Pro Tools - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Album Description
One of the most renowned and continually relevant Hip-Hop emcees of all time, GZA returns with his fifth solo album, Pro Tools. GZA is an original member of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan. GZA has established himself as a perennial force in Hip-Hop, having amassed sales of over 1.5 million units in his 13+ year solo career. GZA's contributions have driven the phenomenal success of the 2008 Wu-Tang Clan reunion album "8 Diagrams" as well as two of independent Hip Hop's flagship releases: "Think Differently Music: Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture" and the DJ Muggz/GZA collaboration "Grandmasters" (both having scanned close to 60,000+ units to date). After a summer 2007 headlining stint with the Wu-Tang Clan via the renowned 'Rock The Bells' tour, GZA is hitting the road throughout 2008 on the 'Liquid Swords' tour which touches down in over 20 markets. With an entrenched and rabidly loyal fan base, Pro Tools marks the long awaited return of one of Hip-Hop's most revered and respected emcees.

Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

GZA PRO TOOLS!! HIP HOP DIGNITY August 19, 2008
15 out of 17 found this review helpful

If you love Hip Hop, and I mean real hip hop, with dignity, fire and intelligence, this one is for you. If you like dumb commercial degradating hip hop, look somewhere else, this is really not for you. Some people have said the beats are cheap and Gza feels tired. I don't know what record are this people listening, or maybe they don't know nothing about real hip hop. Gza's flow is kinda laid-back but with an inner-force and power, that it makes you shut up and listen. He's one of the greatest mcs ever. HERE YOU HAVE THE PROOF. The lyrics are insanly great like nothing nowdays. He has improved his mc technique a lot over the years. Listen carefully at the songs here, some lyrics are even better and smarter and rougher than the lyrics on Liquid Swords, and that's saying a lot.

BE CAREFUL, this is not the record you put on a sunny day, drinking beer with your girls, NAHHH, this one you should blast when you're alone in your room, late in the night with heavy rain hitting your window. That's when the energy of this record shows up. Real dark, gritty vibe. SO COOL.

About the beats, here the thing: the album is called PRO TOOLS, which you know is an expensive hardware/software equipment to make sonically whatever you want. The title is ironic because most of the beats here are really simple (but really great), so you don't need proo tools to work them out. BUT here GZA demostrates he don't need no advanced technology to CUT YOUR NECK!!! YOU COULD START MAKING A BEAT WITH A SPOON OR ON A TABLE AN GZA WOULD COME UP AND RIP SHXT OFF. AND HE DOES.

This is probably Genius best album since Liquid Swords. But you should definetly check GRANDMASTERS with DJ MUGGS, another great great record, one the best hip hop albums in the new millenium. Wheter you are an old Wu Tang fan, or even if you aren't into wu tang, but love hip hop, listen this record. you will not be dissapointed, but this record may take some time to really enjoy. It's a difficult delightful album. Recoomended songs: "Life is A Movie", "Pencil", "Alphabets", "0% Finace", "Path Of Destruction", "Colombian Ties". sorry, I didn't want to mention it, but Gza TOTALLY DESTROYS 50 Cent in "Paper Plates". How are you gonna respond to that 50??? It's funny how son many people don't understand the lyrics, probably this is just too smart for some. Hard-hitting verses you got there.

SUPPORT REAL HIP HOP!!!! WE NEED MORE RAP LIKE THIS. NOT THAT SXXT YOU SEE IN MTV. PEACE.

5 out of 5 stars

GZA BACK WITH HEAT! August 20, 2008
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

After a 3 year break from his album "Grandmasters", GZA comes back harder than ever with "Pro Tools". An album consisting of 16 tracks, dope from beginning to end with bangers.

Lyrically, GZA is not even close to have fallen off. His lyrics are as sharp as ever, his music has matured and if you've listened to all of his previous work you can tell. His flow is more laid back, and similar to the flow in "Grandmasters". But there is no reason to down his flow, emcees change over the years! But lyrically, GZA is on point and would rip any lame guy popular in the game right now.

The production on the album is just nuts. My favorite beats would have to be, "Pencil", "7 Pounds", "Paper Plates", "Firehouse", "Cinema", "Life Is A Movie". In this album, you got production by Mathematics, True Master, Bronze, Black Milk, Jose Reynoso, Arabian Knight, RZA, Rock Marcy, Jay Waxx Garfield. Its good to see that 4 Wu affiliated producers took part in this album cause it makes it just that much more better.

I'm glad to hear such good music like this, considering all the garbage that is plaguing mainstream Hip-Hop at this moment in time. I recommend this album to ALL Wu-Tang fans first up, and to any real heads, you'll definitely feel this album!!! Long live WU!

My Top 5 Songs
1.Pencil
2.7 Pounds
3.Paper Plates
4.Columbian Ties
5.Life Is A Movie

5 out of 5 stars

GZA Isn't Capable Of Running Out Of Ideas! August 19, 2008
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

To start this off, I don't judge a GZA album by how much it does, or doesn't sound like Liquid Swords (though that is one of my favorite albums of all time.) I judge by quality, and can honestly say - this is a 4 to 5 star album. I'll give it 4.5!

