The founders of the Wu-Tang Clan were RZA, GZA, and Ol' Dirty Bastard, 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. After the crew dissolved, GZA and 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, New York, with RZA as the de-facto leader and the group's main producer. Two of the cousins, GZA (pronounced Jizza) and RZA (pronounced Rizza), created their new Wu-Tang aliases by mimicking the sound that the words "genius" and "razor" would make when scratched on a turntable.
"Wu-Tang" comes from the name of the Taoist holy mountain Wu Dang in northwest Hubei Province in central China; it was also the site of the Ming Dynasty Purple Imperial City built during the reign of the Yongle Emperor in the early 15th century. RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard adopted the name for the group after seeing the kung fu film Shaolin and Wu Tang, which features a school of warriors trained in Wu-Tang style. The group's debut album loosely adopted a Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang theme, dividing the album into Shaolin and Wu-Tang sections and using dialogue excerpts as skits.
The group have 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 the Niggas' Garments," "Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game" and "Wisdom, Universe, Truth, Allah, Nation, and God".
Method Man has also mentioned that the "Wu" is the sound a sword makes when cutting through the air, and "Tang" is the sound it makes against a shield.
The Clan first became known to hip hop fans, and to major record labels, in 1993 (see 1993 in music) following the release of the independent single "Protect Ya Neck", which immediately gave the group a sizeable underground following. Though there was some difficulty in finding a record label that would sign Wu-Tang Clan while still allowing each member to record solo albums with other labels, Loud/RCA finally agreed, releasing their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), in late 1993. This album was popular and critically-acclaimed, though it took some time to gain momentum. Though hip hop had long had a gritty texture, the surreal aggression and minimalist production of 36 Chambers nevertheless had a huge impact on the genre, and was to prove massively influential over the next decade. By the beginning of the 21st century, the album had become a regular fixture on "Best Albums of the 90s" lists as well as a frequent choice for "Best Albums of All Time" lists. The success of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) established the group as a creative and influential force in early 1990s hip hop, allowing GZA, RZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa to negotiate solo contracts.
www.wutang-corp.com
'97 mentality
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo! It's the burial ground sound, Dunn!
It's real out here
Staten Island puttin chills in y'all niggaz
Forever in it.. yo
My devastatin hot '97 Mentality
Keep me on point for my four-digit salary
I'm soon to be seen, on the TV screen
Gambino Cappacino to the Afro Sheen
Stay black, where I'm at, high road to rap council
Splash love to Wu in a orderly tonsil
Never limit to the diction, cause chaos to mixin
Brutalize a sound check, ripple through the intermission
Rap's under siege, held tight like a squeeze
Forced in the world 'Donna nuclear freeze
Through the damage to the wannabe Flipmode and Def Squad
Ruckus a whirlpool in the rap entourage
If you dare to test thirty-six, chambers of strangers
My word of mouth it's all real wigs might peel
Livin large and in charge branch out Bon Voyage
Twenty-four diamond government named God
Alias Daryl Hill bring thugs back to kill
Circle around my son, Daryl Jr. never eatin large
Auntie Dauntie sixteen holdin me down
AIDS of rap music may be contagious to sound
Verbal the slang pushed back to create pronoun
Method forcin J-Love to Bring the Pain from underground
Realizin food for thought is self-compromisin
Shaolin cut the crack into a triple-O sizin
Blue do what he do to keep that currency risin
Hopin I catch a deal so we can catch a full wheel
Instead of catchin bodies, niggaz not keepin it real
Dirtball niggaz that steal cake from stores
That's my type of niggaz I be wantin on my tours
Can't help it, my styles stay fat like Roseanne
Ruckus in the square I stay rough like the Clan
Panther on my arm, pen and pad in my hand
Punk motherf**kers better beware of the Shaolin
Defy interactive project Children of the Corn
Gats and my man keep em bustin till he's gone
Style so ancient it sparks just like the unicorn
'Donna come through everyday my uniform
changes and switches, I came to make ladies out of bitches
Crackhead niggaz get stitches
So what up with that kid, danger when I attack kid
Watch how the slang hits you, just like the fat kid
Form another pyramid, look how we slid
All over Park Hill, Stapleton politic
on a twenty dollar bill all in it together
You can't f**k with the stormy weather, yaknahmean?
(Ghostface)
To the year Born God all the Gods strike hard
Fast from the swine hold down your boulevard
Father-U to C-Cypher, start the revolution
Middle finger in the air, for slang prostitution
(repeat 2X)
...
To the year Born God all the Gods strike hard
Fast from the swine hold down your boulevard
Father-U to C-Cypher, start the revolution
Middle finger in the air, for slang prostitution
...
To the year Born God all the Gods strike hard
Fast from the swine hold down your boulevard
Father-U to C-Cypher, start the revolution
Middle finger in the air, for slang prostitution
...
To the year, to the year Born God all the Gods strike hard
Fast from the swine hold down your boulevard
Father-U to C-Cypher, start the revolution
Middle finger in the air, for slang prostitution
In Wu-Tang Clan's '97 Mentality, Cappadonna sets the tone with his opening verse proclaiming "It's the burial ground sound, Dunn! It's real out here." He then proceeds to deliver a heavy hitting verse showcasing his 1997 mindset in rap. The lyrics describe his lyricism's devastating nature- being heavyweight, never losing a calorie and brimming with chaos. He makes a reference to his TV debut as Gambino Cappacino to the Afro Sheen and acknowledges Wu-Tang's influence on his music. He also talks about the damage done to wannabe Flipmode and Def Squad and the whirlpool of Ruckus in the rap entourage. He dares anyone to test his thirty-six chambers. He then speaks about a deal with a record company as a way to avoid catching "bodies" and "keeping it real." He ends the verse by warning, "Punk motherf**kers better beware of the Shaolin."
Ghostface's verses, on the other hand, are more straight forward. His middle finger is in the air for slang prostitution staring a revolution, and he's encouraging like-minded individuals to fast from the swine and hold down their boulevards. His repetition of this verse solidifies the message of the song.
Overall, '97 Mentality is a song about being done with the BS in the rap game and how one must always stay sharp and ready to protect their craft. The lyrics touch on topics like authenticity, loyalty, and commitment to one's art.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo! It's the burial ground sound, Dunn!
Hey there! This is the sound that's going to bury the competition!
It's real out here
The competition is fierce, there's a lot at stake
Staten Island puttin chills in y'all niggaz
Our music from Staten Island is going to scare our competitors
Forever in it.. yo
We're going to stay in the game for the long haul
My devastatin hot '97 Mentality
My mindset is strong and fierce like the year 1997
Keep me on point for my four-digit salary
This mindset helps me stay focused on earning a good income
Heavyweight lyric never lost one calorie
My lyrics are powerful and impactful without losing any of their meaning or intensity
I'm soon to be seen, on the TV screen
My talent and hard work will soon bring me fame and success in the music industry
Gambino Cappacino to the Afro Sheen
My style and swagger is unique and diverse
Stay black, where I'm at, high road to rap council
I remain true to my roots and take pride in being a part of the hip-hop community
Splash love to Wu in a orderly tonsil
I give a shoutout to my Wu-Tang Clan family in a respectful way
Never limit to the diction, cause chaos to mixin
I never stifle my creativity and bring chaos to the rap game with new and innovative sounds
Brutalize a sound check, ripple through the intermission
My performances are intense and leave a lasting impression on the audience
Rap's under siege, held tight like a squeeze
The rap industry is under attack and in turmoil
Forced in the world 'Donna nuclear freeze
I feel trapped in a world of violence and hostility
Through the damage to the wannabe Flipmode and Def Squad
Despite the damage being done by other rap groups, I remain unfazed and keep pushing
Ruckus a whirlpool in the rap entourage
I cause mayhem and disruption amongst my fellow rappers and their entourages
If you dare to test thirty-six, chambers of strangers
Don't mess with me or the Wu-Tang Clan, we're a force to be reckoned with
My word of mouth it's all real wigs might peel
My reputation speaks for itself and those who challenge me might get their wigs snatched
Livin large and in charge branch out Bon Voyage
I'm living large and making moves in the music industry
Twenty-four diamond government named God
Money and power corrupt and control everything in society
Alias Daryl Hill bring thugs back to kill
My alter-ego brings out the dangerous and violent side of me
Circle around my son, Daryl Jr. never eatin large
I take care of my family and make sure they don't go hungry
Auntie Dauntie sixteen holdin me down
