Adrian Younge Presents Twelve Reasons to Die II

by Ghostface Killah, Adrian Younge

Overview

Coming hot on the heels of Sour Soul, Ghostface's collaborative album with Toronto jazz band BadBadNotGood, this second 2015 LP reunites the Wu-Tang rapper with film composer Adrian Younge and acts as a sequel to the pair's critically acclaimed 2013 release, Twelve Reasons to Die. "Here's twelve more reasons to die!" Ghost declares on "Return of the Savage," giving up the album's alternative title, although Younge's music alone would alert fans that this is the sequel, as '70s funk and that era's Euro-slasher film soundtracks continue to frame the rapper's story of Mafioso warfare. The gritty electro found on "Powerful One" and the eerie-crossing-into-indie sound of "Resurrection Morning" widen the spectrum ever so slightly, while most everything else sounds like Curtis Mayfield and Ennio Morricone were genetically spliced together, and judging from Ghostface's enthusiasm and heightened inspiration, that's just what the rapper ordered. What's new and improved this time out is guest star Raekwon, who "plays" Lester Kane on the album, a mob boss gunning for the Killah's Tony Starks character with the aim of becoming his arch rival. The two bosses meet, Kane trumps Stark, and then Stark takes a personal journey before a rematch ensues -- with all the rest being spoilers, but the important thing is how well these two Wu brothers play off one another, sounding more in tune than on recent official Wu-Tang efforts. Fine choices like Vince Staples, Lyrics Born, and Bilal fill in the middle bit, while RZA drops in with some comic book narration whenever the story needs to speed up. Like the films Superman 2 and Aliens, the concept LP Twelve Reasons to Die II meets, and for action junkies exceeds, the high standard set by its predecessor. ~ David Jeffries

Product Details

Release Date:	07/10/2015
Label:	Linear Labs
UPC:	0856040005495
Rank:	51003

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Powerful One
2. Return of the Savage
3. King of New York
4. Rise Up
5. Daily News
6. Get the Money
7. Death's Invitation (Interlude)
8. Death's Invitation
9. Let the Record Spin (Interlude)
10. Let the Record Spin
11. Black Out
12. Resurrection Morning
13. Life's a Rebirth

Disc 2

14. Powerful One [Instrumental]
15. Return of the Savage [Instrumental]
16. King of New York [Instrumental]
17. Rise Up [Instrumental]
18. Daily News [Instrumental]
19. Get the Money [Instrumental]
20. Death's Invitation (Interlude) [Instrumental]
21. Death's Invitation [Instrumental]
22. Let the Record Spin (Interlude) [Instrumental]
23. Let the Record Spin [Instrumental]
24. Blackout [Instrumental]
25. Ressurection Morning [Instrumental]
26. Life's a Rebirth [Instrumental]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Adrian Younge   Primary Artist,Drums,Flute,Piano,Autoharp,Clavinet,Mandolin,Multivox,Pedal Bass,Percussion,Sax (Alto),Vibraphone,Harpsichord,Synthesizer,Glockenspiel,Fender Rhodes,Sax (Baritone),Bass (Electric),Organ (Hammond),Sitar (Electric),Guitar (Electric)
Ghostface Killah   Primary Artist,Vocals
Lyrics Born   Vocals,Featured Artist
Scarub   Vocals,Featured Artist
Raekwon   Vocals,Featured Artist
Chino XL   Vocals,Featured Artist
Loren Oden   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Brooke Derosa   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Saudia Yasmein   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Dayvora Ortega   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Bilal   Vocals,Featured Artist
Jack Waterson   Sitar (Electric),Guitar (Electric)
RZA   Vocals,Featured Artist
Vince Staples   Vocals,Featured Artist
Dave Henderson   Drums

Technical Credits

Lyrics Born   Composer
Scarub   Composer
Raekwon   Composer
Anthony Acid   Engineer
Andrew Lojero   Executive Producer
Ghostface Killah   Composer
Dave Cooley   Mastering
Chino XL   Composer
C.E. Garcia   Composer
Armon "Scarub" Collins   Composer
Roadsart   Engineer
Chris Garcia   Composer
RZA   Executive Producer
Paul Grosso   Design
Adrian Younge   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Vince Staples   Composer