Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

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RZA

  • RZA as Bobby Digital in Stereo [V2, 1998] Dud
  • Digital Bullet [Koch, 2001] B-
  • Birth of a Prince [Wu-Records/Sanctuary, 2003] ***

See Also:

Consumer Guide Reviews:

RZA as Bobby Digital in Stereo [V2, 1998] Dud

Digital Bullet [Koch, 2001]
Rumors of RZA's musical decline are the kneejerks of spastics. Ghost Dog got him past Bernard Herrmann, and he's produced more Wu albums in the last year and a half than in the previous eight. But as a rapper he's no less a gangsta-in-his-own-mind than Dre or Puffy. To his credit, he seems aware of this. "Bobby Digital" is truly a "character," based on the Robert Diggs who fucks bitches and loves bling, and his reggae peacemongering, female-principle antimaterial-ism, and revolutionary rhetoric--that is, the last three tracks on his record--aren't as pro forma as most shows of redeeming social importance. Nevertheless, listening to Bobby plod through his own boasts and brutalisms could make you believe Jay-Z is a good person. Is this the bullet Ghostface's wallet is proof against? Let's hope so. B-

Birth of a Prince [Wu-Records/Sanctuary, 2003]
Franchise-holder as franchise, his beats stronger young-and-thug than grown-and-numerological ("Drink, Smoke and Fcuk," "Chi Hung"). ***