Wu-Tang Meets Indie Culture

Think Differently | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 18, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Babygrande Records
• ASIN: B000AV620Q
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,608 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

A watershed release in the history of the underground hip-hop movement, Think Differently Music: Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture reflects the convergence of Wu-Tang and the indie hip-hop culture. As ambitious in scope as it is creatively visionary, the album consists of Wu-Tang stylistic sensibility and production paired with some of the finest (as well as commercially viable) underground East and West Coast hip-hop lyricists. Babygrande. 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Why Can't The Rest Of Hip Hop Think Differently?, October 24, 2005

By 

Ludacris88 (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wu-Tang Meets Indie Culture (Audio CD)

First off, here's a listing of which artists perform each track:

1. Introduction
2. Lyrical Swords - Ras Kass & GZA
3. Slow Blues - Vast Aire (of Cannibal Ox), Byata, Timbo King & Prodigal Sunn
4. Still Grimey - U-God, Sean Price, Prodigal Sunn & C-Rayz Walz
5. Skit
6. Think Differently - Casual, Tragedy Khadafi, Rock Marciano & Vordul Mega (of Cannibal Ox)
7. Informercial #1
8. Biochemical Equation - RZA & MF Doom
9. O.D.B. Tribute - DJ Noize
10. Fragments - Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
11. Intermission
12. Street Corners - Bronze Nazareth, Soloman Childs & Byata
13. Listen - Littles, Khalid & Planet Asia
14. Infomercial #2
15. Verses - Scaramanga Shallah, La The Darkman, Ras Kass & GZA
16. Preservation - Aesop Rock & Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
17. Cars on the Interstate - C.C.F. Division (Shacronz & Freemurda)
18. Give It Up - J-Live & R.A. The Rugged Man
19. Black Dawn - Bronze Nazareth

Now to the review: 'Wu Tang Meets Indie Cultre' is a compilation album put together by Dreddy Kruger, an affliate of the Wu Tang Clan and a part time rapper (you might remember his fairly bad verse on 'Graveyard Chamber' from the Gravediggaz' debut album). The concept was bringing Wu Tang affiliated rappers/producers and the best of the hip hop underground together for some crazy collaberations that you can't help but think were made to happen (whoever got GZA & Ras Kass together on the same track, let alone 2, deserves a medal). It's also interesting to read about how each song came to be, which is inclded in the booklet. The result is a unique blend of the signiture Wu Tang feel and the top voices of todays indie rap scene, in an album that anyone who likes the guest list should check out.

When I saw the list of the rappers that were set to appear on this album, I knew that this album had incredible potential. The album lives up to my expectations, and was definately enjoyable, but it could have been better. Some verses are a little weak, and some of the production could have been better, but as I said, the overall product is stll dope. Upcoming Wu producer Bronze Nazareth provides most of the production, doing every song but Still Grimey (Preservation), Biochemical Equation (RZA), Verses (DJ Noize), Preservation (Preservation), Cars On The Interstate (Mathematics) & Give It Up (Preservation). For the most part he does a very good job, keeping it interesting, and providing a great backdrop for the many different MCs featured here. I'm definately going to be looking for more material by him in the future (the only other things I had heard from him are his couple of beats on RZA's 'Birth Of A Prince'). On 'Street Corners' and his solo track 'Black Dawn' he shows that he's actually a pretty good rapper, too. Preservation also impressed me with his few beats ('Verses' was one of the best on the CD) and he did a great job with the production of the infomercials.

Top 5 Songs (In Order):

1. Verses - As I said, one of my favorite beats on the album, and features 2 of my favorite MCs (Ras Kass & GZA). I'm also a big fan of La The Darkman, who drops a hot verse as well as Scaramanga Shallah who I had actually never heard of before.

