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
Frozen
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't into chain snatchin' ain't into smackin' a wife
Fan supportin' don't never askin' the price
If you new you can't afford it you better askin' advice
Stick to the point if I ever had me a night
Y'all gas better hope I don't ever have me a light
Meth, not the type for doin' the pipe
But the type when you feel it you know I'm doing it right
They criticizing the lyrics 'cause everybody's a critic, look
I push the limit while rappers is pushing gimmicks
I use it to push my pen in then add it in to the premise hook
Y'all, still talk about it and I still live it
Underground without a shovel and still dig it
It's always been about the struggle y'all just didn't get it
My hood trouble if y'all don't live it then don't visit
Most of us poppin' pain sellin' drugs in the rain
I don't sweat money, neck chiseled and frost
Make money maintainin' build me a train
Rollin' buddha ice cooler Grey Goose and the big Ruger
Most of us poppin' pain sellin' drugs in the rain
I don't sweat money, neck chiseled and frost
Make money maintainin' build me a train
Rollin' buddha ice cooler Grey Goose and the big Ruger
Color me bad, face in merge blood in the bath
Switchblade, quick raid, drugs on the glass
Ugly villains, hunchback, guns for the killin'
Suit and case FBI planted bug on the millions
Shootouts, hang clouts on the train ride
Mafias, assassins, cocaine is inside
Fat man with the pinky ring laughin'
Movin' in static, through traffic, the hot spots call the dragon
His head is bald, enemies of all, his hands are claws
Cigar is lit targets are hit
His broad is fit with the largest tits
Through the fog they sit
Helicopters over Nicaragua, scoop for dollars
Dig for lobster, the zoo of tigers
Piss and jaguars, the bets, Nascar, threats
Nasa, fools wear wires, shooters was hired
Most of us poppin' pain sellin' drugs in the rain
I don't sweat money, neck chiseled and frost
Make money maintainin' build me a train
Rollin' buddha ice cooler Grey Goose and the big Ruger
Most of us poppin' pain sellin' drugs in the rain
I don't sweat money, neck chiseled and frost
Make money maintainin' build me a train
Rollin' buddha ice cooler Grey Goose and the big Ruger
Like the Shaolin astoundin' pound grounds like groundings
Bouncin' be the largest nigga pounds or ounces
Well rounded like Persif, my verses birth inertia
Converge, surge, hurt and burn ya
Philosophical spit particle sun chronicle
Known to bust a clip and swift kick without your opticals
In the hop or two I spit particles follicles written
Punches hit with nautical drifts, spark up the spliff
Wrist samurai, glamorize strikes cleaner than sanatize
You fantasize real could show it more if I Panama
Bronx symphony stomp lyrically, chomp diss emceees
Burn my, wouldn't even give you niggas my sympathies
Feelin' me, said you feelin' me you niggas feel the heat
Braveheart and you leave departed like Hawk's enemies
Marvel, marvelous my art is bliss
If you ain't the nicest you a target bitch, Chris
We the first niggas that did that shit I don't give a fuck what nobody say
Most of us poppin' pain sellin' drugs in the rain
I don't sweat money, neck chiseled and frost
Make money maintainin' build me a train
Rollin' buddha ice cooler Grey Goose and the big Ruger
Most of us poppin' pain sellin' drugs in the rain
I don't sweat money, neck chiseled and frost
Make money maintainin' build me a train
Rollin' buddha ice cooler Grey Goose and the big Ruger
The song "Frozen" by Wu-Tang featuring Method Man, Killa Priest, and Chris Rivers talks about the struggle of life in the ghetto and how they are making ends meet by selling drugs. The lyrics express the idea that the music is not just a form of entertainment but a way of life. The rap describes how most of them are selling drugs to earn a living and are always on their toes during shootouts and other life-threatening situations. The lyrics also talk about how fame never comes easy and the critics will always be there to judge your every move.
