Get To Know H.E.R.

The newest effort from the GZA comes three years after his DJ Muggs collabo, Grandmasters, and worries me to death. Why you ask? Well, even though the GZA released a motherfucking undeniable classic with his sophomore album Liquid Swords (yes, sophomore…don’t forget that gawd awful Words From The Genius album), his subsequent efforts have been just meh. Well, Grandmasters was pretty good actually, but it was an entire album with no Wu production on it whatsoever. And as if the GZA’s track record isn’t enough to have me worried, there’s the issue of that 50 Cent diss track he released a month ago that’s on this album. The track itself was alright, even if it could’ve been better, but the real problem is that now he has to back that track up some actual quality shit. Or else he’ll look washed up and old and be the next target of stupid ass Soulja Boy youtube clips. I don’t want to see that shit happen in my lifetime.

Before I start the actual review though, I have to say. That front artwork is gangsta as fuck! Alright that’s all.

The Good:

1. Intromental - As it’s name says it’s just an intro in the form of an instrumental, but I like it. Maybe it’s because there’s no actual words on it besides the occasional “GZA,” but it stays true to what it is and manages to seam to the next track.

2. Pencil (ft Masta Killa and RZA) - This is a pretty great track. All three emcees do their shit right on it and oddly, the beat sounds pretty nice when rhymes are being spit over it, even though it sounds close to ass when it’s playing just by itself. I guess that’s just a compliment to the rapping done on this. On a side note, Masta Killa is all over the Wu lately, I’m really growing to like this guy.

4. Groundbreaking (ft Justice) - The track’s alright, even though I think the second verse is pretty damn annoying. There’s an attempted Madlib/Quasimoto style rhyming going on and it just didn’t do it for me.

5. 7 Pounds - The first couple of seconds of the song made me think that they sampled the same song Lupe did for Daydreams and I started to get worried (not a huge fan of beatjacking in any form). But then the actual Black Milk production hits and it sounds nice.

6. 0% Finance - The menacing guitar driven beat fits GZA’s flow perfectly on this. Even if the beat gets repetetive as hell after a while, it’s a great track.

7. Short Race

10. Columbian Ties - I’m not sure it was the greatest idea to sequence the words “what goes around comes around” right after a diss track, but whatever. The track itself is pretty dope so all is forgiven.

12. Path Of Destruction

13. Cinema (ft Justice) - Everything about this track from the ominous beat, to the GZA’s subdued flow, to the whispered hook is downright creepy (which is what they were going for I’m sure). This track is gonna be the shit that plays in my nightmares.

15. Life Is A Movie (ft RZA, and Khan-Acito) - The second RZA produced track on this album is clearly the better of the two. It makes for a nice strong ending.

The Solid:

3. Alphabets

8. Interlude

9. Paper Plate - I can honestly say that while this track does its job, it’s pretty disappointing. The beat is a sick, creepy beat, but it’s ill suited for a diss track in my humble opinion, and the GZA’s flow sounds weak as hell on it even though his lyrics are for the most part on point. Could’ve been a LOT better.

11. Firehouse (ft Ka) - This Ka guy sucks. It took me a good 20 seconds into his verse before I realized he was actually rapping and not just talking out an intro of some sort. GZA manages to save this track from being horrible though.

14. Intermission

The Bad:

Well, all in all, I must say, I am surprised in the best way possible. It’s been a while since I’ve thought to myself, “damn that new GZA joint is sick,” and it’s a damn welcome feeling. Even though I am disappointed at the lack of Mos Def on this album (he was rumored to be on this), I can’t lie, I like this a lot. It’s a great album and I hope ya’ll don’t sleep on the GZA.

On a side note, I’m gonna be on a week long trip, so during that time, there will be no updates. See you guys when I get back to finish the Tribe discog and to review Vordul Mega and Ice Cube’s new albums.