PRO TOOLS - Gza

Audio Mixer: Jose "Choco" Reynoso.Recording information: The Parish, Austin, TX.Arguably the most vibrant and verbose lyricist out of the Wu, the Gza returns with his extraordinary fifth solo album, PRO TOOLS. Rather than recycling the winning formula of LIQUID SWORDS, the Genius and Co. have updated their attack strategy. The trademark Shaolin soul loops are still there, along with dramatic orchestral arrangements, but the Gza's flow is even more elevated than usual; with old-school cadences, his tone is laidback slick even while the rhymes paint incredibly vivid street narratives. The emphasis is on good old-fashioned storytelling here, as the man who penned such classics as "Labels" and "Publicity" mixes superb extended metaphors ("0% Finance," "Short Race") with multiple cautionary hood tales ("Path of Destruction," "Colombian Ties"). Still, the most intriguing cut might be "Paper Plate"--a subtle but relentless dis-track aimed squarely at 50 Cent. Ironically, the post-Wu era has a