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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Assed Out
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Raekwon the Chef, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa
And the Me - yeah, yeah, come on, now, now
What's happening? Who get it cracking like a neck snapping
For the rapping, and who them fellas packing yelling Staten
From the background, I back down a few
Try to clown us in the past, where they at now?
My brain is like the project projected, for the Method
Go see my nigga Kush, he got the best shit for burning
This one go out for whom it may concerning
Spending they entire earning, trynna get a higher learning
MC's is vermin, like E be Sermon
Ya'll too determined, feeling yaself like Pee-Wee Herman
While we at it, let's tighten up our grips around that cabbage
Silly rabbits, how many kids'll trick you out your carrots
Little bastards and ghetto bitches, I break you like a bad habit
My dick is, zoo, and just too big for it's britches
Uh, so fuck a mister and your misses
Cottonmouth niggas etched out like Merry Christmas, that all
Uh-huh, be home
Knock, knock, who is it, Tical I pop digit
My block too hot to visit, round here, you gots to live it
MC's, you must admit it, I'm deadly on this mic life
Think back on this premise, anyone of ya'll can get in
I breeze, backwords sleeves and THC
I bleed, kamikazes and forty OZ's
America's Most, the better the smoke, the better the quotes
For cheddar, Meth'll sever the throat, whatever the coast
I'm home, let the sun shine on, get his grind on
And get some phone time, everytime I'm in your timezone
Look here, it's crooked letter I, ya'll don't meet nothing but crooks here
It's hot in hell's kitchen, get your cookware, for goodness
MC's is like that shit chicks be gushing
For pushing, got me tooken down to Central Booking
I stick out, as if Tical just walked up in the party with my dick out
And I'm prepared to take the shit I dish out
"When you realize that what you got ain't what you want"
On the, yo, on the expressway, suddenly, I un-hit the breaks
A mistake, patrol figure just, ran the plates
I pull to the shoulder, a half mile ahead
The vibe got colder when the marksman said
"Yo, you in the truck, get the fuck out your car
Put your hands where my eyes could see, not far"
A fat slob, with pepperspray in the canister
Donut shop lounger, nine mil brandisher
Plus my half pound just rang the bell
Of the bloodhound, had an acute sense of smell
I guess he was tired of the strip and booking whores
Moving off a tip he's claimed he's looking for
Some MC's wanted for a string of break-ins
Last seen wearing lonk minks and snakeskins
The song "Assed Out" by Wu-Tang Clan is a rap classic. The song features verses from different members of the group including RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon the Chef, U-God, Ghostface Killah, and Masta Killa. The song opens with a question about who is the best in rap and who is from Staten Island. The answer is the Wu-Tang Clan. The lyrics talk about the tough life on the streets, drugs, and dealing with the police.
The song evolves into a message about how MC's need to step up their game and focus on their craft. They should not be lazy and should strive for better opportunities. The chorus of the song, "When you realize that what you've got ain't what you want," reveals how the streets offer little or no growth. The song ends with a scene where the police stop a truck, and the lyrics describe the tension between the police and the people on the streets.
Line by Line Meaning
What's happening? Who get it cracking like a neck snapping
Who's making moves and creating excitement and energy like a sudden snap of the neck
For the rapping, and who them fellas packing yelling Staten
In the rap game, they are known for being from Staten Island and for being tough
From the background, I back down a few
I've had my fair share of fights and situations with people who try to put us down, but I've been able to handle them and move on
Try to clown us in the past, where they at now?
