Dirty Weaponry [Import]

I'm going to be as objective as I can on this review because I have a heightened partiality for Dom Pachino AKA PR Terrorist...I'm not sure about others, but although I'm a Wu fan (what real hip hop head isn't?), I've always been more interested in the cats who're down with them that don't get as much shine. The ninefold Wu-unit are like the nucleus of an atom, and Killarmy are an electron on the third shell: they're closer in affiliation to the Wu-Tang Clan than, say, TMF or Ruthless Bastards (the latter disclaiming any Wu-affiliation nowadays) but are still far away from the "nucleus," which automatically robs them of a widespread audience.

The premiere lyricists throughout the LP's course are the always nice (and slept-on) Killa Sin and Dom Pachino, although Baretta 9 doesn't lag too far behind on certain tracks. All production is largely handled by Allah Mathematics and 4th Disciple (minus one song, done by Russ Prez), which accounts for the overall continuity of the album's overall sound. The beats aren't anything to wild out over: they're average, underground beats. Killarmy may be affiliated with the Wu-Tang, but don't expect the grimy, lo-fi minimalism of a RZA cut here; I would say Killarmy's sound on this album is more "refined" and clean-cut than anything.

Highlights of the album, I believe, are the two appearances made by Hollacaust AKA Dr. Killgrave ("Doomsday" and "Bastard Swordsman"), the "west coast Killa Bee" who came from the now dismantled group Black Knights of the North Star (actually, the group split into two entities, with a duo of former members retaining the name 'North Star'). This guy is verbally sick, and extremely nice with his choice of adjectives and cool wordplay. My favorite tracks are "The Shootout" and "Bastard Swordsman."

"The Shootout" features an extremely minimalist approach: a 2/4 (two quarter notes per measure) beat structure, faux-vinyl scratches, and staccato pseudo-strings that sound as if they came straight from a keyboard's soundbank. Both of Dom Pachino's verses are introspective and well thought out; he has an uncanny ability to take a minimal amount of words and inject worlds of meaning into them. "Bastard Swordsman" features an insane verse by Hollacaust, as well as an Al Green sample which is nicely employed.

Had the production been more grimy, rather than so pure and clean sounding, or perhaps if RZA had lent a few soundscapes to the crew (which I'm sure he wouldn't have done anyhow) the lyricism would have stood out more. Like I said earlier, the beats aren't horrible, but they're not great either; however, you'll enjoy them if you're into that "Wu-sound" like I am. The only other real downside to this album is...9th Prince.

It sounds as if he has a lot on his mind, a lot to say, but he just can't seem to shave the fat off his material. 9th Prince raps as if he's trying to fit every word and every single line of lyrics on two pages of paper into a paragraph. One thing about the art of emceeing that's evident to anyone who's done it/does it (as I do) knows that you can't fit EVERYTHING into a bar, not even two bars - when you write, you have to edit, and oftentimes that means getting rid of the excess but still finding the proper words to ellicit your intended meaning. Needless to say, the songs he's on get rather annoying until his verse(s) is/are over...and although that may be the case, let me add his solo joint "Granddaddy Flow" which came out last year on Arm Yourself Entertainment is really good - check that out.

As with the Wu-Tang, "Dirty Weaponry" is rife with 5% references: gods, earths, "the original Asiatic [black man]," A-L-L-A-H (arm-leg-leg-arm-head), "supreme mathematics," "snakes," "the mystery [God]," the latter referring to the "mystery" of the Christian Trinity, chambers of understanding, equality ciphers, and so on. I don't adhere to Five Percenter "stuff," so when Killarmy gets heavy on that tip, I just enjoy their points of view and don't really pay attention to the 5% "science" they're droppin on me. And to be honest, it seems that the phrase '5% theology' is an oxymoron, as the difference between organized theology and 5% theology is more a matter of degree than principle, for I wonder if many adherents even know what "equality cipher" means. My little brother hates this stuff (LOL!) and he's not a Wu fan by any stretch.

If you're into the Wu or the branch-off groups, like that underground sound, or are just looking for something new to get into, I'd probably go for something else other than this, honestly (e.g. Shyheim's excellent "Manchild," or Ghost's "Ironman"). However, this is a good CD to pop in every once in a while and listen to the gods drop the gems they do on wax. I'd also like to recommend Dom Pachino's awesome releases "Tera.iz.Him" and "Unreleased," which can be foundon Sandbox Automatic; 9th Prince's "Granddaddy Flow"; and Shyheim's new one, "The Greatest Story Never Told," which is being done independently through a company called 101 Distribution. Peace!

i dont know about the previouis poster...and him sayin that islord and pr terorist are the worst rapers....i think he is a fool for even thinkin that...islord tells it as it is...and his voice adds a difernt flavour to the album...same goes for dom pachino....

this album is short unlike their first(silent weapons)..and last...(fear love and war) but straight fire none the less....
kilarmy is an album that any one should listen to in order to get lots of proverbs....as a citizen of ghana...i can only listen to hip hop of this format

Killarmy is the lass known part of wutang camp... They realy deliver nothing but raw, political, classic rza beats and ill lirycs that any true head would want. Dirty weaponry still remains my fav cd besides 36 chambers among others underground classics. Dont waste your money on poison like Nelly, lil john,t.i., g unit,young joc, juelz banana, dipcrap, all that stupid nonesense... Get this insted.