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The Wu-Tang Clan is a New York-based rap group, consisting of nine American rappers. Among its members are multi-platinum selling solo artists, multi-platinum record producers, Grammy winners, TV and film stars, screenwriters, product spokespersons, business owners and, most recently, major motion picture composers.
The roots of the group were formed in 1991 as All In Together Now, by three of its members; RZA, GZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard.[1] The group later changed its name to Wu-Tang Clan and added six more members. The Clan featured nine MCs until the death of Ol' Dirty Bastard in 2004. Since their debut, they've introduced or launched the careers of numerous other artists and groups, and already in 1994 there were credited to be over 300 Wu-Tang Clan affiliates,[2] known as the Wu-Tang Killa Beez, consisting of rappers, record producers, and record label CEOs.
One of the most critically and commercially successful Hip hop groups of all time, Wu-Tang Clan shot to fame through their uncompromising brand of hardcore rap music. Their sound, heavily influenced by Hong Kong action-cinema and Kung-Fu philosophy, with densely layered samples (more so in the early stages), and dexterous, slang-laden wordplay was the catalyst for a new wave of street-conscious rap music (in contrast to the then-dominant radio-friendly West Coast sound), and is significantly credited with bringing a raw aesthetic back to New York hip hop.
The Wu-Tang Clan derives its name from the 1981 martial arts movie Shaolin and Wu Tang.
History
[edit] Foundation
The founders of the Wu-Tang Clan were RZA, GZA, and Ol' Dirty Bastard, who had previously formed the group Force Of The Imperial Master (later known as All In Together Now after the release of a popular single by that name). The group attracted the attention of some notable figures in the industry, including Biz Markie[3], but did not manage to secure a record deal. After the crew dissolved, GZA (then known as The Genius) and The RZA (then known as Prince Rakeem) embarked on their solo careers with Cold Chillin' Records and Tommy Boy Records, respectively, but to little success. Their frustration with the workings of the hip hop music industry would provide the main inspiration to Wu-Tang Clan's revolutionary business plan. According to The Wu-Tang Manual, at the group's inception, RZA promised the members that if he had total control of the Wu-Tang empire, it would conquer the hip-hop world within five years, after which he would relinquish his total control.
Wu-Tang Clan was gradually assembled in late 1992 from friends and accomplices from around Staten Island, with The RZA as the de facto leader and the group's producer [4]. The two cousins, GZA (pronounced Jizzah) and The RZA (pronounced Rizzah), created their new Wu-Tang aliases by mimicking the sound that the words "genius" and "rakeem" would make when scratched on a turntable.
The word Wu-Tang comes from the name of the Taoist holy mountain Wu Dang in northwest Hubei Province in central China; it was also the site of the Ming Purple Imperial City built by Emperor Yong Le during 1404-1420. The RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard adopted the name for the group after seeing the Kung fu film Shaolin and Wu Tang[citation needed], which features a school of warriors trained in Wu-Tang style. The group's debut album loosely adopted a Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang theme, dividing the album into Shaolin and Wu-Tang sections and using dialogue excerpts as skits.
The group have also developed various backronyms for the name (as hip hop pioneers like KRS-One and Big Daddy Kane did with their names), including "We Usually Take All Niggas' Garments," "Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game" and "Wisdom, Universe, Truth, Allah, Nation, and God".
Method Man has also mentioned that the "Wu" is the sound a sword makes when cutting through the air, and "Tang" is the sound it makes against a shield.
[edit] Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Cover of Wu-Tang Clan's 1993 debut,
Enter the Wu-TangThe Clan first became known to hip hop fans, and to major record labels, in 1993 (see 1993 in music) following the release of the independent single "Protect Ya Neck", which immediately gave the group a sizeable underground following. Though there was some difficulty in finding a record label that would sign Wu-Tang Clan while still allowing each member to record solo albums with other labels, Loud/RCA finally agreed, releasing their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), in late 1993. This album was popular and critically-acclaimed, though it took some time to gain momentum. Though hip hop had long had a gritty texture, the surreal aggression and minimalist production of 36 Chambers nevertheless had a huge impact on the genre, and was to prove massively influential over the next decade. By the beginning of the 21st century, the album had become a regular fixture on "Best Albums Of The 90s" lists as well as a frequent choice for "Best Albums Of All Time" lists. [5]
The success of Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers established the group as a creative and influential force in early 1990s hip hop, allowing GZA, The RZA, Raekwon, Method Man, and Ol' Dirty Bastard to negotiate solo contracts.
[edit] First round of solo albums
The period between the release of Enter the Wu-Tang and Wu-Tang Clan's second album is considered to be "the greatest winning streak in rap history."[6] The RZA was the first to follow up on the success of Enter the Wu-Tang with a side project, founding the Gravediggaz with Prince Paul and Frukwan (both of Stetsasonic) and Poetic. The Gravediggaz released 6 Feet Deep (known as Niggamortis in Europe) in August 1994, which became one of the best known works to emerge from hip hop's small sub-genre of horrorcore.
It had always been planned for Method Man to be the first breakout star from the group's lineup, with the b-side of the first single being his now-classic eponymous solo track. In November 1994 his solo album Tical was released. It was entirely produced by The RZA, who for the most part continued with the grimy, raw textures he explored on 36 Chambers. The RZA's hands-on approach to Tical extended beyond his merely creating the beats to devising song concepts and structures. The album also won a Grammy for the song "I'll be there for you/Your all I need."
