Commercial performance The album debuted at number 52 on the US
Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 9,000 copies. It spent two weeks on the chart. The album also peaked at number 13 on
Billboards
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, at number two on the
Top Independent Albums, and at number nine on the
Top Rap Albums chart.
AllMusic writer David Jeffries gave it 4 out of 5 stars and viewed it as reappearance of the Wu-Tang Clan's early sound, stating "the uptempo and sometimes oddball rhymes are back in full force here and sit on a set of melancholy soul productions that have that classic Wu atmosphere".
Billboards Jeff Vrabel called GZA's rhymes "liquid" and wrote "it's worth a listen to hear what sneaky, suspicious, image-heavy tricks still emerge from his notebook". Ivan Rott of
About.com commended GZA's abstract lyrics and the album's musical structure, noting "a distinguishably liquid-like (ahem) sense of continuity and focus throughout the album's duration".
JIVE Magazine gave
Pro Tools a 5 out of 5 rating and called it "lyrically stunning".
Seattle Weeklys Kevin Capp praised GZA's lyricism and wrote that he crafts "earthquake-proof rhyme structures, steel hulks whose ornate décor distracts from their essential solidity. In short: the aesthetics mask the utility, as well they should". RapReviews writer Steve Juon gave it an 8.5/10 rating and wrote that GZA "honed his lyrical tongue to an even sharper and more polished edge" on the album.
Boston Herald writer Chris Faraone gave
Pro Tools an A− rating and wrote that GZA "comes as close as he ever has to matching freshman miracle"
Liquid Swords (1995). In contrast,
Spins Thomas Golianopoulos gave the album 2 out of 5 stars and wrote that GZA "drifts into irrelevant lyrics and weak beats", stating "These C-grade tracks ape RZA's trademark sound, but lack any sense of melody". Addi Stewart of
NOW commended its "
Shogun Assassin throat-slashing rap", but viewed its production as a weakness and wrote that the album "suffers from the law of diminishing returns". Giving it a 6/10 rating,
PopMatters writer Anthony Henriques perceived a lack of presence by other Wu-Tang members "to complement and add contrast to GZA’s potent style" as its "largest flaw", but ultimately commended its production and called it "just as impressive" lyrically as
Liquid Swords. Despite calling its production "a glaring weak point of the album", Sputnikmusic writer Sobhi Abdul-Rakhman gave it 3½ out of 5 stars and commended individual producers' contributions, while writing "GZA-science is always refreshing and reflective".
Pitchfork Media's Nate Patrin gave
Pro Tools a 6.8/10 rating and noted a lack of "stylistic cohesion" in its production, but ultimately lauded GZA's lyrics and viewed them as the album's key strength, stating: Micah Towery of
Slant Magazine wrote that it "serves as a satisfying example of a hip-hop artist who has not burnt out or sold out his craft to be an industry kingpin (
cough,
Jay-Z,
cough). At worst, the album serves as the base minimum of what we should expect from any of the "greatest rappers alive" after five albums".
Tiny Mix Tapes writer Larry Fitzmaurice gave the album 3½ out of 5 stars and wrote "while its power as a long-player doesn’t hold up very well, random dissection brings out tracks destined for analog and digital freaks alike". Giving it a B+ rating,
The A.V. Clubs Nathan Rabin called the album "so rich in detail that it takes a few listens just to soak everything in", and commended its sonic sound, stating "GZA relies on production to convey emotion". Alex Baldinger of
The Washington Post gave
Pro Tools a generally positive review and wrote "The album's fine production carries GZA through several tracks, rather than the other way around. But his rhymes are sharp as ever, displaying his knack for imbuing his lyrics with double-entendres and extended metaphors". In his consumer guide for
MSN Music, critic
Robert Christgau gave the album a B+ rating, indicating "remarkable one way or another, yet also flirts with the humdrum or the half-assed". Christgau commended GZA's "factual" lyrics and its minimal style of production, stating "the budget production enhances a master lyricist's specialty by subtraction". == Track listing ==