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Birth of a Prince Explicit Lyrics

RZA Format: Audio CD

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Editorial Reviews

Product description

Rza ~ Birth Of A Prince

Amazon.com

After two albums as Bobby Digital, RZA finally releases an album as RZA. Although those hoping to hear his signature Wu-Tang soul style may come away disappointed, the man's mastery over dissonance continues. Tracks like "The Whistle" and "The Grunge" scrape fingernails on the chalkboard, but make it sound funky. Guest producers like Tru Masta and Choco help shoulder the load with some beats that sound like vintage RZA (such as Tru Masta's "Fast Cars") and others that take him in new directions. Lyrically, RZA gets even grittier than he did in his Bobby D days, spitting rusty-nail rhymes about his thug past, blasting shotguns, and swinging his Shaolin sword. As he twists your mind on the mellowing "A Day to God Is 1000 Years" and masters his lyrical martial arts on "Chi Kung," RZA reminds us that he's not just the Wu's scientist of sound, but he's also one of the crew's forgotten MC talents. --Oliver Wang

Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.6 x 0.4 x 4.9 inches; 3.2 Ounces
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Sanctuary Records
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ July 27, 2006
Label ‏ : ‎ Sanctuary Records
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0000CDLCC
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Best Sellers Rank: #57,144 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #269 in East Coast Rap
- #507 in Gangsta & Hardcore Rap & Hip-Hop
- #1,615 in Pop Rap (CDs & Vinyl)

Customer Reviews:
100 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		64%
4 star		17%
3 star		10%
2 star		4%
1 star		5%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Amazon Customer

what?

Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2019

Verified Purchase

Humm

Helpful

Frankie B.

Just as good.

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2018

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Still top notch without the cuss words.

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Nicholas R Forystek

but is good.

Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2018

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I haven't listened much, but is good.

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kory gill

an easy buy

Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2017

Verified Purchase

this album is suprisingly good

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Alex Dionisio

Wu-Tang founder never flounders

Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2012

Verified Purchase

RZA is so good and has so much credibility from the Wu that anything he puts out as a solo project will probably be tremendously special. Birth of a Prince is not his best solo album but you won't be disappointed.

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Shelldbow

Maybe best solo album, disregard haters

Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2014

After listening to this, I personally think this is tied with or better than "Bobby Digital in Stereo". That's how good this is. I've seen so many negative reviews for this and not every song is perfect but it's still an amazing album. RZA brings out the big guns here, lyrically, musically, and his beats are right for the most part on every song. Street stories, fun songs, reminiscing about the past, spiritual talk, and dropping knowledge as always make up the lyrics for the most part. I like the beats on here better than some of the ones on "Iron Flag" or his other 2 previous solo albums. The only tracks that weren't a 5 out of 5 for me were We Pop (Dirty is on it and I love both of their rhymes but the backing music isn't in synch here for me), and Koto Chotan. Everything else represents what the RZA is all about and it shines. Disregard all the bad reviews and pick this up if you are a Wu-Tang fan because it delivers. The RZA is really in his element on here too, def! Recommended.

One person found this helpful

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C. Gray

4.5 Stars - NY Hip-Hop

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2005

I passed up on this album when it first dropped in 2003. Even though I'm a big Wu fan, I grew tired with the RZA and his Bobby Digital alter ego, as well the delay of the much hyped, and yet to be delivered album "The Cure." In addition, RZA's cumbersome flow is somewhat tough to swallow on an extended solo basis. So, I passed on this album, figuring I wasn't missing anything big. About a week ago I was in a bodega and overheard someone talking about Birth of a Prince being one of the "best Wu joints ever." So, being bored with the current state of hip-hop I figured I would cop the album to see for myself with the ultimate goal of being able to download one or two hot tracks onto my ipod. First of all, let me say that despite my late pass, I deserve eternal detention for having slept on this album. I deserve no alibi. I can't believe that I snoozed so hard on this joint. Personally speaking, the beats alone have me speechless (if that makes sense). There is only one weak track, the worthless bounce of "The Drop Off". Otherwise, each track is a unique banger. There is nothing commercial about this album at all. All the beats are full-grind hip-hop. In other words, they are bare, eccentric, and New York. The only thing that can improve this album would be subtracting a couple of the generic guest rappers and replacing them with established Wu-Tang members. Although Master Killa pops in effectively for two cuts, his appearance is not enough with consideration to the total quality of the production. This is not to say that RZA as a rapper does not shine in his own right. He comes through professionally throughout, progressing fluidly between trash talk and science. If you pay close attention, the album is a personal story of introspective fruition. I place Rebirth of a Prince up there with the other great Wu solo releases (Liquid Swords, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, and all three Ghostface albums).

11 people found this helpful

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Cuzz

Ohh We Love You Rakeem!!

Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2004

According to legend RZA's actual solo debut as RZA is supposed to be entitled "The Cure" his masterpiece, which this piece obviously is not in both name and content. He didn't change the title of it, he still references "The Cure" in the linear notes but this isn't a Bobby Digital release either although the opening track makes reference to him, this release I see takes it's name from what RZA went by in his early years before the Wu-Tang Clan came into effect, which was Prince Rakeem. He released one EP "Ooh We Love You Rakeem" on Tommy Boy in 1991 and after that he dropped that moniker in favour of RZA and then Bob Digi. This is that characters "rzarection" if you will. As an album it's self I expected a lot more from a producer that is held up in the ranks of Pete Rock, Dj Premier & Dr. Dre in the realm of ability and influence. This album has it's real gems but it also has it's real lumps of garbage. Some of the beats seemed to be lacking that little extra something that a genius like RZA should be the one adding in. The guests bar a few get pretty dull and uninspired. But and there's a but when the beats are well crafted and RZA gets back to his introspective though provoking lyrics and Shaolin style and things just click it's some of the best music out there. Unfortunately that doesn't happen quite enough on this album. Now I'll shed light on a few tracks...
We Pop ft/ Ol' Dirty Bastard ~ For a post 2000 Wu solo album this one keeps the Wu sound pretty good but this track just disrupts the flow completely it's past different and interesting and gets into "out of place" territory. The first single for good reasons it's a superb slice of funk by Megahertz, it's good production but using the title it's very "pop" it would be more suited on a West Coast rapper's single or on a Fabolous album, not the Wu-Tang Abbott. It also has a really annoying chorus with some chick.
Grits ft/ Masta Killa ~ This is my favourite track on the album, RZA produced this laid back/back in the day type piece with it's old skool RnB flavour. Using string plucks that sound like synth acoustic guitars and nice drum and bass that compliment it perfectly. RZA coming with solid verses set around the topic of growing up under privileged but still having a good time, with a nice soulful singer on the hook.
Fast Cars ft/ Ghostface Killah ~ Now this is the real Wu-banger I and other Wu fans were waiting for. Although not produced by the RZA his influence is all over it and tighter than any other beat he produced on the album, it's done by True Master. TM is a long time Wu-Fam producer and for this joint he incorporates rather understated percussion, hard driving keys and random horns thus setting the mood of a very high energy car ride. With catchy hook and a pretty good verse by Ghostface it's all put together loverly but my favourite is RZA's verse with this line:
"/Used to break days smokin' coke & digi/
/Til I bulked up to the Incredible Hulk like Bill Bixby/"
(if the whole album was like this song it would be 4 stars for me)
A Day To God Is 1,000 Years ~ Awesome song, it is probably the real lyrical heavyweight of the album for RZA, as shown in the meditation-like lyrics on the verses. The beat sets a great thoughtful mood using what appears to be based around some sort of fluteish groove thumping bass and bridging strings. Great song yet RZA didn't produce it either this time it was a dude by the name of Bronze Nazareth.
The Birth ~ After a short intro with the RZA telling someone not to call him Bobby and rather to call him Prince Rakeem. Again RZA comes on strong lyricly, with a distantly sung hook. The beat starts out with a key board melody, then moves on with a middle-eastern sounding vibe, then with some strings thrown in and a head nodding back beat to complete it again produced by Bronze Nazareth. This song showing the complexity that is RZA.
The first couple of listens I don't think I really understood this album. Too me it was crap, then it got better but found nothing special in it. Then I realized what the album was meant to show. I believe it is meant to be a view to the RZA's different styles. At The beginning he maintains the Bob Digi lyrics and sound about popin' glocks and stealing your chick while making concessions to pop music, then he maintains some of that but moves on too a little grimier lyrics as he got into a sort of group flavoured RZA, he also got laid back an introspective perhaps something he might do on an experimental venture RZA then in the last bit he is born as Prince Rakeem the insightful monkish wise rapper. So all in all this should be a great listen for fans of the Wu as well as RZA fans but to casual listeners there is very little here. Because of the lacking quality guest spots and occasionally boring beats you might be better checking out Rae's new joint for a more broad appealing solo Wu Album. Gets three stars for the masses but essential status for true Wu fans.
So if you are one cop it!

3 people found this helpful

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Kevin Henkel

Kleines Meisterwerk

Reviewed in Germany on November 15, 2016

Verified Purchase

Birth of a Prince wurde zu einer Zeit released, wo ich leider anfing R'n'B und maximal DMX zu hören. Ich hatte leider ab The W nicht mehr viel vom Clan mitbekommen.
Jahre später nun finde ich dieses Album und lege es mir aufgrund der top Bewertungen zu. Und das hat sich auch gelohnt!
RZA geht hier einen neuen und vielleicht auch experimentellen Weg. Klassische Wu Beats sind eher rar und es gibt kaum features aus dem Clan bis auf Ghostface, Masta und einem ODB, den man gar nicht bemerkt.
Doch komischerweise stört mich das gar nicht. Die Beats sind fast alle absolut Hammer und teilweise etwas crazy (We pop) bis melancholisch (Wherever I go) oder auch ein bisschen von beidem (Cherry range). Im übrigen mag ich sogar das erwähnte We Pop. Es hat eigentlich gar nichts, was an den Clan erinnern würde aber ich könnte jedes Mal ein Loch in die Wand schlagen, wenn ich es höre^^
Mich hat das Album wirklich sehr positiv überrascht und das obwohl ich wirklich am liebsten das 90er Material höre. Ich würde auch sagen, dass ich es mehr mag als die beiden Bobby Digital Alben davor!

One person found this helpful

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riddlawise

fast delivery and just what i had expected

Reviewed in Canada on August 5, 2019

Verified Purchase

great LP. A must have for collectors

Berger

Super

Reviewed in Germany on April 13, 2021

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Alles bestens!

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Client d'Amazon

RZA

Reviewed in France on August 6, 2016

Verified Purchase

pardon pour ce retard. bonjour, j'ai bien reçu RZA the birth of a prince en excellent état et je vous en remercie vivement. cordialement. Jean-Luc vavasseur.

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kieran

Not bad!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2016

Verified Purchase

Pretty good album but i still prefer his bobby digital cds!

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