Overall, the song is a powerful reflection of life in the streets, where every day is a matter of survival. The lyrics capture the raw emotions of the Rappers, and every word in the song is an expression of their reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Music is life I ain't in to fashion or ice
I prioritize music over material possessions like fashion and jewelry
I ain't into chain snatchin' ain't into smackin' a wife
I'm against violent and abusive behavior towards women and stealing
Fan supportin' don't never askin' the price
I don't care how much it costs to support my fans
If you new you can't afford it you better askin' advice
If you're new to this, seek advice before making purchases you can't afford
Stick to the point if I ever had me a night
I stay focused and to the point when performing
Y'all gas better hope I don't ever have me a light
Be careful, because I have the power to shine bright and light up the rap game
Meth, not the type for doin' the pipe
I'm not a drug addict
But the type when you feel it you know I'm doing it right
When you hear me rap, you know I'm doing it right
You know I spit it but hate to love to admit it
People may not want to admit it, but they know my rhymes are good
They criticizing the lyrics 'cause everybody's a critic, look
People love to criticize, especially when it comes to music
I push the limit while rappers is pushing gimmicks
I like to push boundaries with my music while other rappers rely on gimmicks
Y'all, still talk about it and I still live it
I'm still living the lifestyle that others can only talk about
Underground without a shovel and still dig it
I'm successful in the underground rap scene without having to dig my way to the top
It's always been about the struggle y'all just didn't get it
My music has always been about the struggle, but some people don't understand that
My hood trouble if y'all don't live it then don't visit
My hood is dangerous, so if you're not from there, it's best to stay away
Most of us poppin' pain sellin' drugs in the rain
Most of us are struggling, selling drugs in difficult conditions
I don't sweat money, neck chiseled and frost
Money doesn't matter to me, but I like to wear expensive jewelry
Make money maintainin' build me a train
I make money and use it to maintain my lifestyle
Rollin' buddha ice cooler Grey Goose and the big Ruger
I smoke weed and drink expensive liquor while carrying a big gun
Color me bad, face in merge blood in the bath
I have a sinister reputation, with blood on my face and in the bathtub
Switchblade, quick raid, drugs on the glass
I carry a switchblade and quickly attack those who threaten me, with drugs nearby
Ugly villains, hunchback, guns for the killin'
I associate with dangerous people and carry guns for protection and killing if necessary
Suit and case FBI planted bug on the millions
I'm under FBI surveillance, with a bug planted in my million-dollar briefcase
Shootouts, hang clouts on the train ride
I'm involved in shootouts and violent confrontations on the train
Mafias, assassins, cocaine is inside
I associate with the mafia and assassins, and cocaine is involved
Fat man with the pinky ring laughin'
I know a wealthy man with a pinky ring who is often amused
Movin' in static, through traffic, the hot spots call the dragon
I navigate through crowds and traffic, with people in the know calling me the dragon
His head is bald, enemies of all, his hands are claws
This person is bald, with many enemies, and hands that are like claws
Cigar is lit targets are hit
This person is always ready to strike with precision
His broad is fit with the largest tits
This person's female companion is attractive with large breasts
Through the fog they sit
They sit together in a foggy, uncertain situation
Helicopters over Nicaragua, scoop for dollars
Helicopters are flying over Nicaragua to get money
Dig for lobster, the zoo of tigers
People are digging for lobster while surrounded by tigers
Piss and jaguars, the bets, Nascar, threats
There are jaguars and urine, accompanied by betting and Nascar, with threats present
Nasa, fools wear wires, shooters was hired
Nasa and fools are involved, with people wearing wires and others hired as shooters
Like the Shaolin astoundin' pound grounds like groundings
I rap like the Shaolin monks, with powerful lyrics that resonate
Bouncin' be the largest nigga pounds or ounces
The biggest guy bounces to the beat, paying no mind to the quantity of drugs
Well rounded like Persif, my verses birth inertia
My verses are well-rounded and powerful, creating momentum
Converge, surge, hurt and burn ya
My verses come together, surge forward, and impact you
Philosophical spit particle sun chronicle
I rap about philosophy and science at a microscopic level
Known to bust a clip and swift kick without your opticals
I'm known to shoot and kick so fast that you won't even see it coming
In the hop or two I spit particles follicles written
In a short time, I'm able to rap in a way that's powerful and influential
Punches hit with nautical drifts, spark up the spliff
My punches hit with great force, and I enjoy smoking weed
Wrist samurai, glamorize strikes cleaner than sanatize
My wrist movements are like a samurai, and my strikes are precise and clean
You fantasize real could show it more if I Panama
I can show you what's real, and I'm capable of doing it better than anyone
Bronx symphony stomp lyrically, chomp diss emceees
I stomp lyrically with the power of the Bronx, and I take on other rappers with ease
Burn my, wouldn't even give you niggas my sympathies
Other rappers don't deserve my sympathy or attention
Feelin' me, said you feelin' me you niggas feel the heat
You can feel my fire and energy when I'm performing
Braveheart and you leave departed like Hawk's enemies
If you challenge me, you'll leave defeated and as my enemy
Marvel, marvelous my art is bliss
My art is amazing and brings people joy
If you ain't the nicest you a target bitch, Chris
If you're not the best rapper, you're a target for me, Chris
We the first niggas that did that shit I don't give a fuck what nobody say
We were the first to create this genre of music and I don't care what anyone says
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher Rios, Clifford Smith, Ronald Maurice Bean, Walter Reed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@notaclue638
The real ones still listen to wu tang
@acknickulus
No doubt!
@KingJamesXXX
Wu tang is for the children.
@7Spronge
But you clicked to watch this video ....
@KingJamesXXX
7Spronge if don’t know what i mean you better not react.
@marcushoward6588
Devs072 dis shit lame nigga
@houseoffunnies
I'm glad music like this still exists
@peterwingate4296
I with you there my G✊🤝💪🙏
@kaiyeem
Damn this joint gave me goose bumps. Wu-Tang forever, Chris flow was ridiculous, if Big Pun could hear his son spit them flames I know he'd be proud of him.
@josephsmith7423
Chris Rivers more than held his own with a track full of killers!