Send "Mathematics " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Thephoenix |
 As chairman, muse, and beatmaker for the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA casts a shadow big enough to shade all but a few marquee members of his extended family. Those in the know, however, are very much aware that many of the crew's most explosive bangers — from "Cobra Clutch" to "Thang Thang" — were cooked not by the king Wu producer but by his most disciplined beat disciple and long-time Clan show DJ, Allah Mathematics.This Wu & Friends project doesn't quite equal the effort put forth by Mathematics on his 2003 debut, Love, Hell or Right. Neither do the standout beats match those that shine on his best-of instrumental bundle, Soul of a Man. Still, on "Respect 2010" and "Treez" with Raekwon, Mathematics conjures a distinct Wu melancholy that outsiders can only imitate. Most impressive here, however, is Method Man....full text |
| Popmatters |
| Supergroups always release compilations like this. You know the kind. The releases are usually full of B-sides, remixes, re-recording, re-mastered, demo-versions, outtakes, etc. Those left over tracks sitting on hard drives or in tape canisters in some vault or studio storage room. Usually, you can find a gem or two but let’s be honest: these compilations are more often than not a quick cash-grab and are only salivated over by those obsessive to the tenth power fans. With Return of the Wu & Friends, skepticism immediately sets in its misleading title. After all, this isn’t really a return at all. No, this is not an official, new Wu-Tang Clan album and none of the members met in a studio to record anything for this release. Instead, here’s the skinny: Return of the Wu & Friends is 16 tracks taken from recordings starting with the 2000’s The W through 2008, put together and produced by longtime, contributing Wu-Tang DJ/Producer Mathematics. The best way to look at this curious record is like a mixtape with a heavy focus on reinterpretation and remixing similar in format to Madlib’s work on Blunted in the Bomb Shelter or Shades of Blue for the Blue Note label. Imagine your friend with some sick DJ skills putting together a mix for you with their favorite and forgotten about Wu tracks post-2000. That’s what we got here. Just roll with it....full text |
| Hiphopdx |
| Once in a blue moon, some money-grubbing entity – could be a label or an individual – decides to put forth a product that, at its core, is dishonest. Nu-Mixx Klazzics, for example, was Death Row’s desperate attempt to cash in on Tupac Shakur’s work by pairing existing tracks with some of the worst production ever heard. Releases like these are completely devoid of creativity, and are usually lacking in quality. And of course, the intentions behind such a release are as transparent as can be – providing one does a little research. Mathematics’ Return of the Wu & Friends is an example of a product that, when held to the scrutiny of such research, doesn’t fare very well. The truly embarrassing thing about Return is its rehashed tracks. “It’s What it Is” and “Iron God Chamber” both appeared on Masta Killa’s 2006 effort, Made In Brooklyn. “Strawberries & Cream” and “Rush” are from Mathematics’ 2005 album, The Problem, as is “John 3:16.” “Treez” has appeared on Mathematics Presents Wu-Tang Clan & Friends Unreleased. “Real Nillaz” made its way onto both The Problem AND Mathematics Presents… “Da Way We Were” is from 2003’s Love, Hell or Right (Da Come Up). That adds up to eight repeat tracks, some of which have not only already been released, but have already been re-released (over half of the album, for those of you keeping track at home). That still is not the last violation of this collection. Regarding the “new” tracks: “Early Grave” lifts an Ol’ Dirty Bastard verse from “Dirty Mef” off of 2004’s 4:21 The Day After, and “Clap 2010,” “Respect 2010” and “All Flowers” are merely remixes of existing tracks. “Steppin 2 Me” is more disingenuous about its origins, as it lifts verses verbatim from GZA's “Breaker, Breaker (Remix),” while being billed as an “exclusive” cut (note to labels: slapping a new name and new beat onto existing lyrics doesn’t mean it’s a new song). To add insult to injury, the album’s final cut, “Keep Pace,” is listed as being a Wu-Tang cut – but unless not a single member of the Wu-Tang Clan is featured on the track. Honestly, the only redeeming thing that can be said about this album is that it would be a barely passable product for someone completely unfamiliar with the Wu catalog. The lyrics are, as one would expect, on point, and the production ranges from horrendous (“Clap 2010” brings new meaning to the adjective, “minimalist”) to pretty damn good (“Rush” makes good use of the harpsichord)....full text |
Mathematics lyrics
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