#387 - Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
MUSIC HISTORY WRITTEN BY HEAD WRITER DJ MORTY COYLE:
Released November 9th in 1993 on Loud Records and produced by RZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and Method Man, this is the debut album by the Staten Island and Brooklyn, New York, nine-man, Hardcore Hip Hop, collective.
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, Gary Grice, and Russell Jones were cousins who grew up in the Staten Island and Brooklyn boroughs of New York in the ’70s and ’80s.
They were raised with the teachings of The Five Percent Nation, a mid-‘60s Harlem-based offshoot of The Nation of Islam that combatted the city’s inherent racism by instilling self-worth, hope, pride, and unity in the black community.
They loved old Soul and R&B as well as the new phenomena of Rap music, breakdancing, graffiti, and DJing.
They were also enamored with ‘70s and ‘80s, Chinese, Kung Fu films which included those featuring Bruce Lee and two others in particular, 1978’s “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” and 1983’s “Shaolin Vs. Wu Tang.”
In the mid-’80s the three cousins formed a Rap group they originally named Force of the Imperial Master before becoming the All in Together Now Crew.
Using nicknames, Robert became Prince Rakeem or The Scientist, Gary used Allah Justice and then The Genius, and Russell was The Specialist.
A short while later Robert also formed another group called the D.M.D. or Dig ‘Em Down Posse that included the best rappers from his Park Hill neighborhood of Staten Island: Dennis Coles A.K.A. Ghostface Killah, Corey Woods A.K.A. Raekwon the Chef, Lamont Hawkins A.K.A. U-God, Jason Hunter A.K.A. Inspectah Deck, and Clifford Smith who started as Shakwon before settling on Method Man.
By the late ‘80s Robert and Gary got individual solo records deals with unsuccessful results and both were dropped.
Robert moved to Ohio in 1990 to live with his mom but a couple years later got into trouble that included being up for an attempted murder charge stemming from a shoot out.
After being found not guilty he returned to Staten Island relieved and vowing never to go in that direction again.
While East Coast Hip Hop was all about good vibes, unity, and Afrocentrism and the West Coast was dominated by Dr. Dre’s G-Funk Gangsta Rap Robert had other ideas.
He merged both crews into a supergroup and named them and his new production company after the bad guys from one of his favorite Kung Fu movies.
As he put it, "I thought that Wu-Tang was… the best sword-style of martial arts. And the tongue is like a sword. And so I say that we have the best lyrics, so, therefore, we are the Wu-Tang Clan."
He convinced them all to trust his vision, no questions asked, and to devote five years to his master plan for success.
He chose the nickname The RZA, while Gary became The GZA, and Russell took Ol’ Dirty Bastard or O.D.B.
Now Staten Island (or Shaolin Island as they would rename it) was not as well known for its Rap scene as The Bronx and Brooklyn and RZA seized on that outsider pride and their gritty credibility.
According to him, ”We were street kids," he says, "guys that was more like felons, or high-school dropouts. Not saying this is a positive thing, I'm just saying this is the difference of our character."
Over hard beats and old Soul loops he merged the foundational teachings of The Five Percent Nation, the spiritual philosophies and samples from those favorite Kung Fu movies, and even some inspiration from comic books.
The crew constantly piled into RZA’s and his roommate Ghostface Killah’s apartment to watch old films, talk about philosophy, battle rap, play chess, record demos, get high, and plan for the future.
RZA wanted to reflect the rawness and truthfulness of the streets.
As he put it, “If you keep eating McDonald's, you gonna get sick. You need a real home-cooked meal. And I knew that that would be healthier. And that's what Wu-Tang was: It was a home-cooked meal of hip-hop. Of the real people."
To convince the record industry he got them all to kick in some money to professionally record and press up a 12” single.
RZA asked their friend, DJ, producer, and graffiti-artist Ronald Bean A.K.A. Mathematics to design something quickly for the cover and stickers and overnight he drew the now omnipresent “W” logo.
Shortly after releasing “Protect Ya Neck” RZA added friend and novice rapper Elgin Turner who became Masta Killa.
In 1993, the group signed with Loud Records for $60,000 in a deal inspired by George Clinton’s P-Funk roster. It was almost unheard of for groups’ or bands’ members to sign non-exclusive contracts that allowed them to record for other record labels. Wu-Tang’s agreement with Loud not only allowed but encouraged them to seek their best individual solo and offshoot group deals.
While all Wu releases would be 50/50 splits between Loud Records and RZA’s Wu-Tang Productions every solo album and project would also give 20% back to Wu-Tang Productions.
In the studio RZA balanced out the nine unique personalities including making them battle rap for verses.
Although the album sort of commercially stiffed when it was first released and didn’t go platinum for almost two years it was critically acclaimed and it quickly helped almost every member secure their own deal. All the subsequent Wu-Tang records, offshoot projects, solo albums, guest spots, and compilations have established one of the most revered, influential, and popular Rap dynasties in music history.
New York even named a district in their Staten Island neighborhood after them.
However in 2004 the group was forever changed after the accidental overdose death of the troubled O.D.B. at RZA’s studio.
They’ve had plenty of triumphs, beefs and reunions, a docu-series as well as a biopic series, and have never stopped making records or selling merchandise.