It’s not so hard to figure out: Wu-Tang Clan vs. Fugazi = Wugazi and the result is this “13 Chambers”, obviously 13 tracks available for free download at the official site . Actually, Wugazi is a labor of love by Cecil Otter & Swiss Andy. A year’s worth of cutting up every imaginable Fugazi record and trying out every Wu-Tang acapella they could get their hands on, resulted in this record. Now I had my own little problem with it: I saw a few years back Wu-Tang Clan at a festival, it wasn’t my choice to listen them, I was interested in Marilyn Manson who performed after them, but honestly, don’t matter how open-minded I might be, it was the worst live shit I ever had the bad luck to bear. Too many black guys with too many microphones rapping over a boring loop of four beats for one too long hour about how bad is to be black and how hard is their life in America. I really don’t give a shit about it and well, if life sucks in America, Africa is still on large, isn’t it? (Just like lefties can emigrate to Cuba anytime…)
On the other hand, Fugazi, formed in Washington, D.C. in 1987 and being on hiatus since 2003, is one of the leading bands of the post-hardcore movement, band formed by Ian MacKaye after legendary Minor Threat was dissolved in 1983.
So, kind of bitter-sweet, bad-good mixture of “stuffs” – exclusively from my point of view.
Wugazi • 13 Chambers by WUGAZI
Cecil Otter is an emcee & producer, and one of the founding members of Doomtree. He has contributed to over a dozen records. His most recent full-length, Rebel Yellow, was re-released by Sage Francis for Strange Famous Records. He’s now recording his solo project, Porcelain Revolver.
Swiss Andy is a musician & producer residing in Minneapolis. He has been a contributor to several bands including The Millionth Word, Field Guide and The Swiss Army. He is currently working on a remix of Rebel Yellow.
So, I’m not into rap and hip hop too often, but well, I had my share of The Beastie Boys, House Of Pain and Cypress Hill at the beginning of the 90s and still, from time to time if I stumble into some hip hop stuffs, I won’t refuse to listen it, sometimes I have nice surprises.
“13 Chambers” is more hip hop than Fugazi, but still, it’s much better than I actually expected. It’s made of good grooves, it has a warm, friendly vibe, it’s excellent for waving around if you know what I mean. Even the Wu-Tang’s acapellas are better than I hoped for. I know, I know, in 2007, MTV ranked Wu-Tang the fifth greatest hip hop group of all time, and one year later, About.com ranked them the number one greatest hip hop group of all time, but still, after that incredibly low quality and totally meaningless gig, I just can’t stand them…
But this is nice. Really.
