Masta Killa releases solo debut
Evan McGarvey | MICHIGAN DAILY (U. MICHIGAN)
Issue date: 9/10/04 Section: The Edge
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. (U-WIRE) -Being from the Wu-Tang clan is like being a Kennedy - You can't hide from the spotlight. Nine years of hype and myth have masked Masta Killa, the only member of the Wu-Tang clan not to release a solo LP. His one verse on the group's seminal release, "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)," was famously recorded while he was incarcerated and the mysteries surrounding this long-delayed album have spawned a life of their own.
Surprising for a disc of its hype, "No Said Date" comes with spartan packaging and liner notes that hint at the elegance and lack of indulgence on the album. In a brilliant move, there are no photos of Masta Killa in any of the material included.
Vocally, Masta Killa has a gelatinous monotone able to angle its way through the occasionally knotty melodies composed by almost every different member of the Wu-Tang clan. Little production touches - like the chirping birds on "Love Spell" or the crawling horns on "Whatever" - add a translucent level of polish over the expectably crackling sounds. In yet another show of subtle force, the guest appearances from fellow Wu-Tang members are often concise, choosing to defer to Killa's long-delayed moment in the spotlight. Everyone knows this is his show and even Ol' Dirty Bastard doesn't hog the microphone for too long.
Like a true poet, Masta Killa never relies on one device or image to carry him through the album. The gunplay comes across as fittingly dark and effective, while the scenes of urban life sound, look and smell of truth.
In a pack of amazing lyricists, Masta Killa manages to distance himself. The man himself recalls, bangin' on the lunchroom table, I used to spectate / And watch some of the M.C. greats. "With No Said Date," Masta Killa needn't worry about his or Wu-Tang's place in history. Greatness may not wait, but it does return.
Surprising for a disc of its hype, "No Said Date" comes with spartan packaging and liner notes that hint at the elegance and lack of indulgence on the album. In a brilliant move, there are no photos of Masta Killa in any of the material included.
Vocally, Masta Killa has a gelatinous monotone able to angle its way through the occasionally knotty melodies composed by almost every different member of the Wu-Tang clan. Little production touches - like the chirping birds on "Love Spell" or the crawling horns on "Whatever" - add a translucent level of polish over the expectably crackling sounds. In yet another show of subtle force, the guest appearances from fellow Wu-Tang members are often concise, choosing to defer to Killa's long-delayed moment in the spotlight. Everyone knows this is his show and even Ol' Dirty Bastard doesn't hog the microphone for too long.
Like a true poet, Masta Killa never relies on one device or image to carry him through the album. The gunplay comes across as fittingly dark and effective, while the scenes of urban life sound, look and smell of truth.
In a pack of amazing lyricists, Masta Killa manages to distance himself. The man himself recalls, bangin' on the lunchroom table, I used to spectate / And watch some of the M.C. greats. "With No Said Date," Masta Killa needn't worry about his or Wu-Tang's place in history. Greatness may not wait, but it does return.