Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group that consists of: RZA, GZA/Genius, Ghostfac… Read Full Bio ↴Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group that consists of: RZA, GZA/Genius, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group. They were formed in (and are associated with) the New York City borough of Staten Island (referred to by members as "Shaolin"), though Masta Killa and GZA are from Brooklyn and Inspectah Deck is from the Bronx. They have gone on to become multi-platinum record producers, Grammy winners, TV and film stars, screenwriters, product spokespersons, business owners and, most recently, major motion picture composers. The Clan featured nine MCs until the death of Ol' Dirty Bastard in 2004. One of the most critically and commercially successful hip hop groups of all time, Wu-Tang Clan shot to fame through their uncompromising brand of hardcore rap music. Since their debut, they have introduced or launched the careers of numerous other artists and groups, and already in 1994 there were credited to be over 300 Wu-Tang Clan affiliates, known as the Wu-Tang Killa Bees, consisting of rappers, producers, and record label CEOs.

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

TRACKS

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

A Better Tomorrow
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yo, this goes for all my brothers and sisters locked down
For all my peoples incarcerated, for those who ain't make it

Yo, in the housing, thousands seen early graves
Victims of worldly ways, memories stays engraved
All my live brothers, is locked down with high numbers
The young hunger, blind to these lies, they die younger
In this New World the Order slaughter men, women, and children
Ten feet gates surround the building keep us sealed in
The projects, lifeless like a Vietnam vet
Constant war, sever threats of enemy conquest
Crooked cops comb my building complex that's in the rumble
Streets are like a jungle, can't let my cipher crumble
Vivid thoughts, Devils resort to trick knowledge
They kick garbage, lust for chicks and quick dollars
I know the pain the game bring, I did the same thing
Spaced out in the staircase, performing a sting
It's hard to keep control, I bless those who seek a scroll
Trying to reach a whole nation and break the sleeper hold
Not a role model, I walk a hard road to follow
I sold bottles of sorrow then chose poems and novels
The gospel was told, some souls it swallowed whole
Mentally they fold, and they eventually sold
Their life and times, deadly like the virus design
But too, minute to dilute, the science is mine

You can't party your life away
Drink your life away
Smoke your life away
Fuck your life away
Dream your life away
Scheme your life away
'Cause your seeds grow up the same way

A voice cries from the wilderness of the North
A representation of the families that lost one
All victims of incarceration
Or other divisions of the family structure
Youths are injected with serums that leads
To skin irritations, babies being born with
Disfigurations, experimentations
On their faces there bear world relations
Of mothers that carry the pain
Of blood stained streets where sisters mourn and wail
Big brothers been slain from hails of gun fire
It lightly begins to rain screams of terror
Are hidden by the passing trains
This can't be little Shane, his uncle cried
As he drops to his nephew's side, holding his cane
Just give me a name, of who has inflicted this
Bitter sickness, and left us to witness

Yo
Curses from war, innocent blood spills for days
Soothe in godly ways, hands, solemn in praise
Tree of life, more precious than Wu is golden game
The wise self flourish inherit, Halls of Fame
Crime visions in my blood got me, locked in prison
While we die hard living people whine about religion, vision
Blow, spin, and sin and killing what's revealing
It's a never ending battle with no ending or beginning, listen
Zero process, progress, become the hunted
America's most wanted, good life flaunted, want it
Some love the speed, some satisfy a need
Some want to be down, young gun seed, jungle breed
The stronger speed, someone die, someone bleed
One flew astray, and then caught my little seed
Can it be, the ice have us trifle life, made me grab the knife
The righteous man would be within these stripes pipes
Take in my energy, breath and know the rest
Cause the good die young and the hard die best

You can't party your life away
Drink your life away
Smoke your life away
Fuck your life away
Dream your life away
Scheme your life away
Cause your seeds grow up the same way
Cause your seeds grow up the same way
Cause your seeds grow up the same way