Anyway's ...

Last night, luck was on my side. I was at my local music shop browsing the Hip Hop section, and as I was exiting the aisle, the cover of Pro Tools caught my attention. I had to check my phone to make sure it really was Monday, and sure enough it was ... someone put a few copies on the shelf, the day before its scheduled release. I then rushed home, eager to listen, and devour the new material from my favorite MC.

After the first listen, I was amazed at how consistant GZA is. He never lets his fans down, and by fans I mean real ones who allow him to create whatever he feels he must, and not compare everything to the almighty Liquid Swords. Once I got to the second listen, the lyrics started to hit home more and more. This is a straight up well crafted piece of work. In my opinion, Beneath The Surface, Legend Of The Liquid Sword, and Grandmasters are all excellent albums, but they had a few filler tracks. Pro Tools on the other hand is legit from start to finish. I suppose though that "Firehouse" is the only track I can do without, but other than that, GZA proves once again that he isn't capable of running out of material. I really wish more MC's would put as much thought, and effort into their lyrics. You can tell he takes this art seriously, and that he doesn't toy with rushed rhymes. I must note that GZA isn't the only one who kills it on here. Fellow Wu bloodkin RZA spits major bars on the second track entitled "Pencil." It's been a while since I've heard him spit like that, not to say that RZA's fallen off or anything. RZA also contributes to the production of the 50 cent, Tony Yayo diss track "Paper Plate" and also provides unique production for the track "Life Is A Movie." The production aside from that is solid. The beats go well with the whole vibe of Pro Tools, and are nothing to complain about.

Here's the tracks broken down;

"Pencil" - Great way to start it off. RZA's verse dominates. It's good to have the presence of Masta Killa on here as well.

"Alphabets" - Sharp rhmyes, Typical GZA track.

"Groundbreaking" - Just the first few bars are vicious. Man, GZA knows how to start a verse. His son Young Justice gets a few lines in. Hope to hear more of him in the future.

"7 Punds" - GZA's merciless even on his chorus's. This is probably one of the illest chorus's I've ever heard in Hip Hop. To top it off, it's backed up by a nice bouncy beat.

"0% Finance" - On "Lables" he uses just about every record lable name, on "Publicity" he uses magazine title names, on "Animal Planet" he uses just about every animal name (for the most part) on "Fame" he uses celebrity names, and on "Queens Gambit" he uses footbal team names. Well on this track he carries on that tradition, but this time it's with car companies/terminalogy. Dope track.

"Short Race" - A rather serious story he tells, but this stuff goes on. It needs to be mentioned.

"Paper Plate" - puts 50, and Tony Yayo in their place. OUCH!

"Columbian Ties" - Probably one of the best Hip Hop tracks I've heard about war.

"Firehouse" - Great beat, but I'm personally not diggin' Ka. Oh well.

"Path Of Destruction" - Great story, damn! GZA likes to cover topics that deal with the under dogs. Someone's gotta do it, and well, GZA more than does it.

"Cinema" - probably not a track you're gonna blast in the ride on a sunny day, but it isn't for that. The lyrics are straight fire. This is stricly sharp story telling lyricism. His son is also present on this track as well.

"Life Is A Movie" - It's RZA's unique production that really gets me on this. I'd love to see anyone other than RZA produce a track like this. The chorus is odd for a Hip Hip chorus, but of course; GZA, and RZA's rhymes are A+.

"Elastic Audio" - Live performance of classic lines. Cool bonus track.

In closing, this is definately a must own. If you're a GZA, Wu Tang, or Hip Hop junkie - BUY THIS ALBUM - support real music. GZA put hard work, and effort into this for the fans, and the least we can do is spend $ 10 - $15 in return. I assure you, it's worth every dollar.

5 out of 5 stars

Sick August 19, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

The GZA does it again. Some of the sickest lyricism I've heard in years. All you fake rappers should learn a thing or two from this album. If you want to touch these guys you need to invest in a vocabulary and attempt to use some form of creativity. No one does it better than the mighty WU. I feel like its the summer of 97 all over again.

5 out of 5 stars

SHAOLIN RISING!!!!! August 21, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Beginning with the Wu-Tang & Ghost Releases back in December, the Wu-family has now had a string of rock solid CD's. In June the run continued when RZA released DIGI-SNAX. Long Past the Commercial Mega-Stars of the 90's The Clan members create works of art with the precision of expert craftsmen.

GZA/Genius Crafts his swords to razor sharp lyrics & production on his new release PRO TOOLS. Laid Back Beats and crystal clear lyrics fashion life on the streets. A life misunderstood by mainstream media, Defended by GZA's crew and their lyrical swordsmanship; after all you never see followers of 50 Cent wearing a G-Unit tatoo as the Genius reminds us. Remember this, Wu Tang is forever. G-Unit is temporary!

Great album GZA

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