U-God - The Keynote Speaker (2013)

“The Keynote Speaker” este cel de-al 4-lea album solo al lui U-God și a fost lansat în data de 23 iulie 2013, prin noul lable Soul Temple Records. Albumul îi are ca invitați pe Elzhi, Gza/ Genius, Inspectah Deck, Jackpot, Kool Keith, Method Man, Styles P și Vivian Scarlett, iar de producția pieselor s-au ocupat Blastah Beatz, DJ Homicide, J Reynoso, Jr., J Serbe, Leaf Dog, Rza (of Wu-Tang Clan), Steve Reaves și Teddy Powell.

 

In July 2013, during an interview with HipHopDX, U-God described the album, saying: "Oh, this is fire! I tried to step it up a notch every time I put out a new record, and this one is like a brand new baby, man. It has legs, and it’s going to stand up on its own. It’s really deep, and it’s really good, man—more or less, I’m just happy with it. If you want good, Hood Rap rhymes, it’s on there…banging beats and Wu-sounding shit is on there. I’ve got Method Man, Deck, GZA and my man Jackpot on there. I’ve got RZA production on there; he executive produced it. I’ve got mashed potatoes and gravy, Styles P on there. It’s all in there…good money."

He also explained where the title of the album came from, saying: "I can’t do what somebody else is doing. I can only do what the fans want from me, which is hard-body rhymes and raw shit. I didn’t put any club bangers on this one. As a matter fact, I think I might have one, but I didn’t make it like, “This is a club banger.” I didn't make it like that. I just do what I do. Now I know exactly what they want from me, and I gave it to ‘em with this Keynote Speaker. That’s why I called it Keynote Speaker, because I’m stepping to the podium, and I’m giving you a speech. You know how President Obama goes to the podium? Keynote Speaker, that’s what I’m doing. That’s basically what it’s about."

 

 Track listing

Nr.	Titlu	Producător	Durata
1.	"Vortex Of My Mind (Skit)" (featuring Vivien Scarlett)		0:33
2.	"Keynote Speaker"	Leaf Dog	2:03
3.	"Heads Up" (featuring Scotty Wotty & GZA)	DJ Homocide	2:30
4.	"Inferno (Skit)"		0:09
5.	"Fire" (featuring Scotty Wotty & Method Man)	Steve Reaves	3:16
6.	"Fame" (featuring Styles P)	Leaf Dog	4:11
7.	"Skyscraper"	DJ Homocide	2:12
8.	"Heavyweight"	Teddy Powell	2:28
9.	"Colossal Cosmos (Skit)" (featuring Vivian Scarlett)		0:29
10.	"Stars"	DJ Homocide	2:29
11.	"Golden Arms"	J. Serbe, J Reynoso Jr.	3:01
12.	"Room Keep Spinning"	RZA	3:48
13.	"Zilla"	DJ Homocide	2:49
14.	"Get Mine"	RZA	2:38
15.	"Mt. Everest" (featuring Inspectah Deck & Elzhi)	Blastah Beatz	3:31
16.	"Tranzform"	DJ Homocide	3:12
17.	"Journey" (featuring Kool Keith)	Teddy Powell	3:35
18.	"Be Right There"	RZA	2:41
19.	"Days Of Glory"	Steve Reaves	2:58

CD #2/2: Soul Temple Bonus CD
01. Wu-Tang Clan - Six Directions Of Boxing
02. Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge - The Rise Of The Ghostface Killah
03. Way Out West - Muthafucka
04. Wu-Tang Clan - Execution In Autumn
05. Wu-Tang Clan - Rivers Of Blood
06. Ghostface Killah & Apollo Brown - Murder Spree (Feat. U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck & Killa Sin) (The Brown Tape Version)
07. RZA - Shaolin Soul Selection Volume 1 Mash-Up