Y'all bitches love dances, and pulling down your pants
While your man's on tour, your spending up his advances
Your friends ain't shit, all they do is drink, smoke, and suck dick
The whole projects is trapped in stench
You either high school drop-outs, one to three cop-outs
Fifteen years old, shorty ass and top out
Ninety-nine cent beer drinking pussy stinking
Fucking so much your ass and titties start shrinking
New World Order slave trade, minimum wage, better cage
Can a devil fool a Muslim nowadays
Inside my lab, I'm going mad
Took two drags off the blunts, and started breaking down the flag
The blue is for the Crips, the red is for the Bloods
The whites for the cops, and the stars come from the clubs
Or the slugs that ignites, through the night, by the dawn
Early light, why is sons fighting for the stripe

As we dwell through this concrete hell, calling it home
Mama say, take your time young man and build your own
Don't wind up like your old dad
Still searching for them glory days he never had
So many bad want to scheme for American dream, no more kings
The cash rule everything now, we going down
These babies looking up to us, it's up to us
The Million Man March MC's, get on the bus
But envy, greed, lust, and hate, separate
Though the devil mind state blood kin cannot relate
No longer, brothers, we unstable
Like Kane when he slew Abel, killing each other

You can't party your life away
Drink your life away
Smoke your life away
Fuck your life away
Dream your life away
Scheme your life away
Cause your seeds grow up the same way
Cause your seeds grow up the same way
Cause your seeds grow up the same way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Wu-Tang Clan's "A Better Tomorrow" reflect on the struggles of life in the housing projects, particularly for those who are incarcerated or have lost loved ones to violence. The first verse paints a bleak picture of the environment, with references to early graves, blind youth, and corruption in the police force. The second verse highlights the devastating effects of experimentation on innocent babies and the pain felt by families who have lost loved ones to gun violence. The chorus serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life, with the implication that the hardships faced by the current generation will be passed onto the next.

The third verse touches on themes of systemic oppression, with references to the slave trade, minimum wage, and the New World Order. The final verse is a call to action, urging listeners to resist the mindsets of envy, greed, lust, and hate that keep them separated, and to work towards a better future for themselves and the next generation. The lyrics reflect on the challenges and struggles of growing up in a disadvantaged environment, but also offer a message of hope and resilience in the face of hardship.

Line by Line Meaning

Yo, this goes for all my brothers and sisters locked down
This message is for everyone who is currently incarcerated

For all my peoples incarcerated, for those who ain't make it
And also for those who are no longer with us

Yo, in the housing, thousands seen early graves
In the impoverished neighborhoods, many people have lost their lives at a young age

Victims of worldly ways, memories stays engraved
They were casualties of the negative influences and those memories remain deeply ingrained

All my live brothers, is locked down with high numbers
Many of my fellow brothers are currently incarcerated in large numbers

The young hunger, blind to these lies, they die younger
The youth are hungry for a better life but are deceived by falsehoods and, as a result, their lives are cut short

In this New World the Order slaughter men, women, and children
In this oppressive society, those in power are responsible for the deaths of innocent individuals

Ten feet gates surround the building keep us sealed in
We are trapped within the confines of our surroundings, unable to escape

The projects, lifeless like a Vietnam vet
The housing projects are devoid of life, resembling the impact of war on a Vietnam veteran

Constant war, sever threats of enemy conquest
There is a constant state of conflict and the threat of being conquered by our adversaries

Crooked cops comb my building complex that's in the rumble
Corrupt police officers thoroughly search our neighborhood, which is in chaos

Streets are like a jungle, can't let my cipher crumble
The streets are dangerous, akin to a jungle, but I must stay strong and not let my community fall apart

Vivid thoughts, Devils resort to trick knowledge
I have deep and clear thoughts, but the deceitful individuals in power use their manipulative tactics to control us

They kick garbage, lust for chicks and quick dollars
They promote worthless materialistic pursuits, exploiting women and prioritizing money over everything else

I know the pain the game bring, I did the same thing
I understand the negative consequences that this lifestyle can bring because I've made similar mistakes

Spaced out in the staircase, performing a sting
Lost in my thoughts while sitting on the stairs, plotting a scheme

