This is another great week for hip hop! First comes the much anticipated release of Wu-Tang Clan’s 8 Diagrams. This is the first album they’ve put together since the passing of Wu-Tang member ODB and their first since 2001’s Iron Flag. I know there are a lot of Wu-Tang fans out there, so with the release of this plus Ghostface’s album last week makes for a great Christmas!
Also coming out today is the third solo album from producer Hi-Tek, Hi-Tecknology 3:Underground. I know a lot of people have been looking forward to this one as well. make sure to read my review before you go out and cop it!
2007 is turning out to be the year of the ROC… Roc-A-Fella, that is. First we had new albums from Roc heavyweights Kanye West and Jay-Z, then we had Freeway’s new CD released a few weeks ago and a new State Property compilation album earlier this year. Now Beanie Sigel is steppin’ out with his followup to 2003’s The B. Coming, entitle The Solution. Memphis Bleek, where you at son?
The last two albums coming out today are more for the mass market. The compilation album from Bow Wow & Omarion hits stores today as well as the debut album from R&B producer The-Dream. The-Dream’s album should be pretty good. I found myself singing along to “Shawty Is a Ten” and they released two remixes for the single; one with Fabolous and one with R. Kelly. They seem to know how to write a good song. The Bow Wow/Omarion collabo on the other hand is nothing but a marketing stunt for them teeny-boppers. I’m just rolling my eyes at this one. I don’t think Bow Wow will ever be respected as a true hip hop artist; maybe if he’s around ten years from now. I guess it’s an age thing. Anyway, read on for the album details and make sure to hit the stores and support hip hop! If you don’t buy for yourself, buy for someone else — tis the season!
Wu-Tang Clan: 8 Diagrams
Producers: all tracks produced by RZA
Singles: “The Heart Gently Weeps”
Tracklist:
- Campfire
- Take It Back
- Get Them Out Ya Way Pa
- Rushing Elephants
- Unpredictable
- The Heart Gently Weeps (featuring Erykah Badu)
- Wolves
- Gun Will Go
- Sunlight
- Stick Me for My Riches
- Starter
- Windmill
- Weak Spot
- Life Changes
- Tar Pit
- 16th Chamber (ODB Special)
Hi-Tek: Hi-Teknology 3:Underground
Producers: all tracks produced by Hi-Tek
Singles: “My Piano”
Tracklist:
- Tek Intro
- Life To Me (featuring Estelle)
- Interlude (featuring Lil’ Tone)
- My Piano (featuring Raekwon, Dion & Ghostface Killah)
- God’s Plan (featuring Young Buck & Outlawz)
- Ohio All Stars (featuring Cross, Showtime, Mann, Chip The Rippa)
- Back On The Grind (featuring Riz, Kurupt & Dion)
- I’m Back (featuring Rem Dog)
- Kill You (featuring Push Montana)
- Handling My Bizness (featuring Lep, Count (from Low End Professional), Big D & M-1)
- Come Get It (Tekrumentals) (featuring T-Pain)
- Step It Up (Remix) (featuring Little Brother & Dion)
- Know Me (featuring Jonell)
- Time (featuring Talib Kweli & Dion)
- Outro
Beanie Sigel: The Solution
Producers: The Runners, Cool & Dre, Dame Grease, Dre & Videl
Singles: “All Of The Above”
Tracklist:
- All of The Above (featuring R. Kelly)
- Bout That
- You Ain’t Ready For Me (featuring Styles P)
- Get Low
- Gutted (featuring Jay-Z)
- Pass The Patron (featuring Diddy, Ghostface Killah, and Peedi Crakk)
- I’m In
- Hustlas, Haze and Highways
- What They Gon Say To Me
- Judgment Day (featuring Ozzy Osbourne)
- Rain (The Bridge) (featuring Scarface & Raheem DeVaughn)
- Dear Self (featuring James Blunt)
- Prayer (featuring Raheem DeVaughn)
The-Dream: Love Hate
Producers: The-Dream
Singles: “Shawty Is A Ten”, “Falsetto”, “I Luv Your Girl”
Tracklist:
- Shawty Is A Ten (featuring Fabolous)
- I Luv Your Girl
- Fast Car
- She Needs My Love
- Falsetto
- Playin’ In Her Hair
- Purple Kisses
- Ditch That
- Nikki
- Luv Songs
- Livin’ A Lie (featuring Rihanna)
- Mama
Bow Wow & Omarion: Face Off
Producers: Brian Michael Cox, Nitti, The Neptunes, Rick Rubin, T-Pain, Timbaland, The Underdogs
Singles: “Girlfriend”, “Hey Baby (Jump Off)”
Tracklist:
- Face Off
- Hoodstar
- Girlfriend
- Hey Baby (Jump Off)
- He Ain’t Gotta Know
- Bachelor Pad
- Listen
- Can’t Get Tired Of Me
- Number Ones
- Baby Girl
- Take Off Your Clothes
- Another Girl