This approach would continue throughout the first round of solo projects from the Clan members. Ol' Dirty Bastard found success in early 1995 with Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, which saw the 36 Chambers sound become even rawer and rougher-edged.
Raekwon's debut solo,
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Late 1995 saw the release of the group's two most significant and well-received solo projects. Raekwon the Chef's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx was a diverse, theatrical criminological epic that saw The RZA move away from the raw, stripped-down beats of the early albums and towards a richer, cinematic sound more reliant on strings and classic soul samples. Lavish living and the crime underworld are referenced throughout, with the mystique of the Wu-Tang Clan deepened by the adoption of crime boss aliases and the crew name Wu-Gambinos. The album introduced a flurry of slang words to the rap lexicon, and many artists have gone on to imitate its materialism. It featured Nas, who was the first non-Clan MC to appear on a Wu-related album. GZA's Liquid Swords had a similar focus on inner-city criminology akin to Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, but it was far darker, both in GZA's grim lyrics and in the ominous, foreboding production that saw The RZA experimenting more with keyboards than ever before. The two 1995 solo albums remain widely regarded as two of the finest hip hop albums of the nineties.
Ghostface Killah released his own debut, Ironman, in 1996. It struck a balance between the sinister keyboard-laden textures of Liquid Swords and the sentimental soul samples of Cuban Linx, while Ghostface himself explored new territory as a lyricist. It was critically acclaimed and is still widely considered one of the best Wu-Tang solo albums. Although the 1994-1996 albums were released as solo albums, The RZA's presence behind the boards and the large number of guest appearances from other Clan members (Raekwon and Ghostface's albums only had two or three actual solo tracks each and both included many tracks that included other Clan members) means they are usually considered as to be all-round group efforts.
[edit] Wu-Tang Forever
With their solo careers firmly established, the Wu-Tang Clan reassembled to release the highly-anticipated Grammy-nominated multiplatinum double album Wu-Tang Forever in June 1997. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Charts, by a large margin after selling 600,000 in its first week[citation needed]. This event was featured in a CNN roundup for the extraordinary sales the group achieved without a mainstream sound or commercial appeal. The album's first single, "Triumph," was over five minutes long, featured nine verses from each member (plus Cappadonna), and no hook or a repeated phrase. The sound of the album built significantly on the previous three solo albums, with The RZA using more keyboards and string samples, as well as, for the first time, assigning some of the album's production to his protégés True Master and 4th Disciple. The group's lyrics differed significantly from those of 36 Chambers, with many verses written in a dense stream-of-consciousness form heavily influenced by the teachings of the Five Percent Nation. Around the same time, the group's participation in the highly-controversial joint 1997 summer tour with Rage Against the Machine was cut short after numerous legal problems and amid rumors of internal disputes[citation needed]. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album has sold over 8.3 million copies to date worldwide.
Wu-Tang Forever also marked the end of The RZA's "five year plan". After Forever's success, The RZA ceased to oversee all aspects of Wu-Tang product as he had done previously, delegating much of his existing role to associates such as Oli "Power" Grant and his brother Mitchell "Divine" Diggs. This move was designed to expand Wu-Tang's reach in the industry and take advantage of financial opportunities for the group. In keeping with this move, an array of Wu-Tang products (both musical and otherwise; example Wu-Wear) was to be released over the next two years.
Following Wu-Tang Forever, the focus of the Wu-Tang empire largely shifted to the promoting of emerging affiliated artists (referred to by the fanbase as "Wu-Fam"). The group's close associate Cappadonna followed the group project with March 1998's The Pillage. Soon after, Killah Priest (as with Cappadonna, a close associate of the Clan, though not an official member) released Heavy Mental to great critical acclaim. Affiliated groups Sunz Of Man (of which Killah Priest was a member) and Killarmy (which included The RZA's younger brother) also released well-received albums, followed by Wu-Tang Killa Bees: The Swarm - a compilation album showcasing these and more Wu-affiliated artists, and including new solo tracks from the group members themselves. The Swarm sold well and was certified Gold[7].
There was also a long line of releases from secondary affiliates such as Popa Wu, Shyheim, GP Wu, and Wu-Syndicate. Second albums from Gravediggaz and Killarmy, as well as a greatest hits album, and a b-sides compilation also eventually saw release.
[edit] Second round of solo albums
The RZA & Ghostface Killah on the cover of
The Source promoting
Supreme ClienteleWhile this round was very commercially successful, it was not as critically acclaimed as the first. The second round of solo albums from the Clansmen saw second efforts from the four members who had already released albums as well as debuts from all the remaining members except Masta Killa. In the space of two years, The RZA's Bobby Digital In Stereo, Method Man's Tical 2000: Judgement Day and Blackout! (with Redman), GZA's Beneath the Surface, Ol' Dirty Bastard's Nigga Please, U-God's Golden Arms Redemption, Raekwon's Immobilarity, Ghostface Killah's Supreme Clientele and Inspectah Deck's Uncontrolled Substance were all released (seven of them being released in the space of seven months between June 1999 and January 2000). The RZA also composed the score for the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, directed by Jim Jarmusch, while he and other Wu-Tang members contributed music to a companion "music inspired by the film" album. Wu-Tang branded clothing and video games were marketed as well. The Wu Wear clothing line in particular was massively influential on hip hop culture; initially started as merely a way to make money from the demand for bootleg Wu-Tang shirts, it evolved into an extensive collection of designer garments. Soon, other hip hop artists were making similar ventures and by the mid 2000s a clothing line was almost a prerequisite for hip hop superstardom, with clothing lines launched by Ludacris, Jay-Z, Puff Daddy, Busta Rhymes, Nelly and more.
