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
Famous Fighters
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll, I'll tell you something later, something strange happening in the martial arts world
Good, tell me then!
Every year, many famous fighters are gathering, the story is
What are you doing in Shaolin? Who are you? Let's have your leg!
The Wu-Tang clan, now the Wu-tang warriors
I know that I've come into a tiger's den, but then, I came to catch tigers, right
If you lay a sword on him, I'll kill you
Now realize, if you're itching for a duel to test his strength, right now is the time to fight
Because you fight now, then you'll lose
Who says?
I say it
Just kill him!
No, you can't kill him
That's my job
I want a man dead, then he dies
The lyrics of Wu-Tang Clan's "Famous Fighters" depict a conversation between a father and his child. The child requests the father to share a story while they are eating, to which the father promises to do so later. The child then proceeds to inform the father about a peculiar occurrence in the martial arts world, generating intrigue and anticipation.
The child reveals that every year, numerous renowned fighters gather for some purpose. However, the context of this gathering remains ambiguous. The lyrics then transition to a confrontational scene at Shaolin, where someone demands to know the identity and purpose of an individual. The dialogue implies that the newcomer is about to face a physical altercation, as the request to "have your leg" suggests an aggressive challenge.
As tension rises, the Wu-Tang Clan is introduced as the "Wu-tang warriors," indicating their association with this martial arts world. Amidst the confrontation, someone demands respect and warns the newcomer to be mindful of their surroundings. The newcomer acknowledges the danger they are in, referring to being in "a tiger's den." However, they express their intention to confront and defeat their adversaries, implying their purpose is to face formidable opponents.
A conflict arises as one individual threatens the newcomer with a sword, but another intervenes, declaring they must not harm the newcomer. This sparks a debate about whether the newcomer should be killed or spared. The lyrics reveal an additional character who claims it is their responsibility to end someone's life when necessary. This implies a darker tone and suggests that violence and death are integral parts of the martial arts world portrayed in the song.
Overall, "Famous Fighters" presents an intriguing storyline that captures the essence of a martial arts world filled with tension, power dynamics, and a sense of honor. The lyrics delve into themes of respect, strength, and the consequences of one's actions in this realm where violence can often be both a means to an end and a source of conflict.
Line by Line Meaning
Hi, Dad, you musn't to forget not that you promised while we are eating you'd tell a story
Hey, Dad, remember that you promised to tell us a story while we eat
I'll, I'll tell you something later, something strange happening in the martial arts world
I will share with you a strange event occurring in the world of martial arts
Good, tell me then!
Great, go ahead and tell me!
Every year, many famous fighters are gathering, the story is
Each year, numerous renowned fighters come together, and this is their tale
What are you doing in Shaolin? Who are you? Let's have your leg!
Why are you here in Shaolin? Who are you? Let's see what you're made of!
The Wu-Tang clan, now the Wu-tang warriors
We are the formidable Wu-Tang clan, now transformed into mighty warriors
Quiet! Do you know where you are? Show more respect
Silence! Are you aware of your surroundings? Show some respect
I know that I've come into a tiger's den, but then, I came to catch tigers, right
I am aware that I have stepped into a dangerous situation, but I am here to conquer my adversaries, isn't that the purpose?
If you lay a sword on him, I'll kill you
If you attempt to attack him with a sword, I will not hesitate to end your life
Now realize, if you're itching for a duel to test his strength, right now is the time to fight
Understand this, if you desire to engage in a battle to assess his prowess, this very moment is the opportune time
Because you fight now, then you'll lose
If you engage in combat immediately, you will inevitably face defeat
Who says?
Who claims this?
I say it
I declare it
Just kill him!
Simply eliminate him!
No, you can't kill him
No, it is forbidden to take his life
That's my job
That task falls to me
I want a man dead, then he dies
When I desire someone's demise, they meet their inevitable end
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ronald Maurice Bean
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind