After the great Wu-Tang creative storm of 1999 was greeted with weak album sales and critical jeers, many were doubtful that the Clan Empire would be able to recover from the blow. Supreme Clientele not only eclipses the majority of recent Wu-related releases in terms of sheer hunger and in-your-face creativity, it marks a renewed sense of unification and strength within the Wu World Order. While the album's production credits go to such non-family members as Beatnut Juju, Carlos "Six July" Broady and the UMC's Hassan, all of its tracks were arranged by Ghostface and Wu sound-sensei RZA, giving the album a strong sense of focus. Beat-wise, the grooves harken back to the dungeon-raw Shaolin style of the Clan's mid-'90s prime, interwoven with early '70s soul orchestration, acid-rock guitar lines and thunderous bass loops. Lyrically, the Ironman's trademark rapid-fire cadence and vivid wordplay are as sharp as ever, particularly on the relentlessly gritty "Might Healthy" and on future-classic posse cuts such as "Buck 50," which features Method Man, Masta Killa, Cappadonna, and Redman. Supreme Clientele was well worth the wait, and a solid reminder as to why Ghostface's voice is the first one you hear on the Clan's inimitable debut. - CMJ New Music Monthly (February, 2000). Ghostface was razor sharp on this one. Revisit the LP below..
A copy of the February 21, 2000 review in CMJ New Music Report...
