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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Chrome Wheels
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
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Smoked some sticky green to get me started
Choclate Thai, all in my eye
I'm never broken-hearted
Bang us in ya cars, bang us in ya Jeep
Bang that shit retarded
Bob Digi, (Sun Zeini)
Two On Da Road on this, 12 O'Clock
I love my brother to death that old hip-hop
Catch this! Hot Nix'
You know? Big tits
I love my brother to death, nigga pussy to the rest
Shared a pair of Guess and an Eddie Bauer vest
A bitch named Celeste
I met her when I was goin to cash a Def Jam check
She had some big ass breasts
I had to catch her like a shortstop on the Mets
A nigga high off a dime from Gates and Best
Remember grandmother live on Louis and Lex
I remember Dirt Dog crashed his white Lex
I remember me and Meth won a dice game against Ghost and Deck
Remember Portland had Clyde Drex'
Remember 12 O'Clock is a vet
Big Dogs we put 'em to sleep, keep 'em on a leash
I move like days in a week
Niggas don't know the face and names on my teeth
Niggas carry a chrome piece, and separate the heat
Ain't scared of the motherfuckin' police
Guns jammed up, I'm cramed up in my lab
Six niggas, six bitches, two fifths and eight bags
One toilet, three weedheads, an alcoholic
And two niggas hooked on pussy
And in the corner, was this brother who would study his lessons
And learned how operate the Smith and the Wesson
Still cut class and played hookey
Threw freshmens in garbage cans, gave 'em nookies
Rolled the, back of the bus with a gun in his socks
Big forehead, had ears like Spock
He was mightier than a truckload of gats
And bound to make a bitch cum in six minutes flat
What up kid? Stay winnin', seen you look good
You look live in ya linen and you survived ninth innin'
The hood got us off the prop without women
All my niggas that ride that provide to the end of this
Ain't nothin' but the real
Ain't nothin' but the real
Ain't nothin' but the real
Million dollar deals
Rollin' on Chrome Wheels
Ain't nothin but the real
We gamble the dice
Remain humble, scramble through the jungle of life
While the we rumble with the foul and trife
Shots fired on the block in threes like Glen Rice
Made men think twice about the sacrifice
Black on white, write it for the world to hear
Write it for my fam who not here who do care
Glance and stare, why when you can't compare?
From the bottom of my feet to the end of my hair
Move rear, cop the blue steel bare, groove to the snare
Bass and drums, see my face in the slums
Pedia Brown, media surround my sound
When you see me in the hood of ya town, respect my sound
Sample with black, criminal, chemical rap
Assemblin hat, laced in a suit from Phat
Two On Da Road, got them bitches screamin', "Who Dat?"
Two with the plaques, two with the gats, it's like that
Woke up this morning
Smoked some sticky green to get me started
Choclate Thai, all in my eye
I'm never broken-hearted
Bang us in ya cars, bang us in ya Jeep
Bang that shit retarded
Two On Da Road, Bobby Digital
Please don't get me started
No, no, no, no, no, no
Live it up, live it up
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no
Woke up this morning
Smoked some sticky green to get me started
Choclate Thai, all in my eye
I'm never broken-hearted
Bang us in ya cars, bang us in ya Jeep
Bang that shit retarded
Two On Da Road, Bobby Digital
Please don't get me started
The song "Chrome Wheels" by Wu-Tang Clan begins with the singer waking up in the morning and smoking some marijuana to get started. They then talk about banging their music in cars and jeeps, and they list some of the people involved in the production of the song. They also mention a pair of Guess Jeans and an Eddie Bauer vest that they shared with their brother. They then talk about a woman they met named Celeste, who had "big ass breasts." They reminisce about playing dice games with other members of the Wu-Tang Clan and recall some specific memories, including the grandmother who lived on Louis and Lex and Dirt Dog's white Lexus.
The second verse of the song describes a chaotic living situation with "six niggas, six bitches, two fifths, and eight bags" all crammed into one room. They mention one of the men in the room who studied how to operate a gun and cut class to hang out. The final verse talks about how the singer has made it and looks good in linen. They talk about staying true to themselves and making it big with "million dollar deals" and "rolling on chrome wheels." The song ends with repeated lines from earlier in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up this morning
Starting a new day with fresh and positive energy.
Smoked some sticky green to get me started
Using marijuana to boost my energy and mood.
Choclate Thai, all in my eye
A flavor of marijuana that I enjoy a lot.
I'm never broken-hearted
I don't let anything break my spirit.
Bang us in ya cars, bang us in ya Jeep
Play our music loud in your car or Jeep.
Bang that shit retarded
Play our music so loud that it's crazy and wild.
Two On Da Road, Bobby Digital
Referring to two members of Wu-Tang Clan - Sun Zeini and P. Sunn & RZA (Bobby Digital)
I love my brother to death that old hip-hop
My love for hip-hop music will never die.
Catch this! Hot Nix’
Pay attention, what I'm about to say is important.
You know? Big tits
I'm attracted to women with large breasts.
I love my brother to death, nigga pussy to the rest
I have a deep bond with my friend and will always choose loyalty over sex.
Shared a pair of Guess and an Eddie Bauer vest
We were so close, we even shared clothes.
A bitch named Celeste
Referring to a woman named Celeste.
