manu/mldr-zoomed-100char-total-queries-documents

chunk_id stringlengths 3 9	chunk stringlengths 1 100
46_8	Background
46_9	8 Diagrams marked the group's first full collaboration since the death of original member Ol' Dirty
46_10	Bastard, who had died in 2004. The album's title is derived from the martial arts film The Eight
46_11	Diagram Pole Fighter. The group, which had not released an album since 2001's Iron Flag, signed a
46_12	one-album deal with Steve Rifkind's SRC Records in December 2006. Wu-Tang's four previous albums
46_13	were all released on Rifkind's now-defunct Loud Records.
46_14	On Sunday, August 5, 2007, at the Virgin Festival in Baltimore, RZA announced that the release date
46_15	for the album would be November 13, 2007, noting that this is the third anniversary of the death of
46_16	Ol' Dirty Bastard. However, the date was delayed to December 11, 2007.
46_17	In a released statement, group leader RZA commented on the need for the group's return, stating
46_18	"This is the perfect time for us to come back; the stars are aligned. It's like when we first
46_19	started with Steve. We put out real hip-hop at a time when it was turning into pop or R&B. We
46_20	brought the focus back to the music in its rawest form, without studio polish or radio hooks....
46_21	People want something that gives them an adrenaline rush. We're here to supply that fix. How could
46_22	hip-hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever? We're here to revive the spirit and the economics and bring
46_23	in a wave of energy that has lately dissipated".
46_24	At the public premiere of Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang in New York City, Cappadonna revealed that
46_25	Wu-Tang had recorded between 40 and 50 songs for the record, of which around fourteen would make up
46_26	8 Diagrams. Prior to the album's release, Loud.com issued a free 8 Diagrams mixtape containing
46_27	exclusive and unreleased tracks, including "Thug World", "Life Changes", "Stick Me for My Riches",
46_28	and "Weak Spot".
46_29	In 2019, RZA revealed that 8 Diagrams was originally going to be the group's final album. Music
46_30	Collaborations
46_31	8 Diagrams featured the eight living original Wu-Tang Clan members, with previously recorded
46_32	material from Ol' Dirty Bastard, as well as a tribute track titled "Life Changes." The album marked
46_33	the official inclusion of long time Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Cappadonna as an official member.
46_34	Auxiliary member Streetlife also appears on the album.
46_35	In an article from NME, it was stated that the album would feature production from Easy Mo Bee,
46_36	Marley Marl, Q-Tip, DJ Scratch and Nile Rodgers, though Easy Mo Bee would end up being the only
46_37	producer on the list to make it on the album. George Clinton of P-Funk, Dhani Harrison, John
46_38	Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Shavo Odadjian, bassist of System of a Down also make
46_39	appearances on 8 Diagrams.
46_40	Artistic disagreements
46_41	Unlike Wu-Tang's previous albums, which used the "darker, sinister, and street-oriented, signature
46_42	Wu sound", RZA utilized a more experimental, orchestral, and more universal choice of music
46_43	production for the album.
46_44	Ghostface Killah and Raekwon stated in interviews that they were not comfortable with the album's
46_45	release as it did not contain the signature "Wu-Tang sound". Raekwon planned
46_46	a follow-up group album entitled "Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang" without input from RZA. It was later
46_47	announced in Vibe magazine, however, that Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang would be Raekwon's fifth solo album,
46_48	and that it would feature guest appearances from several other group members, with no contributions
46_49	from RZA. In regards to the album's direction, Raekwon stated "RZA doesn't have to be on every
46_50	album. I wanted to give some other producers a chance. It's not about beef. We can stand on our
46_51	own."
46_52	Singles
46_53	In a BBC Radio 1Xtra interview, Method Man stated that "Watch Your Mouth" would be the album's
46_54	first single. However, it was rumored that the song's producer DJ Scratch was unable to get a
46_55	sample clearance, which resulted in its omission on the final release of the album.
46_56	Instead, the first official single was "The Heart Gently Weeps", an adaptation of the Beatles song
46_57	"While My Guitar Gently Weeps". George Harrison's son Dhani Harrison and John Frusciante of Red Hot
