Meth, Rae & Ghost f. Trife, Sheek Louch and Bully, “Youngstown Heist” MP3

This Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface album is shaping up to be really solid. Like, solid in the way that a trio of dudes who know their new place in rap’s hierarchy and have complete control over it can be. All three are enjoying a sort of second career—rapping hyper-detailed crime stories over dirty soul and (thankfully) not complaining about the state of rap. This time around they’re joined by the perpetually really awesome but underrated Trife da God and the reliably rugged Sheek Louch as well as Bully.



Download: Meth, Rae & Ghost f. Trife, Sheek Louch and Bully, “Youngstown Heist” (via Nah Right)

Raekwon, “Wallys and Pringles” Freestyle MP3

Some of the best work Raekwon’s been doing lately is when he comes out of nowhere and raps straight through the song, with no choruses for like two minutes, over some minimal late-’70s/early ’80s downtown New York dance shit. He did it on MF Doom’s last album with “Yessir” over ESG’s “UFO,” and now he’s got the excellently named, Alchemist-produced “Wallys and Pringles” freestyle over little more than a bongo drum and the occasional bass stab. The only thing that could make this better is an appearance by Ghostface. Side note: Did Raekwon finally make a song about the famous photo shoot the above picture is from?



Download: Raekwon, “Wallys and Pringles” (via Nah Right)

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Raekwon, Ghostface and Method Man, “Criminology 2.5″ MP3

Alternate song title for this was “Wu-Tang: Grumpier Old Men.” A revisiting of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx classic “Criminology” from the Wu trio of 2010, this song leads off Wu-Massacre, which will be out at the end of March.



Download: Raekwon, Ghostface and Method Man, “Criminology 2.5″

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Wu-Tang vs The Beatles: Enter The Magical Mystery Chamber

We know we know, but this is actually pretty decent. It won’t induce the same media frenzy as The Grey Album but that probably shouldn’t have caused that media frenzy in the first place, just sayin. Some fellow named Tom Caruana took Wu-cappelas from various group and solo albums and put them over new productions made vaguely from Beatles samples and Beatles covers samples and some shit that couldn’t possibly be Beatles samples but must be. Thankfully, his pilfering of Liverpool’s finest is barely recognizable, except for Ghost’s “Mighty Healthy” which is now Pretty Toney rapping directly over Paul’s singing (kind of awesome) and dirty skank. If anything, Caruana holds pretty true to RZA and co.’s original mood, if not making Shaolin sound a whole helluva lot more awesome than it actually is.

UPDATE: If you don’t know who The Beatles are, here are some helpful charts.

Download: Wu-Tang vs The Beatles: Enter The Magical Mystery Chamber

Video: Raekwon f. Inspectah Deck, GZA, Ghostface Killah & Method Man, “House of Flying Daggers”

We’re definitely too old to still feel this way, but it would be pretty great if Wu-Tang actually went around beating up jerk ninjas.

llustrations by 1000Styles. Animation by Ryan Johnson and Drew Taylor. Directed by Erick Sasso and Brian Wendelken.

Raekwon Talks About Everything Ever

If you’re just sitting around trying to figure out how to spend an hour or so, you could do a lot worse than downloading audio from last night’s NoiseMakers session hosted by Peter Rosenberg and featuring Raekwon. We’re pretty familiar with the history of the Wu through the various documentaries, books and interviews that’ve been published over the years, but the Chef goes into minute detail on everything from the formation of the group to ODB’s use of Saran Wrap as a condom. Sounds safe!

Download: Raekwon Interview Part 1

Download: Raekwon Interview Part 2 (Grand Good via Rap Radar)

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Freeload: Ghostface, AZ and Inspectah Deck “Harbormasters” MP3

WOW it’s like when we got in the elevator to come to work this morning it was actually a time machine. This is from the forthcoming Wu-Tang record and its gritty rhythms and preponderance of actual “just rapping!” is A) a good idea and B) transports us back to the era of Ls and Triple Fat Goose (Geese?). Ghost even refers to himself as “Ghostdeini.” It’s a reminder of why Wu-Tang initially changed the game and why they are still able to rap and tour and release albums and people still care, as opposed to the laundry list of dudes who were relevant in the ’90s who are now, you know, really hoping desperately you will notice they dropped 3,475 kinda boring mixtapes last year. Bonus cut: Ghostface on “Forever” from his new solo album coming soon. Does this man ever sleep? How long will we love him? As long as he makes majorly clever romantic R&B songs: “Forever.” Ayo!



Download: Ghostface, AZ and Inspectah Deck, “Harbormasters”



Download: Ghostface, “Forever”

Freeload: Raekwon & Ghostface, “Criminology 09″

“Criminology 09″ is good, don’t get us wrong, but listen to Rae and Ghost’s verses in the original video above and then listen to this new one. One is filled with crazy vitriol and other is like Yeah… New York Giants… Super Bowl 2008… We Like Them.



Download: Raekwon & Ghostface, “Criminology 09″

Freeload: The RZA f. Kool G Rap, Ghostface Killah & Tash Mahogany, “Whar”

Yo, someone just informed us that RZA is really into martial arts, and he has turned that interest into a music career! For real, we remember the days when Kung Fu Theater was on UHF on Sundays, so there is nothing more interesting than one of our all-time favorite producers making music for a movie called Afro Samurai: The Resurrection, especially when that music is some of his grimiest in recent years like this megajoint with the gods. For the full media experience, hit mute on the trailer video above and listen to Ghostface spit while dudes get their heads chopped off. Afro Samurai the series debuts on January 25th on Spike TV, the movie is out on February 3rd, and RZA’s soundtrack stabs your brain on January 27th.



Download: The RZA f. Kool G Rap, Ghostface Killah & Tash Mahogany, “Whar”

How To: Touch RZA’s Ding-A-Ling and Get Kicked in the Face

Hearing about ODB makes dudes H.O.R.N.Y.

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