Wu Tang Iron Flag

In 1993 the Wu-Tang Clan redefined hip-hop with their gritty debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). With the proliferation of a whole slew of questionable solo projects from group members Raekwon (Immobilarity) and RZA (Digital Bullet--huh?) to a recently slapped together Ol' Dirty Bastard greatest-hits compilation, everybody's fave rap group have been on autopilot. On Iron Flag, the rap assassins from Staten Island give you sharp reminders of what made them so brilliant. Knob twiddler extraordinaire RZA mishmashes obscure soul riffs and horn blasts on "Uzi (Pinky Ring)" and "Rules," upping the mixing-console ante. "Back in the Game" brilliantly utilizes the ubiquitous love croons of Ronald Isley over a sparse piano loop and scattered acoustic guitars, while Flavor Flav's guest rants on "Soul Power (Black Jungle)" take this one over the top. Sure there are a few toss-away tracks, like "Chrome Wheels," where the Clan lazily rip misogynist rhymes over an uninspiring Alexander O'Neal sample, but eclectic, low-bpm numbers like "Babies" more than make up for the crew's few shortcomings. Ol' Dirty Bastard, the only Wu banger who couldn't record on this album, is in some correctional facility smiling right now. --Dalton Higgins