The fourth album from Wu Tang Clan member U God may not scale the heights of other Wu Tang solo releases, but it still showcases a lot of the best aspects of modern hip-hop. Though The Keynote Speaker kicks off in fairly pedestrian fashion with the somewhat predictable title-track and the equally underwhelming ‘Heads Up’, it soon springs to life courtesy of the moody, atmospheric ‘Fire’, which brings to mind artists such as Jay Electronica and Madlib, performers who have perhaps overtaken the Wu Tang crew in the hip hop pecking order.
Low-key, understated tunes are the order of the day with the likes of ‘Stars’, ‘Golden Arms’ and ‘Room Keep Spinning’ using a similar template to the aforementioned ‘Fire’. Nonetheless, U God does vary the dynamic on occasion and perhaps the standout track, ‘Fame’, (featuring Styles P, one of a plethora of guests including GZA, Method Man and Kool Keith), is built around funky rhythms and looped strings. Elsewhere, the terrific ‘Heavyweight’ is assembled from a danceable groove and a mass of samples, making for a heady sonic cocktail.
Overall, The Keynote Speaker lacks the fireworks we associate with the best Wu Tang output but it’s still a quality album.

Key Track: Fame