ANOTHER WU

By CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY

Double albums in hip-hop tend to be as unnecessarily tedious as two-part sitcom episodes and director's-cut home videos. Even the late rap superstars Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. released disappointing double CDs that were heavy on gangsta attitude and light on well-crafted songs. Last week the hard-core rap group Wu-Tang Clan came out with theirs, Wu-Tang Forever (Loud/RCA). Given the fact that the group's last album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) had been lauded in hip-hop circles for its labyrinthine lyrics and creatively jagged production, the new CD was highly anticipated. And indeed, it arrives as a more imaginative and uplifting album than its predecessor.

Despite its acclaim, Enter the Wu-Tang was a rather sour and murky album; Wu-Tang Forever is leaner, more tuneful and more positive--the first song, Wu-Revolution, challenges listeners to strive for success. Says Wu-Tang member RZA: "The way we looked at it is, we came from hell, and we're on the way to heaven--and you're hearing that transformation." Also, gangsta attitude isn't the only thing that sells: the recent chart success of such Christian acts as God's Property and Bob Carlisle demonstrates that religiously oriented inspirational pop has a market.

There are some sexist, NC-17 lyrics here, and like many double CDs, there's a good deal of filler. But the scolding, inspiring chorus of A Better Tomorrow--"You can't party your life away...'cause your seeds grow up the same way"--indicates that Wu-Tang is at least headed in the right direction.

--By Christopher John Farley