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Wu-Tang Clan
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
Wu-Tang Clan is a hip hop group from Staten Island in New York, formed in 1992. At its basis were the cousins RZA, GZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard, who had earlier rapped as the All in Together Now Crew. RZA and Ghostface Killah wanted a group with a worldview of its own: Eastern philosophy from kung fu films, the teachings of the Five-Percent Nation and comics. The name came from the film Shaolin and Wu Tang. The other members were Method Man, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, U-God and Masta Killa, later also Cappadonna. RZA was the leader and the producer.
Music and breakthrough
The self-released single Protect Ya Neck won the group a large underground following. In November 1993 came the debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), which is regarded as one of the best hip hop albums ever. The contract was unusual: the group signed with Loud Records, but each member was allowed to sign solo with another label. So there followed Method Man's Tical, Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., GZA's Liquid Swords and Ghostface Killah's Ironman, almost all produced by RZA in his basement studio. Wu-Tang Forever (1997) reached number 1 in America. Ol' Dirty Bastard died in 2004.
Influence
The music of Wu-Tang sounded raw and dark: lo-fi beats by RZA with grainy samples and fragments from kung fu films, and rappers who alternate with very different voices and styles. With this approach the group gave new life to the hip hop of the American East Coast, and produced a whole circle of related artists, the Wu-Tang Killa Bees.
Listening
Protect Ya Neck · Wu-Tang Clan, 1992Apple Music ↗
C.R.E.A.M. · Wu-Tang Clan, 1993Apple Music ↗
Discography
Studio albums
- 1993Enter the Wu‐Tang (36 Chambers)
- 1997Wu‐Tang Forever
- 2000The W
- 2001Iron Flag
- 20078 Diagrams
- 2014A Better Tomorrow
- 2015Once Upon a Time in Shaolin…
- 2026Dragon's Breath
In School of Rock
The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.
- Mixtape 6: Fear of a Black PlanetNL Reader
Mentioned in other articles
- Golden age hip hop Genre
Public Enemy piled up samples, sirens and scratches, De La Soul chose a playful tone, and the Wu-Tang Clan used lo-fi beats with samples from kung fu films.