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Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version is the debut studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ol' Dirty Bastard, released March 28, 1995, by Elektra Records in the United States. Intent on creating a solo album away from Wu-Tang, he signed to Elektra in January of 1993 and began a two year recording process that started that same year.The album prominently was produced by RZA and ODB,with additional production by True Master and 4th Disciple,and the album has guest features from Method Man,GZA,Raekwon,RZA,Ghostface Killah and Wu Tang Killa Beez.
It was the second solo album, after Method Man's Tical, to be released from the nine-member Wu-Tang Clan following the release of their critically acclaimed debut album. The contract that the Wu Tang Clan had signed said that 5 of the members could release debut albums,which were Method Man,ODB,Raekwon,GZA and Ghostface Killah. ODB began recording the album in early 1993,and recording finished in early 1995.
In terms of lyrics,ODB’s lyrics feature his signature sing song rapping style and his audaciously profane free speech style lyrics. Songs on the album range from braggadocio raps(Brooklyn Zoo,Raw Hide,Cuttin Headz) to Posse Cuts(Protect Ya Neck II To The Zoo)to Sex raps(Drunk Game(Sweet Sugar Pie),Don’t U Know). The production has samples from The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin(1980) and Enter The Dragon(1973).RZA’s production was acclaimed by critics for its dark,rough minimal edge,with it being even more minimal than Enter The Wu Tang(36 Chambers)
Two singles were released for Return To The 36 Chambers. The first”Brooklyn Zoo” was released on January 21st 1995 as the lead single. The single features production from ODB,and the lyrics are prominently braggadocio and violent. There were 2 music videos for Brooklyn Zoo. The first one shows ODB in an alleyway rapping. One scene shows ODB wiping mucus on a wall. This video got the most views. The second video shows ODB in Chinatown and Rikers Island as a man named Pimp Daddy confronting gang members and getting himself and his girlfriend shot. This music video was banned by many music stations as a result of the violence in the video. The second single”Shimmy Shimmy Ya” was released on May 2 1995. The song serves as an introduction to ODB and his unique style and lyrics. The music video for “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” directed by Hype Williams shows a depiction of the 1970s,with large afros and platform shoes.
Upon its release, Return to the 36 Chambers received general acclaim,with reviewers being positive towards ODB’s lyrical style,flow and RZA’s dark minimal production.The album got several award nominations and inclusions on year-end publications.In his review for Rolling Stone magazine, Touré commented: "With his raspy, lisp-punctuated voice and half-sung, half-rapped style, Ol' Dirty Bastard may well be the most original vocalist in hip-hop history."[9]Entertainment Weekly's Tiarra Mukherjee thought the album showed the "raw, innovative talent of their illest member ... The RZA's signature dissonant piano loops [sparkle] behind Dirty's delirious, reverberating delivery."[6] Michael Bonner of Melody Maker wrote, "... an hour of cruel hard and frighteningly funny hip hop; the perfect companion piece to Wu-Tang's 36 Chambers ... the songs are driven by a vicious, unstable urgency."[13]
By contrast, Select magazine's Matt Hall was more critical of the album. His review found the album inferior to Method Man's album Tical, stating that "From the extremely long and unfunny – intro skit, its obvious ideas are spread wafer thin across the 15 tracks."[11]
Retrospectively, the album has continually seen positive coverage.[15]Pitchfork's contributor Sheldon Pearce lauded the album in a classic review as "a work of orchestrated negligence and a makeshift classic."[16]
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