46_58	Chili Peppers performed acoustic and lead and guitars respectively. Originally thought to be a
46_59	sampled track, it was later revealed as an interpolated version, sampling Jimmy Ponder's cover of
46_60	the song. The song features Raekwon, Ghostface, and Method Man rapping and guest singing provided
46_61	by Erykah Badu. RZA also confirmed that Stone Mecca, one of the newer Wu-Tang-affiliated groups,
46_62	contributed backing music to the track.
46_63	Critical reception
46_64	Upon its release, 8 Diagrams received generally positive reviews from most music critics. At
46_65	Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the
46_66	album received an average score of 73, based on 33 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable
46_67	reviews". USA Todays Steve Jones commended the group members' performances despite the absence of
46_68	Ol’ Dirty Bastard, stating "the lyrical swords wielded by the nine surviving members are as
46_69	razor-sharp as ever". Rolling Stone writer Christian Hoard called it "a terrific mix of classic
46_70	Clan grime and enough new tricks to justify Inspectah Deck's claim that 'Wu-Tang keep it fresh like
46_71	Tupperware.'". Marisa Brown of Allmusic praised RZA's production, writing that "It's beautifully,
46_72	impeccably produced, from the soundtrack strings and horns, to the philosophical samples and
46_73	guitars that are interspersed throughout ... it deepens and grows with every listen." Brown wrote
46_74	that the album "does focus on melody and guitars and strings, but it is also lush and well-crafted
46_75	and smart and addictive. Part of what's made RZA and the rest of the Clan thrive is their
46_76	unpredictability and inventiveness, and so to create something expected would be counterintuitive
46_77	to the group's ethos, and to what's made them so revered and respected across nations and genres
46_78	and generations."
46_79	However, Entertainment Weeklys Neil Drumming commented that the album is "... a drab dilution of
46_80	the Wu's signature sample-heavy, raucous sound." Thomas Golianopolous of Spin viewed that "The
46_81	beats are mostly to blame [...] skeletal, low-key tracks that rarely match the rappers' palpable
46_82	energy". Giving the album 2 out of 4 stars, Los Angeles Times called its arrangements "largely
46_83	tepid" and wrote that several songs lack the rappers' "distinctive personalities". Slant Magazine's
46_84	Dave Hughes wrote that the album "fails to cohere into anything greater than the sum of its parts"
46_85	and expressed a mixed response towards RZA's production, stating "when RZA isn't attempting to
46_86	tone-deafly integrate other people's old sounds into his old sounds, he just sticks with his old
46_87	sounds". Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times criticized the album's production as well, but
46_88	complimented the performances of Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, stating that they "provide many of
46_89	the album’s highlights."
46_90	Dave Heaton of PopMatters wrote "Critics often use the word 'cinematic' to describe the Wu-Tang
46_91	sound. That word has never been more appropriate than with 8 Diagrams. RZA taps into his Ghost Dog
46_92	and Kill Bill experiences to create imaginary film music, moody would-be scores to Westerns,
46_93	martial arts, sci-fi and gangster films." Blenders Jonah Weiner commended RZA's production as well,
46_94	stating "RZA has always been hip-hop’s reigning minimalist, but his work scoring Kill Bill, most
46_95	recently, seems to have strengthened his ear for ambiance and texture." Weiner also complimented
46_96	Method Man's delivery and rhymes on the album, stating that he sounds "rejuvenated." Pitchfork
46_97	Media's Nate Patrin complimented the group members' lyricism. Sam Richards of Uncut gave 8 Diagrams
46_98	4 out of 5 stars, and stated "RZA’s lurching beats and raw, spectral productions, peppered with
46_99	kung-fu film samples, are back to their thrillingly weird best. RZA’s dictatorial rule has
46_100	ostracised Ghost and Raekwon, but you can’t argue with the results. On record at least, Wu-Tang
46_101	have made the comeback of the decade."
46_102	Track listing
46_103	Notes signifies a co-producer.
46_104	"Unpredictable" contains additional vocals by Dexter Wiggle and bass guitars by Shavo Odadjian.
46_105	"The Heart Gently Weeps" contains lead guitars by John Frusciante and rhythm guitar and percussion
46_106	by Dhani Harrison.
46_107	"Gun Will Go" contains additional vocals by Sunny Valentine.