The avalanche of Wu-Tang product between 1997 and 2000 is considered by some critics to have resulted in an oversaturation that was responsible for Wu-Tang's drop in popularity, or at least in critical regard, during that time.[8] Reviews such as Melody Maker's writeup on Ghostface Killah's Supreme Clientele in January 2000 which began "Another month, another Wu-Tang side project" revealed critics' exhaustion at the Clan's prodigious output. While this may be more a reflection on the limited attention spans of critics, the reception for the second round of Clan member solo albums was decidedly mixed if largely positive, and they did not live up to their pre-Forever forebears critically; however, the Wu was selling more albums than ever.
Occasional albums would still receive critical acclaim (Ghostface Killah's Supreme Clientele for one, which is regarded as one of the best solo efforts from the Clan) while Method Man and ODB remained popular in their own right as solo artists, and Wu-Tang remained as a well known force, but they had seemingly lost the ability to excite the music world in the way they had throughout the 90s.
Many fans and critics also bemoaned the lack of The RZA's input on the post-Forever solo albums, which were mostly produced by the Wu-Element producers, other lower-ranking affiliates, or by outside producers such as the Trackmasters or the Neptunes.
Cover of Wu-Tang Clan's 2001 album,
Iron Flag
[edit] The W and Iron Flag
The group reconvened once again to make The W, though without Ol' Dirty Bastard, who was at the time incarcerated in California for violating the terms of his probation[citation needed]. Though incarcerated, ODB happened to make it onto the track Conditioner which also featured Snoop Dogg. They sampled ODB via the telephones used for inmates to talk with visitors.[citation needed] The W was mostly well-received by critics[9], particularly for The RZA's production, and also gave the group a hit single with the uptempo Gravel Pit, part of a trilogy of videos where the group would visit different eras with a time traveling elevator, which also included Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off) and the internet exclusive (due to excessive gun violence) Careful (Click, Click), which were then followed by I Can't Go To Sleep featuring Isaac Hayes. The album would go on to reach double platinum status.
Shortly before the release of The W, ODB escaped custody while being transported from a rehab center to a Los Angeles court and was considered a fugitive. At a record release party for The W, ODB, his face hidden by an orange parka, was not recognized until introduced to the crowd. With police officers present outside, ODB performed briefly and then fled, fearing capture. Six days later ODB caused a commotion signing autographs in a McDonalds in South Philadelphia. Unaware of who was causing the ruckus, the manager called the police. When the cops arrived, ODB mistook them for fans until they drew their guns. ODB fled the restaurant but was stopped while trying to start his vehicle. After presenting a fake ID, he admitted who he really was and was arrested.[10]
In 2001, Wu-Tang Clan released their fourth album, Iron Flag, to luke-warm reception. It contained hit single Uzi (Pinky Ring) and guest appearances by artists such as Flavor Flav. Its production was not completely handled by The RZA and had a less gritty sound than previous Wu-Tang albums.
[edit] Third round of solo albums
RZA's release of Digital Bullet (as Bobby Digital) in 2001 marked the beginning of a small wave of solo releases in between The W and Iron Flag which also included Ghostface Killah's Bulletproof Wallets and Cappadonna's The Yin and the Yang. Their latest album as a group is 2001's Iron Flag. It received mixed reviews[11] but still managed to go Gold very quickly. GZA's release of Legend of the Liquid Sword in late 2002 marked yet another wave that continued for the next two years. The wave included Cappadonna's The Struggle, Method Man's Tical 0: The Prequel, Raekwon's The Lex Diamond Story, Ghostface Killah's The Pretty Toney Album, Inspectah Deck's The Movement, and Masta Killa's No Said Date. It was perhaps the least successful wave yet, with only No Said Date and The Pretty Toney Album gaining any significant attention. Ghostface's album continued the trend of his releases each selling less than the one before it despite mostly good reviews.[12] Masta Killa's album was well received by both the hardcore fanbase and critics for its attempt to return to the classic Wu sound, though as an independent release, it expectedly did not catch on commercially.
As the case usually is, Method Man's album sold very well despite both critics and fans bashing it. Even Method Man himself went on to bash the album, stating that the situation (management transition) going on at the time with Def Jam caused the poor outcome. [citation needed]
[edit] U-God dispute
In early 2004 U-God, long one of the least renowned members of the Clan, apparently left the group in disgust. A DVD titled Rise Of A Fallen Soldier was released detailing his problems, which were mostly with his treatment by The RZA, who he claimed had hindered his success as a solo artist[citation needed]. He also formed a new group of young protegés called the Hillside Scramblers, with whom he released the album U-GODZILLA presents the Hillside Scramblers in March 2004. The dispute culminated in a heated phone conversation between The RZA and U-God on live radio, which ultimately saw the two reconcile[citation needed]. U-God later rejoined the group.
