No Said Date

Masta Killa

Nature Sounds, 2004

http://myspace.com/mastakilla

REVIEW BY: Ben Ehrenreich

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 09/26/2007

The Wu-Tang Clan is famous for containing many very formidable MCs who create a slew of solo albums ranging from unbelievable (Only Built 4 Cuban Linxmy_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250 ) to atrocious (The Trials and Tribulations of Russell Jones).  Masta Killa is a newer member of the Clan, meaning that he did not make a major contribution to Enter The Wu-Tang, and he definitely surprises with a very solid solo release.

While No Said Date still contains the kung-fu samples synonymous with the Wu, songs like “Grab The Microphone” and “Love Spell” show Masta Killa’s ability to diversify his sound. “Grab The Microphone” is a strong first song and contains a nice subdued beat from producer Brock. In “Love Spell”, a very clever love song with an incredibly smooth hook, Masta Killa describes a date with a young lady. It is very strong because of its originality and honesty, which separates it from songs with similar topics.

Masta Killa also brings in quality MCs to  back him up on his debut such as Wu-affiliates Streetlife and Prodigal Sunn on the rambunctious “Whatever,” Wu-affiliate Killah Priest and Wu-vet Method Man on the piano laced “Secret Rivals” and Wu-top guns Inspectah Deck and GZA on the lyrical banger “Silverbacks.” The highlight, though, does not come until the last track, aptly titled “Masta Killa.” Masta Killa sounds at home with the Asian-influenced beat and the fitting Bruce Lee sample, and it ties the disc together.

No Said Date falters with the weak patch of “Skit,” “Digi Warfare” and “Old Man” that are unnecessary and unfocused. They are by no means horrible, but disrupt the consistency of the album.

But otherwise, No Said Date is a very promising debut from Masta Killa and a must have for any Wu fan.

Rating: B+

User Rating: Not Yet Rated


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© 2007 Ben Ehrenreich and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Nature Sounds, and is used for informational purposes only.