Birth of a Prince
Third solo album by RZA, released in 2003.
Birth of a Prince is the third solo studio album by American rapper and record producer RZA, released on October 7, 2003, through Sanctuary Records. Unlike his other solo albums, it was not issued under the 'Bobby Digital' alias, though RZA refers to himself as Bobby repeatedly and his rhymes are mostly in the Bobby Digital style. The album features contributions from fellow Wu-Tang Clan members and affiliates, with production handled primarily by RZA alongside several other producers.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- RZA
- Released
- 7 October 2003
- Recorded
- June–September 2003
- Studio
- 36 Chambers Studio (New York, NY)
- Genre
- Hip Hop
- Label
- Sanctuary
- Producer
- Barracuda
- Bronze Nazareth
- Jose "Choco" Reynoso
- Megahertz
- RZA
- True Master
Facts from the source article.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bob n' I | Robert Diggs | 2:52 |
| 2 | The Grunge | Diggs | 1:56 |
| 3 | We Pop (featuring Dirt McGirt & CCF Division) | Diggs, Russell Jones, S. Cuffie, Frederick Cuffie, Dorsey Wesley | 4:53 |
| 4 | Grits ((featuring Masta Killa & Allah Real)) | Diggs, Elgin Turner | 4:17 |
| 5 | Fast Cars ((featuring Ghostface Killah & Erica Bryant)) | Dennis Coles, Derrick Harris | 3:59 |
| 6 | Chi Kung ((Barretta 9 & Cilvaringz)) | Diggs, Samuel Murray, Angelo Desogus | 4:20 |
| 7 | You'll Never Know ((featuring Cilvaringz)) | Diggs, Tariq Azzougarh | 3:23 |
| 8 | Drink, Smoke + Fuck | Diggs | 3:23 |
| 9 | The Whistle ((featuring Masta Killa & Prodigal Sunn)) | Diggs, Vergil Ruff | 3:02 |
| 10 | The Drop Off ((featuring Daddy-O & Division)) | Diggs, S. Cuffie, F. Cuffie | 3:27 |
| 11 | Wherever I Go ((featuring Allah Real & CCF Division)) | Diggs, S. Cuffie, F. Cuffie | 4:49 |
| 12 | Koto Chotan ((featuring Masta Killa & Tash Mahogany)) | Diggs, Turner | 2:50 |
| 13 | A Day to God is 1,000 Years | Diggs, Justin Cross | 3:57 |
| 14 | Cherry Range ((featuring Xavier Naidoo)) | Diggs, Murray | 3:25 |
| 15 | The Birth | Diggs, Cross | 4:38 |
| 16 | See the Joy | Diggs, S. Cuffie, F. Cuffie | 3:10 |
| Total length | 58:19 | ||
Track listing from the source article.
Critical reception
Birth of a Prince earned a generally favorable reception from music critics. On Metacritic, the album scored a 62 out of 100 based on eleven reviews. Adam Alphabet of Playlouder praised it as the crucial missing piece of RZA’s puzzle, calling it that important. Serena Kim of The Village Voice described it as both esoteric and more Wu than expected.
James Poletti of Dotmusic saw it as another frustratingly inconsistent solo effort. G. Beato of Blender considered it further evidence of RZA’s eccentric genius. Robert Gabriel of The Austin Chronicle noted that the Wu still comes through no matter how you look at it. Among mixed opinions, AllMusic’s Andy Kellman suggested that while many listeners might find it unfocused, those who approach it song by song will see it as a respectable addition to RZA’s work.
Dave Heaton of PopMatters felt RZA sounded uninspired as both an MC and producer, though not completely off his game. Owen Strock of Dusted observed that RZA remains determined, but his rhymes come across as self-obsessed, repetitive, and weighed down by constant references to drugs and women. On the negative side, John O’Connor of Pitchfork called the album a career low. Scott McKeating of Stylus wrote that it feels more like a stepping stone toward better things than a fully realized work on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who produced Birth of a Prince?
Birth of a Prince was produced by Barracuda, Bronze Nazareth, Jose "Choco" Reynoso, Megahertz, RZA and others.
What genre is Birth of a Prince?
Birth of a Prince is classified as Hip Hop.
More in Sanctuary Records Albums
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