[edit] Live album and greatest hits compilation
2004 also saw the unexpected return of the Clan to the live stage, though without Ol' Dirty Bastard and Method Man (who was filming Method & Red). They embarked on a short European tour before coming together as a complete group for the first time in several years to headline the Rock the Bells IV festival in California. The concert was released on DVD shortly afterwards under the name Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1. They also soon released a music-video greatest hits album named Legend of the Wu-Tang Clan.
[edit] The death of ODB
Ol' Dirty Bastard collapsed at approximately 5:29 p.m. on November 13, 2004 at Wu-Tang's recording studio, 36 Chambers on West 34th Street in New York City.[13] He was pronounced dead less than an hour later, just two days shy of his 36th birthday. His funeral service was held at Brooklyn's Christian Cultural Center.
ODB was scheduled to perform in a Wu-Tang Reunion concert at Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey on the night of his death. The members were unaware as was the audience at the concert that he was dead, everyone assumed it was a no show. The WU has played proper homage to their member on more than one occasion. In August of 2006 one of his sons came out at a Wu-tang concert at Webster hall and spit "Brooklyn ZOO," along with his mother who came out too. The group was very heavily shaken by Ol' Dirty Bastard's death.
ODB's career in Wu-Tang was marked by wild and criminal behavior. At the 1998 Grammy Awards, he protested the Clan's loss (in Best Rap Album) by interrupting Shawn Colvin's acceptance speech for her Song of the Year award. ODB was also arrested several times for a variety of offenses, including assault, shoplifting, wearing body armor after being convicted of a felony, and possession of cocaine.[14] He was also in trouble for missing multiple court dates. In late 2000, Ol' Dirty Bastard unexpectedly escaped near the end of his rehab sentence, spending one month on the run as a fugitive before showing up on stage at the record release party for The W in New York City. Ol' Dirty Bastard managed to escape the club (which had several policemen outside on the sidewalk in front of it, however they were seemingly unaware of the presence of a nationally-known fugitive inside) but was later captured by police in a McDonald's parking lot in South Philadelphia and sent to New York to face charges of cocaine possession.[15] In April 2001, he was sentenced to two to four years in prison.
Once released from prison, he signed to Roc-a-Fella Records. A posthumous official mixtape titled Osirus featuring many new songs was released in March 2005, while ODB's Roc-A-Fella album A Son Unique was originally to be released in 2005, but had numerous delays. It was to be released on November 7, 2006 to commemorate the second anniversary of ODB's death, which occurred on November 13, 2004, but was delayed again.
[edit] Resurgence and 8 Diagrams
2005 saw the release of RZA's first book, The Wu-Tang Manual, plus the release of U-God's second album Mr. Xcitement and GZA's collaboration with DJ Muggs titled GrandMasters.
On March 28, 2006, Ghostface Killah released cocaine-oriented Fishscale to critical acclaim.[16] The whole Clan, including Cappadonna and the deceased ODB, appeared on "9 Milli Bros." Much acclaim was also directed towards the variety of topics Ghost addresses, from grand crime dramas based on the lives of drug kingpins (as in "Kilo"), to the frantic lives of street hustlers ("Shakey Dog"), childhood ("Whip You With a Strap"), love ("Back Like That", "Jellyfish"), and pure surreality ("Underwater"). The album also ventures into genre exercises, approximating a club banger with "Be Easy" and battle rhymes with "The Champ." Ghostface also released More Fish in December of 2006 to decent reception.
Method Man came back with his critically acclaimed 2006 album 4:21...The Day After. Method Man was heavily featured in the media due to his displeasure with Def Jam's handling of his project, and despite not having any promotion or airplay the album still debut in the Billboard Top Ten. Method Man also made the decision to fall back from Hollywood, and now only does acting work for projects being handled by close friends.
Raekwon's 2006 mixtape,
Heroin Only 2006 also saw the release of Masta Killa's second studio album, Made in Brooklyn, to lukewarm reviews. Ol' Dirty Bastard's posthumous album, A Son Unique, is scheduled to be released on the Damon Dash Music Group in 2007 as well. On June 25, 2006 Inspectah Deck released an official mixtape titled The Resident Patient, a prelude to his soon to be released album, tentatively titled The Rebellion.[17]
The summer of 2007 should see the release of Raekwon's long-delayed sequel to his 1995 debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx named Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II. The album will be released on Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records.[18] It will be executive produced by Busta Rhymes (informally) and the RZA, with RZA handling most of the production--including the first single--as well as tracks from Dr. Dre, among others. Raekwon credits Busta Rhymes for getting his head back in the zone to write "Cuban Link material", as well as getting RZA, Dr. Dre and himself in the same studio together. In addition to signing with a new label, Raekwon remains one of the most active members of the Clan. He continues to put out material on the streets whether it be via mixtapes and the internet. Raekwon also has his own crew of up and coming Staten Island rappers assembled called Ice Water
RZA explained the collaboration between he and Dr. Dre is like "yin and yang" when it comes to their styles.[19] "The album is gonna attract all the gangstas, nigga; all the thugs and everybody is going to be listening to this shit," says RZA of the album.
