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).

Foundation

The founders of the Wu-Tang Clan were cousins GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and RZA who had previously comprised the by-then-defunct trio Force Of The Imperial Master, who became better known as All In Together Now after they had a popular single of that name. The group had attracted the attention of some in the industry, including Biz Markie http://www.hiphopcore.net/interviews/rza_english.php3, but had never managed to secure a record deal. Since the crew dissolved, GZA (then known as the Genius) and RZA (then known as Prince Rakeem) had also embarked on separate unsuccessful solo careers with Cold Chillin Records and Tommy Boy Records respectively. The three cousins' frustration with the workings of the hip hop music industry would provide the main inspiration to the Wu-Tang's revolutionary business plan.

Related Topics:
GZA - RZA - Biz Markie - Cold Chillin - Tommy Boy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The 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 & the group's producer. The two cousins (GZA and RZA) created their new Wu-Tang nom-de-plumes by mimicking the sound that the words "genius" and "razor" would make when scratched on a turntable. The name of the group itself originates from the Wudang (or Wu-Tang) Mountains in the Hubei province of China, which are a traditional center of Chinese martial arts; RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard adopted the name for the group after seeing the kung-fu film Shaolin and Wu-Tang, which features a school of warriors trained in the Wu-Tang style (many dialogue excerpts from the film were used on their debut album). 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 Nigga's Garments," "Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game" and "Wisdom, Universe, Truth, Allah, Nation, and God". The group's now-famous logo was designed by long-time associate and graffiti artist Mathematics, who would go on to become the group's DJ and one of its most sought after in-house producers.

Related Topics:
Nom-de-plumes - Scratched - Turntable - Wudang - Hubei - Martial arts - Backronyms - KRS One - Big Daddy Kane - Allah - Graffiti - Mathematics - DJ

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The 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 the Wu-Tang Clan while still allowing each member to record solo albums with other labels, Loud/RCA finally agreed and the debut album ' in late 1993 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. http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/A890.htm

Related Topics:
1993 - 1993 in music - RCA

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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, RZA, Raekwon, Method Man, and Ol' Dirty Bastard to negotiate solo contracts.

Related Topics:
1990s - Raekwon - Method Man

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~