.



My Top 5 Songs

1.Certified Samurai

2.Just A Lil Dude

3.Cameo Afro

4.Fury In My Eyes

5.Insomnia"