The Wu-Tang Clan are 9 skilled MC's hailing from Staten
Island, a borough of New York City, New York, USA. Other
Clan members are from other New York City boroughs like Ol'
Dirty Bastard is from Brooklyn (Zoo). Although Clan affiliates
span world-wide with over 400 members and some Wu-Tang
'Family' members are rappers in their own right, like Shabazz
The Disciple and Shyheim The Rugged Child also other
established hip-hop heavyweights including Killarmy and the
Sunz Of Man are part of the Wu-Tang Clan. The original 9
core members of the Clan are: The Genius/GZA, The RZA, Ol'
Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Raekwon
and Ghostface Killah, Master Killa and Cappadonna holds a
very strong connection with the original 9 members and some
say he is the 'honorary' member where as others claim he is
an official member, bringing the clan to 10 members. Maybe
record deal complications are the cause of this confusion.
The Wu-Tang Albums Available
Artist
Albums
Shyheim
Shyheim a.k.a. The Rugged Child
Shyheim
The Lost Generation
Gravediggaz
6 Feet Deep a.k.a. Niggamortis (Rza)
Gravediggaz
The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel (Rza)
Chef Raekwon
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
The Genius / GZA
Words From The Genius
The Genius / GZA
Liquid Swords
Ghostface Killah
Ironman
Method Man
Tical
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
The RZA
Ooh I Love You Rakeem (EP)
Wu-Tang Clan
Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Forever
Killarmy
Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars
GP Wu
Don't Go Against The Grain
Killah Priest
Heavy Mental
Cappadonna
The Pillage
The Wu-Tang Name
Well, apart from the Wu-Tang Clan's love of martial arts
movies, the Wu-Tang Clan were a ancient gang of rebels of
the Shaolin temple who were skilled at a martial art known as
Wu-Tang Sword, people who studied this style progressed in
'Chambers' or death points of the body where a person could
be killed with a single blow, there are 36 death points on the
human body thus the 36 Chambers, when a person progressed
to another chamber they would replace one of their natural
teeth with a gold one, and when they reached the final
chamber they would have platinum set into their front teeth.
Anyone who reached the 36th Chamber were considered
invincible to all but a fellow Wu-Tang Master.
Other Meanings of Wu-Tang
In the science of mathematics as practised by the Wu-Tang,
the letters can be broken down into individual words. The
following two examples have been used in lyrics by Wu
members.
Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game
We Usually Take A Niggaz Garments
The Beginnings of the Wu-Tang
The Wu-Tang Clan was the inspiration of The Genius and was
developed with his cousin's The RZA (At that time known as
Prince Rakeem) and Ol' Dirty Bastard. Many of the Wu-Tang
were friends as children, cousins or lived in the same blocks
as each other in Staten Island, NYC, NY. Before the Wu-Tang
Clan came to be known both The RZA (Prince Rakeem) and
The GZA (The Genius) had bad record deals - The RZA
released a 12" entitled 'Ooh We Love You Rakeem' with
Tommy Boy Records and The Genius made an album with
Cold Chillin' Records entitled 'Words From The Genius', both
were flops and were the reason for the Wu-Tang's hatred of
'Labels'. In 1993 the Wu-Tang Clan signed a record deal with
Loud/RCA records, where they created their first album 'Enter
The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers'. The RZA, (who initially created
the Clan) then devised a plan which he believed would hold
the world to ransom, which it did. RZA wanted each Clan
member to secure themselves a solo record deal each (and
release a solo album), Raekwon stayed with Loud/RCA where
he created 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx', The Genius/GZA went
with Geffen Records, to create 'Liquid Swords', Method Man to
Def Jam for 'Tical' and so on, but what does that mean? It
would mean that Clan could control the labels (hold them to
ransom) because they will not work without each other and
this would inevitably make the Clan huge amounts of money -
The Wu-Tang Millions. Although the future of the Clan is to
stay with Loud, The RZA has created Razor Sharp Records
which will be the head for Wu-Tang Productions.
The Production of the Wu-Tang
Prince Rakeem, a.k.a The RZA, produces almost all of the
tracks featuring Wu-Tang Clan members. Those that aren't
produced by the RZA are generally MC's that did not appear
on the debut Wu-Tang Clan CD. Here are some examples:
The Genius, Words From a Genius - Made Before
Wu-Tang
Prince Rakeem, Ooh We Love You Rakeem (EP) - The
RZA was not a producer
Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep - A Prince Paul/RZA
production
Shabazz The Disciple - Production by 4th Disciple
Shyheim a.k.a. The Rugged Child - Production by RNS
Killarmy - Production by 4th Disciple
Sunz Of Man - Production by 4th Disciple
The tracks which feature The RZA on the decks have a very
distinctive sound, it a 'gritty', under-produced (intended) which
some have called "dirty" and others have called it "sloppy". It
is this unique style that has attracted fans worldwide with it's
rough and rugged representation of hip-hop.
The Mathematics
Wu-Tang Clan members practice various forms of
"mathematics" which is also associated with the teachings of
5% Nation (which is not a religion) and the Nation of Islam.
Generally the 26 letters of the alphabet are broken down,
each letter is learned via it's numeric position in the alphabet
(G is 7, M is 13, etc) and each letter is also associated with a
numeric word. PEACE can be broken down numerically into
Positive Enlightenment Always Corrects Errors, for example.
One of the best lyrical examples of mathematics on wax is
Method Man in his solo LP track "Mr. Sandman": Peace to the
number seven (7=G, G is God) Everybody else get the
four-nine-three-eleven (D-I-C-K)
The 36 Chambers
The martial arts legends and movies from which Wu-Tang
Clan draw have somewhere in them a temple of 36 chambers,
where each warrior or monk has a perfect style of his own.
There are ten degrees of variation to each style. 36*10=360
degrees of perfected styles, a perfect circle. These are the 36
chambers of the Wu-Tang Clan, representing lyrical perfection
in two ways: one, each MC is his own "chamber" of lyrical
sharpness; two, a circle is infinite and Wu-Tang Clan has
infinite styles.
The Shaolin
In terms of the Wu-Tang Clan, Shaolin is another name for
Staten Island, New York. Also it was the ancient religion that
the Wu-Tang is based upon.
What's with King
King Just is from Shaolin, but no, he is not a part of the Wu.
Wu-Tang Members Alias'
The RZA is also known as The Rzarector; Chief Abbot
and Prince Rakeem
The Genius is also known as The GZA, and Justice
Ol' Dirty Bastard is also known as Unique Ason
Inspector Deck is also known as Rebel INS
Raekwon The Chef is also known as Shallah Raekwon
U-God is also known as Baby-U; Golden Arms; and 4-Bar
Killer
Ghostface Killer is also known as Sun God; and Iron
Man
Method Man is also known as Meth Tical; Shakwon; The
MZA; and Ticallion Stallion
They also have WU-GAMBINO names:
The RZA is Bobby Steels
The Genius is Maximillion
Ol' Dirty Bastard is Dirt McGirt/Joe Bananas
Inspector Deck is Rollie Fingers
Raekwon The Chef is Lou Diamonds (Louis Rich
Diamonds)
U-God is Lucky Hands
Ghostface Killer is Tony Starks
Method Man is Johnny Blaze
Master Killa is Noodles
* What are the Wu-Gambinos?
The rumor is that the Wu-Tang Clan are planning to do a
movie, and it will be called the Wu-Gambinos. The new
names puts each member in a mafia/gangster mind frame. It's
just another twist to the Wu-Tang puzzle. However, music has
been their primary focus recently, so don't expect to see any
kind of movie for quite some time. On Raekwon's album 'Only
Built 4 Cuban Linx' the Wu-Tang Clan were given new names
and diversifed from ancient martial arts experts in to gangster
type mobsters like Al Capone.
The Clan Member's Real Names
The RZA: Robert Diggs
The Genius: Gary Grice
Ol' Dirty Bastard: Russell Jones (born November 15,
1968)
Inspector Deck: Jason Hunter
Raekwon The Chef: Corey Woods
U-God: Lamont Hawkins
Ghostface Killah: Dennis Coles (born May 9, 1970)
Method Man: Clifford Smith (born April 1, 1971)
Master Killer: Jamal Turner
Cappadon: Darryl Hill
Shyheim: Shyheim Franklin
* What Is Tical?
Tical is said to be Shaolin slang for a potent strain of
marijuana, a word often used by Method Man. When Meth
says it, it is also used to say something positive. In interviews,
they say that their use of Tical comes from a Native American
tribe called "Tikal".