In the process of recording and dropping these projects, Wu-Tang has networked with several outside producers and artists as of late: DJ Muggs through GZA; MF Doom through Ghostface Killah; Pete Rock through several of the members; Erick Sermon and Redman through Method Man, the former of which co-executive produced 4:21; the now-deceased J Dilla through Ghostface and Raekwon, and Busta Rhymes and Dr. Dre through Raekwon, during his tenure on Aftermath.
In December 2006, Wu-Tang Clan signed a one-album deal with Steve Rifkind's SRC Records.[20] The group's four previous albums were all released on Rifkind's now-defunct Loud Records. The album's title will be 8 Diagrams and is slated for release summer 2007.[21]
RZA announced January 2007 that he will be releasing another Bobby Digital album this summer as well, which he has already begun work on. He will be using the album primarily to put over lesser-known Wu-Tang Clan affiliates such as Freemurder, Killa Sin, Black Knights and a myriad of others depending on who makes the final cut. The album is tentatively titled DigiSnacks.[22]
GZA will be releasing a tell-all DVD featuring footage of the Clan dating back to the nineties, titled Wu Tang Revealed,[23] as well as his 6th album entitled 'More Words From The Genius' which will be released on babygrande records.
[edit] Influence
Wu-Tang has influenced many current-day hip-hop acts in the areas of rapping, production technique, subject matter and image. Among these contributions have been RZA's sampling style, certain Clan members' mafioso rap personas, usage of slang terms, and the tendency of artists to run in tightly-knit groups.
[edit] Production
According to himself, RZA tries to have no more than 20-25% sampling on any given record, something starkly different from many other major hip hop groups. He uses "the sampler more like a painter's palette than a Xerox. Then again, I might use it as a Xerox if I find rare beats that nobody had in their crates yet." He played much of the piano himself, with Bill Evans and Thelonious Monk as major influences. After The RZA watched the Thelonious Monk documentary, Straight, No Chaser, he created the piano part to "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'".[24]
RZA's production technique, specifically the manner of chopping up and/or speeding or slowing soul samples to fit his beats, has been picked up by currently popular producers--most notably Kanye West and Just Blaze, the two main producers behind Roc-A-Fella Records. West's own take on RZA's style[25] briefly flooded the rap market with what was dubbed "chipmunk soul," the speeding of a vocal sample to where it sounded as though the singer had inhaled helium. Several producers at the time copied the style, creating other offshoots. West has admitted that his style was distinctly influenced by the RZA's production,[26] and RZA has acknowledged his influence in an issue of Scratch magazine, saying he wished he had produced "Jesus Walks" and "Breathe", two 2004 hits produced by Kanye West and Just Blaze, respectively.[citation needed] Said by Kanye West:
Wu-Tang? Me and my friends talk about this all the time... We think Wu-Tang had one of the biggest impacts as far as a movement. From slang to style of dress, skits, the samples. Similar to the [production] style I use, RZA has been doing that.[27]
[edit] Lyrics
Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx helped (with the likes of Kool G. Rap) popularize the Mafia theme in rap music that remained widespread for more than half a decade. The landmark album touted a lifestyle patterned on drug dealing, regrets of living in harsh conditions, and partying (including popularizing the Cristal brand of champagne) which Nas, Mobb Deep, Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, No Limit Records, and other popular artists all borrowed and/or expanded upon these themes at points in their respective careers.
The Wu-Tang Clan's slang has long been a staple of their music, wherein members would blend Five Percenter terms, Kung Fu/oriental words, and comic book and street terms to create their own nicknames for actions, people, places and things (such as the christening of Staten Island as "Shaolin" and money as "C.R.E.A.M."). Though all the members indulge in this, Raekwon and Ghostface have been the most notorious for it. Since then, other acts have coined phrases of their own, such as Mobb Deep's "Dunn Language" and several Southern acts such as Three 6 Mafia naming things like drinks "sizzurp" and "purple rain".
Before the Wu-Tang Clan's debut in 1993, few popular rap music acts operated in groups, and at nine main members with several affiliates, the Wu was the largest around at that point; the only popular groups coming close to that size at the time were Public Enemy and the Death Row Records roster. Since that time, several collective-sized groups have gained popular status, including Dipset, the Dungeon Family, D12, and No Limit Records; though the Wu-Tang Clan may not have been directly responsible for the formation of these groups, they helped encourage popular acceptance of the idea. They were also among the first to start the trend in hip-hop of diversification; specifically, the hip-hop clothing line with Wu-Wear, which was later picked up by Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z and Puff Daddy, among others.
[edit] Wu Tang Management
Oli "Power" Grant and RZA's brother Mitchell "Divine" Diggs are the controversial executives who have been handling the business side of the Wu Tang empire since 1997, and are responsible for large amounts of products such as Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style and Wu Wear which were released in the late 90's and early 2000s. The two stay behind the scenes for the most part but do occasionally step into the public eye.
Oliver "Power" Grant has also acted in numerous films including Belly, Black and White, When Will I Be Loved and others. He also won the 24th Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in Long Beach beating out 17 other celebrity and professional drivers. "Power" was mentioned in Raekwon's lyrics in the street anthem "Incarcerated Scarfaces", saying "Peace to Power and the whole unit."
Mitchell "Divine" Diggs has been mentioned in several songs by Wu Tang members such as RZA in his song Brooklyn Babies with "My big brother Divine he push the Benz well", and Raekwon in the song The Turn with "Divine got me, nigga, the boss, he pop me".
Method Man however has voiced his displeasure with Mitchell "Divine" Diggs of the Wu-Tang management, "Number 1 on my shit list right now is Divine from Wu-Tang management. He took something major from me that he had no intention of giving back."[28]
[edit] Collective appearances
The RZA and GZA appearing on the Chappelle's Show sketch
Wu-Tang FinancialMembers of the group have appeared in several Comedy Central shows, most notably two appearances on Chappelle's Show. The first was in episode 107, in a sketch titled "Wu-Tang Financial," in which The RZA and GZA run an investment firm, lampooning the over-saturation of hip-hop endorsed brands (which Wu-Tang were guilty of at one point). The second appearance was in episode 201, in the sketch "Racial Draft 2004," in which the group is drafted to become ethnically Asian. Various members have also appeared in episodes of Upright Citizens Brigade and Crank Yankers. On the latter, they performed "In The Hood" in puppet form.
Several members appeared in Scary Movie 3 (with many other rappers) in a scene where, originally coming to save the day, they end up arguing with other rappers until guns are drawn and everyone shoots each other to death.
Several members, including Raekwon and Method Man, appeared as themselves in the movie Black and White.
The RZA, Cappadonna and affiliate group Killarmy made an appearance in the "Adolf Hankler" episode of the HBO sitcom The Larry Sanders Show. In the episode, the group are booked to perform on the show-within-the-show by guest host Jon Stewart, who then comes into disagreement with the show's network over whether or not the Clan are "too urban" for the show's audience. In one of their two scenes, the group is seen rehearsing the song "And Justice For All" and in the other scene, they are awkwardly conversing with the show's sidekick character Hank Kingsley, who asks where 'Dirty Old Bitch' is.
In 2003, The RZA and GZA appeared in the Jim Jarmusch movie Coffee and Cigarettes, in the sketch "Delirium" with Bill Murray.
In the Fall of 2006, Wu-Tang was honored as one of the premier and influential rap groups by VH1's 2006 Hip Hop Honors with other influential performers: Afrika Bambaataa, Beastie Boys, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Lyte, Rakim and Russell Simmons. During their performance, Lil Jon portrayed the late Ol' Dirty Bastard.
[edit] The RZA
In 1999, The RZA made a brief appearance in Jim Jarmusch's Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, a film he also scored. RZA starred with fellow rapper Xzibit in the movie Derailed.
The RZA scored the first film of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill saga. RZA has gone on to score several more productions including Blade Trinity, Afro Samurai, The Protector, Freedom Writers and several others.
RZA's is set to appear in American Gangster, a 2007 crime drama film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.
[edit] Method Man
Method Man has had recurring roles in critically acclaimed television shows such as HBO's The Wire in which he plays the character Cheese, HBO's Oz, The Twilight Zone, and CSI. He hosted a series on MTV for a brief period called Stung and has made numerous appearances as himself on TV shows such as Mind Of Mencia, Chappelle's Show, and others.
He also co-starred with Redman in his own Fox sitcom called Method & Red in late 2004, however after only a short time on the air the show was put on hiatus and never returned. Method Man later complained in the press about Fox's influence on the show's style, claiming that "there's been too much compromise on our side and not enough on their side" and bemoaning the network's decision to add a laugh track. Before the show even aired, he told fans not to bother watching it.
Meth plays the recurring character "Drops" on CSI.
His first prominent role came in 1998 with the film Belly along with fellow rappers Nas and DMX. He has since added many credits to his name, including roles in the films Garden State and One Eight Seven, with starring roles in the feature films such as How High, Soul Plane and others.
On March 27, 2007 Redman confirmed on BET Rapcity that the sequel to the movie How High is currently being written, by Dustin Lee Abraham, who also wrote the first movie.
He had a guest appearance in the music video for the 2003 "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys, where he played the role of her boyfriend. Beanie Sigel also called upon Meth's acting skills for his 2005 video Feel It In The Air where Method Man played an undercover cop leading an operation against Sigel.
Meth has fallen back from pursuing more acting roles after the situation with his sitcom on Fox left a bad taste in his mouth[29], and now mostly just acts if the project is being handled by a friend of his, as was the case with CSI and The Wire.
[edit] Raekwon
Raekwon has appeared in a number of movies. He was recently the focus of a VH1 "RockDoc" about blood diamonds, where he along with Paul Wall and others visited Sierra Leone, West Africa. During the shooting of the documentary, Raekwon became the first American rapper to perform in Sierra Leone.
Wu-Tang affiliate Shyheim appeared in the music video for TLC's #1 hit single "Waterfalls" playing the main character. He has since been acting in film and television, including the movies Original Gangstas, The Preacher's Wife and Carlito's Way: Rise to Power, and television sitcom The Parent 'Hood.
[edit] Video games
All nine members of the group were featured in the game Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style, released for the PlayStation on October 31, 1999, as well as a special collector's edition controller. Ghostface Killah and Method Man, as well as collaborators Redman and Keith Murray, also play themselves in all three games in the Def Jam series, Def Jam Vendetta, Def Jam Fight For NY, and Def Jam: Icon. Redman also provided both his voice and likeness in the form of a playable character in the game True Crime: New York City as well as two extra music tracks specially made for the game.
Method Man is a huge fan of video games himself and has publicly stated that he loves playing SOCOM online with other PS2 users, and is even part of a clan ("KMA/Kiss My Ass"). His Socom 2 name is "ICU". He has a fellow SOCOM player featured on a skit on his album 4:21.
