Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (November 9, 1993)

In an effort to support both my own blog and the new Wu-Tang site that some of my co-conspirators have established, I thought I would return from my self-imposed hiatus with a review of their first group album, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).

SPOILER ALERT: At the end of this review, I'm going to tell you to buy the fucking thing. I'm just saying.



Most hip hop fans will already know that the group is made up of nine different rappers (The Rza, The Genius, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Inspectah Deck, and Masta Killa), but this site isn't just for hip hop fans, so there.

I don't feel like wasting time writing out the history of the Wu, so I'll share a different story. I'm a huge Wu freak, sure, but the first time I ever heard a Wu-Tang song was when Method Man released the video for "Bring The Pain". At the time, I was more into West Coast shit from the Nobel Prize-winning physician Andre Young, and his apprentice, Snoop. This was during a time where the East Coast had lost its luster with the hip hop audience; everything that was released sounded similar, the stories were all relentlessly violent and misogynistic, and all of the artists wore were straight-faced "don't fuck with me" poses. The West Coast provided all of that, sure, but they had fun with their musical output, and the G-Funk that Dre pioneered just sounded better to drive to, or to sit at a friend's house with for a party or a barbecue, or whatever.

As such, I knew that the Wu-Tang Clan was a rap group, but I knew jack and shit about them in 1993. After I saw the video for "Bring The Pain", with the stark black and white images and Meth just chilling on a train, I was blown away. I bought Method Man's album (on cassette!) based on this song alone, and listened to it straight through. At the time, I hadn't heard anything like it; dusty beats, provided by The Rza, that just barely constituted a melody, and grimy lyrics that actually said something besides "I'll fucking kill you". Sure, some of it was menacing, but some of it was laugh-out-loud funny; you actually saw the world with a different perspective after you listened to these guys.

I picked up Enter the Wu-Tang shortly afterward, and slowly pieced together the Wu-Tang story (how they were nine solo artists who united for a common goal; how they based their lyrical styles and their song titles on kung-fu flicks; how Ol' Dirty Bastard was fucking insane, etc.), without the help of the Internet, I might add. In a pretty short time period, they became my favorite hip hop group ever, which led to my current fixation on building my huge Wu-Tang album collection, including way too many sub-par releases by barely-affiliated rappers. Le sigh.

Their legacy has led to a handful of group albums (the final one is supposed to come out in 2007, but I'll believe that when I see it), many many many solo albums, Wu-fam affiliate albums of varying degrees of creativity and success, a book, a comic book, a video game, several viable acting careers, crew defections, and the death of one of the original players. Their family tree may have grown, and their output may completely suck now, but the Wu are among the chosen few artists who I still support wholeheartedly with an in-store purchase, even if I haven't heard any singles (which is usually the case these days).

As for the affiliates...yeah, those get the download, I won't lie to you. I still don't have a house in the Hamptons, you know.

1. BRING DA RUCKUS
None of your usual 'rap album intro' bullshit here; the nine-man group jumps right in and stabs you in the brain. No, that's actually a good thing.

2. SHAME ON A N---A
Primarily a showcase for head case Ol' Dirty, with a couple of cameos. There probably was no other way to introduce him to the world, and that's just fine by me. (Side note; one of the things that prompted this review, save for the Wu-Tang blog, was this video that I saw on someone else's blog that mashed up this song with footage from The Simpsons, and it surprisingly works about half the time.)

3. CLAN IN DA FRONT
After a bizarre intro where The Rza reads off from a roster sheet of all seven hundred and eighty-four members of the Clan, the Genius's solo showcase kicks in over a minimalist piano-key beat.

4. WU-TANG: 7TH CHAMBER
Weird ass title. The infamous "Killer Tape" skit precedes the first song which includes the majority of the members on the same track.

5. CAN IT BE ALL SO SIMPLE / INTERMISSION
Time for some blasphemy. This song is awful. I like the concept, and I agree that not every song has to be violent or made up of all shit-talking; introspective songs can be great. Not this one, though.

6. DA MYSTERY OF CHESSBOXIN'
The weakest of the tracks here featuring most of the Clan members. Still like it, though.

7. WU-TANG CLAN AIN'T NUTHING TA F' WIT
Brilliant. Co-produced by Method Man. Who knew?

8. C.R.E.A.M.
Probably the song that the group is best known for. Stands for "Cash Rules Everything Around Me", but you already knew that.

9. METHOD MAN
Not a solo showcase for U-God, as the title may lead you to believe, but one for Method Man instead.

10. PROTECT YA NECK
The first single, which introduced every member to the world (and to record labels; they were signed based on the strength of this song). A somewhat censored version is included on the album, for reasons unknown.

11. TEARZ
A reworking of a track from the Wu-Tang demo tapes, previously known as "After The Laughter". An introspective song done properly.

12. WU-TANG: 7TH CHAMBER, PART II / CONCLUSION
Not a continuation of Track Four, but a remix. Not as good as the original.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Enter The Wu-Tang is a classic debut CD. And I say that even though I wouldn't listen to it straight through (I just really can't stand "Can It Be All So Simple"). This album opened the ears and eyes of many fans of music in general, and for good reason. All of the success that followed was well deserved, unlike, say, any member of G-Unit or DipSet.

BUY OR BURN? Buy this shit. No, really. You won't be disappointed, unless you just really don't like hip hop, and if that's the case, I can't do anything for you.

BEST TRACKS: "C.R.E.A.M."; "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing..."; "Protect Ya Neck"

-Max