Frosty-voiced Wu-Tang member Raekwon may not be known for his consistency, but he is responsible for two of the best solo efforts by Wu-Tang members gone rogue. This, sadly, is not one of them.
Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang is not far from the Mafia-twinged, crime-ring feel of his more successful Only Built 4 Cuban Linx albums. But the only way this one stands out from those records is by being shamefully dull and instantly forgettable.
The record includes a couple of mammoth tracks, but the majority nail the gangsta racket without any of the creativity or grandeur that his previous solo work is famed for. In fact, the painfully dull “Butter Knives” is one of the worst Wu-Tang solo jams yet.
The most you’ll get out of Shaolin is a reminder of how fantastic the Cuban Linx records are. Save your money and listen to those instead.
DOWNLOAD: “Crane Style” (Feat. Busta Rhymes)
