The RZA Hits
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2014) |
| The RZA Hits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | June 22, 1999 | |||
| Recorded | 1993–1998 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 61:22 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | ||||
| RZA chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |  link |
| Robert Christgau | A−[1] |
The RZA Hits is a compilation produced by The RZA. It contains songs featured on the first Wu-Tang Clan album and its first round of solo albums. All songs, apart from "Brooklyn Zoo", are produced by RZA.
Reception
[edit]- Entertainment Weekly (Spring 2000, p. 166) - Ranked #9 in EW's "Top 10 albums of the '90s"
- Q magazine (8/99, p. 134) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...a supremely populist selection...keeping the molten hit count high. If the consistency of these prime-time cuts was sustained, this would probably be the best rap compilation ever rather than merely one of the best."
- Muzik (8/99, p. 79) - 5 stars (out of 5) - "...singular brilliance....Greatest Hits is as effective an insight into [RZA's] unique Staten Island mayhem as the title suggests."
- Rap Pages (9/99, p. 182) - "...the perfect reference manual for [RZA's] importance to rap music....a must-listen for anyone who has ever uttered the word 'Hip-Hop'." - Rating: A
Track listing
[edit]| # | Title | Songwriters | Producer | Performer | Original Album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Narration By The RZA" | RZA | RZA | 1:03 | ||
| 2 | "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit" | L. Hawkins, R. Jones, J. Hunter, D. Coles, R. Diggs Jr., C. Woods, G. Grice, C. Smith | RZA | Wu-Tang Clan | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | 3:36 |
| 3 | "Protect Ya Neck" | L. Hawkins, R. Jones, J. Hunter, D. Coles, R. Diggs Jr., C. Woods, G. Grice, C. Smith | RZA | Wu-Tang Clan | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | 4:52 |
| 4 | "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" | R. Jones, R. Diggs | RZA | Ol' Dirty Bastard | Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version | 2:41 |
| 5 | "Liquid Swords" | G. Grice, R. Diggs, J. Zawinul, F. Cavaliere, E. Brigati | RZA | GZA | Liquid Swords | 3:01 |
| 6 | "Narration By The RZA" | RZA | RZA | 1:20 | ||
| 7 | "Method Man" | L. Hawkins, R. Jones, J. Hunter, D. Coles, R. Diggs Jr., C. Woods, G. Grice, C. Smith | RZA | Wu-Tang Clan | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | 4:55 |
| 8 | "Incarcerated Scarfaces" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | RZA | Raekwon | Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... | 4:30 |
| 9 | "Ice Cream" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | RZA | Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Raekwon | Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... | 4:16 |
| 10 | "Narration By The RZA" | RZA | RZA | 1:31 | ||
| 11 | "Bring the Pain" | C. Smith, R. Diggs | RZA | Method Man | Tical | 3:15 |
| 12 | "Winter Warz" | D. Coles, L. Hawkins, C. Woods, E. Turner, D. Hill, R. Diggs Jr. | RZA | Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, Raekwon, U-God | Ironman | 4:41 |
| 13 | "Brooklyn Zoo" | R. Jones | True Master & Ol' Dirty Bastard | Ol' Dirty Bastard | Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version | 3:40 |
| 14 | "All I Need" | C. Smith, R. Diggs | RZA | Method Man | Tical | 3:16 |
| 15 | "C.R.E.A.M." | L. Hawkins, R. Jones, J. Hunter, D. Coles, R. Diggs Jr., C. Woods, G. Grice, C. Smith, I. Hayes, D. Porter | RZA | Wu-Tang Clan | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | 4:12 |
| 16 | "All That I Got Is You" | D. Coles, M.J. Blige, R. Diggs Jr., B. Gordy, D. Richards, A. Mizell, F. Perren | RZA | Ghostface Killah, Mary J. Blige, Popa Wu | Ironman | 5:00 |
| 17 | "Narration By The RZA About Wu Wear" | RZA | RZA | 1:40 | ||
| 18 | "Wu Wear The Garment Renaissance" | R. Diggs | RZA | Cappadonna, Method Man, RZA | High School High (soundtrack) | 3:53 |
Samples used
[edit]- "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit" contains samples of "Impeach The President" by The Honey Drippers and "Hihache" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band.
- "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" contains samples of "Hip-Hug-Her" by Booker T. & the MG's, "I Like It" by The Emotions, "Knocks Me Off My Feet" by Stevie Wonder and "Have Your Ass Home by 11:00" by Richard Pryor.
- "Liquid Swords" contains samples of "Groovin'" and "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" by Willie Mitchell and "That's the Way It Is" by Al Green.
- "Method Man" contains samples of "Sport" by Lightnin Rod, "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss and "More Bounce To The Ounce" by Zapp. Also contains interpolations of "I'm Just A Bill," originally performed by Schoolhouse Rock, and "Method of Modern Love", originally performed by Hall & Oates.
- "Incarcerated Scarfaces" contains samples of "Wang Dang Doodle" by Koko Taylor and "You're Gettin' a Little Too Smart" by The Detroit Emeralds.
- "Bring the Pain" contains a sample of "Mechanical Man" by Jerry Butler.
- "Winter Warz" contains a sample of "I Think I'd Do It" by Z. Z. Hill.
- "All I Need" contains a sample of "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss, and an interpolation of "You're All I Need To Get By," originally performed by Marvin Gaye.
- "C.R.E.A.M." contains a sample of "As Long As I've Got You" by The Charmells.
- "All That I Got Is You" contains a sample of "Maybe Tomorrow" by The Jackson 5.
- "Wu Wear The Garment Renaissance" contains a sample of "Don't Take My Kindness for Weakness" by The Soul Children.
Album chart positions
[edit]| Year | Album | Chart positions | |
| Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | ||
| 1999 | The RZA Hits | #61 | #30 |
Credits
[edit]Wu-Tang Clan
[edit]- Inspectah Deck – vocals, lyrics
- Ghostface Killah – executive producer, vocals, lyrics
- GZA/Genius – vocals, lyrics
- Masta Killa – vocals, lyrics
- Method Man – vocals, producer, lyrics
- Ol' Dirty Bastard – vocals, producer, lyrics
- RZA/Prince Rakeem – arranger, executive producer, mixing, producer, programming, vocals, lyrics
- Raekwon – vocals, lyrics
- U-God – vocals, lyrics
- Cappadonna - vocals, lyrics
Additional personnel
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Christgau, Robert (July 27, 1999). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
