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
Dirty Mef
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, M-E-F, ha, ha, ha, ha, special guest
(F*** you, f*** you, f*** you, f***)
Ha, ha, ha, ha, yeah
Yo, you don't wanna ride with Dirt, you still stuck in coach
You don't wanna fly in first, yo, I can spit
One verse and leave in a new Benzer
Dirt McGirt, you n****z gon' respect it
I'm drunk and crunk so don't come in my direction
I'm ready to thump and get the whole crew arrested
Bail 'em out and laugh about it in Texas, yo
And get with Rome, down in Caki-Lac
And hit the spot, in the hood where the happenings at
Where the shootin' and the fightings, and the stabbings at
Where the Lincolns and the Chevys, and the Cadi's at, s***
Them down south n****z been loved Dirt
Take a shot to the head, if you been through the worse
Show respect to your n****z, who been doin' it first
And be comin' with that s***, I'm just doin' the worse
Yo, you don't wanna ride with Dirt, you still stuck in coach
You don't wanna fly in first, yo, I can spit, yo
You don't wanna ride with Meth, we still sniffing c****
Even if you tried your best, yo, I can spit
Yo, you don't wanna ride with Dirt, you still stuck in coach
You don't wanna fly in first, yo, I can spit, yo
You don't wanna ride with Meth, we still sniffing c****
Even if you tried your best, yo, I can spit
Damn, I'm just like Dirt in the booth
I'm the truth, I don't need to go to church in a suit
Each verse is the proof, I drink a 100 Proof
Cop searching the coup, I got some herb in my boot
When Wu is coming through, the outcome, critical
F***ing with this style, the outcome get physical
Meth get lyrical, and y'all can get my g*******
Don't forget them aid essentials, vitamins and minerals
Heh, ya'meen, I'm taking one for the team
Like Martin Luther King, taking one for a dream
I'm dope, too many fiends, live by many means
If you don't stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything
That's real s***, let's get this money real quick
Dirt Dog, I'm feeling this but I'd rather feel rich
I mean filthy rich, I'm corporate now
Big Meth, the label's Def that's why I talk so loud, n****
Yo, you don't wanna ride with Dirt, you still stuck in coach
You don't wanna fly in first, yo, I can spit, yo
You don't wanna ride with Meth, we still sniffing c****
Even if you tried your best, yo, I can spit
Yo, you don't wanna ride with Dirt, you still stuck in coach
You don't wanna fly in first, yo, I can spit, yo
You don't wanna ride with Meth, we still sniffing c****
Even if you tried your best, yo, I can spit
F*** you, f*** you, f*** you, f*** you
F*** you, f*** you, f*** you, f***
F*** you, f*** you, f*** you, f*** you
F*** you, f*** you, f*** you, f*** you
In the song "Dirty Mef" by Wu-Tang Clan, Method Man and Ol' Dirty Bastard (Dirt Dog) talk about their tough and violent lifestyles, but that they can handle it with ease. They rap about their superiority over others who are "still stuck in coach" and the lavish lifestyle they can afford, such as flying first class and driving expensive cars like Benzers. They also mention their love for drugs, with Meth talking about "still sniffing c****".
The two rappers boast about their reputations in the hip-hop game, with references to previous hits such as "Ain't No Half-Steppin'" by Big Daddy Kane and Meth's own solo hit, "Release Yo' Delf". They also mention Wu-Tang's motto of "Expect the Unexpected," showing that they are unpredictable and unstoppable. Despite their rough exterior and criminal activity, they mention their belief in standing up for something and not falling for anything.
Overall, the lyrics of "Dirty Mef" showcase the confidence and bravado of Method Man and Ol' Dirty Bastard as they assert their dominance in the rap world.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, you don't wanna ride with Dirt, you still stuck in coach
Dirt McGirt is a superior artist, and if you can't recognize that, you're not worthy of collaborating with him.
You don't wanna fly in first, yo, I can spit
Dirt is so confident in his abilities that he's taking a shot at those who don't appreciate his skills.
One verse and leave in a new Benzer
Dirt can create music that is so successful, he can buy himself a new luxury car with the profits from just one song.
Take a trip down south and put some h**s to work, you hear me
Dirt is willing to not only travel to new locations to collaborate with new artists, but also to help promote the careers of others with his influence.
Dirt McGirt, you n****z gon' respect it
Dirt is demanding and deserving of respect from his peers.
I'm drunk and crunk so don't come in my direction
Dirt is inebriated and aggressive, so people should not provoke him.
I'm ready to thump and get the whole crew arrested
Dirt is not afraid of confrontation and is willing to take risks that could result in negative consequences.
Bail 'em out and laugh about it in Texas, yo
Dirt is unfazed by the prospect of legal trouble, and even finds humor in the possibility.
Where the shootin' and the fightings, and the stabbings at
Dirt is collaborating with people from a location with a higher rate of violence and crime.
Them down south n****z been loved Dirt
Dirt is highly respected and popular among artists from the southern United States.
Take a shot to the head, if you been through the worse
If you've experienced difficult times, Dirt thinks you should be able to handle his style of music.
Show respect to your n****z, who been doin' it first
Dirt believes in honoring the pioneers of the music industry and giving them due credit.
Each verse is the proof, I drink a 100 Proof
Dirt is confident in the quality of his lyrics and reveals that he is drinking high proof alcohol while recording.
If you don't stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything
Dirt encourages his audience to have strong beliefs and convictions, or else they will be easily swayed or manipulated.
Big Meth, the label's Def that's why I talk so loud, n****
Method Man is proud of his affiliation with the successful record label Def Jam, and feels justified in being vocal about it.
F*** you, f*** you, f*** you, f***
This is an angry and vulgar expression of contempt or frustration.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RUSSELL JONES, CLIFFORD SMITH, ERICK SERMON, RONALD M. BEAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind