When an aging RZA takes a look back his accomplished career, the premier beatsmith/emcee can smile because he knows he is an element of the movement that rejuvenated the east coast and gave birth to one of the greatest groups of all time, the Wu-Tang Clan. He revolutionized production as a whole and became arguably the most consistent producer within that time frame (94-98), from Enter the 36 Chambers to Iron Flag and every solo release from Wu members in between he left an imprint that the hip hop hall of fame will have to give him his own wax statue, then it happened…  It became the Wu Mansion flood that washed away tons of beats, It became lackluster releases by his fellow members including himself (the ridiculous Lone Ranger figure known as Bobby Digital), it became the underachievement of their last album The W, it became the demise of the greatest supergroup to grace magazine covers and deliver the public classic hip-hop anthems, It was over. But It wasn’t going to make the RZA lay down, not by a long shot. So, as he sheds that Lone Ranger mask of his former personality, the wacked out Bobby Digital, he dons his name on a release for the first time. And with that the RZA attempts to bring back that name that haunted heads for years. So as he tries to rekindle the flame with his work on Quentin Taratino’s flick Kill Bill and at the same time put the Wu back on the map, the time has come for him to release his aptly titled Birth Of A Prince.

      Since he has had much time since his past misjudgments, one would think that the RZA would come back with a bang, but instead the results are a resounding thud. Out the gates it doesn’t sound that bad with pounding joints like the jump off joint “Bob N’I” produced by Choco and the Ghostface Killah assisted “Fast Cars” where Tony Starks and the RZA flip over a bangin’ True Master track. Equally as dope is the mellow “Chi Kung” produced by Barracuda. The problem with this is that none of the above were produced by the RZA. The RZA’s pounding production is what made the Wu, and is also what made heads take notice, but now its been reduced to a fragile shell of its former self. The foundation still lies within, which means RZA tracks are easily noticeable, but the impact that they once had is far gone. From the stinker “Drink, Smoke and Fuck” and the weary sounds of “Cherry Range” it is evident that it is not the same. Not to say that RZA can’t deliver solid production as seen on “Koto Chotan” but it is just not the same effect that it once had as hearing “Triumph”, “Tragedy”, and “Can It All Be So Simple” for the first time. Instead of giving heads beats that would make the lamest cat nod their domes in agreement, now the result is a simple shrug of indifference.

     Production aside, it seems that the RZA’s lyrics have been reduced to ridiculous drabble as well. At one time the RZA, made everything he said tolerable (with some truly ill moments on the Gravediggaz projects) but now the impact is as dreary as it can get for sixteen tracks. The RZA’s not horrible, but a whole album can became grinding on the ears. On “Bob N’I” lines like “Blast your ass in search for Michael Landon/Abandon ship you can’t penetrate/my solar eclipse you dickhead you get pussy-whipped” may cause a few eyebrows to raise and a few more to say WTF!?!? In his recognizable tone it can grate the nerves to a certain extent. Other joints like “The Grunge” just sound plain ridiculous as RZA laments “Fresh off the biznot/Bob Diznot/plex on the KB/son you get shznot/right in your hzead/you be dzead/don’t front on this nigga, I’m from New York Czy!/Yall butter-pec make my nutter weak/have me walkin around talkin back with a stutter speak/ like ta-ta-ta-ta-ta bu-bu-bu-bu-butter-pec/make my nutter weak..”. Nuff Said.

    After sixteen tracks the RZA stock hasn’t rose a single inch. Birth of a Prince was supposed to be RZA’s dramatic return to the rap game and ascertain his place in hip hop history. Instead it becomes evident that all aspirations aside he lacks the same influence he once had over the industry. Parallel to the career of Mike Tyson, you know what the man can accomplish and every time he comes out you hope he can assume that same dominance he once had over the competition. But after watching him fight after fight, the reality of the situation sets in and you begin to wish he had stepped away at his peak. But who are we as critics and fans to tell him to drop his passion? His skills may have diminished but that still can’t take away what he once was and will forever be remembered for. And for that, and that reason only, he will be celebrated.