The Sure Shot (Parts 1 & 2) – Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge

Ghostface Killah, Adrian Younge, and RZA have outdone themselves on “12 Reasons to Die“, and it’s a repeat offense from these fellows:

Ghostface (@GhostfaceKillah), the king of reinventing himself while retaining his unique style, has blown away the Hip-hop world many times beginning with his verses on Wu-Tang Clan‘s seminal “36 Chambers”, and following up with solo ventures that we have to listen to straight through to make sur nothing is missed.

We all thought “Ironman”, Ghostface’s first solo LP, was the height of what could be, and then he came back with “Supreme Clientele” and a slew of hits for the Wu-heads. And now again, just when the Wu has been putting out a number of things to delight the base, GfK returns.

Always entertaining and on point with storytelling techniques that rival Slick Rick and a delivery that countless rappers around the world aspire to emulate, it’s no surprise that “12 Reasons to Die” starts off on such a DOPE note (it’s track No. 1, at least on the early release EP).

With Venice Dawn (@Venice_Dawn), a seriously talented band, whose ultimate sound is inspired by RZA himself, according to album producer Adrian Younge (@AdrianYounge), this is a truly exciting time for Wu fans.

And with RZA (@RZA) at the exec producer helm, we don’t know quite where things are going to end up, but we know it’s going to be #dope as humanly possible.

Equally exciting is Adrian Younge and Venice Dawn, check this out from Wax Poetics:

Adrian Younge is the next generation of soul music. A self-taught musician and recording engineer who has dedicated his life to the study of classic soul music, Younge finds himself at the center of a new soul renaissance with a vision for pushing the boundaries of the music itself.

The story begins in 1998 as the budding hip-hop producer found himself confined by the limitations of the MPC. He began teaching himself how to play various instruments so he could fully realize his vision. First it was keyboards, then drums, sax, guitar, and bass. Fascinated with the sounds of Italian soundtracks by the likes of Ennio Morricone, Younge begins work on the soundtrack to the fictional film Venice Dawn, recording the album intermittently over the course of the next year. What developed was a sound equal parts Morricone and Air. Self-released in 2000, the moody, synth-drenched album was entirely composed, arranged, played, and recorded by Younge.

Eight years later in 2008, Younge would find himself at the center of the Black Dynamite zeitgeist. Instrumental in the film’s development, Younge not only edited the film, but also composed the original score, which was hailed as a modern blaxploitation masterpiece for authentically capturing the cinematic soul of the 1970s, from Isaac Hayes to Curtis Mayfield. Adrian Younge solidified himself as a force to be reckoned with and soon went to work writing music for the forthcoming Black Dynamite cartoon series on Adult Swim.

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Some info on “12 Reasons to Die” from the SoulTempleMusic page:

A brutal tale of gangsters, betrayal and one vengeful soul hunting the 12 most powerful crime lords in the World.

releases 16 April 2013
Album Producers: Adrian Younge, Bob Perry and Andrew Kelley
Executive Producer: The RZAMusic Composed by Adrian Younge
Music Performed by Venice Dawn

Soul Temple A&R: Bob Perry and Andrew Kelley
Project Coordinator: 9th Prince

Art Direction and Design: Goliath
Design Consultant: Stan Oh
Photography: The Art Form Studio