(BISCUITS from the album Tical)
A gun.
The Gravediggaz
It is another group co-founded by The RZA and Prince Paul.
Some call it RZA's side project, when in truth they are a full
group in their own right. The members of the Gravediggaz
are:
The RZA...The Rzarector
Prince Paul...The Undertaker
Too Poetic...Grym Reaper
Fruitkwan...The Gate Keeper
Prince Paul was a member of Stetsasonic, and produces such
artists as De La Soul, Queen Latifah, The Jaz, and Chill Rob
G. Fruitkwan was a member of Stetsasonic, who left before
the "BLOOD, SWEAT & NO TEARS" album. Too Poetic was a
member of Brothers Grimm. He also had a short lived solo
career, releasing the "God Made Me Funky" 12" single on
Tommy Boy in 1990.
Niggamortis
This is the original title for the album American fans know as
"6 FEET DEEP". Gee Street/Island Records, however, objected
to the title. The United States is the only country where their
debut album is called "6 FEET DEEP". In Europe, "6 FEET
DEEP" is an EP of remixes.
The Month Of Man
"Month Of The Man" is a promotional campaign done by Def
Jam Records in 1994 to promote the albums by Method Man
and Redman. The TV and print ads that came out made it look
like they were working on a movie together, and/or an album.
Because both rappers have "Man" in their names, the term
"Month Of The Man" was catchy. The original "Month Of The
Man" was October, but both of their albums were pushed to
November (the 15th for Meth, the 22nd for Redman). They did
collaborate in the song "How High" from "THE SHOW"
soundtrack. Because of the success of this track, many are
hoping they will do a full album together, or at least an EP,
but neither have been planned as of this writing.
The P.L.O.
P.L.O. stands for Palestine Liberation Organization, Arab
terrorists.
The Chambers
In kung fu movies, a "chamber" is a place where one must
master an aspect of kung fu before moving on. Balance,
hand/eye coordination, etc. In the movie "Master Killer",
Gordon Liu comes into a Shaolin Temple and wants to learn
kung fu. He must go through all the chambers in order to
know how to fight. Eventually he builds and builds until he
reaches the 35th chamber. There are only 35 chambers in the
temple, no higher. The Abbot and Master ask Liu what he
wants to do next. He wants to create a new chamber, which
consists of him teaching what he has learned to the outsiders.
The Abbot and Master, refusing to let go of tradition, kick him
out. Essentially they know what he's doing, and at the end, Liu
has taught new friends the secrets of the shaolin temple, so
they can share it with their children, and so on and so on,
continuing tradition. The Wu-Tang Clan have adapted the art
of the chambers and made it their own. Each Wu "chamber" is
a different aspect of their rapping style, either verbally,
lyrically, or musically. What the Wu are doing is sharing what
they know to the rest of the world, they are experiencing their
own 36th chamber. The 36th Chamber is life itself. A full list of
chambers the Wu have made for themselves has not been
compiled. The Gravediggaz have a "Graveyard Chamber", Ol'
Dirty talks about a "Chamber #9, Verse 32/only speaks about
the Brooklyn Zoo" in his song "The Stomp". In the video for
"Protect Ya Neck", it says the song is the 13th chamber. The
Genius came out with a song called "4th Chamber" from
'Liquid Swords'. Most fans consider each album to be a
chamber, and members have acknowledged it as such.
Wu-Tang Movies
This is a very short list:
Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang
Shaolin vs. Lama
Five Deadly Venoms
Return Of The Bastard Swordsman
Master Killer
Shogun Assassin
The Killer
The Mack
Scarface
Carlito's Way
The Usual Suspects
Executioners From Shaolin
Ninja Checkmate
Wu-FAM
Wu-Fam is short for The Wu-Tang Family, members outside of
the core 9, a lot are rappers in their own right, here is a short
list of Wu-FAM members:
Sunz Of Man
Br'klyn Zu
Killarmy
Killah Priest
Cappadonna
Royal FAM
Otherized F.A.M.
Gravediggaz
Street Life
Shabazz The Disciple
La The Darkman
Rubberbandz
Shyheim
12 O'Clock
Mathematics
4th Disciple
Supreme
True Master
Copyright © 1997 MWS, Inc. All rights reserved.
