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.

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Berto and the Fiend
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This is a story of Berto and the Fiend
Told to us by the Ghostface Killah

I remember the fiend, I remember the fiend fucked Berto up
The fiend is fucking Berto up
I had to jump in there like "Yo, chill"
He tried to beat the nigga for like 35 dollars
But the fiend was on some slim Bruce Lee shit

He had his sneakers was tied tight
That's how I know niggas was fighting, 'cause it was tight
All of a sudden that nigga slammed Berto like duh duh
Had him on the floor
He was like "Yo, yo, get him off!"
Had to get the nigga off just in time
Pounded on him for like 2 seconds or whatever
Got the fiend off

Where are you going?

I'm wasting no time
Gonna kill

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Wu-Tang Clan's song "Berto and the Fiend" tell a firsthand account of a violent altercation between two individuals: Berto and a fiend. The story is narrated by Ghostface Killah, who recalls the incident with vivid detail. It begins with the fiend attacking Berto, inflicting significant damage on him. Ghostface intervenes, urging the fiend to stop the assault. Despite the fiend's impressive fighting skills, Ghostface manages to separate him from Berto, preventing further harm. The lyrics create a suspenseful atmosphere, emphasizing the chaos and urgency of the situation.

The song highlights the raw aggression and struggles of life in urban environments, offering a glimpse into the harsh realities faced by the members of Wu-Tang Clan and those around them. It portrays the ugly side of drug addiction and the destructive consequences that can arise from it. Through their storytelling, Wu-Tang Clan sheds light on the violence and desperation that can grip individuals and communities, urging listeners to confront and address these social issues.

Line by Line Meaning

I remember the fiend, I remember the fiend fucked Berto up
The fiend caused significant harm and damage to Berto's well-being

I had to jump in there like 'Yo, chill'
I had to intervene and stop the altercation

He tried to beat the nigga for like 35 dollars
He attempted to physically harm the person over a relatively small amount of money

But the fiend was on some slim Bruce Lee shit
The fiend displayed impressive martial arts skills and agility, reminiscent of Bruce Lee

He had his sneakers was tied tight
His sneakers were tightly secured, indicating he was ready for a physical confrontation

That's how I know niggas was fighting, 'cause it was tight
The tightness of the sneakers signaled the intensity of the fight

All of a sudden that nigga slammed Berto like duh duh
Without warning, the fiend forcefully threw Berto to the ground

Had him on the floor
Berto was pinned down on the ground

He was like 'Yo, yo, get him off!'
Berto urgently requested assistance to remove the fiend from his position

Had to get the nigga off just in time
Managed to remove the fiend from Berto's position just in the nick of time

Pounded on him for like 2 seconds or whatever
Delivered a series of forceful blows to the fiend's body for a brief period

Got the fiend off
Successfully removed the fiend from the situation

Where are you going?
Inquiring about the intended destination

I'm wasting no time
I am not delaying or hesitating

Gonna kill
Intending to cause serious harm or even kill someone

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Clifford M Smith, Ronald Maurice Bean

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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