Meth, Ghost And Rae, "Criminology 2.5"

I remember people saying, back when the recession started, one good thing that could maybe come out of it was it could save music from its dismal state. Not the music industry, which was already pretty much doomed whatever happened, but music itself. Because of the commonly held belief that bad times make for good music. I guess because of the famously fertile early ‘70s? That is probably my favorite musical era. But maybe that’s because that’s when I was born. Do people have a built-in preference for the music that was made around the time they were? Do the first sounds we hear, even before we’re fully conscious of it, become the ones our tastes gravitate to? Pandora should do a study. Anyway, I was skeptical. And I guess I still am. It’s always hard to see the relative quality (if it’s even valid to assert such a thing) of current art without the benefit of a couple years’ hindsight. But I’d offer the resurgence of the Wu-Tang Clan as evidence that something good did happen during the recession. It has taken me by surprise in a way that makes me very happy. Above, “Criminology 2.5,” the first track from the Wu-Masacre album, coming March 30th from Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon the Chef. It’s a remake of a 1995 song, but the guys sound as strong and as sharp as ever. They’ve maybe mellowed a bit with age, but not in a bad way. Here’s the track list and production credits for the new album:

1. Criminology 2.5 (feat. Raekwon, Ghostface Killah & Method Man)
2. Mef vs. Chef (feat. Rhythm Roots Allstars) (prod. by Allah Mathematics)
3. Ya Moms skit (feat. Method Man & Raekwon)
4. Smooth Sailing Remix (feat. Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Solomon Childs & Streetlife) (prod. by Ty Fyffe)
5. Our Dreams (feat. Raekwon, Ghostface Killah & Method Man) (prod. by RZA)
6. Gunshowers (feat. Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck & Sun God) (prod. by Digem Tracks Productions)
7. Dangerous (feat. Rhythm Roots Allstars) (prod. by Allah Mathematics)
8. Pimpin’ Chipp (feat. Rhythm Roots Allstars) (prod. by E Meal)
9. How To Pay Rent skit (feat. Tracy Morgan)
10. Miranda (feat. Raekwon, Ghostface Killah & Method Man) (prod. by Allah Mathematics)
11. Youngstown Heist (feat. Trife, Sheek & Bully) (prod. by Scram Jones)
12. It’s That Wu Shit (feat. Ghostface Killah & Method Man) (prod. by Scram Jones)

Here’s the video for the original “Criminology Rap,” from Rae’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, which probably gets my vote for greatest rap album of all-time.