It's hard to keep control, I bless those who seek a scroll
Maintaining self-control is difficult, but I commend those who seek knowledge and wisdom

Trying to reach a whole nation and break the sleeper hold
I strive to educate and awaken the entire nation, freeing them from the oppressive grip of ignorance

Not a role model, I walk a hard road to follow
I am not a person to be emulated, as I am navigating a challenging path

I sold bottles of sorrow then chose poems and novels
I used to sell alcohol to drown my sorrows, but I decided to express my emotions through poetry and writing

The gospel was told, some souls it swallowed whole
I spread the truth and knowledge, but some individuals completely embraced it and chose to change

Mentally they fold, and they eventually sold
However, many individuals succumb to mental weakness and eventually sell out their beliefs

Their life and times, deadly like the virus design
Their lifestyles and actions are destructive, like a deadly virus intentionally created

But too, minute to dilute, the science is mine
But I possess knowledge and wisdom that cannot be weakened or diluted, as it is uniquely mine

A voice cries from the wilderness of the North
A voice of desperation and pain emerges from a forgotten, neglected region

A representation of the families that lost one
This voice represents the families who have lost a loved one to incarceration

All victims of incarceration
They are all victims of the corrupt system of imprisonment

Or other divisions of the family structure
Or victims of broken families and fragmented relationships

Youths are injected with serums that leads
Young people are influenced and manipulated by harmful substances

To skin irritations, babies being born with
Resulting in physical and emotional pain, even affecting newborn babies

Disfigurations, experimentations
Who are born with deformities due to unethical experiments and testing

On their faces there bear world relations
These physical deformities represent the impact of the world's injustices and conflicts on innocent lives

Of mothers that carry the pain
Mothers are burdened with the pain and suffering caused by these injustices

Of blood stained streets where sisters mourn and wail
They mourn and grieve for their siblings who have been killed in the violence of the streets

Big brothers been slain from hails of gun fire
Older brothers have fallen victim to the hail of gunfire

It lightly begins to rain screams of terror
The cries of terror become more prevalent and intense, like rain falling lightly at first

Are hidden by the passing trains
These screams are muffled and concealed by the sounds of passing trains

This can't be little Shane, his uncle cried
Shocked and devastated, Shane's uncle denies the reality of the situation

As he drops to his nephew's side, holding his cane
He collapses beside his nephew, gripping his cane for support

Just give me a name, of who has inflicted this
He desperately seeks to identify and hold accountable those responsible for causing this pain

Bitter sickness, and left us to witness
This bitter illness, which has affected and left us to witness the suffering

Curses from war, innocent blood spills for days
The consequences of war include curses and the senseless loss of innocent lives over an extended period of time

Soothe in godly ways, hands, solemn in praise
We seek solace and healing through divine means, offering solemn prayers

Tree of life, more precious than Wu is golden game
The essence of life and its value are more important than achieving material success or fame

The wise self flourish inherit, Halls of Fame
Those who possess wisdom and understanding will thrive and be remembered for their contributions

Crime visions in my blood got me, locked in prison
My family history and the inevitability of crime has led me to be trapped in the cycle of imprisonment

While we die hard living people whine about religion, vision
While we are struggling to survive and facing constant threats, others complain about insignificant matters like religion and personal aspirations

Blow, spin, and sin and killing what's revealing
We engage in destructive behaviors, disregarding what is truly important and meaningful

It's a never ending battle with no ending or beginning, listen
Our struggles and conflicts seem to have no clear resolution, and it's important to pay attention

Zero process, progress, become the hunted
We make no progress and remain stagnant, becoming targets for those who seek to harm us

America's most wanted, good life flaunted, want it
We are seen as criminals and outcasts in America, while others proudly display a luxurious lifestyle that we desire

Some love the speed, some satisfy a need
Some people are drawn to a fast-paced lifestyle, while others are simply trying to meet their basic needs

Some want to be down, young gun seed, jungle breed
Some individuals strive to fit in and be accepted, while others are products of their chaotic environment