People who used to make fun of us are nowhere to be found now that we've achieved success
I'm I'll as baby powder with the smackdown, for the record
My skills are so sick that I could shut people down with a single blow, like a smackdown, and I've got a record to prove it
My brain is like the project projected, for the Method
My mind is constantly processing and creating new ideas, like a project, and the method I use to approach things allows me to achieve success
Go see my nigga Kush, he got the best shit for burning
If you need some high-quality weed, go see my friend Kush
This one go out for whom it may concerning
This message is meant for anyone who needs to hear it
Spending they entire earning, trynna get a higher learning
People are working hard to get an education and better their lives
MC's is vermin, like E be Sermon
Other rappers are like pests, crawling around and causing problems, like Eazy-E and EPMD's Erick Sermon
Ya'll too determined, feeling yaself like Pee-Wee Herman
Some people are overly confident and cocky, like Pee-Wee Herman, and it's not a good look
While we at it, let's tighten up our grips around that cabbage
Let's take control of our money and financial situation
Silly rabbits, how many kids'll trick you out your carrots
Don't be foolish and let people trick you out of your possessions or money
Little bastards and ghetto bitches, I break you like a bad habit
I won't tolerate disrespectful or violent behavior from anyone, regardless of background or gender
My dick is, zoo, and just too big for it's britches
I've got a large ego and sometimes act overly confident
Uh, so fuck a mister and your misses
I don't care about anyone's personal relationships or status
Cottonmouth n****** etched out like Merry Christmas, that all
People who are high and can't control themselves are obvious and easy targets, and it's no fun for anyone
Knock, knock, who is it, Tical I pop digit
When I arrive, people know that Tical (Method Man) is here and ready to party
My block too hot to visit, round here, you gots to live it
My neighborhood is dangerous and not a place to come and go as you please- you have to really live here and know the area
MC's, you must admit it, I'm deadly on this mic life
Other rappers have to admit that I'm unbeatable when it comes to rhyming and performing
Think back on this premise, anyone of ya'll can get in
Remember that anyone can succeed if they work hard and have the talent
I breeze, backwords sleeves and THC
I move through life quickly, with ease and comfort, smoking as I go
I bleed, kamikazes and forty OZ's
I'm not afraid to take risks, like drinking large amounts of alcohol, and sometimes it can be dangerous
America's Most, the better the smoke, the better the quotes
The better weed I smoke, the better my rhymes and performances become
For cheddar, Meth'll sever the throat, whatever the coast
I'll do whatever it takes to make money and become successful, whether I'm on the East Coast or the West Coast
I'm home, let the sun shine on, get his grind on
I'm back in my hometown, ready to work hard and make great music
And get some phone time, everytime I'm in your timezone
I want to check in with my friends and family every time I'm in their time zone
Look here, it's crooked letter I, ya'll don't meet nothing but crooks here
I'm a crooked person, and everyone in this town is just as crooked as me
It's hot in hell's kitchen, get your cookware, for goodness
The environment I'm in can be dangerous and difficult, so you need to be prepared and have the right tools
MC's is like that shit chicks be gushing
Other rappers are like something that girls get overly excited and worked up about
For pushing, got me tooken down to Central Booking
I got arrested for drugs because of my need to constantly have more and try harder things
I stick out, as if Tical just walked up in the party with my dick out
I'm attention-grabbing and noticeable, like if Method Man walked into a party naked
And I'm prepared to take the shit I dish out
I'm okay with receiving backlash or hate for what I say or do because I'm ready to handle it myself
When you realize that what you got ain't what you want
Sometimes you have to realize that your current situation isn't what you truly want or aspire to have
On the, yo, on the expressway, suddenly, I un-hit the breaks
While driving on the highway, I suddenly release the brake and start going faster
A mistake, patrol figure just, ran the plates
I made a mistake and am now being pulled over by the police
I pull to the shoulder, a half mile ahead
I pull over to the side of the road, some distance away from where the patrol officer is
The vibe got colder when the marksman said
The atmosphere became tense and dangerous when the police officer pulled out his gun
"Yo, you in the truck, get the fuck out your car
The officer instructs me to exit my vehicle in a very aggressive and vulgar manner
Put your hands where my eyes could see, not far"
The officer orders me to place my hands where he can see them, and not to reach for anything suspicious
A fat slob, with pepperspray in the canister
The officer is described in a derogatory manner as overweight and carrying pepper spray
Donut shop lounger, nine mil brandisher
The officer is described as someone who hangs out at donut shops and carries a 9mm gun
Plus my half pound just rang the bell
I have a half-pound of weed with me that has alerted the dog to my presence
Of the bloodhound, had an acute sense of smell
The dog has a strong sense of smell and is able to detect drugs with ease
I guess he was tired of the strip and booking whores
The officer and his dog are probably tired of arresting prostitutes and wanted to catch drug users instead
Moving off a tip he's claimed he's looking for
The officer is acting on a tip or lead he's received about people breaking the law in the area
Some MC's wanted for a string of break-ins
The tip the officer received is about rappers who are suspected of committing a series of burglaries
Last seen wearing lonk minks and snakeskins
The suspects were last seen wearing fancy fur and snake skin clothing
Writer(s): Marlon D. Coyle, Corey Pierce, Dallas C. Coyle, Byron K. Davis, John M. Outcalt
Contributed by Adalyn P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.