Several tracks by Clan members and affiliates such as Method Man, Ghostface, Cappadonna, Trife, DJ Mathematics and others were featured in the 2006 game Saints Row
A video game from Acclaim, 9Dragons, also sports the name Wu-Tang Clan in one of the ingame branches.
[edit] Clothing line
In 1995 Wu-Tang created their own clothing label called Wu-Wear due to the high amount of low-quality bootleg Wu-Tang clothing. Wu-Tang hired Executive Producer Oli 'Power' Grant and RZA's brother and label CEO 'Divine' and tailors to make clothes for the first year. Wu-Tang was not the first hip hop group to create a clothing line, but they did create an unprecedented amount of clothing and accessories. Even though The RZA liked brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger, in The Wu Tang Manual he stated that he thought they were "too white boy" for his taste.
Method Man was unhappy with the decision to bring Wu Tang into the fashion world with Wu Wear, despite the brand being a major money-maker for the group. "When Wu-Wear started making shoes and sneakers and pants, it was shoddy material. I never rocked that shit."[30]
There is currently a partnership between Wu Tang and the Alife NYC clothing group for a successful ongoing series of custom sneakers, t-shirts, hoodies and other accessories for both men and women. The collection is called "A Wu-Tang Life".
[edit] Controversies
[edit] The FBI
John Gotti, "The Dapper Don"
The Wu Tang Clan and their associates are being investigated by the FBI for weapon trafficking in Staten Island and their relationship with the Gambino crime family. RZA admitted to being friends with several members of the Gambinos in The Wu-Tang Manual, both before and after his rise to fame. The investigation rules out the majority of Wu Tang affiliated performers and focuses on those running the business aspect of the Wu empire, Oli "Power" Grant and Mitchell "Divine" Diggs (RZA's brother) and The RZA himself.
The issue was recently resurfaced by FOX News in mid-2007 after RZA attended one of Hillary Clinton's parties and donated money to her 2008 campaign. FOX News criticized the fact that Clinton took money from The RZA, claiming it was contradictory due to RZA's felony record, FBI investigation, ties to the Gambino family and his music lyrics.
In 2000 the Village Voice ran a story about the FBI infiltrating the Wu Tang Clan through a criminal-turned-informant named Michael Caruso who got a job as the personal manager for Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna. Several other members of the group did not like Caruso, however his ties with Ghostface and Cappadonna got him into the inner circles of the Wu.[31]
Due to Caruso's criminal past he was prohibited by law to associate with felons (which many members of the Clan are) or leave the state of New York, however these restrictions were lifted in return for providing information on the group. The federal government turned their head and allowed Caruso to tour around the country with Wu-Tang as long as he was kicking back info on their involvement in gunrunning and the Gambino crime family.[32]
Caruso was subsequently fired from all duties regarding The Wu Tang Clan's business when these allegations came to light. RZA forced Cappadonna to fire him as his manager, however Caruso still works with Ghostface and is on his new poker team along with Enrique and Daniel F.[33]
RZA referenced the investigation in one of his lyrics, "Feds had one ad saying I gun traff'/I sold 20 million records bitch! You make me laugh."
[edit] Bad Boy Records
After badmouthing Wu-Tang at a concert, Bad Boy recording artist Mase had a run-in with Ghostface and his entourage at a club in New York City. There was some sort of physical altercation between Mase's and Ghostface's camps, and Mase left the incident with a broken jaw. Kanye West is among several rappers who have made reference to the incident, on his song "Through The Wire" "...If you could feel how my face felt/ You would know how Mase felt..." In a freestyle by Shyheim, he also referred to the incident with his line "The Empire State, where Ghostface retired Mase"
In the June 2007 issue of Hip Hop Connection Magazine Wu-Tang affiliate Cilvaringz stated that Ghostface had in fact done time in jail for "beating up" Mase.
[edit] Puff Daddy
In 1998, ODB rushed onstage unexpectedly during Shawn Colvin's acceptance speech for "Song of the Year" at the Grammy Awards, and began complaining that he had recently purchased expensive clothes in anticipation of winning the "Best Rap Album" award that he lost to Puff Daddy. Before being escorted off-stage, he implored the audience, "I don't know how you all see it, but when it comes to the children, Wu-Tang is for the children. We teach the children. Puffy is good, but Wu-Tang is the best. I want you all to know that this is ODB, and I love you all. Peace!" His bizarre onstage antics were widely reported in the mainstream media. [34] Dirty made it known on The Howard Stern Show that he meant no disrespect to P Diddy, but that feelings were hurt on Diddy's end.
Later that night Diddy's bodyguards would physically threaten ODB, but Dirty insisted to his friends and family in attendance that no violence breaks out. Following the award show, Howard Stern asked Dirty about the incident with Diddy's bodyguards on his radio show, but Dirty wouldn't play up the incident as he didn't want to shine a bad light on hip hop because of one minor altercation.[35]
Ghostface appeared on the 2002 Bad Boy Records release, We Invented the Remix, along with P. Diddy on the remix to the song "Special Delivery." Ghostface even gives Bad Boy Records a shout out for inviting him on the track when he raps "Bad Boy, thank you for this special delivery."