The stronger speed, someone die, someone bleed
Those who pursue power and dominance ultimately result in someone's death or injury

One flew astray, and then caught my little seed
One person lost their way and influenced my young child in a negative manner

Can it be, the ice have us trifle life, made me grab the knife
Could it be that the allure of drugs has led us to a troubled existence, forcing me to resort to violence

The righteous man would be within these stripes pipes
A virtuous individual would not be involved in these illicit activities and would not resort to drug use

Take in my energy, breath and know the rest
Absorb my words and wisdom, and understand the full extent of my message

Cause the good die young and the hard die best
Because those who are righteous often perish at a young age, while those who are tough and resilient meet the same fate

Y'all bitches love dances, and pulling down your pants
You women enjoy dancing provocatively and engaging in promiscuous behavior

While your man's on tour, your spending up his advances
Meanwhile, while your partner is away on tour, you are recklessly spending his earnings

Your friends ain't shit, all they do is drink, smoke, and suck dick
Your companions are worthless, as they only indulge in vices and engage in immoral behavior

The whole projects is trapped in stench
The entire community is engulfed in a foul and oppressive atmosphere

You either high school drop-outs, one to three cop-outs
The majority of you are high school dropouts or individuals who consistently make poor choices and engage in criminal activities

Fifteen years old, shorty ass and top out
Even at the young age of fifteen, you are already resorting to desperate measures to make ends meet

Ninety-nine cent beer drinking pussy stinking
You indulge in cheap alcohol and have a strong odor emanating from your genitals due to promiscuity

Fucking so much your ass and titties start shrinking
Engaging in excessive sexual activity has led to physical changes, resulting in a loss of buttock and breast size

New World Order slave trade, minimum wage, better cage
We are trapped in a system controlled by powerful forces, forced to work for minimum wages and confined to an oppressive environment

Can a devil fool a Muslim nowadays
Is it possible for an evil individual to deceive a devout Muslim in this day and age

Inside my lab, I'm going mad
Within the confines of my personal space, I am losing my sanity

Took two drags off the blunts, and started breaking down the flag
After smoking marijuana, I began analyzing and deconstructing the symbolism and meaning behind the American flag

The blue is for the Crips, the red is for the Bloods
I realized that the blue represents the Crips gang, while the red represents the Bloods gang

The whites for the cops, and the stars come from the clubs
The white color symbolizes the police force, and the stars are associated with the clubs where violence and conflict often arise

Or the slugs that ignites, through the night, by the dawn
Referring to bullets that are fired during the night and continue to cause harm until the dawn

Early light, why is sons fighting for the stripe
As the first light of day emerges, the question arises as to why young individuals are fighting for the sake of representing their gang

As we dwell through this concrete hell, calling it home
As we continue to exist in this oppressive and challenging environment, considering it our abode

Mama say, take your time young man and build your own
My mother advises me to be patient and create my own path in life

Don't wind up like your old dad
She warns me not to end up like my father, who made mistakes and failed to achieve his dreams

Still searching for them glory days he never had
He continues to long for a time in his life when he experienced success and happiness, which he never truly achieved

So many bad want to scheme for American dream, no more kings
Many individuals with negative intentions are eager to manipulate the pursuit of the American dream, advocating for the end of oppressive hierarchies

The cash rule everything now, we going down
Money has become the driving force behind everything, ultimately leading to our downfall

These babies looking up to us, it's up to us
The younger generation is relying on us to set a positive example and make a difference

The Million Man March MC's, get on the bus
Join the movement and strive to make a change, following in the footsteps of the Million Man March and other influential individuals

But envy, greed, lust, and hate, separate
However, envy, greed, lust, and hate divide us and prevent us from uniting

Though the devil mind state blood kin cannot relate
The mindset influenced by evil forces is not comprehensible to those who are truly family

No longer, brothers, we unstable
We are no longer united as brothers, as we have become unstable and divided

Like Kane when he slew Abel, killing each other
Similar to the biblical story of Cain and Abel, we are metaphorically killing each other through violence and conflict