Ghostface Killah (of Wu-Tang Clan) and Sheek Louch (of The LOX / D-Block) reunite on “Wu Block Biznez”, off their upcoming album Hidden Gems, hitting January 20th. Bonus, Styles P drops off his new song “White N*ggaz.”

Reunited! Sheek Louch and Ghostface will reunite for another Wu-Block album, and of course their usual friends will join in as well, such as Styles P, Cappadonna, Jadakiss, Solomon Childs, Killah Priest, Masta Killa, and GZA. No said date has been given for the new project, other than “2014″.

1. Cappa Wu Block (ft. Cappadonna)
2. Wu Block Biznez (ft. Ghostface Killah & Sheek Louch)
3. Can’t Be Lookin’ 4 Me (ft. The LOX)
4. Big Money ft. Ghostface Killah & Sheek Louch)
5. Guns On Em (ft. Sheek Louch)
6. Aint’ Coming From Class (ft. Solomon Childs & Sheek Louch)
7. Wanted Dead or Alive (ft. Cappadonna & Solomon Childs)
8. Put Ya Hands Up (ft. Ghostface Killah & Sheek Louch)
9. South Beach (ft. Ghostface Killah & Sheek Louch)
10. Die Tonight (ft. Sheek Louch & Styles P)
11. Auta (ft. Killah Priest, Masta Killa & Ghostface Killah)
12. Drivin’ Round ft. Sheek Louch, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa & GZA)
13. Do U Like It (ft. Ghostface Killah & Sheek Louch)
14. Come Get Some (ft. Ghostface Killah & Sheek Louch)
15. Throw It Up (ft. Sheek Louch)

The history of what would one day become Wu-Block dates back to a song by Fat Joe called “John Blaze”, which featured both Raekwon and Jadakiss, among other rappers. This would be the first time that someone from the Clan appeared on a track with someone from the post-Bad Boy crew, The Lox, despite accusations of biting on “Shark N***as” from the purple tape. The infamous skit found Rae and Ghost accusing Biggie of “biting Nas shit”, in regards to the similarities of the Ready To Die and Illmatic album covers. But with that past them, “John Blaze” would be the start of a beautiful relationship between the Wu and The Lox crews; one that would find many collaborations throughout rap history, such as Ghostface’s “Run” with Jadakiss, or Raekwon’s “Broken Safety” with J and Styles P, to name a few.

But we never thought the two crews would blend so well together that a full-fledged “Wu-Block” album would come together. (Side note: we can’t help but wonder why they didn’t roll with “Wu-Lox”, since the Yonkers trio originally went by “Warlox” back in the day). We began to see sprinkles of collaborative tracks on blogs like this one back in 2010, while 2011 and 2012 saw a series of even more Wu-Block tracks, many with hard-to-clear samples from the likes of Batman and Barry White. The prospect of an actual Wu-Block album happening seemed far-fetched, because 1) super-groups can never seem to get off the ground and 2) we’re still waiting on that Doomstarks joint. But here we are, and amazingly, the Wu-Block album is here, and it’s not half bad.

Naturally, the bar is set pretty high for this project, namely because of the sheer number of classic records in the Wu-Tang catalog. But let’s face it, people don’t check for The Lox like they do The Wu, so it goes without saying that some fans may be looking at this record with a stiff upper lip. It’s almost the kind of record that on paper you don’t want to like, but multiple listens reveal that ultimately it is a work of quality.

While it lacks the big-name production of past collaborators like RZA or DJ Premier, the album carries a soulful vibe throughout. The opening track, “Crack Spot Stories”, sets the tone perfectly, while songs like the extended weapon-metaphor “Guns For Life” and the brooding “Cocaine Central” carry it out. The finest track of the set is easily the Termanology produced “Drivin’ Round”, which mellows out with airy vocals from Ms. Badu, and guest verses from Masta Killa and GZA. “Different Time Zones” featuring Inspectah Deck also impresses.

Despite a few overbearing thug anthems (“Take Notice”, “Stick Em”), The Lox style of production also works well in certain parts, at times blurring the line at who the production is better suited for. Tracks like “Pull The Cars Out” and “All In Together” are abrasive and off kilter, but fit the styles of all five core emcees perfectly. The friendly competition between the crews yields great results lyrically as well, such as on “Comin’ For Your Head”, where Styles P steals the show: “Ralph Ellison, invisible man, vanishing / Come back like Arizona Ron, speaking Spanish / And you’re panicking, oughta stay still like a mannequin / Dark side like Darth, yeah, young Anakin / Skywalker, fly talker, rhyme even better though / Salute them niggas that died, those with a federal / Charge yo, Incarcerated Scarface, ya’ll flow / Polo overalls, short set, son of Mars, though / Probably in the crib, getting high, watching Fargo / A lady cop and some hit men / I quarterback the coke like Big Ben / To a bunch of a dirty niggas like Pig Pen / No Charlie Brown, though, pump in the pound, though / Coming for your head, I run your ass out of town, yo / This is Sheek Louch, Ghostface Killah / And the other Ghost, you can fuck around and get your mother poked.” Yet Raekwon counters easily with a burgundy-blood spilling verse of his own.

