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
Fatal Sting
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the battle fields mics collide like sword fights
Get stabbed up by the swift technique of a Black Knight
Who pierce strikes like vicious snakes, rhymes elevate
Niggaz get sniped watch me annihilate
The Gods got me eating off a fine dinner plates
With this rap shit told me don't procrastinate
Spit the written like scripts
No but fully loaded throw darts and make it hit, the target
Pardon, me as I keep on starting, mo' shit
Feel the wrath with these raw hits from Math
You don't stand a chance, you can't top it we too advance
[Verse 2:]
Sharp shooter with the greatest accuracy
Blast it rapidly, If those attacking me are after me
You never capture me, it's sad to see niggaz testing me
You meet your destiny can't get next to me
The best of me you know the recipe
The cut-throat making blood soak from the gun-smoke
Have you gasping for oxygen
Then pops you with the glocks again
Drop 'em in with the street life, the street type
We snipe, artificial niggaz under street lights
Street fights transform into wars with firearms
Bullets storm niggaz start to swarm like rise on
Dying on the same blocks when they exchange rocks
And hand cops flamed rocks
Year after year up in the same spot
Total madness synergy in city streets
Battle many fleets as they walk by the gates of the darkside
Black Knights
Yo,yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo
[Verse 3:]
The microphone magnificent
Burning hot like syphilis
Hit your dish drink from distances
Bombin' leave no witnesses
The street division kid from the,
Home of the wasteland
Styles bionic, sounds blow holes through your basement
Face it for the Black Knights there's no replacement
You're basic, kid put this in your mouth so you can taste it
These ancient rhymes are lethal
When manifested bring wrath of bloody vengeance
to suckers that second guessed it
Confess it I got the type flows that'll make you stagger
Came out my mother's womb with a blunt and bloody dagger
From day one I knew that I'll be on some ol' lye shit
Do or die shit, ready to ride slug slide shit
[Verse 4:]
The audity prodigy,
The cosmos commodity, knowledge guides equality
A whiff while I myth and a sniff off a E&J fifth
and a spliff, the proton neutron,
Sally with the crouton dipping in the Yucon,
Supernova yoga, dosia, ambrosia crane and cobra
The yolk for help and the stealth with the knowledge of self
like no one else, the code of yoba
From the noble none of my niggaz local
The song "Fatal Sting" by Wu-Tang Clan speaks about the intense competition in the rap industry that is akin to a battlefield. The lyrics describe the swift, deadly technique of the Black Knight, who pierces strikes like vicious snakes and makes rhymes elevate. The artist draws inspiration from the Gods, who have blessed him with a rap talent that has helped him rise to the top. The song warns competitors that they don't stand a chance against Wu-Tang Clan, who are too advanced and skilled.
The second verse describes the artist's sharpshooting skills and ability to attack his opponents with great precision. He warns his opponents that they will never be able to capture him, and it's sad to see them testing him. Wu-Tang Clan's unique style and sound are irreplaceable, and the artist feels he was born with a blunt and bloody dagger ready to ride slug slide shit. The fourth verse speaks about the artist's immense knowledge of self and the world around him, which guides him towards equality, justice, and truth.
Line by Line Meaning
In the battle fields mics collide like sword fights
Rapping competitively is like a battle, with each rapper using their mic like a sword to spar with their opponent.
Get stabbed up by the swift technique of a Black Knight
The Black Knight is a skilled warrior with the ability to deliver fatal blows quickly and efficiently, similar to how a skilled rapper can use words to overpower their opponent.
Who pierce strikes like vicious snakes, rhymes elevate
The Black Knight's attacks are venomous and can take down their enemy, similar to how a rapper's rhymes can elevate their status and leave their opponents behind.
Niggaz get sniped watch me annihilate
The artist is confident in their ability to defeat their opponents by sniping, or targeting them from afar, and completely destroying them.
The Gods got me eating off a fine dinner plates
The artist's success in rap has given them the privilege of enjoying the finer things in life.
With this rap shit told me don't procrastinate
The singer understands the importance of taking action and not putting off their goals in the rap game.
West Coast lyricist, Killa Bee clique we swarm thick
The singer is a member of a tight-knit crew of rappers with roots on the West Coast, known for their lyricism and their ability to swarm like bees when attacking their opponents.
Spit the written like scripts
The artist approaches their rhymes with a serious and calculated attitude, treating them like scripts for a movie or play.
No but fully loaded throw darts and make it hit, the target
The artist is armed and dangerous, using their skills to take down their opponents like a dart hitting its target.
Pardon, me as I keep on starting, mo' shit
The artist apologizes for their aggressive behavior as they continue to bring forth more intense rhymes.
Feel the wrath with these raw hits from Math
The singer's rhymes are powerful and intense, capable of causing destruction like a mathematical equation.
You don't stand a chance, you can't top it we too advance
The artist is confident in their skills, believing their opponents don't stand a chance against them because they are too advanced and skilled.
Sharp shooter with the greatest accuracy
The singer is a skilled and accurate rapper who can take down their opponents with ease.
Blast it rapidly, If those attacking me are after me
The singer is quick to strike back at anyone who comes after them and will do so rapidly.
You never capture me, it's sad to see niggaz testing me
The singer is too skilled and evasive for their opponents to take down, and they find it sad that others continue to try and test them.
You meet your destiny can't get next to me
The artist believes that those who challenge them are destined to fail and will never be able to surpass their skill level.
The best of me you know the recipe
The artist is a master at their craft and is willing to share their secrets and recipe for success with their listeners.
The cut-throat making blood soak from the gun-smoke
The singer's words are sharp and deadly, capable of leaving their opponents wounded and bleeding like gunshot wounds.
