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
Campfire
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Justice, faith and kindness
I want you to listen carefully
Kindness and faith are the foundation
Without them, we can't become good people
And with justice, we know we can lead a good life
And how can I be a good man then, eh?
Mmm, keep your temper
Never lose control of yourself
Keep control, be patient
If you learn to do these things you can master anything
Out of nowhere there came a caravan
This was around a campfire light
A lovely woman in motion
Her hair was as dark as the night
Cruisin' on the interstate, just follow while I innovate
Too many try and imitate, medallion like a dinner plate
Front and get your dinner ate, chinchilla for the winter, wait
I'm tryin' to bring the 'Sexy Back' like Timbaland and Timberlake
Spittin' like a calico, kush from a Cali hoe
Tell that joker, "Tally ho", put shots in that Denali yo
RZA you know how we go on them 20's, that's how we roll
And I don't eat berries but eat a Berry like Halley though
The game criminal, my, my chain Figaro
My, my dame's pigeon toed, I'm still the same nigga though
Uh, Kid Rock a fitted low, still got a wicked flow
And I'm like Barry Bonds on anything that RZA throw
On anything that RZA throw, Ironman's invisible
I left my chick for cheatin' on me, now that bitch is miserable
Poppin' bottles, paintin' hella Wallo's on my physical
We gon' have a ball, might as well pick a testicle
Purple haze festivals, smoke a nigga like a bowl
Fuck a coma, now the state you layin' is a vegetable
You wanna see me like you ain't checkable?
You like a CD, I burn you and I wrecked a few
Out of nowhere, there came a caravan
This was around a campfire light
A lovely woman in motion
Her hair
We gotta get more cake together, so we could branch out
Preserve land, get a boat and a ranch house
Call me a dreamer but I hustle for real
You thought that I fell off but now I'm attackin' the field
All in Chicago, grindin', puttin' it down
Crush blocks of MCs, I ain't playin' around
Yo you heard me on The Bassment, givin it to 'em
Fake dudes hidin' they self but I could see through 'em
Diggler, what? I'm tryin' to live and raise kids
While you throwin' up ya sign, I'm layin' 'em down kid
Plus I'm back home now, doin' my thing
Thirty dollars to Medina just to cop me a ring
Out of, out of, out of, out of
Out of nowhere there came a caravan
This was around a campfire light
Out of nowhere there came a caravan
This was around a campfire light
A lovely woman in motion
Her hair was as dark as the night
The Wu-Tang Clan's song "Campfire" is a blending of kung fu samples, soulful vocals, and slick rhymes from some of the group's most talented rappers. The song opens with a kung fu master speaking about the importance of faith, kindness, and justice as the foundation for becoming a good person. Then, the chorus samples The Persuasions' "Gypsy Woman" to paint a picture of a woman with dark hair dancing around a campfire. The verses are provided by Method Man and Ghostface Killah showcasing their masterful flow and lyrical prowess. Cappadonna brings it home in the end with a verse about the hustle and the importance of friends.
Method Man's verses are full of references to luxury items, from medallions like dinner plates to chinchilla coats. He's laid back and confident, letting his rhymes speak for themselves. Ghostface Killah's verse is a bit more intense, with references to smoking weed and popping bottles, but the message is the same: he's on top, and he's not going anywhere. Cappadonna's verse is about the hustle and the power of sticking together with friends.
The song is a unique blend of classic kung fu elements with modern hip-hop, and the result is something that sounds both timeless and fresh. Wu-Tang Clan brings a message of strength, perseverance, and the power of community, all wrapped up in a slick, soulful package.
Line by Line Meaning
Today I'll talk about kindness
The singer is going to discuss the concept of kindness
Justice, faith and kindness
The three concepts that the singer is going to talk about
I want you to listen carefully
The singer requests the audience's attention
Kindness and faith, are the foundation
Kindness and faith are the essential building blocks of one's character
Without them, we can't become good people
The artist believes that without these qualities, people cannot be considered good
And with justice, we know we can lead a good life
Justice ensures that one can lead an honorable life
And how can I be a good man then, eh?
The singer asks how one can become a good person
Well, first of all, you have to practice honesty
Honesty is the primary virtue the artist recommends for being a good person
Keep your temper, never lose control of yourself
The artist advises against losing control of one's emotions
Be patient, if you learn to do these things, you can master anything
Patience is necessary to become skilled at anything
Out of nowhere, there came a caravan
The song transitions into a different topic with this line
This was around a campfire light
The scene is set at a campfire in the midst of a caravan
A lovely woman in motion
A woman was present, and she was captivating in movement
Her hair was as dark as the night
The woman had dark hair that was compared to the night sky
Cruising on the interstate, just follow while I innovate
Method Man is introducing himself and his style to the listener
Too many try and imitate, medallion like a dinner plate
Many people imitate Method Man's style, and his medallion is large and shiny
Front and get ya dinner ate, chinchilla for the winter, wait
Method Man can be aggressive, has a chinchilla coat to wear for the winter
I'm trying to bring the 'Sexy Back' like Timbaland and Timberlake
Method Man is attempting to bring a new level of sex appeal to his music like the two famous musicians he mentions
Spitting like a calico, kush from a Cali hoe
Method Man's flow is rapid and strong, and he enjoys smoking weed from a certain type of person in California
Tell that joker 'tally ho', put shots in that Denali, yo
Method Man will face any challenges head-on, and he will not shy away from confrontation
RZA you know how we go, on them 20's, that's how we roll
The reference to RZA suggests that the band has a particular style, and that is how they operate.
