(1993 Performance) Wu-Tang Corp.com: http://www.wutang-corp.com/ Get Wu-Tang Music: http://www.amazon.com/Wu-Tang-Clan/e/B000APKHJ4 & http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=200986 Wu-Tang Clan consists of 9 American rappers: RZA, GZA, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Masta Killa, and Ol' Dirty Bastard (R.I.P.) They were formed in (and are generally associated with) the New York City borough of Staten Island (referred to by members as "Shaolin"), though some of its members originate from Brooklyn. One of the most critically and commercially successful hip hop groups of all time, Wu-Tang Clan rose to fame with their uncompromising brand of hardcore rap music, and their success enabled all 9 Wu-Tang members to pursue solo careers, with varying degrees of success. They have introduced or launched the careers of numerous other affiliated artists and groups, often collectively known as the Wu-Tang Killa Bees. The founders of the Wu-Tang Clan were cousins Robert Diggs, Gary Grice, and Russell Jones, (RZA, GZA, and Ol' Dirty Bastard, respectively[2]) who had previously formed the group Force of the Imperial Master (later known as All in Together Now after the release of a popular single by that name). The group attracted the attention of some notable figures in the industry, including Biz Markie, but did not manage to secure a record deal. All In Together Now was never signed to a record label. See, me, GZA and ODB had a crew called FOI: Force Of The Imperial Master, nahmean? We made a song, called All In Together Now', which became famous on tapes throughout Brooklyn, Downtown Staten Island, New York, all the way down to Miami. I remember Biz Markie, when he was famous and I wasn't famous, and he was like: "Yo! I heard that shit! Your song with Ason Unique and the Specialist". I was the Scientist. So we never got signed as a group back then. We never had a serious record deal under that title. —RZA As the crew dissolved, GZA (then known as The Genius) and the RZA (then known as Prince Rakeem) embarked on their solo careers with Cold Chillin' Records and Tommy Boy Records respectively, but to little success. Their frustration with the workings of the hip hop music industry would provide the main inspiration to Wu-Tang Clan's revolutionary business plan. According to The Wu-Tang Manual, at the group's inception, RZA promised the members that if he had total control of the Wu-Tang empire, it would conquer the hip-hop world within a dynastic cycle, after which he would relinquish his total control. Wu-Tang Clan was gradually assembled in late 1992 from friends and accomplices from around Staten Island, with RZA as the de facto leader and the group's producer. The name "Wu-Tang" is derived from the name of the mountain Wu Dang (Wudang Shan) in northwest Hubei Province in central China with long history associated with Chinese culture, especially Taoism, martial arts and medicine. The RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard adopted the name for the group after the film Shaolin and Wu-Tang. The group's debut album loosely adopted a Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang theme, dividing the album into Shaolin and Wu-Tang sections. The group has 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 Niggas' Garments," "Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game" and "Wisdom of the Universe, and the Truth of Allah for the Nation of the Gods". Extended & updated Info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Tang_Clan

• published: 05 Sep 2009
• views: 186582