My family supports me and has my back, even through tough times
AIDS of rap music may be contagious to sound
Bad music can spread like a disease and infect the entire industry
Verbal the slang pushed back to create pronoun
My unique slang and wording changes the way people talk and express themselves
Method forcin J-Love to Bring the Pain from underground
My innovative style and approach inspire other rappers to up their game
Realizin food for thought is self-compromisin
I know that speaking the truth can be dangerous, but I'm willing to take the risk
Shaolin cut the crack into a triple-O sizin
My hometown of Shaolin (Staten Island) is known for creating the best drugs
Blue do what he do to keep that currency risin
My friend Blue is doing what he can to make more money
Hopin I catch a deal so we can catch a full wheel
I'm hoping to sign a big recording contract so my crew and I can earn a lot of money
Instead of catchin bodies, niggaz not keepin it real
I'm focused on making music and being successful, not on committing crimes
Dirtball niggaz that steal cake from stores
I respect criminals who rob from businesses to make a living
That's my type of niggaz I be wantin on my tours
I appreciate people who have had a hard life and still find a way to succeed
Can't help it, my styles stay fat like Roseanne
I can't help but be a great rapper with a big, confident style like Roseanne Barr
Ruckus in the square I stay rough like the Clan
I thrive in chaotic and intense situations, just like my Wu-Tang Clan crew
Panther on my arm, pen and pad in my hand
I have a tattoo of a panther and I'm always writing down new lyrics
Punk motherf**kers better beware of the Shaolin
Don't mess with the tough and powerful people from Staten Island
Defy interactive project Children of the Corn
I reject the mainstream music industry and instead focus on creating unique and original art with a group of like-minded people
Gats and my man keep em bustin till he's gone
My guns and my friends are always ready and willing to fight until the end
Style so ancient it sparks just like the unicorn
My style is old and original, just like the mythical creature the unicorn
'Donna come through everyday my uniform
I change up my style every day, it's like my uniform
changes and switches, I came to make ladies out of bitches
I'm constantly evolving and improving my style, and I want to turn disrespectful women into classy ones
Crackhead niggaz get stitches
I don't tolerate people who use drugs and commit crimes
So what up with that kid, danger when I attack kid
I'm a dangerous guy when pushed too far
Watch how the slang hits you, just like the fat kid
My unique phrases and expressions will hit you like a ton of bricks
Form another pyramid, look how we slid
We're forming a new, powerful group and moving up in the music industry
All over Park Hill, Stapleton politic
We're creating a power base all over Staten Island
on a twenty dollar bill all in it together
We're all in this together, making money and achieving success
You can't f**k with the stormy weather, yaknahmean?
You can't stop us or slow us down, you know what I mean?
To the year Born God all the Gods strike hard
In the year of the Born God (when the Wu-Tang Clan was formed), we all came out of the gate strong
Fast from the swine hold down your boulevard
Stay away from unhealthy habits (like eating pork) and maintain control of your territory
Father-U to C-Cypher, start the revolution
From the oldest to the newest Wu-Tang members, we're all working together to change the game and revolutionize hip-hop
Middle finger in the air, for slang prostitution
We're flipping off the music industry for disrespecting and exploiting rap slang and culture
Contributed by Cole I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RhinoSavage
one of the greatest beats of all time
Chanc' Register
@Infected_Chris right like instead of saying "Anunnaki" just say Fallen Angels.
Infected_Chris
@The /\nunnaki Sometimes keeping it simple is the right move.
The /\nunnaki
Actually you mean one of the greatest loops of all time, RZA just looped the actual song.
Kidd Rhino
Ayyye I didn't expect you here, and yeah fax
Sonicontra88
This song definitely shows Cappadonna's freestyle skills in the same fashion that he did on the "Winter Wars" Track.
D. Green
THIS IS A CLASSIC THAT'S RATED AT ASTRONOMICAL PROPORTIONS! PEACE TO THE GODS!
Kae Spliff
Real hiphop..brings tears to my eyes..this one song would kill everyshit on any radio station today
Martin Schmit
The last verse still today gives me those chills. Great memories. Wu tang forever. 2021
Comedian Billy DaKid Thomas
2020 & I STILL think this the hardest thing I EVER heard!!!
💪💪💪🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