For the last few years, Wu-Tang Clan member Cappadonna has been busy touring, as well as making numerous guest appearances, but his latest appearance of note was on the Wu-Tang Clan's notable reunion, "8 Diagrams". Known for his clever wordplay and lyrical dexterity, Cap now returns with his first full-length album in years, "Slang Prostitution". Featured on this soon-to-be classic are none other than his Wu-Tang compadres Raekwon the Chef (Lex Diamond Story/Only Built 4 Cuban Linx) and Masta Killa (No Said Date/Made In Brooklyn). Also featured are King Just (Mystics of the God), JoJo Pellegrino, Lounge Lo, G-Clef da Mad Komposa, and others. Production by G-Clef Da Mad Komposa, Blastah Beatz, Digem Tracks, Q-Dini, Soul Professa, B.T. and others.
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For the last few years, Wu-Tang Clan member Cappadonna has been busy touring, as well as making numerous guest appearances, but his latest appearance of note was on the Wu-Tang Clan's notable reunion, "8 Diagrams". Known for his clever wordplay and lyrical dexterity, Cap now returns with his first full-length album in years, "Slang Prostitution". Featured on this soon-to-be classic are none other than his Wu-Tang compadres Raekwon the Chef (Lex Diamond Story/Only Built 4 Cuban Linx) and Masta Killa (No Said Date/Made In Brooklyn). Also featured are King Just (Mystics of the God), JoJo Pellegrino, Lounge Lo, G-Clef da Mad Komposa, and others. Production by G-Clef Da Mad Komposa, Blastah Beatz, Digem Tracks, Q-Dini, Soul Professa, B.T. and others.
The self-proclaimed Wu-Tang reject is back! Cappadonna’s been back a few times already, but this time he’s really back; back to the formula that made hip hop fans worldwide fell in love with his unorthodox style the first time they heard Ice Cream.
With this latest album titled Slang Prostitution, listeners shouldn’t expect a second coming of The Pillage, because the Donnamite has matured. Now a veteran artist, Cap has been through a lot over the last 10 years and he lets the audience know through his music.
The album starts off with part one of the You Can’t Keep A Good Man Down series of interludes. With those three acappella tracks Donna should now be known as the most honest MC that ever rapped. Daryl Hill opens up about his struggles both professional and personal, but he remains confident that his will to be a good person in this world full of evils guarantees his success; all that without any beat to back him up.
Savage Life and Stay Shining both produced by Digem Tracks Productions are along the same lines; refreshing and honest. Cap spits powerful raps with a strong positive message over fitting production.
Without stealing the spot light away from Poppi Wardrobe King, Slang Prostitution features quite a good number of posse cuts. Out of the four tracks featuring at least three emcees, Pistachio really stands out. This song features four Staten Island veterans going back to back and ripping to shreds a very dope beat from newcomer Soul Professa. Jay Bird, his brother Lounge Lo, and King Just all provide strong verses, but Lugar aka MegaDon really pours his heart out on this one:
“And to think I even took a bid for niggaz/loaded 40 glock, half a brick for niggaz /first time felon for the click my niggaz /and this the thanks I get, bullsh*t my niggaz.”
Other interesting guest spots on the album come from Clansmen Raekwon and Masta Killa. MK shines particularly bright on the Rastafarian Fire, while the Chef is in CL2 mode on Life’s a Gamble.
Long-time collaborator Ghostface Killah is nowhere to be found and would have been much appreciated on Do You Remember?; a nice attempt at an amusing let’s-talk-about-the-good-old-days song, but somehow out of place on this release.
The other solo joints on Slang Prostitution are what make this album so strong, starting with the first single Somebody’s Got to Go. G-Clef da Mad Komposa crafted a perfect beat for Cap and Cap really went in with the flow and lyrics. The live trumpet and saxophone give the track a warm feeling and the signing sampled for the chorus blends in very nicely. Cap’s delivery is so unique and the way he attacks the track is pure genius.
“Aiyo, my thoughts jump around like a dog in a river
The heat I deliver, the beat, I get rid of
The cinema hitter, when I'mma getter,
The fat rhyme spitter, heavy with the flow
Somebody got to go, somebody got to know...”
Hustle and Flow and What’s Really Up are other lyrical gems to look out for on Slang Prostitution. The G-Clef assisted Grungy also contains lyrics that are quite interesting. Once again Cappachino gives listeners a good dose of honesty addressing is on-again off-gain Clansman status.
Cap may not be as lyrically abstract as when he first came out, but the flow is still off the chain. That Staten Island Shit could have been that abstract cut fans were hoping for, but it’s bugged out mainly because of all the crazy ad-libs and shouting and not because of its content or style. Without being a bad track, this street anthem doesn’t really fit with the rest of the album.
If you’re looking for banging beats, check out Speed Knotz and Da Vorzon. The latter, produced by Portugal’s own Blastah Beatz, is what the Wu fans call a Wu-Banga. Everything from this track is raw; starting with the heavy bass and grimy hook to the going-for-the jugular verses courtesy of the Blood Brothers.
I will end this review with a suggestion: make Walk With Me- the next single. This song keeps growing on me every time I listen to it and has the potential to be a club banger. The beat is really creative (the high heels knocking on the pavement is brilliant), Cap is on his A-game without being excessive and Skinslaya’s chorus is so damn catchy.
I don’t really like to give grades on album as I feel it’s always biased since it’s based on other music you heard prior, but for those who really want to know, I give it 7.5 records out of 10.
