The Movement

Inspectah Deck keeps a low profile as Wu-Tang Clan members go. He doesn’t have the movie roles, the big-money cameos, the high-profile duets, or the arrest record that some fellow Clan members boast. But it appears from his second solo record that Mr. Deck is making good use of his time. The Movement is impressive, and not only because it doesn’t rely on guest appearances from his more famous cohorts or beats from a slew of expensive producers. Deck kicks it relatively old-school here, keeping the focus on the interplay between his clever, dexterous wordplay and the stark beats and deep grooves. There’s some nifty production, notably the slinky vocal sample that lends some hypnotic, late-night cool to “Who Got It” and the blaxploitation funk that scores “The Stereotype.” It’s hard to say whether the mesmerizing hooks on tracks like the soulful “City High” and the grimy, reggae-tinged “Framed” will throw Deck some much deserved spotlight, but from the sound of this effort, he’s better off without it.