46_8

Background

46_9

8 Diagrams marked the group's first full collaboration since the death of original member Ol' Dirty

46_10

Bastard, who had died in 2004. The album's title is derived from the martial arts film The Eight

46_11

Diagram Pole Fighter. The group, which had not released an album since 2001's Iron Flag, signed a

46_12

one-album deal with Steve Rifkind's SRC Records in December 2006. Wu-Tang's four previous albums

46_13

were all released on Rifkind's now-defunct Loud Records.

46_14

On Sunday, August 5, 2007, at the Virgin Festival in Baltimore, RZA announced that the release date

46_15

for the album would be November 13, 2007, noting that this is the third anniversary of the death of

46_16

Ol' Dirty Bastard. However, the date was delayed to December 11, 2007.

46_17

In a released statement, group leader RZA commented on the need for the group's return, stating

46_18

"This is the perfect time for us to come back; the stars are aligned. It's like when we first

46_19

started with Steve. We put out real hip-hop at a time when it was turning into pop or R&B. We

46_20

brought the focus back to the music in its rawest form, without studio polish or radio hooks....

46_21

People want something that gives them an adrenaline rush. We're here to supply that fix. How could

46_22

hip-hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever? We're here to revive the spirit and the economics and bring

46_23

in a wave of energy that has lately dissipated".

46_24

At the public premiere of Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang in New York City, Cappadonna revealed that

46_25

Wu-Tang had recorded between 40 and 50 songs for the record, of which around fourteen would make up

46_26

8 Diagrams. Prior to the album's release, Loud.com issued a free 8 Diagrams mixtape containing

46_27

exclusive and unreleased tracks, including "Thug World", "Life Changes", "Stick Me for My Riches",

46_28

and "Weak Spot".

46_29

In 2019, RZA revealed that 8 Diagrams was originally going to be the group's final album. Music

46_30

Collaborations

46_31

8 Diagrams featured the eight living original Wu-Tang Clan members, with previously recorded

46_32

material from Ol' Dirty Bastard, as well as a tribute track titled "Life Changes." The album marked

46_33

the official inclusion of long time Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Cappadonna as an official member.

46_34

Auxiliary member Streetlife also appears on the album.

46_35

In an article from NME, it was stated that the album would feature production from Easy Mo Bee,

46_36

Marley Marl, Q-Tip, DJ Scratch and Nile Rodgers, though Easy Mo Bee would end up being the only

46_37

producer on the list to make it on the album. George Clinton of P-Funk, Dhani Harrison, John

46_38

Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Shavo Odadjian, bassist of System of a Down also make

46_39

appearances on 8 Diagrams.

46_40

Artistic disagreements

46_41

Unlike Wu-Tang's previous albums, which used the "darker, sinister, and street-oriented, signature

46_42

Wu sound", RZA utilized a more experimental, orchestral, and more universal choice of music

46_43

production for the album.

46_44

Ghostface Killah and Raekwon stated in interviews that they were not comfortable with the album's

46_45

release as it did not contain the signature "Wu-Tang sound". Raekwon planned

46_46

a follow-up group album entitled "Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang" without input from RZA. It was later

46_47

announced in Vibe magazine, however, that Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang would be Raekwon's fifth solo album,

46_48

and that it would feature guest appearances from several other group members, with no contributions

46_49

from RZA. In regards to the album's direction, Raekwon stated "RZA doesn't have to be on every

46_50

album. I wanted to give some other producers a chance. It's not about beef. We can stand on our

46_51

own."

46_52

Singles

46_53

In a BBC Radio 1Xtra interview, Method Man stated that "Watch Your Mouth" would be the album's

46_54

first single. However, it was rumored that the song's producer DJ Scratch was unable to get a

46_55

sample clearance, which resulted in its omission on the final release of the album.

