I Fell In Love With The Dance Floor

Masta Killa w/ RZA “School” – Masta Killa has always been the most underestimated and least popular member of the Wu-Tang Clan, largely due to the incredible skill and charisma of his partners, but also because the guy hasn’t put out a solo record until now, ten years after Enter The 36 Chambers. Masta Killa is barely on that album (his only verse is on “Da Mystery of Chessboxin'”), and aside from a few strong verses on Wu-Tang Forever, he didn’t really come into his own as an MC until rather late in the game, on 2000’s extremely underrated The W.

Even still, Masta Killa is a hard sell compared to the rest of the Clan – his deliverary is sleepy, cold and aloof, and his verses often have peculiar meters and/or avoid perfect rhymes. He best suits the most bleak and grimey Wu music, which is largely what is on offer on his debut solo record, No Said Date. RZA’s track on “School” starts off sparse and dark like an outtake from his 94-96 ‘classic’ period, but soon shifts into a faster, bass-driven beat when his verse comes in. It’s nice to hear Masta Killa rapping at a quicker pace for once, especially in the context of the album, which is occasionally a bit too languorous for its own good. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)

My Computer “Vulnerabilia” – This is a very odd song, mixing the lush aesthetics of adult contemporary pop with harsh vocoder, layers of electronic textures and lead vocals which wouldn’t sound out of place in modern musical theatre. It’s a great, melancholy bit of pop music which hints at an electro-MOR direction which would probably suit the likes of Clay Aiken rather well. No, really. It’s not too late for Clay to become Green Gartside! (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)