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Dreddy Kruger Presents…Think Differently Music: Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture

reviewed by dave heaton

"Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture" is an interesting sub-title, as it makes it sound like the two have never crossed paths before. Truth is, indie-label MCs have been walking in the Wu's footsteps for years, and the Wu MCs generally exude the artistic stubborn-minded-ness characteristic of the word "independent". Think Differently Music is perhaps a misnomer too, as the agenda here seems less like innovation, more like showcasing the wide reach the Wu legacy has had. For while there are some unlikely pairings, the inclusion of Del the Funky Homosapean and J-Live's duet with R.A. the Rugged Man in particular, for the most part this album takes Wu-style production and couples it with MCs's MCs, skilled rough-and-rugged rhymers who fit seamlessly into the Wu fold.

The uninitiated might be surprised to find that only three MCs from the Wu-Tang Clan proper appear on the album. GZA's on two tracks, while RZA and U-God make one appearance each. But Wu-Tang's always been larger than you think, with a seemingly uncountable number of family members. Executive producer Dreddy Kruger has been down with the Wu from the start, and with the help of producers like Bronze Nazareth and Preservation, he gives the album a classic Wu feeling. At this point RZA's disciples sometimes seem as adept at the Wu sound as he is, and they fill the album with stark beats and a soulful, cinematic, involving atmosphere.

GZA and Rass Kass form a mighty pair. After a bluesy intro they open the album up strongly with "Lyrical Swords", setting up the album's agenda: don't waste a minute, make every word and sound count. "Slow Blues" lives up to its title in a fresh way, with Vast Aire fitting especially well with the Wu-style track, and Byata, Timbo King, and Prodigal Sunn all holding their own as well. As the album rolls onward, MC after competent MC arrives, and most of their succeed at making an impression. Casual, Rock Marciano, Vodrul Mega and Tragedy Khadafi might seem like an unlikely foursome, but they hold together tightly on the title track "Think Differently". And while RZA and MF Doom don't quick generate the sparks together that their respective cult-ish fans might expect, they still drop some decently memorable rhymes over a great RZA-produced track. Del the Funky Homosapean sounds a bit awkward on "Fragments", an introspective track that nonetheless sticks out as a bit weak in the album's context. But he and Aesop Rock roll smoothly together on "Preservation", which sports a nice piano roll reminiscent of "The Symphony".

While 19 tracks by a host of artists is bound to contain some cracks…and those will no doubt by different for each listener depending on taste…the album on the whole succeeds at Kruger's mission to make it work as an album, not just a collection of songs. It helps that the whole affair contains such vivid soundscapes in the Wu tradition. Think Differently might not represent a different way of thinking in hip-hop's history, but its level of detail and cohesion do stand out this year, especially for an album containing so many MCs from different backgrounds. It stands as a successful extension of the Wu-Tang legacy, a reminder of the depth and versatility that remains within the basic style introduced by Enter the Wu… so many years ago.

{www.babygrande.com}


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