Wu-Tang Clan

The Wu-Tang Clan is a pioneering hardcore hip hop group, originally from Staten Island, New York, USA (Staten Island is referred to as "Shaolin" in their lyrics).

Expansion

Immediately after Forever, the focus of Wu-Tang was on promoting emerging affiliate artists rather than its own members. The group's close associate Cappadonna, who first appeared on Raekwon's debut and was a large presence on both Ironman and Wu-Tang Forever, followed the group project with March 1998's The Pillage. Soon after, Killah Priest (like Cappadonna, a close associate of the Clan, though not an official member) released Heavy Mental to great critical acclaim. Affiliate groups Sunz Of Man (of which Killah Priest was a member) and Killarmy (which included RZA's younger brother) also released albums while a compilation album, ', was released showcasing these and more Wu-affiliated artists as well as including new solo tracks from the group members themselves.

Related Topics:
Cappadonna - 1998 - The Pillage - Killah Priest - Heavy Mental - Sunz Of Man - Killarmy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The second round of solo albums from the Clansmen saw sophomore efforts from the four members who had already released albums as well as debuts from all the remaining members except Masta Killa (who would eventually debut as a solo artist in 2004). In the space of two years, RZA's Bobby Digital In Stereo, Method Man's ' 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). 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.

Related Topics:
Bobby Digital In Stereo - Blackout! - Redman - Beneath the Surface - Nigga Please - Golden Arms Redemption - Immobilarity - Supreme Clientele - Uncontrolled Substance - June - 1999 - January - 2000 - Score - Ghost Dog - The Way of the Samurai - Jim Jarmusch

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As well as the releases from the nine Clansmen and the most high-ranking affiliates, there was a long line of mostly poorly-received releases from lower-ranking affiliates such as Popa Wu, Shyheim, GP Wu, and Wu-Syndicate, second albums from Gravediggaz and Killarmy, as well as a greatest hits album, a b-sides compilation, and Wu-Tang branded clothing and video games. 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 a 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.

Related Topics:
Popa Wu - Shyheim - GP Wu - Wu-Syndicate - Video games - 2000s - Ludacris - Jay-Z - Puff Daddy - Busta Rhymes - Nelly

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, the avalanche of Wu-Tang product between 1997 and 2000 is considered by many critics, such as All Music Guide's Stephen Thomas Erlewine http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47E1CD84FAC7020CE93324DCCB87AD20ED342F38250234558C080007DA01750EB4BE9D1D2B3F96AB679AFFA62A55805D2CCE455FFCC0640&sql=11:7n841v08zzca~T1, to have resulted in an oversaturation that was largely responsible for the Wu-Tang's drop in popularity during the same time period. 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" indicated the critical attitude to the Clan's overexposure. Whatever the case, 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 either critically or commercially. Occasional albums would still recieve critical acclaim (Ghostface Killah's Supreme Clientele for one) while Method Man and ODB remained popular in their own right as solo artists, and the Wu-Tang remained generally well-known, but they had seemingly lost the ability to excite the music world in the way they had only three years previously. Many fans and critics also bemoaned the lack of RZA 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.

Related Topics:
Melody Maker - Trackmasters - Neptunes

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Wu-Tang's fortunes were also not aided by Ol' Dirty Bastard beginning a long career of erratic behavior, landing him in both the headlines and jail on a regular basis. At the 1998 Grammy Awards, he protested the Clan's loss (in Best Rap Album) by interrupting Shawn Colvin's acceptance speech, albeit in a good-natured manner. ODB was also arrested several times for a variety of offenses, including assault, making terrorist threats, shoplifting, wearing body armor after being convicted of a felony, and possession of cocaine. He was also in trouble for missing multiple court dates. ODB's troubles would continue to blight him well into the 21st century.

Related Topics:
Grammy Award - Best Rap Album - Shawn Colvin - Assault - Shoplifting - Body armor - Felony - Cocaine

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~