Some people thought it would never happen (myself included); another Wu-Tang album. As their solo careers have pulled them each in different directions, it has seemed less and less likely that we’d ever see them form like Voltron ever again. But as we’ve reported, they’re taking it back to the beginning with Steve Rifkind.
Rifkind, founder of Loud Records, helped launch the legendary group in 1993 with their classic debut. Now he looks make waves with them 14 years later with his new label SRC/Universal. “This is the perfect time for us to come back, the stars are aligned,” stated RZA. “It’s like when we first
started with Steve. We put out real hip-hop at a time when it was
turning into pop or R&B. We brought the focus back to the music in
its rawest form, without studio polish or radio hooks.”
“The energy is just like it was, and it’s needed in our industry
same as back then,” adds Rifkind. “Over the
last few years, the group has developed a whole new fan base from the
new generation of hip hop fans that never even seen them play.”
Album number 5, and their first since 2001’s disappointing Iron Flag, will be called 8 Diagrams. To no surprise, the title is a Kung Fu reference.
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There will be an Ol’ Dirty verse on the album, but a single verse from the late maniac emcee surely isn’t going to fill the void that he has left. The album is slated for a summer ’07 release, and word is that the album is about half recorded at this point.
“People want something that gives them an adrenaline rush, we’re here to supply that fix. How could hip-hop be dead if Wu-Tang is
forever?” RZA asks. In the meantime, look out for the Afro Samurai OST on Koch, produced entirely by The RZA, it drops January 30th.
