Wu-Tang Clan Reveals New Album Details
Innovative hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan has announced its new album,
The 8 Diagrams, will hit stores December 4, 2007 (rather than the previously set date November 13, 2007). The album is the group’s first in six years, following 2001’s
Iron Flag.
The 8 Diagrams will feature tracks from the eight remaining members of the group along with unreleased vocals by the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard who died in 2004.
A message on the group’s MySpace page initially claimed the album featured the first-ever authorized sample of a Beatles song. Soon after, the group clarified this statement: “…we did an INTERPOLATION of the classic George Harrison composition 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps.' In a historic collaboration, Dhani Harrison, son of George, through his friendship with the RZA, played guitar on the song and he himself helped secure the REUSE LICENSE.”
The track will feature other well-known musicians: “Also appearing on the song are John Frusciante, guitar player for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Erykah Badu singing the chorus.” The track is planned to be the album’s first single and video.
Speaking of the group’s comeback in a released statement, frontman RZA says, “This is the perfect time for us to come back, the stars are aligned. It’s like when we first started with Steve (Rifkind). We put out real hip hop at a time when it was turning into pop or R&B. We brought the focus back to the music in its rawest form, without studio polish or radio hooks... People want something that gives them an adrenaline rush. We’re here to supply that fix. How could hip hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever?”
