RZA's TV debut another success with Afro Samurai soundtrack
The clean, soothing rhythm contrasts with his early work.
Published Feb. 5, 2009
By now, rapper/producer RZA has accomplished pretty much everything someone in the hip-hop industry can expect to accomplish. From being the mastermind behind the legendary rap group Wu-Tang Clan to producing several platinum records for solo artists, RZA has thrived in almost every project he has touched.
That is why it is no surprise that he has once again succeeded in creating a masterpiece with his latest album, Afro Samurai: Resurrection, the soundtrack to the Japanese anime series Afro Samurai. Although it wasn't the first time he has traveled into the film industry (he is set to star in Quentin Tarantino's latest film), RZA has never before created the original soundtrack for a TV series.
There is no doubt RZA has literally mastered the craft of producing music, and Afro Samurai is another perfect display of his genius. His simple, almost West Coast beats are and always have been combined with styles of music from a broad variety of genres including classical, jazz and tribal to create a unique sound that appeals to listeners both inside an outside of the hip-hop industry.
It is clear when listening to this album that RZA has grown as a producer over the years. The clean, almost soothing array of tracks on this album is a stark contrast to his earlier works with the raw and drug-induced Wu-Tang Clan, where he primarily focused on creating beats that seemed to be trying to reflect anger and insanity.
On "Take the Sword pt. III," RZA mixes a melodious piano with a basic drum beat to create an piercingly eerie sound that satisfies the phrase "Less is more."
Quantitatively, there is not as much going on in RZA's tracks are there are in many mainstream rap songs today, where the 808 drum machine is king and there are never enough different sounds in a given song. He has never cared about being as mainstream as other top producers such as Kanye West and Timbaland, instead choosing to remain true to his experimental and raw style.
He seems to focus on the quality of the original sounds he chooses to use, many of which have never been featured on a rap album before. Whether he has an intense knowledge of sounds or simply has an ear for good music, RZA makes this album work.
Clearly focusing on the production of this album, RZA gives most of the verses to other rappers, all of whom complement his old-school style perfectly. With names like Rah Digga and 60 Second Assassin gracing many of the tracks on Afro Samurai, many would question why such a prominent hip-hop figure such as RZA would choose to work with such underground rappers, but again, RZA makes it work. This seems to showcase RZA's ability to find the perfect pieces for his music in the oddest of places, considering many of the rappers are virtually unknown in mainstream hip-hop.
While this work by RZA most likely won't achieve the level of commercial success that the Wu-Tang Clan and Ol' Dirty Bastard generated, it is not at all because of RZA's ability as a producer. He is widely regarded as a top dog in the hip-hop industry, and with that praise comes certain freedoms to work on projects that are not necessarily going to be the most popular. This, however, does not mean RZA will disappoint. In fact, Afro Samurai among his best works to date.