Rza Afro Samurai [PA]

Audio Mixers: James Rabb; Mike Baiardi.
Recording information: 36 Chambers West, Tarzana, CA; Chop Shop Studios, Brooklyn, NY; Soundfile Studio, Studio City, CA; Wooden Snares, Oakland, CA; Woodwn Snares, Oakland, CA.
The job of putting background beatscapes to the Spike TV martial arts anime miniseries AFRO SAMURAI, which stars the voice of Hollywood badazz Samuel L. Jackson, is a project worthy of one man alone. And as expected, the abbot of the Wu-Tang Clan rises to the occasion, laying down a slew of characteristically moody yet epic instrumental tracks, along with a share of blazing vocal cuts. The list of diverse MCs includes Q-Tip, Free Murder, the GZA, and Talib Kweli, as well as a line-up of peripheral Wu affiliates such as the Black Knights, True Master, 60 Second Assassin, and Suga Bang. Perhaps the hottest track comes courtesy of Big Daddy Kane who flips some of his classic lines from the Juice Crew era into a memorable hook on the inspired cut, "Cameo Afro." RZA's love of kung-fu movies, hard boom-bap beats, and cinematic sonic landscapes is the main attraction, though, and it works perfectly to evoke the show's brilliant combination of surrealist narrative and martial-arts action.

• Format: CD
• Genre: R&B