PRESS RELEASE
For
more information please contact
Erin Burke at Erinburkepr@aol.com or
917-689-4975
U-God Returns To Music With New Outlook,
New Label
July 11, 2005, New York, NY - Rap
superstar, U-God (best known as an original member of the Wu-Tang Clan) is
poised to take the music industry by storm with the release of his second solo
album, the aptly titled Mr. Xcitement.
The release marks his first project with Free Agency Recordings, nationally
distributed by
The lead single and video “Bump” launches the Mr. Xcitement experience from clubs across the country. His lyrical prowess is demonstrated on the street and mixtape single "You Don't Want To Dance" and “It’s A Wrap” featuring Letha Face which showcases U-God's trademark "slanguistics" that has peppered Wu albums since 1993. The “Don Kings Speaks To U-God” interlude reaffirms a long standing relationship between the legendary promoter and the artist. Unlike others in the game who seek to play it safe, U-God ventures back into the "Rumble" arena with the anthem "Kick Ass" and the pointed "I'm Talkin' To You" that introduces his unrivaled sound to audiences not already familiar with his body of work. On "Jenny," U-God weaves an intricate story line of a relationship riddled with deception and greed. After taking listeners through matters of the wounded heart, he offers an uplifting tune about the importance of not taking one's life for granted on the track "Stop (Carry On)".
The diversity of sounds and themes is a testament to U-God's continued viability as an artist in an industry where flash in the pans are all too common. "[People] don't realize the U in U-God stands for universal," the rapper explains. "It means no boundaries, infinity, it goes on forever." And indeed, with an album as well crafted as Mr. Xcitement, the world will be hearing from U-God for many years to come.
U-GOD - MR. XCITEMENT
FINAL TRACK LISTING AND FEATURES
1) Blow
Yo Mind Intro
2) It’s
A Wrap
featuring Letha Face
3) Hit
‘Em Up, Roll Out
featuring Letha Face
4) Get
Down
featuring Boo Kapone, Squeak Ru and
MC Eiht
5) Don
King Speaks To U-God
6) I’m
Talkin’ To You
7) Kick
Azz
8) You
Don’t Want To Dance
9) Go
Get Pretty Like Me
10) A
Long Time Ago
featuring Ebony Burke
11) Stop
(Carry On)
featuring Ebony Burke
12) Bump
13) Dedication
Skit
14) Don’t
Love The Drugs
15) Heart
Of Stone
16) Jenny
Key Tracks
 | BUMP |
| YOU DON'T WANT TO DANCE |
| IT'S A WRAP |
| KICK AZZ |
THE
BIOGRAPHY OF U-GOD
They
say good things come to those who wait. But it is also said that hard work
breeds success. No matter which cliché you believe, veteran rapper U-God can
prove both ideologies to be true. As an original member of Wu-Tang Clan, the
nine person crew that literally thugged out the rap game in the mid-'90s, U-God
knows what it's like to experience both power and success. And even though he
has already achieved legendary status he has no intention of calling it quits.
Like a true artist, the MC born Lamont Hawkins is devoted to perfecting his
craft and exploring every creative outlet he can muster.
Nearly a decade after first coming into the game with the intentions of
shifting the entire power structure within the music industry, U-God
continues to reinvent both himself and the climate around his art. His
latest LP, Mr. Xcitement, is a testament to his artistic development and proof
that time rears wisdom.
"I'm not the same dude I was 10 years ago," explains the MC
formally known as Golden Arms. "That's why I called my album Mr. Xcitement.
I'm not in the Wu chamber that they expect me to be in."
Instead
of basking in all of life’s ills, U-God has decided to put a whole new spin on
the words he spits while staying true to the rapid-fire rhyme flow his fans
continue to praise him for. "My new album's hard as hell but I got a little
more sunshine on it," explains the Staten Island-bred rapper. "You
could see the pictures in my words. I’m not trying to lose you what so ever. I
made it real easy for your ears so you could be like, ‘Damn! Did you hear what
that nigga said? I didn't know he could get down like that.’"
Enriched with a bevy of styles, the follow-up to U-God’s critically
acclaimed debut, Golden Arms Redemption, is a well rounded album that
incorporates as many characters as it does musical influences. "Mr.
Xcitement ain’t just about partying," tells U-God. "Mr. Xcitement is
a drug dealer/killer/pimp. I spent four years writing this album, I took my time—I
didn't rush the shit."
Songs like “Pretty Like Me” and “You Don’t Want To Dance” will
reunite old fans with the baritone rhyme animal and bring them up to date with
his ever changing slanguistics. “I kinda talk different than dudes,”
explains U-God. “’You Don’t Want To Dance’ is an uptempo joint. In other
words, you don’t want to fuck with a nigga that's ‘bout it ‘bout it. You
don't want to disco with me baby.”
When he’s not tearing the club up with the
tracks like the lead single, the Wu banger “Bump”, U’s got his sites set
on turning out a whole new audience. The rock-tinged “Kick Azz” is a
certified head banger that was inspired by his recently deceased crew member, Ol’
Dirty Bastard. “I took a page from my brother Dirty and I formulated it to my
style on that one,” he says. “It’s something he would’ve did with my
2005 twist on it.”
In an effort to keep the ladies listening, Mr. Xcitement
features a dramatic love affair on wax for the song, “Jenny.” U-God
flexes his knack for rapping intricate story lines, this one riddled with
deception and greed. And after taking listeners through matters of the wounded
heart, U offers up some words of encouragement and the importance of not taking
one’s life for granted on the uplifting track, “Stop (Carry On)”.
“I’m always gonna come different on every song,” says U-God.
“That’s one thing about this album, I don’t sound the same on one track.
That’s a skill I got from being Wu-Tang ‘cause I always had to get in and
fit in.”
Variety has a lot to do with U-God’s appeal. The fact that he is able
to touch on so many different topics and morph his character into someone who is
still relevant today says a lot about his ever-changing mic skills. “Niggas
don’t realize the U in U-God stands for universal,” he explains. “It means
no boundaries, infinity, it goes on forever. There’s no shape or form that you
could say, ‘That’s U.G. right there.’ You’re always gonna be like damn
that’s him?”
Even if you don’t recognize the man on the mic you will learn to love
what he’s done for rap now as much as ever.
