By Malice Intended

Master Killa Presents: The Next chamber is collection of rarities and highlights from various Wu-affiliated projects released over the past decade, the common thread being that Masta Killa appears on all of them.  They are presented here as a primer for Masta Killa’s upcoming LP Loyalty Is Royalty. 

“Just A Thought” has Masta Killa and GZA tag teaming over barren drums and haunting keys that sound lifted from an old, weathered cassette tape that has been ravaged by heat damage.  It will instantly conjure images of listening to a recording of your favorite mix show without the benefit of a noise reduction button.  While it doesn’t belong on an actual album, it perfectly suits the “rough and rugged” aesthetic that The Wu was associated with throughout the 1990’s.  It is also where a lyrical surgeon like the GZA seems to feel most at home.

“Money Comes First” features an appearance by The RZA.  The track emanates an aura of melodramatic immediacy with violins that resemble the sort of stock musical cues from old Shaw Brothers Kung-Fu classics. “Chains,” constructed atop a sped up reggae sample, feels like a walk through the West Indian neighborhoods of Brooklyn.  It originally appeared on RA the Rugged Man’s album Die, Rugged Man, Die. Killah Priest drops in for one of his trademark somber yet sobering verses filled with pseudo black consciousness and random introspection.

The musical backing of “Brain” consists of nothing more than choral refrains of the word “brain” accompanied by horns that are very similar to certain portions of Paul Dukas’s piece “The Sorcerers Apprentice”.  It’s rather silly sounding and feels suited for some sort of bizarre children’s musical.  A bouncy yet muscular bassline characterizes “Armored truck.”  It completely overpowers the drums, leaving craterous footprints on the track.  Guest Timbo King exudes an easy confidence.

Vintage Wu flavor is in effect on “Always NY,” from Mathematics 2003 album Love, Hell or Right.  serves as a good reminder of what this collective is capable of when freed from the constraints of traditional song construction.  The mechanical, head nodding stomp of the drums makes for perfect mass transit music.  An ever so tiny bit of Curtis Mayfield’s “Think (Instrumental)” from the Superfly soundtrack is used to optimum effect.  U-God offers uncharacteristically coherent verse.

“Black Mamba” is a rather obscure offering from the Kill Bill Volume 2 soundtrack.  The sonically unappealing track is does not merit inclusion on any collection of wu-tang rarities, let alone one that it meant to whet the palette for an upcoming release.

No Wu-Tang related project would be complete without a song detailing the execution of an extremely profitable jux.  “Noodles (Part 2)” is competent but overly sedate crime caper that ultimately succumbs to its minimalist approach.  Masta Killa is in story telling mode here, unable to rely on random wordplay or slang to hold the listeners attention.

“The PJ’s”, originally included on Pete Rock’s 2008 compilation New York’s Finest, shows how the chocolate boy wonder is effortlessly able to accommodate the sensibilities of any collaborator while subtly prodding them to stretch themselves.  Using portions of Dave Matthews dreamily serene “Dune, Part II: Sandworms”, Pete is able to infuse a cat burglar type mood to Raekwon’s trademark criminality.

Presenting a collection of songs where Masta Killa is included as a guest or a featured artist has the unintended effect of making him seem like a second tier member of the clan.  Appearances of fellow clansmen and extended family members should be an incentive to purchase Wu-Tang solo project, not the sole reason for its existence.

Masta Killa Presents: The Next Chamber will be an adequate trip down memory lane for Wu-Tang completists who kept track of the clans development throughout the 2000’s.  Taken simply as an appetizer for Loyalty is Royalty, it’s underwhelming.  A more extensive preview of the upcoming release would have balanced things out considerably and ultimately proved much more satisfying.
2.75 Out of 5

Follow Us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/planetill

Follow Malice Intended on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/Renaissance1977

Join Us on the Planet Ill Facebook Group for more discussion

Follow us on Networked Blogs