46_56

Instead, the first official single was "The Heart Gently Weeps", an adaptation of the Beatles song

46_57

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps". George Harrison's son Dhani Harrison and John Frusciante of Red Hot

46_58

Chili Peppers performed acoustic and lead and guitars respectively. Originally thought to be a

46_59

sampled track, it was later revealed as an interpolated version, sampling Jimmy Ponder's cover of

46_60

the song. The song features Raekwon, Ghostface, and Method Man rapping and guest singing provided

46_61

by Erykah Badu. RZA also confirmed that Stone Mecca, one of the newer Wu-Tang-affiliated groups,

46_62

contributed backing music to the track.

46_63

Critical reception

46_64

Upon its release, 8 Diagrams received generally positive reviews from most music critics. At

46_65

Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the

46_66

album received an average score of 73, based on 33 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable

46_67

reviews". USA Todays Steve Jones commended the group members' performances despite the absence of

46_68

Ol’ Dirty Bastard, stating "the lyrical swords wielded by the nine surviving members are as

46_69

razor-sharp as ever". Rolling Stone writer Christian Hoard called it "a terrific mix of classic

46_70

Clan grime and enough new tricks to justify Inspectah Deck's claim that 'Wu-Tang keep it fresh like

46_71

Tupperware.'". Marisa Brown of Allmusic praised RZA's production, writing that "It's beautifully,

46_72

impeccably produced, from the soundtrack strings and horns, to the philosophical samples and

46_73

guitars that are interspersed throughout ... it deepens and grows with every listen." Brown wrote

46_74

that the album "does focus on melody and guitars and strings, but it is also lush and well-crafted

46_75

and smart and addictive. Part of what's made RZA and the rest of the Clan thrive is their

46_76

unpredictability and inventiveness, and so to create something expected would be counterintuitive

46_77

to the group's ethos, and to what's made them so revered and respected across nations and genres

46_78

and generations."

46_79

However, Entertainment Weeklys Neil Drumming commented that the album is "... a drab dilution of

46_80

the Wu's signature sample-heavy, raucous sound." Thomas Golianopolous of Spin viewed that "The

46_81

beats are mostly to blame [...] skeletal, low-key tracks that rarely match the rappers' palpable

46_82

energy". Giving the album 2 out of 4 stars, Los Angeles Times called its arrangements "largely

46_83

tepid" and wrote that several songs lack the rappers' "distinctive personalities". Slant Magazine's

46_84

Dave Hughes wrote that the album "fails to cohere into anything greater than the sum of its parts"

46_85

and expressed a mixed response towards RZA's production, stating "when RZA isn't attempting to

46_86

tone-deafly integrate other people's old sounds into his old sounds, he just sticks with his old

46_87

sounds". Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times criticized the album's production as well, but

46_88

complimented the performances of Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, stating that they "provide many of

46_89

the album’s highlights."

46_90

Dave Heaton of PopMatters wrote "Critics often use the word 'cinematic' to describe the Wu-Tang

46_91

sound. That word has never been more appropriate than with 8 Diagrams. RZA taps into his Ghost Dog

46_92

and Kill Bill experiences to create imaginary film music, moody would-be scores to Westerns,

46_93

martial arts, sci-fi and gangster films." Blenders Jonah Weiner commended RZA's production as well,

46_94

stating "RZA has always been hip-hop’s reigning minimalist, but his work scoring Kill Bill, most

46_95

recently, seems to have strengthened his ear for ambiance and texture." Weiner also complimented

46_96

Method Man's delivery and rhymes on the album, stating that he sounds "rejuvenated." Pitchfork

46_97

Media's Nate Patrin complimented the group members' lyricism. Sam Richards of Uncut gave 8 Diagrams

46_98

4 out of 5 stars, and stated "RZA’s lurching beats and raw, spectral productions, peppered with

46_99

kung-fu film samples, are back to their thrillingly weird best. RZA’s dictatorial rule has

46_100

ostracised Ghost and Raekwon, but you can’t argue with the results. On record at least, Wu-Tang

46_101

have made the comeback of the decade."

46_102

Track listing

46_103

Notes signifies a co-producer.

46_104

"Unpredictable" contains additional vocals by Dexter Wiggle and bass guitars by Shavo Odadjian.

46_105

"The Heart Gently Weeps" contains lead guitars by John Frusciante and rhythm guitar and percussion

46_106

by Dhani Harrison.

46_107

"Gun Will Go" contains additional vocals by Sunny Valentine.