Truth is, as far as hip-hop is concerned, it's been weak for more than just the last year.
The sorry state of what was arguably the most dynamic and powerful music being made just five years ago has recently been decried by critics and the hip-hop community alike. And despite the slew of new rap releases, it was starting to look like hip-hop, for all its vigor, emotion and sheer dope style, was on the verge of buckling under its own weight. But as always, off in the distance there was still the Wu-Tang Clan. But more importantly, each attacked the mike with potent vocal styles and rich rapping vocabularies that managed to create a bristling, and aware, aural canvas. Compared to most of the rap released in the past three years, the Wu's latest is as good as gets.