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
Crushed Egos
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back with a stove, makin' your mouth water, you starve for this
Exclusive sneakers with hard denim, heavyweight
A neighbor illustrated Alex Haley with paper
Waves spinnin' like the Titanic, come take a float on
Silky like King Henry the eight robe in lace frame
Restaurants with skeleton keys, it's big business
Well groomed and elegant posture is real dapper
Meetings in the Vatican, drinkin' scotch with the Muscle Milk
Praises go to Ason, the dynasty Mr. Russell built
Feed me royal shottas with Glocks, clean 'em with tea tree oil
China dolls from Bangkok, we bang 'em, train 'em and make 'em loyal
Trees stank, she come kiss the top of my Yves Saint
Wise-Universal Tang when I bang
Grizzly with the big bank, it's 5 stars, y'all, when I call rank
Egos are somethin' that the Wu-Tang trust
These stupid jealous niggas, y'all 'bout to get rust
This ashes to ashes to dust to dust
These devilish MC's cannot fuck with us, Lord
Egos are somethin' that the Wu-Tang trust
These stupid jealous niggas, y'all 'bout to get rust
This ashes to ashes to dust to dust
These [?] cannot fuck with us, Lord
Rifles out, bear like the Russian
Octagon tuggin' silk drawers frontin', while her head stuntin'
Mo' sanes flood the garage
Man the goats launchin' charge cards from Africa
Catch me in the hookah lodge
Brains linked, twisted Cohibas say the seeds bang
Coffee pots with graveyard rings, flippin' Gs
Yankee hoodlum on the top of the charts
Dart throwers, they sharks
Everybody wanna know when my gun barks
Non-athletic anti-semetic synthetic rappers get no credit
Pathetic septic lines, incompetent styles not embedded
Wu-Tang slang bangs in your brain, this is not genetic, prophetic
Unadulterated talent while y'all talk that bullshit rhetoric
Egos are somethin' that the Wu-Tang trust
These stupid jealous niggas, y'all 'bout to get rust
This ashes to ashes to dust to dust
These delivish MC's they cannot fuck with us, Lord
In "Crushed Egos," Wu-Tang Clan members take turns boasting about their success, fashion sense, and cultural knowledge. Amidst the lavish and often obscure references, there is a theme of ego and humility. The chorus asserts that the Wu-Tang is not affected by jealousy or self-promotion, as they know their talent speaks for itself. Meanwhile, the verses paint a picture of opulence and cultural savvy, with images ranging from luxury cars to historical figures to traditional Chinese medicine.
The first verse is delivered by Ghostface Killah, who introduces himself as a chef cooking up something "marvelous." He boasts about his sneakers, denim, and weight, before citing Alex Haley's Roots and the Titanic as cultural touchstones. He describes himself as "silky" and "elegantly postured," painting himself as a figure of refinement and sophistication. He hints at hobnobbing with high society, mentioning the Vatican and expensive scotch. Finally, he praises the Wu-Tang's founder, calling him "Ason" and referencing the group's legacy.
Method Man takes the second verse, which is more braggadocious and aggressive. He raps about rifles, a Russian bear, and silk drawers, evoking a sense of danger and sexuality. He mentions "mo' sanes," which may be a reference to Moors or to drug slang, and boasts about African credit cards. He references Cohiba cigars and flipping "Gs," suggesting an involvement in illegal business. Finally, he asserts that his talent is "unadulterated" and not influenced by trends or gimmicks.
Overall, "Crushed Egos" does what Wu-Tang Clan does best - blending tough street rhymes with intellectual references and a sense of humor. The song expresses a complex stance on ego and success, simultaneously reveling in excess and asserting the importance of artistic purity.
Line by Line Meaning
Come and taste my seasonin', Chef, the cooking that is marvelous
I am back in the kitchen, cooking food that is so delicious, it will make your mouth water and leave you wanting more.
Exclusive sneakers with hard denim, heavyweight
My sneakers are rare, and I pair them with heavy denim.
A neighbor illustrated Alex Haley with paper
My neighbor is a talented artist who drew Alex Haley with just a piece of paper.
