Pro Tools – CD Review
Spanning just over 44 minutes “Pro Tools” seems neither too long or short. This is mainly due to the poetic structure of the lyrics and because of this “Pro Tools” is one of those albums where you’ll catch something different on each listen. “Pro Tools” has many Wu Tang fans saying that this is probably the best GZA album since his platinum-selling, RZA produced masterpiece: “Liquid Swords
GZA is one of the Wu Tang Clan’s founding members. “Pro Tools” is GZA/Genius’ 5th solo album and its been 6 years since his last release. He has been recognized as one of the most revered wordsmiths in Hip Hop today and Pro Tools is another attestation to this. I’m really enjoying how he’s even changed up his voice and flow from track to track on this album when comparing to his standard delivery in his past efforts. This offers the listener an appealing variety throughout the entire album.
“Pro Tools” demonstrates GZA’s growth and maturity as an artist in that his writing themes test the usual boundaries of today’s Hip Hop market and do not tread over the usual topics far too many seem to cover.
Some of the most notable tracks include: “Pencils” chalk full of political references,
“0% Finance” which double & triples up on auto financing metaphors,
“Paper Plates” where he rips 50 Cent and G Unit for “not having lyrics” which GZA has mentioned in multiple interviews recently.
Other notable moments include the songs featuring GZA’s son Justice where the 2Â flip lines back and forth like one emcee.
The production was carefully chosen and provides a well matched back drop to GZA’s complex lyricism because its more on the minimal tip which allows for the listener to pay closer attention to GZA’s lyrics which is his forte. The beats were mainly provided by Wu Tang in house specialists like: RZA (only a few tracks by him this time), True Master, Bronze Nazareth & Mathematics.  Even Detroit producer Black Milk dropped a beat that blended in wonderfully with the Wu bangas on “Pro Tools”.
[...] the beat battle we headed over to Dundas Square for the last hip hop show of the festival featuring GZA a founder of the Wu-Tang clan and The Cool Kids. The crowd was huge and nothing like the screwface [...]