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
End
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is a mixture of slug 'em in
Slug 'em in
Plug 'em in plug 'em in
Come to spread it
The world exclusive
Check it
Turn your face stone like Medusa
Slap dick on a wicked pitch
on righteous ones we give sons
Those who burn hurt turn nuns
I be jumpin' through the flame
With the name B.O.B.B.Y.
Makin' a hobby
Smoke the honey dip got my throat groggy
You doo-doo brain dirtbag derelict dumbfuck
What the fuck is wrong with you dickhead? Numb-nuts
Just because you made a song or two
What's the balance due on your royalties?
Record companies spoil me
As the wiz', hot oil me
Fuck that savage back up
Wu-Tang step inside the club
Niggas might act up
One potato
Smack you like the crossfader
Rap data, goes back to pissy elevators
Escape the projects, livin' inside the skyscraper
Fuck that I'm takin' back the forty acres
It's human nature
(Bobby, Bobby, Bobby, Bobby)
(Huh) yo, my Eve called 1-Adam-12, I got arrested
first she protested
But on the seventh day- son I always had the power
Before the Midori Sour with red cherries
Hereditary trait, seeking salvation like the Cranberries
Wrote murder with Angela Lansbury often
Til my biological clock stops and my casket falls
We sell tix like Boston basketball
See-arson was askin' y'all
Is Ras Kass the last to fall victim for wearin' no mask at all?
No gimmicks, just me bein' me
But you ain't bendin' or offendin' me
Cause anyways Hennessy used to be a better friend to me
But I had to stop drinkin' so many pints (Why?)
Cause the tendency to forget
It ain't baseball, America's favorite national pastime is white supremacy
Never seen a nigga granted clemency
My metaphors is meta-five
My styles go up in you raw dog, little boy, you get fucked, like pedophiles
When it's all said and done I'ma retire to an island in the Caymans
Enslavin' Caucasians livin' off your mama's life savings
I take it all in stride
Dennis Rodman's laced to the side
This nigga glide, like Clyde
My hands was tied
Silent cries screamed genocide
When two-thirds of the planet died in the end
The end justifies the means
The end is power
(Power) Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely
Young black man, let us begin
The end justifies the means
The end is power
(Power) Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely
Young black man, let us begin
The opening lines of the song "End" by Wu-Tang Clan showcase the group's signature style of pugilistic linguistics rapping. The lyrics boast a mixture of aggression and skill while highlighting the group's impressive rhyming abilities.
The second half of the opening stanza brings in biblical imagery with the mention of Medusa turning people to stone. The overall effect is the suggestion of a violent world where the Wu-Tang Clan's talents are necessary to survive.
Next, the song takes on a confrontational tone with a direct attack on other rappers. The lyrics mock those who make only a few songs and ask what royalties they have to show for it. The record companies are then criticized for spoiling artists.
The song then takes a brief detour into personal struggles with alcohol and memory loss. The lyrics suggest the dangers of overindulgence and its effects on the body and mind.
The final lines of the song return to the overarching themes of power and corruption. The phrase "The end justifies the means" is often linked to unethical behavior, and the idea of absolute power corrupting absolutely reinforces the need for balance and justice.
Overall, "End" by Wu-Tang Clan is a powerful and confrontational song that highlights the group's rhyming abilities while touching on themes of power, corruption, and personal struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
My puglistic linguistic rapping
My style of rapping is aggressive and attacking
Is a mixture of slug 'em in
It involves hard-hitting lyrics
Slug 'em in
Hard-hitting lyrics
Plug 'em in plug 'em in
Injecting my style into the Hip Hop scene
Come to spread it
I am bringing my music to the masses
The world exclusive
My music is unique and unlike anything else
Check it
Listen to my music and see for yourself
From the underground producers
My music is produced by unknown, underground artists
Turn your face stone like Medusa
My lyrics are so powerful they can literally petrify
Slap dick on a wicked pitch
My lyrics are being delivered with precision and power
Sons
My fans and followers
Those who burn hurt turn nuns
My music speaks to those who have experienced pain in their lives
I be jumpin' through the flame
I am taking risks in my music career
With the name B.O.B.B.Y.
With my rap name Bobby
Makin' a hobby
I am pursuing music as a hobby
Smoke the honey dip got my throat groggy
I am smoking marijuana and it is impacting my ability to rap
You doo-doo brain dirtbag derelict dumbfuck
Insults directed at someone
What the fuck is wrong with you dickhead?
More insults directed at someone
Numb-nuts
Another insult directed at someone
Just because you made a song or two
An acknowledgment that making music is not easy
What's the balance due on your royalties?
Asking someone how much money they have made from their music
Record companies spoil me
I am successful and getting attention from record companies
As the, hot oil me
Record companies are taking advantage of me
Fuck that savage back up
Expressing frustration and anger
Wu-Tang step inside the club
I am part of the Wu-Tang Clan
Niggas might act up
There may be trouble when we arrive
One potato
Preparing for a fight
Smack you like the crossfader
I am going to hit someone like a DJ crossfader
Rap data, the elevators
My lyrics take listeners to new heights
Escape the projects, livin' inside the skyscraper
Escaping my troubled past and living a better life now
Fuck that I'm takin' back the forty acres
Demanding justice and reparations for slavery
Nature
My work represents the natural world and its beauty
(Bobby, Bobby, Bobby, Bobby)
A reference to my own rap name
(Huh)
An interjection to indicate surprise
Yo, my Eve called 1-Adam-12, I got arrested
An anecdote about getting into legal trouble
At first she protested
My partner initially objected to my arrest
But only the seventh son of, had the power
Expressing a belief in my own power and abilities
Before the Midori Sour with red cherries
A reference to a specific drink
Hereditary trait, seeking salvation like the Cranberries
Searching for something more in life, like the band The Cranberries
Wrote Murder with Angela Lansbury often
Referencing the show Murder, She Wrote
Til my biological clock stops and my casket falls
I will continue rapping until I die
We sell tix
My popularity and success as a rapper
See-arson was askin' y'all
A reference to fellow rapper CeeLo Green
Is Ras Kass the last to fall victim for wearin' no mask at all?
A reference to wearing a mask during the pandemic
No gimmicks, just me bein' me
My music is genuine and authentic
But you ain't bendin' or offendin' me
I am not afraid of criticism
Cause anyways Hennessy used to be a better friend to me
I have had problems with alcohol in the past
But I had to stop drinkin' so many pints (Why?)
A reference to the negative effects of alcohol
Cause the tendency to forget
Alcohol caused me to forget things
It ain't baseball, America's favorite national pastime is white
Racism is a bigger problem than many people realize
Supremacy
White supremacy and its impact on society
Never seen a nigga granted clemency
Black people are not treated fairly by the justice system
My metaphors is meta-five
My lyrics are cerebral and thought-provoking
My styles go up in your, little boy, you get fucked, like pedophiles
My lyrics are not suitable for children
When it's all said and done I'ma retire to an island in the Caymans
My dream of retiring in luxury
Enslavin' Caucasians livin' off your mama's life savings
A reference to white people's privilege and wealth
I take it all in stride
I am resilient and able to handle anything that comes my way
Dennis Rodman's laced to the side
A reference to the former NBA player and his fashion choices
This nigga glide, like Clyde
I am smooth and confident
My hands was tied
I have been held back by obstacles and challenges
Silent cries screamed genocide
The pain and suffering of marginalized communities
When two-thirds of the planet died in the end
A reference to an apocalyptic event
The end justifies the means
The end result is more important than how you got there
The end is power
Having the last word or achieving one's goals is powerful
(Power) Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely
The more power one has, the more corrupt they can become
Young black man, let us begin [Repeat x2]
A call to action for young Black men to rise up and create change
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: John R Austin, Osten Harvey, Robert Diggs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@right-7366
All glory to God only
@user-ep6jc6lw5f
Thanks, I’ll be betttter next end ❤
@bgeorge5688
What's the name of this song? sounds cool 😂
@fatrambo73
The End
@Christopherkalel2010
I believe him, just because he has a Jesus beard.