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
Darkness
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
在光亮之时与我随行
任凭我华丽的转身
过去到现在依然扭曲我的肩颈
任凭我华丽的转身
过去到现在依然扭曲我的肩颈
紧紧牵制我的影
在黑暗之际让我独行
过去到现在依然吞没我的本性
吞没我的本性
我拖着黑暗的影
走在黑暗的人群
强弩欢颜共饮一杯苦涩之韵
耳边是麻木的欢笑和嘈杂的伦理
心底是空虚的满足和真实的暴力
我挥动迷失的手舞蹈迷失的躯体
鼓噪声势包裹残缺的心
身边是冰冷的斥责及混乱的理解
眼里是淤积的白天和崩溃的黑夜
幻灭的心性纵燃于掠影
欲近光亮的淤垢
幻灭的心性纵燃于掠影
欲近光亮的淤垢
紧紧跟随我的影
在光亮之时与我随行
任凭我华丽的转身
过去到现在依然扭曲我的肩颈
紧紧牵制我的影
在黑暗之际让我独行
尽管我缜思的寻找
过去到现在依然吞没我的本性
幻灭的心性纵燃于掠影
欲近光亮的淤垢
幻灭的心性纵燃于掠影
欲近光亮的淤垢
In Wu-Tang Clan's "Darkness," the lyrics describe a personal struggle with one's own inner demons and the desire to escape the darkness and find the light. The singer expresses a sense of being haunted by their own shadows, both in the past and the present. They acknowledge that their glamorous facade has twisted their own self-worth and burdened their shoulders.
The shadows referenced in the lyrics represent the singer's insecurities and the negative aspects of their personality that they are unable to escape. The darkness symbolizes the turmoil and challenges they face in life, including the emptiness they feel despite external success. The lyrics also touch upon the hypocrisy and moral decay in society, with numb laughter, chaotic understanding, and the facade of happiness concealing true violence.
Despite their efforts to seek clarity and find their true nature, the darkness continues to consume them. The lyrics convey a longing to break free from this cycle of self-destruction and find the light that will cleanse their soul from the accumulated darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
紧紧跟随我的影
My shadow closely follows me
在光亮之时与我随行
Walking with me in the light
任凭我华丽的转身
Despite my elegant turns
过去到现在依然扭曲我的肩颈
My past and present still contort my shoulders and neck
紧紧牵制我的影
My shadow tightly restrains me
在黑暗之际让我独行
Allowing me to walk alone in the darkness
尽管我缜思的寻找
Although I diligently search
过去到现在依然吞没我的本性
My past and present still engulf my true essence
我拖着黑暗的影
I drag the shadow of darkness
走在黑暗的人群
Walking among the crowd of darkness
强弩欢颜共饮一杯苦涩之韵
Forcefully smiling and toasting a cup of bitterness
耳边是麻木的欢笑和嘈杂的伦理
My ears are filled with numb laughter and chaotic ethics
心底是空虚的满足和真实的暴力
My heart is filled with empty satisfaction and brutal reality
我挥动迷失的手舞蹈迷失的躯体
I swing my lost hands and dance with a lost body
鼓噪声势包裹残缺的心
The clamor envelops my incomplete heart
身边是冰冷的斥责及混乱的理解
Around me are cold reproaches and chaotic understandings
眼里是淤积的白天和崩溃的黑夜
In my eyes are accumulated daylight and collapsing nights
幻灭的心性纵燃于掠影
The disillusioned spirit burns in fleeting shadows
欲近光亮的淤垢
Desiring to approach the brightness amidst the dirt
幻灭的心性纵燃于掠影
The disillusioned spirit burns in fleeting shadows
欲近光亮的淤垢
Desiring to approach the brightness amidst the dirt
紧紧跟随我的影
My shadow closely follows me
在光亮之时与我随行
Walking with me in the light
任凭我华丽的转身
Despite my elegant turns
过去到现在依然扭曲我的肩颈
My past and present still contort my shoulders and neck
紧紧牵制我的影
My shadow tightly restrains me
在黑暗之际让我独行
Allowing me to walk alone in the darkness
尽管我缜思的寻找
Although I diligently search
过去到现在依然吞没我的本性
My past and present still engulf my true essence
幻灭的心性纵燃于掠影
The disillusioned spirit burns in fleeting shadows
欲近光亮的淤垢
Desiring to approach the brightness amidst the dirt
幻灭的心性纵燃于掠影
The disillusioned spirit burns in fleeting shadows
欲近光亮的淤垢
Desiring to approach the brightness amidst the dirt
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tlilixtli
One of my favorite tracks on this album!
Mark Robertson
tlilixtli Ya the beat is fire
David Weyland
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/// WISDOM
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Matthew Bombaci
ROOK KING ME SIPPY BROWN FLAG QUER. NEXT YEAR PEAK. NEXT YEAR.