Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars
Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars is the debut from Wu-Tang affiliate Killarmy released on August 5, 1997 on Wu-Tang/Priority Records. The group consists of six MCs: Killa Sin, Beretta 9, Islord, 9th Prince, P.R. Terrorist (now Dom Pachino), and ShoGun Assasson; and one producer, 4th Disciple, who produced the majority of the album. Like Black Lung's album of the same name, the title was taken from a document that came to light in the mid-1980s detailing a New-World Order plan for world domination; a topic that was explored in Milton William Cooper's infamous book Behold a Pale Horse.
Silent Weapons initially received mixed reviews from critics, who saw the group as a low-rent version of the Wu-Tang Clan because of similarities in the group's street-oriented Five-Percenter rhymes and dark production. The album was well received by Wu-Tang and underground hip hop fans—acclaimed for its unique combat themes and stellar production work.
The album's entirely produced by 4th Disciple, except for 2 tracks produced by Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA. Guest appearances include Clan member Masta Killa as well as Clan affiliates Streetlife, Hell Razah and Prodigal Sunn (both of whom are members of Sunz of Man). The album features the singles "Swinging Swords," "Camouflage Ninjas" b/w "Wake Up," and "Wu-Renegades" b/w "Clash of the Titans."
Track listing
| # |
Title |
Producer(s) |
Performer (s) |
Sample (s) |
| 1 |
"Dress to Kill" |
4th Disciple |
|
*"Get Out of My Life, Woman" by Iron Butterfly |
| 2 |
"Clash of the Titans" |
4th Disciple |
|
*"Celeste Aida" by 101 Strings |
| 3 |
"Burning Season" |
4th Disciple |
- Verses: Killa Sin
- Chorus: 9th Prince
|
*"Light My Fire" by Al Green |
| 4 |
"Blood for Blood" |
4th Disciple |
- First verse: Dom Pachino
- Second verse: ShoGun Assasson
- Third verse: 9th Prince
- Fourth verse: Beretta 9
|
*"The Wind That Shakes the Barley" by Dead Can Dance |
| 5 |
"Seems it Never Fails" |
4th Disciple |
- First verse: Islord
- Second verse: 9th Prince
- Chorus: Islord, 9th Prince
|
| 6 |
"Universal Soldiers" |
4th Disciple |
- First verse: Killa Sin
- Second verse: Dom Pachino
- Third verse: ShoGun Assasson
- Fourth verse: 9th Prince
|
| 7 |
"Love, Hell, or Right" |
|
|
*"We've Only Just Begun" by Henry Mancini and Doc Severinsen |
| 8 |
"Wake Up" |
RZA |
|
*"The Lonely Man Theme" by Joe Harnell |
| 9 |
"Fair, Love, and War" |
4th Disciple |
- First verse: Killa Sin
- Second verse: Beretta 9
- Third verse: Dom Pachino
- Fourth verse: ShoGun Assasson
|
| 10 |
"Wu-Renegades" |
4th Disciple |
- First verse: Dom Pachino
- Second verse: Killa Sin
- Third verse: 9th Prince
- Fourth verse: Beretta 9
|
*"Frühlingsrauschen" ("Rustles of Spring") by Christian Sinding (unknown recording) |
| 11 |
"Full Moon" |
4th Disciple |
- First verse: 9th Prince
- Second verse: Killa Sin
|
*"Requiem" by Brooklyn Bridge
*"God Made Me Funky" by the Headhunters |
| 12 |
"Under Siege" |
4th Disciple |
- First verse: ShoGun Assasson
- Second verse: Dom Pachino
- Third verse: Beretta 9
|
| 13 |
"Shelter" |
4th Disciple |
- First verse: Beretta 9
- Second verse: ShoGun Assasson
- Chorus: Hoffa
|
| 14 |
"Camouflage Ninjas" |
4th Disciple |
- First verse: ShoGun Assasson
- Second verse: Dom Pachino
- Third verse: Beretta 9
- Fourth verse: 9th Prince
|
*"Mom" by Earth, Wind & Fire |
| 15 |
"Swinging Swords" |
4th Disciple |
- First verse: 9th Prince
- Second verse: Dom Pachino
- Third verse: Killa Sin
|
*"Swing! Brother, Swing!" by Billie Holiday |
| 16 |
"War Face" |
RZA |
- First verse: 9th Prince
- Second verse: Hoffa
- Third verse: ShoGun Assasson
- Fourth verse: Beretta 9
- Fifth verse: Killa Sin
|
| 17 |
"5 Stars" |
4th Disciple |
- First verse: 9th Prince
- Second verse: Beretta 9
- Third verse: ShoGun Assasson
- Fourth verse: Dom Pachino
- Fifth verse: Masta Killa
|
*"Suicide Is Painless (Main Title)" by Johnny Mandel and Mike Altman |
The album uses a wide variety of samples, including "Suicide is Painless" from the show M.A.S.H. ("Five Stars"), the theme of the television version of The Incredible Hulk ("Wake Up"), a recording of “Frühlingsrauschen” ("Rustles of Spring") by Western classical composer Christian Sinding ("Wu-Renegades"), and "The Wind that Shakes the Barley" by Dead Can Dance ("Blood for Blood"). Many vocal samples from Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket are used throughout the album as well.
Album singles
| Single information |
| "Swinging Swords"
|
"Camouflage Ninjas"
- Released: October 1, 1996
- B-side: "Wake Up" (with Sunz of Man)
|
"Wu-Renegades"
- Released: February 1, 1997
- B-side: "Clash of the Titans"
|
Album chart positions
| Year |
Album |
Chart positions |
|---|
| Billboard 200 |
Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums |
| 1997 |
Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars |
34 |
10 |
Singles chart positions
External links
