Despite immediately dismissing this album when it was first announced on account of Havoc’s history of uninspired solo work, upon further inspection it turns out that Alan The Chemist has once again been able to bring out the best of the situation, as he’s previously done for Curren$y, Boldy James and Action Bronson. Hav put it down in fine form during his Mobb Deep glory days, but his last couple of releases have sounded like he rather be doing pretty anything else but rapping. Hav’s current range of subject matter includes:
1. Don’t trust anybody because they will betray and/or try to rob you.
2. Money over bitches.
3. Don’t trust these hoes.
So far, so CRC-approved. In many ways, Havoc embodies everything that the Conservative Rap Coalition is about – he’s a nihilistic, anti-social character who has absolutely no regards for your pathetic feelings and refuses to publicly display any emotion at all.
‘Impose My Will’
Solid opening, with ominous pianos and echoed vocals stabs.
‘Maintain (Fuck How You Feel)’
Some of that ol’ ‘smokey jazz club feel.’ I prefer the eerie beats from ALC, but what can you do?
‘Out the Frame’
I guess this is trying to evoke a spooky style nursery rhyme vibe, but it’s no ‘Humrush.’
‘Seize Power’
Talk of backstabbers over a moody track. This is a winner.
‘Never Trust a Soul’
While I appreciate the sentiment that Havoc is so distrustful that he doesn’t even trust himself,
‘The Gun Holds a Drum’ (feat. Prodigy)
A reminder of how much more entertaining Snowboard P is as a human being in general.
‘Smooth Ride Music’
‘Shorty don’t just give head – she decapitate.’ Bonus points for featuring scratching on the hook. Points subtracted for using corny sax, Statik Select style.
‘Buck 50’s & Bullet Wounds’ (feat. Method Man)
Method Man continues to prove why he’s forever the bridesmaid but never the bride in terms of making great rap albums. Admit it, Tical isn’t actually a very good album but everyone was so hungry for Wu-Tang music that we all rocked with it at the time. But compare it to Cuban Linx, Liquid Swords or the first ODB LP and it’s pretty average.
‘Just Being Me’
This song is greatness on all levels. The beat is so good that it even manages to squeeze an inspired performance out of Hav.
‘Throw in the Towel’
Another winner, featuring a signature sinister ALC piano riff and some prog jazz rock guitar.
‘Hear Me Now’ (feat. Cormega)
Havoc is even able to bring out some of that old bitterness out of ‘Mega (as opposed to super-positive, mature Cormega) as these old sparring partners reconnect. Tip of the hat to you, sir.
Verdict: After a shaky start, this album really nails it in the second half and brings back that old feeling of wanting to put in ice-pick through somebody’s skull while listening to it, especially if it’s raining. Based on this and that ‘Lifetime’ song from the last Mobb Deep album, if the diminutive duo let Alchemist take the reigns for their next group album we could have a minor modern day classic on our hands. In the mean time? This will do nicely for purveyors of feelings-free mobb muzik.
Thought I was the only one to think about Tical as an average album, I have been dissed by many for saying that. Glad to read you feel the same.
Alc can do no wrong with the beats.
Alchemist has been on a tear for the last 5 or so years. Really turned a corner on his production, while other golden era beatmakers can’t seem to escape the sound that made them famous.
Leave it to Robbie to utilize ” super-positive, mature ” as a sneak dis!? Hahahaha……Bang that MegaPhilosphy until you fully Understand; White Man!
” Are you not Entertained!?! ” – Maximus/Gladiator………..You ain’t 1 brah!
“It’s no Humrush” classic!
Havoc is saved by Alchemist’s production, he has totally lost it but the beats somehow makes him sound decent….
Tical is the “weakest” album from the the first found of WU albums but still far from average though.
@doiall
Right, Tical may not be the other 1st round Wu albums but it’s defintely a classic and still goes. I listened back in December and it stayed in rotation for several weeks like when I first got it. The only song that never grew on me was Stimulation