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.
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97 Mentality
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Heavyweight lyric never lost one calorie
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 motherfuckers 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 fuck 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," the singer boasts about his remarkable rap skills and his dedication to his craft. He emphasizes his impressive lyrical ability that never loses its potency, likening his rhymes to a "heavyweight." The song includes a series of rhymes and metaphors that celebrate the singer's brutal tactics and verbal prowess. The song also includes several references to Wu-Tang Clan's unique style, highlighting the fact that the group does not limit itself to a particular type of diction or mix, and is known for being authentic and unique.
One notable lyric in the song conveys a passing reference to AIDS as a disease that could infect the sound of hip-hop, illuminating the fear and stigma surrounding the disease in the late '90s. The song also references Staten Island and the borough's tough reputation.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo! It's the burial ground sound, Dunn!
Greetings! The Wu-Tang Clan is here to bring the raw, gritty sound of the streets to listeners far and wide.
It's real out here
The struggle is real in our community and we intend to address that in our music.
Staten Island puttin chills in y'all niggaz
Our hometown of Staten Island has a reputation for producing tough, talented emcees who will leave a lasting impression on the rap game.
Forever in it.. yo
We're not here to play around - we're committed to hip-hop for life.
My devastatin hot '97 Mentality
I have a fierce, uncompromising mindset that reflects the intensity of the year 1997.
Keep me on point for my four-digit salary
My dedication to my craft ensures that I can make a good living as a rapper.
Heavyweight lyric never lost one calorie
My bars are potent and impactful, and I never lose any of their power.
I'm soon to be seen, on the TV screen
I'm making moves in the music industry and my career is taking off.
Gambino Cappacino to the Afro Sheen
I'm stylish and smooth, with impeccable taste and a timeless look.
Stay black, where I'm at, high road to rap council
I'm proud of my Black heritage and I use it as a source of inspiration in my music.
Splash love to Wu in a orderly tonsil
I show love and respect to my fellow Wu-Tang Clan members, both on a personal and professional level.
Never limit to the diction, cause chaos to mixin
I don't restrict myself when it comes to vocabulary and I bring a sense of chaos and unpredictability to my rhymes.
Brutalize a sound check, ripple through the intermission
I bring so much energy and intensity to my live performances that it affects everything that comes before and after me.
Rap's under siege, held tight like a squeeze
Hip-hop as a genre is facing challenges and obstacles, but we're still holding on tightly.
Forced in the world 'Donna nuclear freeze
We're in a tense and potentially volatile political climate similar to the Cold War era of nuclear arms.
Through the damage to the wannabe Flipmode and Def Squad
Other rap groups and collectives try to emulate our sound and style, but we remain unique and in a league of our own.
Ruckus a whirlpool in the rap entourage
Our presence in the rap game causes chaos and disruption among other artists and industry figures.
If you dare to test thirty-six, chambers of strangers
Our collective power is immense, and those who try to go against us will be met with serious consequences.
My word of mouth it's all real wigs might peel
My rhymes are so potent that they have the power to knock people's wigs off.
Livin large and in charge branch out Bon Voyage
We're living the good life and enjoying our success.
Twenty-four diamond government named God
In our eyes, we are the ultimate authority and everything else is insignificant.
Alias Daryl Hill bring thugs back to kill
As Wu-Tang, we have the power to bring out the most dangerous and ruthless people in our community.
Circle around my son, Daryl Jr. never eatin large
We prioritize the safety and well-being of our families and communities above everything else.
Auntie Dauntie sixteen holdin me down
Even though we're successful now, we remember our humble beginnings and the people who supported and believed in us.
AIDS of rap music may be contagious to sound
We see ourselves as a force for good in hip-hop, but we acknowledge that there are negative elements to the genre as well.
Verbal the slang pushed back to create pronoun
We constantly push the boundaries of language and use slang and unconventional grammar to create our own unique style.
Method forcin J-Love to Bring the Pain from underground
Our influence extends beyond our own music, and other artists look to us for inspiration and guidance.
Realizin food for thought is self-compromisin
We are aware of the power of our words and the responsibility that comes with it.
Shaolin cut the crack into a triple-O sizin
We come from a rough and gritty place, but we turn our struggles and hardships into something powerful and creative.
Blue do what he do to keep that currency risin
Money is important to us, and we work hard to keep it coming in.
Hopin I catch a deal so we can catch a full wheel
We're looking for opportunities to take our success to the next level and make even more money.
Instead of catchin bodies, niggaz not keepin it real
We want to use our influence and power for good, and encourage others to do the same.
Dirtball niggaz that steal cake from stores
We have respect for those who hustle and work hard to make a living, but we condemn those who resort to criminal activity.
That's my type of niggaz I be wantin on my tours
We admire those who are tough and street-smart, and we would be proud to have them as part of our team.
Can't help it, my styles stay fat like Roseanne
We have a lot of confidence in our abilities and we're not afraid to show it.
Ruckus in the square I stay rough like the Clan
We bring energy and excitement to every performance, and we're not afraid to make noise and cause a scene.
Panther on my arm, pen and pad in my hand
We take pride in our Black identity and heritage, and we use our talent and creativity to express ourselves.
Punk motherfuckers better beware of the Shaolin
We are not to be messed with, and those who try to come at us will be met with serious consequences.
Defy interactive project Children of the Corn
Our music has a powerful and lasting impact on our listeners, and we see ourselves as leaders of a new generation of artists and thinkers.
Gats and my man keep em bustin till he's gone
We have access to weapons and won't hesitate to use them to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
Style so ancient it sparks just like the unicorn
Our music has roots and influences that go back centuries, and we bring a sense of mystery and wonder to our rhymes.
'Donna come through everyday my uniform changes and switches
We're always evolving and changing our style and approach to keep things fresh and exciting.
I came to make ladies out of bitches
We're confident in our ability to win over anyone with our charm and charisma.
Crackhead niggaz get stitches
We don't tolerate drug use or dependency, and those who succumb to it won't be welcome in our community.
So what up with that kid, danger when I attack kid
We're not to be underestimated, and those who try to come at us will face serious consequences.
Watch how the slang hits you, just like the fat kid
Our rhymes are powerful and impactful, and they hit listeners like a ton of bricks.
Form another pyramid, look how we slid
We are constantly growing and evolving, building on our past successes to reach new heights.
All over Park Hill, Stapleton politic
We have a strong presence in our community and are respected and admired by those around us.
on a twenty dollar bill all in it together
We value unity and solidarity, and our ultimate goal is to build and grow together.
You can't fuck with the stormy weather, yaknahmean
We're unstoppable and unbeatable, and nobody can stop us from achieving our goals.
To the year Born God all the Gods strike hard
We see ourselves as divine beings with near-omnipotent power in the rap game.
Fast from the swine hold down your boulevard
We stay focused and dedicated to our craft, avoiding the distractions and pitfalls that can come with success.
Father-U to C-Cypher, start the revolution
We are leaders and visionaries in hip-hop, and we want to inspire our listeners and fellow artists to create social change and reform.
Middle finger in the air, for slang prostitution
We reject and condemn the objectification and exploitation of women in hip-hop culture and beyond, and we're not afraid to speak out against it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DALE OSSMAN WARREN, DARRYL ROBERT HILL, DENNIS DAVID COLES, KENT ARNOLD, ROBERT F. DIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind