8 Diagrams is the upcoming 5th album from the Wu Tang which is scheduled to be released on December 11th, 2007. Def Sounds has given their ears the privilege of listening to the new album, and they've got a few things to say...good and bad.

   The RZA made an official statement regarding the album saying that,

         "This is the perfect time for us to come back; the stars are aligned. It's like when we first started with Steve. We put out real hip-hop at a time when it was turning into pop or R&B. We brought the focus back to the music in its rawest form, without studio polish or radio hooks.... People want something that gives them an adrenaline rush. We're here to supply that fix. How could hip-hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever? We're here to revive the spirit and the economics and bring in a wave of energy that has lately dissipated."

   I have hope in his words about restoring some dignity and intelligence back into the hip hop industry. The Trendpimp crew had the pleasure of seeing them live this year in Seattle at Bumbershoot. They promised us the tracks would be nothing short of rawness.