Wu-Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island, United States, active from 1992 to the present. The core line-up includes RZA, GZA/Genius, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God and Masta Killa. Cappadonna is frequently associated with the group as a quasi member and is listed among the members in the group’s later line-up.

Formation and name

The group forms in late 1992 from friends and associates around Staten Island, with RZA acting as de facto leader and main producer. It develops out of an earlier group formed by RZA, GZA and Ol’ Dirty Bastard called Force of the Imperial Master, later renamed All In Together Now. The name Wu-Tang is taken from the Taoist holy mountain Wu Dang in China and is also linked to the kung fu film Shaolin and Wu Tang, which gives the group part of its martial-arts association.

GZA and RZA develop their Wu-Tang aliases from the sounds of the words “genius” and “razor” when scratched on a turntable. The group also develops several backronyms for the name, including “Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game” and “Wisdom, Universe, Truth, Allah, Nation, and God”.

Early releases and breakthrough

Wu-Tang Clan first gains wider attention in 1993 with the independent single “Protect Ya Neck”, which builds an underground following and attracts major label interest. Loud/RCA releases the debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) later in 1993. The album uses a Shaolin-versus-Wu-Tang theme and includes dialogue excerpts as skits.

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) becomes highly influential for its minimalist production and aggressive style. It helps define the group’s reputation in early 1990s hip hop and later appears regularly on lists of the best albums of the 1990s and of all time.

Style, impact and wider work

The group is associated with boom bap, east coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop and hip hop. It becomes one of the most critically and commercially successful hip-hop groups of its era, and its influence extends far beyond its own records. The Clan helps launch the careers of numerous other artists and groups, and by 1994 there are more than 300 associated Wu-Tang affiliates, known as the Wu-Tang Killa Bees, including rappers, producers and record label executives.

Wu-Tang Clan members also go on to work as solo artists, producers, TV and film performers, screenwriters, product spokespersons, business owners and film composers. The group becomes a multi-platinum act and wins Grammy awards. After the success of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the members including GZA, RZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, U-God and Masta Killa secure solo contracts.

Line-up notes

The Clan is built around nine MCs in its early period, until the death of Ol’ Dirty Bastard in 2004. Masta Killa and GZA are from Brooklyn, and Inspectah Deck is from the Bronx, though the group itself is strongly identified with Staten Island, which members refer to as “Shaolin”.

The group is linked to Wu-Tang Publishing, Inc. and remains active.