U-God - Mr. Excitement

Genre hip hop Publisher Free Agency Recordings External Links Official Website Free Agency Recordings

I think too many main-stream hip-hop albums follow this same formula of songs: There is the "I'm the dopest" song, followed by the "I'm really from the ghetto, and I'm capable of violence" song. Then there is an "I have all kinds of cool stuff, chicks and 'bitches' really dig me" type of track, with some sort of skit involving gunshots interspersed in between. Oh, and don't forget the "Seriously, I'm a hardass" reprise. Striking out on his own away from the Wu Tang machine with Free Agency Recordings, U-God still follows these guidelines in his second solo album Mister Excitement. I am a fan of Wu Tang, so I usually give all of the Wu Tang byproducts a listen just as I gave the Gravediggaz (who are awesome).

After listening to it through and through however, I found the album missing the knack that RZA and GZA usually provide. It often seemed to be an exercise in those hip-hop clichés; complete with "sucka MC's," and extensive cataloguing of expensive possessions, cars, and accessories which ends up sounding almost like a commercial. Instead of focusing on violence, the only skit on the album is an actual phone call from famous boxing promoter Don King himself, which is actually hilarious.

"UTang, Wu Tang, I know who you are!!" Don King yells.

Don't get me wrong, U-God is very talented, and the songs aren't all that bad. Track three, "Hit 'em Up, Roll Out" has some quick rhymes doubled over a slow war-beat that is probably the most Rza-esque on the album (even though this album is produced separately from the Wu-Enterprise). The song "I'm Talkin' to You" has a cool and melodic distorted guitar carrying the melody, followed again by the Wu-esque syncopated bass.

I haven't seen U-God live, and I'm sure that he kicks all kinds of ass onstage in a stadium or a club, but I can't help wishing that perhaps RZA would have taken the best two songs off of this album and featured them in the next full-length Wu Tang album. I only wish U-God would cover some more complex context in his lyrics, instead of marching over the same threats and boasts.