And this is what makes Wu-Block such a fun album to listen to, the constant one-upmanship happening on each track. With so many seasoned emcees in the mix, everyone is bringing their A-game on the lyrical tip. The production overall is pretty solid, but again, there are too many classics from the catalog to hold this album up against, at times making it sound sub-par. Yet for a project that many years ago seemed unlikely to ever happen, we get can down with Wu-Block.

Ghostface and Sheek Louch’s Wu-Block project will hit on Nov. 27th. Preview snippets from the project, courtesy of Youtube.

Wu-Block – the project spearheaded by Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch, will officially drop on November 27th, and the official tracklist has finally been revealed. It looks like many of the previously released tracks are not included on the album, with additional appearances from Raekwon, Jadakiss, Cappadonna, Method Man, Styles P, Masta Killa GZA, Erykah Badu, and Inspectah Deck.

1. Crack Spot Stories (Feat. Ghostface Killah, Sheek Louch, Raekwon & Jadakiss)
2. Pour Tha Martini (Feat. Ghostface Killah, Sheek Louch & Cappadonna)
3. Pull Tha Cars Out (Feat. Sheek Louch, Ghostface Killah & Method Man)
4. Guns For Life (Feat. Ghostface Killah, Sheek Louch & Styles P)
5. Comin For Ya Head (Feat. Sheek Louch, Ghostface Killah, Styles P & Raekwon)
6. Cocaine Central (Feat. Ghostface Killah, Sheek Louch & Styles P)
7. Take Notice (Feat. Ghostface Killah & Sheek Louch)
8. Drivin Round (Feat. Sheek Louch, Masta Killa, Gza & Erykah Badu)
9. Different Times Zones (Feat. Ghostface Killah, Sheek Louch & Inspectah Deck)
10. Stick up Kids (Feat. Ghostface Killah, Sheek Louch & Jadakiss)
11. All in Together (Feat. Ghostface Killah, Sheek Louch, Styles P & Jadakiss)
12. Do It Like Us (Feat. Sheek Louch, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon)
13. Stella (Feat. Ghostface Killah, Sheek Louch & Method Man)
14. Been Robbed (Feat. Sheek Louch & Ghostface Killah)

The Lox and Wu-Tang’s ambitious Wu-Block project has some new cover art, seen above, and a new street date, from it’s originally projected Oct. 16 release date. The album will now hit store shelves on November 9th, on eOne Music.

We never thought this project would come together, but the Wu-Block defied our expectations. The full-length album is due Oct. 9th on eOne Music. Here’s a new version of “Stick Up Kids”. Word to the Fat Boys.

Ghost and Sheek talk with the Fuse TV about the upcoming Wu-Block album and what to expect from it. While Ghost and Sheek are the frontmen, they suggest the virtually all of the core members of the Wu-Tang Clan and The Lox appear on the full-length. Also, Ghostface is an Action Bronson fan, ironically.

Red Spyda produced track, which samples the Fat Boys’ track of the same name, featuring Ghostface Killah, Sheek Louch and Jadakiss. Album in stores October 9th.

Two of hip-hop’s most storied groups, Wu-Tang Clan and D-Block, will collaborate on a new album to be released through eOne Music. “Wu-Block,” the new street album, will be released on October 9th, 2012 and features Ghostface Killah, Sheek Louch, Method Man, Raekwon The Chef, GZA, Jadakiss, Masta Killah, and Styles P.

Ghostface says, “This is a unique street album combination like carnation milk with oatmeal. And a dash of cinammon. We got killing on lock. It’s like assisination day – nothing but darts being thrown. It’s like Batman and Robin shit. It’s real street sh*t for the fans. They’ve been thirstin’ for this.”

Sheek adds, “Other people trying to sell albums together. Those are radio albums. This shit is for the street.”

“Wu-Block” mixes the rap style, lyrics, beats, imagery and ideology of the 9 member Wu-Tang clan with the flow, underground star power, hard hitting bars, street story telling and bass rattling sounds of D-Block.

The first official single off the 12-track album, “Union Square,” features Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch. Available on iTunes, the drum heavy single is named after the landmark New York City intersection . Listen to “Union Square” here. The next single, “Stick ‘em Up,” featuring Sheek Louch, Ghostface Killah and Jadakiss, will be serviced to radio shortly.

“This is a huge chapter in the story of New York Hip Hop,” explains eOne president Alan Grunblatt. “To have two of rap’s biggest groups combining talents means groundbreaking music that fans can enjoy.”

Additionally, Wu-Block will tour across America, headlining dates and performing at select Rock The Bells shows.

Looks like Wu-Block is coming closer to officially dropping. Here’s the first single, up at Itunes now.

This record is really coming together. Wow.

Guess that Wu-Block project really is coming to fruition. Here’s something sampling the late great Barry White. Speaking of which, Ghost has used this sample before. Props to the first person to name the track he used it on….

Ghost meets up with Tim Westwood while in the UK speaking about upcoming projects Blue & Cream: The Wally Era and Wu-Block with The Lox, among other entertaining topics.