Steve 'Flash' JuonThe solo debut of Masta Killa was so long delayed that some people forgot he was an original member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Even die hard Wu fans might have wondered if he was “official” given that he didn’t get shouted out as a member in the intro to “Method Man.” You can recite it by heart if you were around back then. “From the slums of Shaolin!” The only two people not mentioned by name on the track are Masta Killa and Cappadonna, and if you ever wondered why I’m about to break it down for you real quick.
Killa (Elgin Turner) was a friend/protege of GZA (Gary Grice) but was not yet part of the Wu when they started to lay down demos and produce their breakout single “Protect Ya Neck.” In our interview with Masta Killa, he revealed that his verse on “Da Mystery of Chessboxin'” came down to a last minute choice between him or Killah Priest, which is substantiated by the fact his is also the last verse on the track. Now obviously he’s a biased narrator but if taken at face value he wanted that shot so badly he stayed up all night coming up with his bars while Priest slept — a classic “you snooze, you lose” scenario. His place in history was forever cemented by that decision. As for Cappadonna (Darryl Hill) he lost out on being part of the group’s debut due to an untimely prison bid and wouldn’t be able to solidify his presence until Raekwon’s solo album dropped.
Appropriately enough Killa, Cappa and Rae perform together on “Eagle Claw,” the second track of Killa’s new solo album “Balance.” Credit due to Nick Price on production — his instrumental strips away the layers and takes us right back to the Wu’s rugged debut. Sometimes all you need is crispy drums, high energy bars, and a few choice martial arts movie samples. If you told someone this was an unreleased demo from the 90’s they’d probably believe it. Price also laces the whistling “BK Harlem” to introduce us to Head I.C.E., a deep voiced emcee who I doubt would be caught dead with the more infamous ICE. The song’s slow pace might defy it being labeled as a banger but as a Wu loyalist it sounds good to me.
One thing you’ll quickly discover on the half hour of “Balance” is that Killa is generous in sharing the spotlight. Wu-Tang’s architect RZA appears on “Building With the Abbott,” a song where Killa reminds listeners of his vegetarian views (which he shares with his mentor GZA). Crooner Jamall Ray appears on the track “City” and Killa gives us a somber and thoughtful track reminiscing about his borough, his family, and his love of hip-hop. In a different era this song would have blown up on radio coast to coast. It doesn’t surprise me Method Man was on “Glad to Meet You” but Snoop Dogg was a bit unexpected!
Price has a steady hand on production on his tracks. It might be a compliment in reverse to say “he’s above average” but I’m shooting straight here. He doesn’t turn in embarrassing tracks or ones that would bore the emcees who appear on them, but they also ever-so-slightly above the head nodding threshold. They are perfectly serviceable and in all cases enjoyable. “Trumpets” seems him step aside to let Easy Mo Bee step up. It may seem like an inaccurate name for a song featuring violins, but you’ll forget it while listening to the all star lineup of Noreaga, AZ and Uncle Murda. If I was still making Wu mixtapes this would be on it.
“We from an era that still gets glorified” is a quote that encapsulates both the song and the album. “Balance” is a throwback that invites you to remember a time when emcees were rappers first and singers dead last. The only major downside here is the short length of the album in general and of songs like “King Custom” specifically — more than 70 seconds would have been welcomed. When the DJ FX produced “Again” ends, Wu fans will have no problem taking that advice and starting this one over. That’s the only other knock I could give this project really. It’s by an original Wu member, made for fans who grew up with the Wu, and both Killa and the rest of us are 30 years older now. It’s almost impossible to convince someone outside this circle to step into this insular world; here I am trying to do so anyway against all odds. Maybe you can give this one a shot if you’re tired of the same old shit.