Diddy was one of the executive producers for Method Man's 2004 album Tical 0: The Prequel, although Meth later voiced his displeasure with the final product. "On the third LP, it was suggested to bring in Harve Pierre and P Diddy. Who am I to argue? Puff knows how to sell some records. But that wasn't the direction to go in, and I know that now."[36]
In 2006 Method Man also called out Diddy's decisions on the posthumous Biggie Smalls "Duets: The Final Chapter" album, saying that Biggie never would have rocked with some of the sub-par featured rappers. He also brought up the fact that he was the one and only other rapper that Biggie chose to feature on his debut album Ready To Die.
[edit] The Notorious B.I.G.
Ghostface and Raekwon subliminally dissed The Notorious B.I.G. in several songs, most notably on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx' "Shark Niggaz (Biters)" skit, where the pair make angry reference to use of Nas' cover art aesthetics (a portrait of the artist as a young child or infant). Nas refers to this episode in his song "Last Real Nigga Alive", featured on "God's Son", where he confirms the tensions between Raekwon, Ghost and the Notorious B.I.G., stating: "...that's when Ghostface said it on 'The Purple Tape'/Bad Boy biting Nas album cover, wait...". (Note: On "Ice Water" off of "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..." Raekwon says "To top it all off, beefin' for White/pullin' bleach out, tryna throw it in my eyesight". Biggie then takes this line and responds on "Kick in the Door" by saying "Fuck that, why try? Throw bleach in your eye").
The RZA referred to the beef in his book, "The Wu Tang Manual". He recalled a concert featuring both Wu Tang and Biggie, where Ghostface and Raekwon were "under the influence" and angry at Biggie over some comments in The Source. RZA went on to say that Raekwon, Ghostface and Biggie were traveling with large entourages that night, and thanked God that the two sides hadn't found each other in the building because it would have gotten ugly.
Biggie claimed he was heavily influenced by the Clan. Method Man was even Biggie's only guest artist on his debut album. Raekwon and Ghostface also made similar claims about being influenced Biggie and referred to him as an "icon". RZA also produced "Long Kiss Goodnight" off Biggie's Life After Death album and Biggie was featured on the Ghostface and Raekwon track "Three Bricks" off Ghostface's 2006 release, Fishscale.
[edit] VH1 Hip Hop Honors
The 2006 VH1 Hip Hop Honors was a peaceful event to honor hip hop legends, however things turned violent backstage just moments before the Clan was set to perform with an incident involving Oli "Power" Grant and a former associate who was suing the group.
While initial reports stated that the group had issues with VH1's security staff, an actual confrontation took place between True Master and Power in a VIP area of the venue, said Power. "I ain't even gonna glorify that to no type of degree, but the bottom line was, yeah, you know there was a minor little altercation over there," Power said. "I see him and he's in the VIP on the strength of Wu-Tang so I kind of reacted, be it right or wrong." The brief altercation between the two men resulted in a tense situation and ended with Power leaving the Hammerstein Ballroom. "I ain't even have to leave. I just stood there and talked for, like five or ten minutes. I made sure the rest of my people was able to stay because I told them, 'look if it was anything then let it be my problem. Let them go ahead and finish doing what they do.' I walked out the front, girls started taking some snapshots."[37]
No charges have been pressed against Oli "Power" Grant or anyone else affiliated with the Clan in relation to this incident.
[edit] 50 Cent
Ghostface had a non publicized feud with 50 Cent in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 50 Cent's record "How to Rob" insults were aimed at many high-profile rappers including Wu-Tang. In the early 2000s the beef made it on to wax with skits titled "Clyde Smith" on Supreme Clientele featuring a low-pitched recording of what most fans believe to be Raekwon's voice derisively making fun of 50 Cent's behavior and his methods of attracting attention to himself, believed to be aimed at 50 Cent. The skit also joked at other unnamed "gangster rappers" in New York. 50 Cent took offense and came back with a short track dissing Wu Tang Clan and more specifically Ghostface.[38] 50 criticized their use of the term "god" as a term of endearment and made mention to the Clyde Smith skits. Another jab at 50 was thrown on Wu Tang Clan's 2000 album The W by Masta Killa on the track "One Blood", saying "Fuck fame, I shoot a hole in a 50 cent piece to test my aim". After 50 Cent rose to fame, both he and Ghostface talked in interviews with SOHH.com and Hot 97 Radio about the supposed beef, both saying that the beef was never that serious and nothing major had happened.
A supposed diss song that circulated the web in the beginning of 2001 was proven to be recorded by Polite of "The American Cream Team" (Raekwon's group at the time) and not the Wu-Tang Clan titled "Who The Fuck Is 50 Cent".
G-Unit member Tony Yayo has alleged that Ghostface had a ghostwriter for his critically acclaimed album Supreme Clientele. In an interview with spin.com, Yayo claimed that Far Rocaway native rapper Supurb, who guest appeared on the album, wrote a majority, if not all, of the lyrics.[1] Ghostface has not yet responded.
In an interveiw with hiphopdx.com Raekwon, who also appears on the album responded saying: "He know damn well he ain’t write that fuckin’ album. I don’t even wanna get into shit like that, because it just makes me upset that muthafuckas be running they mouth all kinda ways. But at the end of the day, I think Ghost gonna have to really say what he gotta say."[2]
Ingredient