Have you gasping for oxygen
The singer's rhymes are so intense that their opponents will struggle to catch their breath and keep up.
Then pops you with the glocks again
The artist is armed and ready to take down their opponents multiple times with their firearms.
Drop 'em in with the street life, the street type
The artist is experienced with street life and is a member of the street type of rappers, who use their gritty, real-life experiences in their music.
We snipe, artificial niggaz under street lights
The artist and their crew target and take down fake or artificial rappers who don't have the same real-life experiences as they do, often in the seedy underbelly of the city at night.
Street fights transform into wars with firearms
What may have started as a simple altercation on the street can quickly escalate into a full-blown war, with guns being drawn and lives being lost.
Bullets storm niggaz start to swarm like rise on
Once the bullets start flying, the artist's enemies will scatter and run like ants scattering when their nest is disturbed.
Dying on the same blocks when they exchange rocks
The singer has seen firsthand how dangerous and deadly exchanging gunfire on the streets can be, often resulting in the loss of life
And hand cops flamed rocks
The street violence and drug trade often bring the attention of the authorities, who may confiscate and destroy drugs or weapons.
Year after year up in the same spot
The singer has seen people come and go, but the same problems and issues still plague the same neighborhoods and communities year after year.
Total madness synergy in city streets
The artist sees the chaos and madness in the city streets, with different groups and individuals all vying for power and control.
Battle many fleets as they walk by the gates of the darkside
The artist and their crew are constantly battling and fighting off others who would try to take their spot on the streets, always on the edge of falling into darkness and chaos.
The microphone magnificent
The singer sees the mic as a powerful and magnificent tool for their craft.
Burning hot like syphilis
The singer's rhymes are intense and contagious, spreading like a burning disease through their listeners.
Hit your dish drink from distances
The artist can hit their targets from afar with their words, like a sharpshooter hitting their mark from a distance.
Bombin' leave no witnesses
The artist's rhymes are so powerful that they leave no one untouched or unscathed.
The street division kid from the, Home of the wasteland
The artist grew up in the streets, which are often seen as a barren wasteland of poverty, crime and despair.
Styles bionic, sounds blow holes through your basement
The singer's rhyming styles are advanced and futuristic, capable of blowing out speakers and taking down their listeners' foundations.
Face it for the Black Knights there's no replacement
The artist's crew, the Black Knights, cannot be replaced or replicated, as they are unique in their skills and approach to rap.
You're basic, kid put this in your mouth so you can taste it
The singer belittles their opponents, calling them basic and inviting them to sample their superior skills to see what they're missing.
These ancient rhymes are lethal
The singer's lyrics have been tried and tested over time, proving to be powerful and deadly in their impact on their listeners.
When manifested bring wrath of bloody vengeance to suckers that second guessed it
When the singer's rhymes are brought to life, they bring with them a sense of wrath and aggression, punishing those who underestimate them or try to bring them down.
Confess it I got the type flows that'll make you stagger
The artist is so skilled that their rhymes can leave their listeners feeling woozy and stunned.
Came out my mother's womb with a blunt and bloody dagger
The artist has always had a sharp and deadly edge to them, as if they were born with a weapon in hand.
From day one I knew that I'll be on some ol' lye shit
The singer has always known that they were destined for success in rap, and had the confidence and skill to back it up.
Do or die shit, ready to ride slug slide shit
The singer is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in rap, even if it means putting their life on the line, and are fully prepared to go to war for their craft.
The audity prodigy
The artist is a unique and gifted talent, standing out from the rest of the crowd.
The cosmos commodity, knowledge guides equality
The artist sees themselves as a valuable part of the universe, using their knowledge to spread messages of equality and empowerment.
A whiff while I myth and a sniff off a E&J fifth
The artist is unapologetically themselves, mixing high culture (whiffs and myths) with street culture (sniffs and cheap alcohol).
and a spliff, the proton neutron
The singer references the science of the universe, using the spliff (a joint) to represent the balance of the protons and neutrons in an atom.
Sally with the crouton dipping in the Yucon
The artist references another aspect of their unique identity, mixing high culture (Sally, a common name in literature) with low culture (croutons and the Canadian territory of Yukon).
Supernova yoga, dosia, ambrosia crane and cobra
The singer references the universe and spirituality, using the imagery of supernovas, yoga, and mythical foods and animals.
The yolk for help and the stealth with the knowledge of self
The singer has a balanced approach to life, using their understanding of themselves and their place in the world to help others and succeed in their own endeavors.
like no one else, the code of yoba
The singer is wholly unique, with their own code and approach to life, similar to the philosophy of Yoba (a fictional religion in the video game Stardew Valley).
From the noble none of my niggaz local
The artist and their crew are not just local talent, but from a higher, more noble class of rappers, who stand out and make an impact on a much larger scale.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@snootytoots20
I first heard this in 1998 whilst I was still in elementary school. Wu-Tang for life.
@mikes7446
This song has been in my head, havenโt played this in while.
@Andy_77799
Tbh i had a beat very similar to this in my mind and I've never heard of this song before.Now I'm happy that i can listen to it, it's lit af.
@83devildog
SAME!!!!
@SuperMontsta
Had to come add this to my workout playlist. This beat still hits, decades later.
@ttroni8565
RZA!! He's so timeless with his producing!
@letstalkwithpatrickpodcast
Mathematics produced this
@EvoKeremidarov
both Black Knights tracks on this album were absolutely fire...
@jonathansoko1085
Its a shame Holo didnt get on this.
@carlosabreu1001
The flow and delivery just ill and outstanding.......