2. Lyrical Swords - Ras Kass & GZA are 2 of my all time favorite rappers, and easily 2 of the best lyricists in the game. My favorite beat on the album, plus 2 dope verses (this would've been #1 if it wasn't so short), this is a sick track you need to hear. These 2 REALLY need to do an album together...Incredible chemistry

3. Still Grimey - I don't like the chorus, but the beat and the genius combination of U-God, Sean Price, Progidal Sunn & C-Rayz Walz make this a stand out.

4. O.D.B. Tribute - This is only an instrumental with some scratched samples, but it's truly a GREAT track, and a fitting tribute to the fallen Wu members. DJ Noize does an incredible job here, and true fans of Wu Tang should recognize most, if not all of the vocal samples.

5. Fragments - Solo from Del, didn't like it that much at first, but it really grew on me, and is now one of my favorites. Just a great personal track with some dope production and sampling from Bronze Nazareth.

Worst Track:

Cars On The Interstate - Not really a bad song, but definately the worst on the album. After hearing Shacronz & Freemurda (CCF Division) on various Wu affiliated albums, I didn't expect much from this song. Good beat provided by Mathematics, but Shacronz just doesn't come through (Freemurda is only on the hook).

Lyrics/Substance/Subject Matter - 8/10
Flow/Delivery - 8.5/10
Production - 8.5/10
Overall Feel - 8/10

Overall Rating - 8/10 - Great album, any fan of underground rap and the Wu Tang Clan should pick this up.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Think Indie...Think Wu...Think Differently, May 27, 2006

By 

M. Budd "Mystory Of A Poet" (Gun Ru, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wu-Tang Meets Indie Culture (Audio CD)

This, the newest of many more Wu albums to come, is definitely something different and something that should be added to your Wu-Tang collection. I know that everyone who gets it will be pleased. Bronze Nazareth, the Michigan-born Wu producer, is definitely the "soul" of this album, producing 9 of the 19 songs. His soulful vibe and grimey beats is something that has been missing in Hip Hop. I know that he's going to make a huge impact in the game. La's making a comeback after a few years off radar, can't wait for his album. Of course the vets do their thang, as usual. There are some other newer voices that added to this classic compilation. It's been a while since a credible mass collab was successful. Don't pass this up!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Potential Not Met, But Still Dope (4 Stars), October 18, 2005

By 

Norfeest "Yes Yes Y'all" (Washington DC USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Wu-Tang Meets Indie Culture (Audio CD)

Dreddy Kruger Presents Think Differently Music: Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture is an interesting album that blends the talents of Wu-Tang producers and artists with some of the biggest names in independent hip-hop. Just the unique lineup alone made me want to pick this one up. The results vary, but for the most part the album is pretty good. There are about 14 songs (19 if you include skits and interludes), and I have to say that out of 14, 9 are good. There are some very interesting collaborations like GZA & Rass Kass (Lyrical Swords), RZA & MF Doom (Biochemical Equation), and Aesop Rock & Del The Funkee Homosapien (Preservation). Production is handled by RZA, Bronze Nazareth, Allah Mathematics, Preservation, DJ Noize, and Fred One. The album also includes a bonus disc. The bonus disc includes remixes, exclusives, and interviews from a few of the associated artists. It's worth checking out.

The only issue I have with this album is that some of the production is forgettable. I'm not calling it bad, but there are some tracks that you'll forget as soon as they stop playing like "Black Dawn". Aside from a few forgettable tracks, the rest of the album is pretty good.

Wu-Tang Meets Indie Culture is definitely tight. With names like Aesop Rock, GZA, Del The Funkee Homosapien, Ras Kass, RZA, C-Rayz Walz, J-Live, MF Doom, and Vordul Mega, I feel like there was some out of this stratosphere type of potential that was fielded here but it didn't quite mesh like I was hoping it would. But don't let that change your mind about picking this up, it's definitely dope. If you're looking for mainstream alternatives, this should definitely do the trick. Highly reccomended.

Standout Tracks: Listen, Give It Up, O.D.B. Tribute (My Favorite), Still Grimey, Lyrical Swords, Think Differently, Fragments, and Preservation