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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Ain't Nuthin To F' Wit
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuttin ta Fuck Wit
Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuttin ta Fuck Wit
Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuttin ta Fuck Wit
Yo there's no place to hide as I step inside the room
Dr. Doom, prepare for the boom
I be tossing and flossing my style is awesome
I'm causing more Family Feuds than Richard Dawson
And the survey said, you're dead
Fatal Flying Guillotine chops off your fucking head
MZA who was that? Ayo, the Wu is back
Making niggas go Bo! Bo! like I'm Super Cat
Me fear no-one, oh no, here come
The Wu-Tang shogun, killer to the eardrum
Put the needle to the groove I gets rude and I'm forced
To fuck it up, my style carries like a pick-up truck
Cross the clear blue yonder, sea to shining sea
I slam tracks like quarterback sacks from L.T
Now why try and test, the Rebel INS?
Blessed since the birth, I earth-slam your best
Cause I bake the cake, then take the cake
And eat it, too, with my crew while we head state to state
And if you want beef, then bring the ruckus
Wu-Tang Clan ain't nuttin ta fuck with
Straight from the motherfucking slums that's busted
Wu-Tang Clan ain't nuttin ta fuck with
Hah! Step up, boy!
Represent! Chop his head off, kid!
The Meth will come out tomorrow
Styles, conditions, bizarre, bizarro
Flow, with more afro than Rollo
Coming to a fork in the road which way to go just follow
Meth is the legend, niggas is sleepy hollow
In fact I'm a hard act to follow
I dealt for dolo, Bogart coming on through
Niggas is like "Oh, my God, not you!"
Yes, I, come to get a slice of the punk and the pie
Rather do than die, check my flavor, coming from the RZA
Which is short for the razor who make me reminisce true
Like Deja, Vu! I'm rubber, niggas is like glue
Whatever you say rubs off me sticks to you
Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuttin ta Fuck Wit
Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuttin ta Fuck Wit
Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuttin ta Fuck Wit
Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuttin ta Fuck Wit
The lyrics to the Wu-Tang Clan's song "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit" are full of power and confidence. The song begins with the rapper boasting of his prowess as a rapper, describing his style as awesome and causing more family feuds than Richard Dawson on Family Feud. The lyrics also show the Wu-Tang Clan's love for kung-fu movies, as they refer to the Fatal Flying Guillotine and the Wu-Tang Shogun, who is a killer to the eardrums.
The second verse shows the Rebel INS (Inspectah Deck) rapping confidently about his skills and how he can earth-slam his competitors. He is followed by Method Man, who is a legend in the rap game and makes reference to his unique and iconic flow. The song ends with the repetition of the title phrase "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit," showing that the Wu-Tang Clan is a force to be reckoned with.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo there's no place to hide as I step inside the room
I am a force to be reckoned with and there is no escaping me as I enter this room.
Dr. Doom, prepare for the boom
My power and strength is about to hit you like a bomb, Dr. Doom.
Bam! Aw, man! I, slam, jam, now scream like Tarzan
My strength is unmatched and I am able to overpower those around me, causing them to fear me like Tarzan.
I be tossing and flossing my style is awesome
I have a unique and impressive style that I am able to effortlessly show off to others.
I'm causing more Family Feuds than Richard Dawson
My presence and actions create conflict and tension, similar to that of the TV show Family Feud hosted by Richard Dawson.
And the survey said, you're dead
Your fate has been sealed and the outcome is not in your favor, resulting in your death.
Fatal Flying Guillotine chops off your fucking head
My deadly skills and precision will result in the removal of your head.
MZA who was that? Ayo, the Wu is back
The Wu-Tang Clan has returned and will continue to make their mark on the music industry.
Making niggas go Bo! Bo! like I'm Super Cat
My impact is so powerful that it elicits a physical response from those around me, like the sound effects in a Super Cat song.
Me fear no-one, oh no, here come
No one can intimidate or scare me, and here I come to prove it.
The Wu-Tang shogun, killer to the eardrum
As the leader of the Wu-Tang Clan, I have the ability to dominate and kill through my music.
Put the needle to the groove I gets rude and I'm forced
When I start making music, I become confident and bold, almost like I am being forced to be this way.
To fuck it up, my style carries like a pick-up truck
My style is incredibly powerful and impactful, similar to that of a pick-up truck.
Cross the clear blue yonder, sea to shining sea
I have traveled far and wide, and my music has reached every corner of the country.
I slam tracks like quarterback sacks from L.T
My music hits hard like a Lawrence Taylor sack on a quarterback in football.
Now why try and test, the Rebel INS?
Why bother trying to challenge or test me, the Rebel INS?
Blessed since the birth, I earth-slam your best
I have been gifted with talent since birth and my music ability is far superior to others.
Cause I bake the cake, then take the cake
I am the one who creates and dominates the music game, taking the cake as the top artist.
And eat it, too, with my crew while we head state to state
My crew and I are able to enjoy the benefits of success as we travel and share our music throughout the states.
And if you want beef, then bring the ruckus
If you are looking for trouble, then be prepared for the chaos and destruction that will ensue.
Wu-Tang Clan ain't nuttin ta fuck with
The Wu-Tang Clan is fierce and should not be underestimated or challenged lightly.
Straight from the motherfucking slums that's busted
We come from humble beginnings, but our music is powerful and impactful despite our upbringing.
Hah! Step up, boy!
Don't be afraid, step up and face me head-on like a man.
Represent! Chop his head off, kid!
Show what we're made of and take down our opponents without hesitation.
The Meth will come out tomorrow
My impact and power will continue to grow and be felt in the future.
Styles, conditions, bizarre, bizarro
My style and approach to music is unique and unconventional, resulting in an unmatched sound.
Flow, with more afro than Rollo
My flow and presence is characterized by my large afro, much like the character Rollo from the show Sanford and Son.
Coming to a fork in the road which way to go just follow
When faced with a decision or obstacle, simply follow me and trust in my abilities to lead you down the right path.
Meth is the legend, niggas is sleepy hollow
I am a legend in the music game, while others around me are not living up to their full potential, like the characters in Sleepy Hollow who were living without their heads.
In fact I'm a hard act to follow
I am a tough act to follow and my talent and skill is unmatched by those around me.
I dealt for dolo, Bogart coming on through
I have been able to find success on my own, without the help or support of others, much like Humphrey Bogart in his films.
Niggas is like "Oh, my God, not you!"
Others around me are intimidated by my power and presence, realizing that they are not able to compete with me.
Yes, I, come to get a slice of the punk and the pie
I am here to claim my share of success and power in the music industry against others who are weak and undeserving.
Rather do than die, check my flavor, coming from the RZA
I am willing to fight and risk it all for what I believe in, and it's all reflected in my music brought to you by the RZA.
Which is short for the razor who make me reminisce true
The RZA, short for 'razor', has helped me create music that is authentic and true to my experiences and upbringing.
Like Deja, Vu! I'm rubber, niggas is like glue
My impact is so strong that my opponents are left feeling like they are experiencing the same situation twice, while I am able to deflect their attacks like rubber.
Whatever you say rubs off me sticks to you
No matter what others may say or try to do to me, it ultimately ends up affecting them and not me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Clifford Smith, Corey Woods, Dennis David Coles, Gary E. Grice, Jason Hunter, Lamont Hawkins, Robert F. Diggs, Russell T. Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind