[LP Snippets] U-GOD - "The Keynote Speaker"

It seems that RZA and Divine's recently started Soul Temple Records is the new Razor Sharp/Wu-Tang Records. In a relatively short time span, we got the soundtrack and score to RZA's "Man With the Iron Fist", both versions of Ghost's "Twelve Reasons...", the RZA Presents "Shaolin Style" compilation, and plenty of really tight singles. The next entry in the label's catalouge is the fourth official full-length album from Wu General U-God, a.k.a. Golden Arms, which has been given the title "Keynote Speaker". I always felt that Uey has an absolutely terrific voice, and when he's really on his A-game he can spit out pretty mindblowing verses ("Black Jesus", "Dat's Gangsta", "Impossible", "Triumph", "Take It Back", etc.). Yet, he hasn't yet managed to really deliver that A+ album we know that he's capable of. Both '99:s "Golden Arms Redemption" and 2009:s "Dopium" had loads of fantastic material but unfortunately had their share of filler and wackness that ultimately dragged down the overall impact. 

"The Keynote Speaker" might be the U-God masterpiece we know he's capable of, the six minute album sampler feature nothing but gully beats and rhymes. Executive producer of the project is The RZA himself and guest spots are held down by the likes of eLzhi, GZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Styles P, and Kool Keith. Combine that with the fact that Golden Arms recent verses on "8 Diagrams", and albums by Ghostface, Bobbby Digital, Method Man and Masta Killa, has been some of the most energized of his career and the recipe definitely seems to be in place. Check out the album sampler below, and pre-order the album on either CD, 2xLP, or a T-shirt @ Soul Temple Music which drops on July 23.