If GZA were Bruce Springsteen, he would be firmly in the post-Human Touch period of his career. Though like the Boss he is no longer much of a commercial force, he doesn’t spend his time brooding about it, and instead sticks to his passions and his principles. (Notice that he was one of the few Wu-Tang Clan members who didn’t criticize RZA’s commercially unfriendly production on last year’s group flop 8 Diagrams.)
More
- Beyond the Weekly
- Gza on MySpace
- Gza on Billboard.com
In any case, on Pro Tools, GZA’s first solo album since 2002’s underrated Legend of the Liquid Sword, he picks solid, never gimmicky beats that complement his flow well. It rarely feels like he’s straining, and there are minimal overdubs on his verses. “One-hit wonders/Get low shine like flashlights/But when I drop a bomb/It explodes like gas pipes,” he raps on “Alphabets,” an example of his efficient—if not always mind-melting—rhymes.
The album’s one attempt to stir the pot is the 50 Cent-baiting “Paper Plate,” in which he disses 50’s GQ cover: “Only missing the blouse/Homie you see through.” Unfortunately, it’s a rare moment of intrigue on an album that is otherwise a bit dry.
The bottom line: ***
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