I met her when I was goin to cash a Def Jam check
I met her when I was going to cash a check from Def Jam records.
She had some big ass breasts
She had a large chest and that was attractive to me.
I had to catch her like a shortstop on the Mets
I had to work hard to get her attention.
A nigga high off a dime from Gates and Best
I was high from smoking marijuana from a particular location.
Remember grandmother live on Louis and Lex
Remembering a specific location where my grandmother used to live.
I remember Dirt Dog crashed his white Lex
Remembering a time when Dirt Dog had a car accident.
I remember me and Meth won a dice game against Ghost and Deck
Remembering a time when members of Wu-Tang Clan won a game against each other.
Remember Portland had Clyde Drex’
Remembering an athlete from a specific location - Portland and referring to Clyde Drexler.
Remember 12 O’Clock is a vet
Remembering that 12 O'Clock is an experienced veteran.
Big Dogs we put 'em to sleep, keep 'em on a leash
We silence and defeat our enemies and keep them under control.
I move like days in a week
I am always on the move, hustling like there are constantly new opportunities every day.
Niggas don't know the face and names on my teeth
People don't really know who I am, there is much more to me than meets the eye.
Niggas carry a chrome piece, and separate the heat
People carry guns and are quick to use them to protect themselves.
Ain't scared of the motherfuckin' police
We are not afraid of law enforcement officials.
Guns jammed up, I'm cramed up in my lab
My guns are not working properly and I am feeling stuck in my studio.
Six niggas, six bitches, two fifths and eight bags
Describing the crowd and the quantity of drugs and alcohol present.
One toilet, three weedheads, an alcoholic
Listing some of the people and the addictions around me in my current situation.
And two niggas hooked on pussy
Referring to two people with a sex addiction.
And in the corner, was this brother who would study his lessons
Observing a person in the group who focuses on studying and learning.
And learned how operate the Smith and the Wesson
Learning how to handle and use firearms.
Still cut class and played hookey
Despite trying to learn new things, still finding time to have fun and skip school.
Threw freshmens in garbage cans, gave 'em nookies
Bullying others and treating them badly, especially new students.
Rolled the, back of the bus with a gun in his socks
A rebellious kid, who carried a gun with him, even on school buses.
Big forehead, had ears like Spock
Describing the physical features of this person.
He was mightier than a truckload of gats
He was more powerful and resourceful than a truck full of guns.
And bound to make a bitch cum in six minutes flat
Claiming to be very skilled at sexual intercourse, able to pleasure a woman in a very short amount of time.
What up kid? Stay winnin', seen you look good
Complimenting someone on their success and appearance.
You look live in ya linen and you survived ninth innin'
Looking lively and dressed well, also surviving difficult times.
The hood got us off the prop without women
Growing up in tough neighborhoods without many women around.
All my niggas that ride that provide to the end of this
Shoutout to all my friends who have been supportive till the end of the journey.
Ain't nothin' but the real
We only deal with the truth.
Million dollar deals
We are capable of making and signing million dollar deals.
Rollin' on Chrome Wheels
We are driving around with shiny chrome wheels.
We gamble the dice
We take risks, like a gamble of rolling dice.
Remain humble, scramble through the jungle of life
We stay modest while struggling through obstacles in life.
While the we rumble with the foul and trife
We fight against the dishonest and corrupt people in society.
Shots fired on the block in threes like Glen Rice
Sounds of gunfire happen often in our neighborhood, in a pattern similar to how Glen Rice shoots a 3-point basket.
Made men think twice about the sacrifice
Our words and actions force others to reconsider the consequences of their decisions.
Black on white, write it for the world to hear
Writing and sharing our experiences and perspective as Black people for the world to know.
Write it for my fam who not here who do care
Writing for people who have passed away, but may still care and read about our lives.
Glance and stare, why when you can't compare?
People might look at us with confusion or envy, but they can't match our skills and experience.
From the bottom of my feet to the end of my hair
My entire body represents who I am as a person.
Move rear, cop the blue steel bare, groove to the snare
Move to the back, get your gun ready, and listen to the rhythm of the music.
Bass and drums, see my face in the slums
Hearing the beat of the music while thinking of the hardships and struggles in the slums where I come from.
Pedia Brown, media surround my sound
Reference to a fictional detective who solves crimes and puzzles, in comparison to the way my music is popular and surrounded by the media.
When you see me in the hood of ya town, respect my sound
Demanding respect for my music when I'm in your neighborhood.
Sample with black, criminal, chemical rap
Incorporating various elements into our music, such as social and political issues, crime and substance abuse.
Assemblin hat, laced in a suit from Phat
Dressing up in fashionable clothing, such as a hat and a suit from a popular brand.
Two On Da Road, got them bitches screamin', ”Who Dat?”
As Wu-Tang Clan, we have a huge fan base, including many women who scream and are excited to see us.
Two with the plaques, two with the gats, it's like that
Two of us have won music awards and two of us carry guns, that's just how it is.
Please don't get me started
I have much more to say, but I don't want to get into it now.
No, no, no, no, no, no
An expression of disagreement or refusal.
Live it up, live it up
Enjoy life and make the most of it.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no
An expression of surprise or disappointment.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: COREY WOODS, ELGIN EVANDER TURNER, ROBERT F. DIGGS, VIRGIL L. RUFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind