Biography
Wu-Tang Clan is considered the most influential rap-gang of all times, and their debut album "ENTER THE WU-TANG (36 Chambers)" is the greatest record in hip-hop history. Like other street poets, the Wu-Tang Clan participants talk about the difficult life of Americans, but through the prism of Eastern philosophy.The history of creation and composition
Now the Wu-Tang Clan includes 9 self-sufficient MS, but the ideological inspirer and producer of the team is RZA (formed from the English word "Razor" - "razor"), he is also Robert Fitzgerald Diggs.
In the late 1980s, RZA, together with the cousin Gary Grasz, the GZA nickname (from "Genius" - "Genius") and another Russell Tyuro Jones, known as Ol 'Dirty Bastard ("Dirty bastard"), tried to promote the group Force of the Imperial Master. The process was with difficulty, and young people decided to change the direction.
The idea of a new project came to the Americans while watching the film "Shaolin and Udan" (1983), which tells about the confrontation between two martial arts schools. The combination of Eastern philosophy and street poetry seemed to be a successful MS, and they took the name Wu Tang (Eng. "Udan", Mountain in China).
The history of creating Wu-Tang Clan has gained momentum. By 1992, the official date of education, the team consisted of 10 people: RZA, GZA, OL 'Dirty Bastard, as well as their friends - Method MAN (Corey Woods), Masta Killa (Elgin Turner), InspectAH Deck (Jason Hunter), Ghostface Killah (Denis Coles), U-God (Lamont Hawkins) and Cappadonna (Darryl Hill).
Often, the eleventh participant Wu-Tang Clan - Mathematics (Ronald Mauris Bin), DJ and Producer remains in the shade. He belongs not only to musical processing of songs, but also a team logo, which is similar to a schematic image of an eagle or Syricen. In fact, this is the letter "w". Today, the emblem has become a real brand: decorates clothes, skateboards and so on.
In the biography of each artist there were already solo projects, but not too successful. It turned out that their strength lies in unity. MS call themselves not just a musical team, but family, or clan. Some of them lead several projects at the same time, but they are combined with Wu-Family formation.
In November 2004, OL 'Dirty Bastard died from the overdose of drugs, and Wu-Tang Clan refused to give a comrade to someone else.
Music
The debut single "Protect Ya Neck" 1993 and the subsequent tour with Kat Nu and Cypress Hill made Wu-Tang Clan noticeable in the underground party.
MS simultaneously with group activities wanted to create solo tracks under different labels, so finding a producer for Wu-Tang Clan was not easy. But in November 1993, under the brand Loud / RCA, the first studio album of rappers "ENTER THE WU-TANG (36 Chambers) was released.
The name of the record is explained by the legend about the origin of the Wu-Tang combat style. The string of skill was the 36th level (Сhamber), which could be achieved by hard tests. The number is chosen notunder: there are 36 deadly points on the human body, and in the mouth of a healthy person - 36 teeth, and for each test, the disciples instead of ordinary tooth were given golden.
"ENTER THE WU-TANG (36 Chambers)" is considered a cult album recorded in the style of hardcore-rap and hip-hop eastern coast. This music inspired popular now NAS, The Notorious B.i.g., Mobb Deep and Jay-Z on creativity.
In US Billboard 200 "ENTER THE WU-TANG (36 Chambers)" reached the 41st place, and in the first week there was a circulation of 30 thousand copies. By 1995, the record was bought more than 2 million times, which made it platinum.
The popularity of the team has increased and clips on the song "Method MAN", "Da Mystery of Chessboxin '" and "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta Fuck Wit", which were in the Prime-Time of the Channel of The Box.
"C.R.E.a.m." became the most famous track of the debut album. Time magazine included it in the 100 greatest songs, "Rolling Stone" put on the 11th place in the top 50 of the great hip-hop compositions of all time, and the listeners of the VH1 TV channel - at the 13th position in the top 100 of the best rap - Jested.
On the wave of Success MS engaged in solo creativity. In August 1994, RZA released "Gravenigga", recorded in the best traditions of Horrorkore. In November, Method MAN presented "Tical". The title track "All I Need" was awarded the Grammy Prize in 1995. Collection of OL 'Dirty Bastard "Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version" (1995) is considered a classic hip-hop. "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ..." Raekwon and "Liquid Swords" GZA are the most successful solo projects Wu-Tang Clan.
At the same time, the team launched Wu Wear's clothing line. The project was positioned as another way to earn, and now is a cult designer house. Idea to unwind music through your own line of clothes picked up Puff Daddy, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Nelly, Ludacris, 50 Cent and many others.
Clothing is not the only product of MS. Especially for his work, rappers developed slang, which combined the terminology of the people of gods and lands (radical African American religious organization), oriental expressions, "street" language. There are new words. So, "Staitan Island" for Wu-Tang Clan is "Land of Shaolin", and "C.R.E.A.M." - Money designation.
The second solo album of the Wu-Tang Forever team in June 1997 was headed by Billboard and in the future developed more than 8.3 million copies. The Lyrics differed significantly from the first experience of the group. Many poems were written under the impression of the teachings of the people of gods and lands.
Some MS solo project tracks are reflected in Wu-Tang Forever. For example, the "Severe Punishment" uses sample from the song Method Man "Ice Cream MAN".
"The W" (2000) was recorded without OL 'Dirty Bastard, which at that moment was serving a sentence in prison for violating the conditions of the trial period. His voice, however, got into the "Conditioner" track with Snoop Dogg - a young man spent his party on the phone.
Shortly before the release of "The W" OL 'Dirty Bastard, taking advantage of the moment when transported from a rehabilitation center to Los Angeles, California. At the premiere party, MS remained unnoticed until the comrades did not provide him. For a long time, the American hid from persecution, but ultimately was arrested.
In 2001, the discography was replenished with the collection "Iron Flag". It is noteworthy that the CappaDonna photo was originally absent on the cover, which is explained by stretched relations in the team: MS was a police informant.
In general, the events of the 2000s can not be called easy for Wu-Tang Clan. In the 2004th U-God, due to the conflict with RZA left the team: the ideological inspirer prevented his success as a solo artist.
Later, when U-God returned, Wu-Tang Clan was given several concerts in Europe and in full force (that rarity) performed at the Rock The Bells festival in California. It was the last performance of OL 'Dirty Bastard. He died on November 13, 2004 on a recording studio, the reason is an overdose of drugs. His memory is devoted to the album "8 Diagrams" (2007).
In 2010, 3 studio albums appeared: "A Better Tomorrow" (2014), Once Upon A Time In Shaolin (2015) and "The Saga Continues" (2017). The latter is recorded without the participation of U-God, and therefore came under the name Wu-Tang to emphasize the incomplete team.
The Saga Continues debuted at the 15th place in Billboard 200 and on the 1st place in Independent Albums. Release was accompanied by two singles: "People Say" and "Lesson Learn'd".
Wu-Tang Clan now
In 2019, Wu-Tang Clan together with Public Enemy, De La Soul and Dj Premier are sent to the "Gods of Rap" tour.
Probably, MS plans to please the fans of the long-familiar hits, since there is no information about the moment the release of new albums or compositions. True, in "Instagram" Wu-Tang Clan often appear pictures from recording studios, but without encouraging comments.
Discography
- 1993 - "ENTER THE WU-TANG (36 Chambers)"
- 1997 - "Wu-Tang Forever"
- 2000 - "The W"
- 2001 - "Iron Flag"
- 2007 - "8 Diagrams"
- 2014 - "A BETTER TOMORROW"
- 2015 - "Once Upon a Time In Shaolin"
- 2017 - "The Saga Continues"
Clips
- "C.r.e.a.m"
- "Uzi (Pinky Ring)"
- "Protect Ya Neck"
- "KILLA BEEZ"
- "Gravel Pit"
- "ReUnited"
- "Careful"
- "CAN IT BE ALL SO SIMPLE"
- "TriUmph"