And I don't eat berries but eat a Berry like Halle though
Method Man doesn't eat fruit, but Halle Berry is an exception
The game criminal, my, my chain figaro
The rap game can be dangerous and scandalous, but Method Man wears a fancy chain with links like Figaro
My, my dames pigeon-toed, I'm still the same nigga though
Method Man still remains humble, and his women walk with their toes pointing inward
Uh, kid rock a fitted low, still got a wicked flow
Method Man still has a great flow even with a low profile
And I'm like Barry Bonds on anything that RZA throw
Method Man can take on any challenge and deal with anything RZA throws at him
On anything that RZA throw, Ironman's invisible
Ghostface Killah is confident he can handle anything RZA gives him
I left my chick for cheating on me, now that bitch is miserable
Ghostface Killah's ex-girlfriend cheated on him, and now she's feeling the consequences
Popping bottles, painting hella Wallo's on my physical
Ghostface Killah is taking care of his body and buying expensive bottles for himself
We gon' have a ball, might as well pick a testicle
Ghostface Killah uses an absurd image to suggest that they will have a lot of fun
Purple haze festivals, smoke a nigga like a bowl
Purple haze is marijuana, and people are smoking it aggressively
Fuck a coma, now the state you laying is a vegetable
The use of drugs can lead to unfortunate consequences
You wanna see me? Like you ain't checkable
Ghostface Killah is confident that he'd pass any sort of check or test his detractors may throw his way
You like a CD, I burn you and I wrecked a few...
Ghostface Killah has successfully eliminated his opponents with his lyricism in the past
Only God, has lept into avenged mind
The singer acknowledges that vengeance is a difficult concept
And can, distinguish good, from evil
Only God can distinguish between correct and incorrect, wrong and right.
We gotta get more cake together, so we could branch out
Cappadonna believes that they need to work together and increase their wealth if they are going to make progress
Preserve land, get a boat and a ranch house
Cappadonna suggests investing their money on property
Call me a dreamer, but I hustle for real
Cappadonna is a dreamer, but he also works diligently
You thought that I fell off but now I'm attacking the field
Cappadonna is proving his critics wrong by demonstrating his passion
All in Chicago, grinding, putting it down
Cappadonna is working hard in Chicago, putting his efforts towards success
Crush blocks of MC's, I ain't playing around
Cappadonna is not joking around and is ready to take on anyone
Yo, you heard me on The Bassment, giving it to 'em
Cappadonna is famous for giving his performances with full heart and spirit
Fake dudes hiding they self, but I could see through 'em
Cappadonna can differentiate between real and fake people
Diggler, what? I'm trying to live and raise kids
Cappadonna has a family to care for and wants to live a fulfilling life
While you throwing up ya sign, I'm laying 'em down, kid
Cappadonna is working while some others are showing off their signs
Plus, I'm back home now, doing my thing
Cappadonna is content to be back home and taking care of his work
Thirty dollars to Medina just to cop me a ring
Cappadonna is financially well off as indicated by the fact that he can buy himself an expensive ring despite the travel cost to get it
A good friend, holds his drink
A true friend would be able to hold their alcohol when drinking
Bad company makes bad wine!
If one is in bad company, it could lead to bad or undesirable outcomes
Drinking among friends
Enjoying alcohol while being in the company of friends
Red wine means a good life
Red wine is indicative of a luxurious or high-quality life
A few drinks bring comfort
Moderation in drinking can lead to comfort and relaxation
Two drinks are enough
The singer suggests that two drinks should be the limit for safe consumption of alcohol
Money can't buy courage
Money cannot purchase bravery or gutsiness
Riches mean nothing to us
We do not care about wealth or material possessions
Brilliant, a display of genius
A positive connotation where the artist describes a brilliant display of intellect or talent
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Curtis Mayfield, Dennis David Coles, Robert Diggs, Darryl Robert Hill, Clifford Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Spanish legend
One of the greatest songs from one of the most underrated albums of all time
Shaun Garrett
Easily in my top 3 Wu group albums. So very underrated but more so underappreciated. Besides Forever, I think this is where we truly saw all of them at their true best.
Luis Calzadilla
@Shaun Garrett RZA was just ahead even Ghost Critized the beats cause it was too "rock n roll" 10 years later Ghost doing collabs with The black keys n bad bad not good lol ..
Brian
if 8 Diagrams wasn't so controversial/hated even before it dropped, this song and Wolves would be named among Wu-Tang's best tracks.
R Brooks
Ghost and Raekwon have even gone on to say it's a good album, just didn't like the direction RZA took. I think post-Forever, 8 Diagrams is easily their best album and aged the most gracefully
Razr Ramon
BB B can’t believe this is hated this is all fire
Samurai 6
Take it back??????
Justin Coombes
And Weak Spot.
chavedappelle
@R Brooks It's definitely The W for me. Both that album and 8 Diagrams are slept on, but to me The W is just as sharp lyrically and musically as Forever.
This song just never gets old to me. Love the dark vibe and that beat is just nasty. 100% up there with their best and a really cool evolution of their sound.
Bertnard Miller
Only rza can take a song sampled from the persuaders and turn something so beautiful so dark