Falling off...

Understanding The Fall
Written by Just K

I remember when I first heard Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers. That right there was a hard album. I had never heard anything like it. The energy was brand new and the slang was outta here. I still don’t understand everything they’re talking about, but it was still sweet. That many MCs, each with his own distinct and unique style, rapping over RZA’s off the wall production. It was a beautiful thing. You had C.R.E.A.M., Protect Ya Neck, Method Man, and just a whole gang of classic tracks on that classic album.

Then Wu-Tang Forever dropped a few years after that. Definitely a solid album, but not quite the magic of the debut.

Remember Reasonable Doubt? How about Illmatic? Only Built 4 Cuban Linx? Doggystyle? Indeed. Now do you remember their follow-up albums? Vol. 1, It Was Written, Immobilarity, and The Doggfather? None of the follow-ups were necessarily bad albums. They just weren’t classics like the jumpoff joints. So why the decline in excellence? Well, there are a few possible explanations.

1. When everything is young, fresh, and new (Shout out to Little Brother)

It’s like going on a blind date. You have absolutely no idea what to expect, but when it turns out that she’s a gem, it’s the best thing ever. You’re nervous and anxious. You don’t know how she’s going to look, if you’ll be able to relate to each other, or if the conversation is going to flow smoothly. But when she turns out to be a complete stunner, she says things you’ve never heard in a way you’ve never heard it, and you can still understand it all – ah, the brilliance. And to seal the deal, she does it consistently throughout the date. Who can ask for more?

By the second date, you’re not as surprised anymore. It’s still cool, but you have an idea of what to expect. That initial anxiety has calmed. The shock at how beautiful she is has subsided a bit. You expect those special sayings and quotables now, but they’re slightly less special because you expect them. And it’s still a solid date, but the element of mystery and the unknown aren’t there the second time around.

After a few months you even feel comfortable farting around her, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.

2. You only get one shot. Do not miss your chance to blow (Shout out to Eminem)

As an MC all you want is that chance. You just need an opportunity to prove that your flow, your delivery, the way you put words on paper will speak to the people in a way they’ve never been spoken to before. All the hard work, all the grinding, and you finally get a record deal. As an artist in his early 20s, you put all 20something years of skill, charisma, knowledge, and life experience into that debut album. Then what?

Then I guess you’re supposed to make another CD after that, huh?

3. I mean, it’s what you expected, ain’t it? (Shout out to Jay-Z)

You’re a hip-hop fan that just listened to, what you believe to be, one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever. What are your expectations now? Do you want more of the same from the artist? If so, you’ll say there’s no growth – no real difference between the first and second album, except it’s not as raw as the debut. Do you want something different from the artist? Then you’ll probably say he strayed too far from the formula that made you love his music. You just want him to top his debut? But you just said it was one of the greatest things hip-hop will ever produce. You want him to outdo that? Really, what do you expect?

The curse of the classic debut is a funny thing. When you start right at the top, the only thing left to do is fall. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to climb to the top again some day.