Return of the Wu and Friends is the second offering of off-cuts and unreleased material from the Wu Tang's long time DJ and producer Mathematics. The album consists of tracks that didn't make the cut for The W album back in 2000 and a number of unreleased tracks from the following eight years.

This all sounds a bit dated on paper but with the Clan resurgent at the moment, I, like many fans, was very excited to hear this. Sadly although the production is very listenable it isn't up to the standard you'd expect from a Wu release.

The other problem with this album is that most of the tracks are labelled as exclusive, but in the internet age anyone with a passing interest in the Wu will have heard most of the clan MCs verses already.

The attempt to market this as a genuine album is clearly a mistake, as there is a mixtape feel throughout it, even down to the constant "I know why you're here" jingle which punctuates every track. As a mixtape, most of my complaints would evaporate, especially if it was a free download - which is the norm for releasing unwanted studio sessions.

On the plus side, there are improvements on Mathematics previous effort, which was plagued by a lack of big name members of the group representing on the tracks. This time round there is no danger of that with Raekwon and Ghostface featuring heavily, plus able support from Method Man, the RZA and GZA as well as the familiar warblings of the late great ODB. The other saving grace is that a coherent sound is presented for the duration and this does elevate the album past some of the patchy major label offerings out there.

This could have made a quality B-sides and unreleased mixtape, but the attempt to cash in on a mish mash of borrowed verses and the DJs own unreleased production leave this as something only Wu collectors will be desperate to buy. Everyone else - borrow it of that Wu afficionado you know from back in the day.

Clap 2010 feat. Raekwon, Ghostface, Method Man, U-God

Related Links:

• US Hip Hop Release Round Up
• Wu Tang Clan UK Live Shows
• Year Of The Hip Hop Sequel
• Raekwon Interview In The Guardian
• Free Reflection Eternal Mixtape

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