Customer Reviews

Golden Arms Redemption [Vinyl]

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This CD has to be one of the best to come out of the clan lately. The CD starts out slow, and you may think why did I buy this, but it grows on you quickly. I love this CD and recommend it to everyone.

Golden Arms Redemption is another good solo WU album. The problem is Wu albums in the past were all classics. Since Wu Tang forever, Wu albums haven't been on the same level. If you like Wu Tang, buying this is not a waste of money, but don't expect an album on the same level as their past albums.

This CD is tight. The beats are tight, and U-God's rhymes are sharp. This sounds like a classic wu album because this is one of the solo albums that the Rza actually produced. Check out the songs "Turbulence," "Pleasure or Pain," "Lay Down," and "Bizarre." And all you out there saying U-God is just a bench warmer, now hes gonna prove you wrong. You better recognized.

If you are the sort of hip-hop head who allows their opinions to be formed by the music press, then the chances are that you may have overlooked this on the strength of recent 'tepid' Wu-tang offerings. The truth, however, is that the direction that the Clan are now moving in displays a developed maturity whilst still retaining the skills for which they were originally acclaimed for. An album should not be measured against previous releases but appraised on its own merits - remember, we live in an ever-changing world....

This album is simply awe-inspiring. For fiteen tracks, across sixty-three minutes, you are invited into a world of startling lyrical dexterity and hypnotic production. As arguably one of the lesser known members of the Wu-tang Clan, U-God may be a name baulked at by heads who find their pleasure in weak rhymes about nothing more than fast cars, faster women and fictional tales of killing in the hood. However, this delivers a swift right hook to any hip-'pop'pers with the sheer poetry of its lyricism. His excellent use of poetic imagery set against masterful production by the Rza, Tru Master and 4th Disciple (Rza's 'apprentices') creates an almost perfect marriage. The atmosphere created in tracks like Lay Down and Pleasure and Pain are unrivalled, and you are of course treated to the usual Wu-cameos from Method Man, Inspectah Deck and Raekwon (not to mention some dangerously sharp lyrics from Leatha Face and Hell Razah).

This album has everything - the head-nodding battle raps, the cathartic soul-baring tracks, the enchanting anecdotal tune ... invest and you will not be disappointed. The one message that this album conveys clearly is - the Wu have still got it! We await, with baited breath, the next Clan album.

Wow, this is one of the best Wu releases. At first I thoguht this cd would suck, but after hearing it, U God became my favorite Wu Tang member. Definately buy this if u like any Wu tang music.

What can you say about U-God? I love the Wu Tang Clan just as much as the next hip-hop enthusiast but let's be honest, there's been at least one time when you where listening to a Wu project and you wondered to yourself how exactly U-God got to be part of one of the greatest rap groups ever? My guess is that he's either one of the coolest cats around OR that he has some highly embarassing photos of the RZA stashed away in his possession. Probably the former though, I mean check out the back of this album for instance... U-God in all of his glory, wearing a Wu-Tang super hero outfit(including fake muscles and everything... looks like a leftover prop from Joel Schumachers and Val Kilmers awful Batman movie LOL!) and playing it completely serious! It's like the rest of the Clan told him that it would look really awesome half-jokingly, but he took it serious and the rest is history, emblazoned proudly on the back of his solo debut for all time. Add in the fact that Golden Arms uses his intro to rap acappella about how other rappers are "corns" in the rhythm of Gloria Gaynors hit "I Will Survive," and it becomes obvious that he's just gotta be the coolest dude in the buroughs... why else would RZA be involved? With Redemption, U-God finally got his chance to release a solo album(the only member that hadn't by this point was Masta Killa) but unfortunately it came at a time when the RZA was taking a step back from production credits on much of the solo material and the begining of the end was nearing for the Wu's former heights. The RZA did executive produce though(and provided the decent track "Turbo Charge") and I don't know how involved he was in the overall beat selection, but the beats here are pretty strong. Songs like "Turbulence," "Glide(produced by Inspectah Deck?!)," "Bizarre," and "Pleasure Or Pain" flat out bang in fact, while the rest are still good enough to keep your finger off the skip button(no matter how hard U-God tries to push you to that point at times). Sure he rhymes incoherantly for most of the album and ultimately is outshined by the production and all of the guest MC's(The Rebel INS, Raekwon, Method Man, Leatha Face, and Hell Razah), and yet, Redemption is still far from the worst solo album ever released from the Wu stable(and the only worthwhile U-God release still to this day).

Though not nearly the best member of the Wu, U-God put on a pretty good performance for his debut. He was the second to last member to put out a solo (Masta Killa didn't until mid 2004). Features a few of the Wu members and affiliates as well as an unknown, Leatha Face, who is pretty tight. Production is done by RZA, and True Master (3 songs each), Hak da Navigator, John the Baptist and Homocide each do 2, and Inspectah Deck, Odente Ward, and Bink One each do a song. One stand out track on here and 2 very good ones, the rest are decent and 2 or 3 are skippable definitely. A good CD to have if you are a fan of the Wu material.

#2 - 8
#3 - 8 (f/ Leatha Face)
#4 - 7.5
#5 - 7
#6 - 8.5
#7 - 10 (classic - f/ Leatha Face, Inspectah Deck, & Method Man)
#8 - 8 (f/ Hell Razah of Sunz of Man)
#9 - 6
#10 - 9 (f/ Raekwon, Leatha Face, & Hell Razah (of Sunz of Man))
#11 - 6.5
#12 - 4
#13 - 7.5
#14 - 8.5 (f/ Leatha Face)
#15 - 9 (2nd best song on here)

Lamont Hawkins -- New York, NY
check all my reviews

This cd is ill. God has a dope voice and spits some sick rhymes on top of sick beats. This is one of my favorite Wu albums and I own over 20 Wu family albums. You should diffenitly pick yourself up a copy of this album and just let the God flow. Peace.

golden arms redemtion no doubt 1 of da best WU solo projects EVER for not a very well known WU member.some of the sickest rymes i've ever herd dats gangsta,turbulance,and RUMBLE to name a few this cd is definatly worth the sale i gave it a 5/5 because U-god has a much different style in this cd that ive never herd and very good rymes i recommend this cd to anyone who is a wu fan its DEFINATLY WORTH THE MONEY

U-God and INS are my two favorite members of the Wu, but this album is so disappointing, I'm just furious. I waited so long, and this is what I get? I've listened to the song "If It's Alright With You", from the Great White Hype soundtrack a million times because U-God's verse from that song was incredible. This is a big change from that amazing track. All Wu solo releases need to be produced by the Rza. If not the Rza, then someone else and not the Wu-elements. However, I still have some faith in the Wu.