Waves spinnin' like the Titanic, come take a float on
The waves are so strong that they remind me of the Titanic, but come float with me and let's enjoy it.
Silky like King Henry the eight robe in lace frame
My robe is silky and luxurious, fit for a king like Henry the VIII in a lovely lace frame.
Restaurants with skeleton keys, it's big business
My restaurants are exclusive, and access is only granted to those with a special key. It's a big business.
Well groomed and elegant posture is real dapper
I take care of myself and have excellent posture, which gives off a very sophisticated and elegant vibe.
Status is gigantic, culture's alpaca
My social status is enormous, and my culture is as soft and luxurious as an alpaca's fur.
Meetings in the Vatican, drinkin' scotch with the Muscle Milk
I have important meetings in very high places, and I enjoy a good scotch with some Muscle Milk protein powder for balance.
Praises go to Ason, the dynasty Mr. Russell built
We give praise to Ason (ODB), as he was instrumental in building and maintaining our Wu-Tang dynasty.
Feed me royal shottas with Glocks, clean 'em with tea tree oil
Serve me the finest, most elite shooters with guns, and clean them with tea tree oil.
China dolls from Bangkok, we bang 'em, train 'em and make 'em loyal
We indulge with beautiful women from Thailand, teach them our ways and make them loyal to us.
Trees stank, she come kiss the top of my Yves Saint
My weed is strong, and when she smokes it, she kisses the top of my expensive Yves Saint Laurent clothing.
Wise-Universal Tang when I bang
I am very wise and knowledgeable, and that's why people come to me when they need guidance.
Grizzly with the big bank, it's 5 stars, y'all, when I call rank
I am wealthy and powerful, and when I call the shots, it's always a top-notch and luxurious experience.
Egos are somethin' that the Wu-Tang trust
The Wu-Tang Clan values and trusts their egos.
These stupid jealous niggas, y'all 'bout to get rust
Anyone who is jealous or disrespectful towards the Wu-Tang Clan will suffer the consequences.
This ashes to ashes to dust to dust
Everyone will die eventually and return to dust.
These devilish MC's cannot fuck with us, Lord
No other MCs can compete with the Wu-Tang Clan and their skills.
Rifles out, bear like the Russian
We are armed and ready, with the strength and ferocity of a Russian bear.
Octagon tuggin' silk drawers frontin', while her head stuntin'
A woman is flirting with us, pulling on her silk underwear and showing off a confident attitude.
Mo' sanes flood the garage
Our garage is filled with expensive cars.
Man the goats launchin' charge cards from Africa
We are making a lot of money, and we are spending it on expensive things like charging cards from Africa.
Catch me in the hookah lodge
You can find me relaxing and smoking hookah at the lodge.
Brains linked, twisted Cohibas say the seeds bang
We are all connected mentally, and we know that smoking Cohiba cigars can be quite intense.
Coffee pots with graveyard rings, flippin' Gs
We make coffee in pots with rings that have skulls on them, and we use our wealth to turn profits.
Yankee hoodlum on the top of the charts
We are on top of the music charts, even though we come from a background that is often looked down upon.
Dart throwers, they sharks
Our rhymes are sharp and deadly, and we are always ready to take on any challengers.
Everybody wanna know when my gun barks
People are always interested in our next move and when we will reveal our next bit of greatness.
Non-athletic anti-semetic synthetic rappers get no credit
We have no respect for rappers who are not genuine, athletic, or who hold prejudices.
Pathetic septic lines, incompetent styles not embedded
We are unimpressed with rappers who lack creativity and technical skill.
Wu-Tang slang bangs in your brain, this is not genetic, prophetic
Our unique way of speaking and rapping has a lasting impact on the listener and is not something that can be inherited or copied. It is something that is divinely inspired and meant for prophets.
Unadulterated talent while y'all talk that bullshit rhetoric
We have genuine and raw talent, and we are not interested in engaging with people who spout empty words or mindless chatter.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROBERT F. DIGGS, COREY WOODS, ADRIAN GODFREY YOUNGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind