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.
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Get Them Out Ya Way Pa
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you got it, light it up [8X]
[Method Man]
Ain't no shook in 'em, Pyrex pots is hot, fiends is cooking 'em
Little niggaz hugging the block, cops is booking 'em
Women hugging they purse when they spot the crook in 'em
Back when little J got shot, pops was whooping 'em
The ghetto got a hook in 'em now, drugs, stay pushing 'em
Used to throwing dirt in these blunts, now, it's kush in 'em
Used to tell these chicks to shut up, now, he's shooshing 'em
Get cash, get that ass, or put a foot in 'em
Iron Flag, flag that cab, Bedford and Put-e-nam
There ain't no puss in 'em, dick, dildo, or gush in 'em
Niggaz still got that juks in 'em
[Chorus 2X: Ghostface Killah (Raekwon)]
If he front then we stomp 'em out (Get 'em out ya way pa)
If he drunk and he run his mouth (Get 'em out ya way pa)
If he front then we stomp 'em out (Get 'em out ya way pa)
(Get 'em out ya way pa, move, move, move)
[U-God]
I'm seduced by the chrome, it's a ruthless poem
It took a little time to get his juices going
Producers know him, as the kid with the Iron Palm
Righteous hammer, examine the firearm
Approach or get fired on, permanent chest scar
Empire Strikes Back, check out the Death Star
Bless y'all, wet y'all, do the impossible
Where I'm from, we use dum-dums in the arsenal
Highly sparkable, get stretched off the knuckle check
Known to scuffle, I take it to the upper deck
Universal conquest, kung fu, buckle vets
In a dufflebag, max yo, a couple techs
Give 'em ear hustle, Wu brand, we programmed
Next time we dance, it won't be a slow jam
I fear no man, son, you get lynched up
Nigga bitch, get Frankenstein stitched up
[Chorus]
[Masta Killa]
Yeah, voice skipping off percussion
Give it to 'em how they love it, slow flow, deadly, beloved
All praise, the daunting, calm yet
So alarming, without a word being spoken
A thought with no voice, just a nod and a look
The contract was took, straight cash, off the books
A major pawn took a Don, look, he's armed
With a few black rooks from the heart of the Crook
Shook ones look while they hung him on Hercules hooks
They found his body near a shallow brook, escaped on foot
Switched the look up, out of state, he got the hook up
The flipped cake, thought lighter than the feather
Yet heavier than weight, when my mind state starts to break, take cover
Over RZA instrumental, I'm damn near invincible, it's simple
[Chorus 2X]
[Outro: kung fu sample]
Tell me, what are they like?
They got holes in the top, five round holes
While I was watching, this stranger, hit them
But his fingers went right through the bone
So then, they've... mastered it
It's some style of kung fu, you know it?
The Skeleton Claw
The song "Get Them Out Ya Way Pa" by Wu-Tang Clan is a powerful commentary on life in the ghetto. Many of the lyrics reference drug use and the struggles that come with poverty. Method Man raps about the Pyrex pots being hot, indicating that there is a lot of drug trafficking happening in the area. He also talks about how women hold onto their purses tightly when they see people they perceive as criminals. The line "The ghetto got a hook in 'em now, drugs stay pushing 'em" is a poignant statement about how difficult it can be to escape poverty and addiction.
Ghostface Killah and Raekwon's chorus references the idea of getting people out of the way if they are causing trouble, whether it be because they're drunk or they're just being disruptive. U-God's verse talks about his own experiences with violence and his willingness to take things to the next level if needed. Finally, Masta Killa's verse references the power dynamics at play in the criminal underworld, as well as the importance of staying sharp and vigilant.
Overall, "Get Them Out Ya Way Pa" is a powerful reminder of the struggles faced by those living in poverty and the cyclical nature of addiction and crime. Its message is a call to action to those who are part of these communities to take their own individual steps to make a better life for themselves and others around them.
Line by Line Meaning
If you got it, light it up
Introductory line to encourage the listener to smoke marijuana.
Ain't no shook in 'em, Pyrex pots is hot, fiends is cooking 'em
The drug dealers have no fear, are well-prepared and supplied with drugs, and the drug addicts are consuming them.
Little niggaz hugging the block, cops is booking 'em
Young men are staying in the same area, while the police are arresting them.
Women hugging they purse when they spot the crook in 'em
Women are holding onto their purses to prevent a theft when they see a suspicious person.
Back when little J got shot, pops was whooping 'em
J was shot a while ago, and his father probably punished him for his behavior.
Little noses dripping with snot, ock, now look at 'em
'Little noses' is a metaphor for using drugs, and 'ock' refers to his friend, they are now old, tired, and aging after years of drug use.
The ghetto got a hook in 'em now, drugs, stay pushing 'em
The urban lifestyle has ensnared them, and the drugs continue to influence them.
Used to throwing dirt in these blunts, now, it's kush in 'em
They used to mix unrefined marijuana with tobacco, but now they use high-quality marijuana.
Used to tell these chicks to shut up, now, he's shooshing 'em
They used to be rude to women, and now they are asking them to be quiet discreetly.
Get cash, get that ass, or put a foot in 'em
Their priorities are to make money or get women, and if someone gets in their way, they will take action to remove them.
Iron Flag, flag that cab, Bedford and Put-e-nam
A reference to the location of where they live and ride in taxis.
There ain't no puss in 'em, dick, dildo, or gush in 'em
There is no fear or weakness in them, and they will not be taken advantage of sexually.
Niggaz still got that juks in 'em
They still have the desire to steal and rob.
I'm seduced by the chrome, it's a ruthless poem
The shiny metal of a gun attracts him, and his gun is his weapon to make his statement.
It took a little time to get his juices going
It took some time for him to get motivated and become active.
Producers know him, as the kid with the Iron Palm
Music producers recognize him as a talented rapper with a powerful punch.
Righteous hammer, examine the firearm
He is a morally good person, but he is aware of his gun and its capabilities.
Approach or get fired on, permanent chest scar
If someone approaches him the wrong way, they will get shot, and it could cause permanent injury or death.
Empire Strikes Back, check out the Death Star
A pop culture reference to the Star Wars movie franchise, and the idea that he is unstoppable like the evil Empire's Death Star.
Bless y'all, wet y'all, do the impossible
He will pray for them success, shoot them, and achieve the impossible.
Where I'm from, we use dum-dums in the arsenal
Where he grew up, he used bullets that expand and deform when they hit a target.
Highly sparkable, get stretched off the knuckle check
He is ready to fight and knock out people with his punching skills.
Known to scuffle, I take it to the upper deck
He is used to fighting and will escalate it to a more severe level.
Universal conquest, kung fu, buckle vets
He will conquer people using his skills, and even martial arts experts will not be able to defeat him.
In a dufflebag, max yo, a couple techs
He is carrying firearms, perhaps hidden in a duffle bag.
Give 'em ear hustle, Wu brand, we programmed
He is paying attention to the people around him and representing Wu-Tang Clan everywhere he goes.
Next time we dance, it won't be a slow jam
If the next time they have a conflict, it will not be a peaceful resolution.
I fear no man, son, you get lynched up
He is not afraid of anyone, and if someone tries to harm him, they will receive retaliation.
Nigga bitch, get Frankenstein stitched up
He is planning to punish someone severely, like the monster in the Frankenstein novel had been punished.
Yeah, voice skipping off percussion
Masta Killa's voice has a rhythmic quality in the song.
Give it to 'em how they love it, slow flow, deadly, beloved
He is giving the fans what they want, a calm and deadly rap flow.
All praise, the daunting, calm yet
He is proud and highly respected, but retains a composed demeanor.
So alarming, without a word being spoken
His presence is intimidating, even if he is not speaking.
A thought with no voice, just a nod and a look
He can communicate a lot with just a subtle nod or facial expression.
The contract was took, straight cash, off the books
A deal was made with no paper trail, and they paid in cash.
A major pawn took a Don, look, he's armed
A low-level person took a significant role but still has a weapon.
With a few black rooks from the heart of the Crook
He has a few supporters from the heart of the neighborhood he grew up in.
Shook ones look while they hung him on Hercules hooks
People are scared and looking on when someone is harmed severely.
They found his body near a shallow brook, escaped on foot
They hid his body near a not-so-deep waterway, and someone got away by running.
Switched the look up, out of state, he got the hook up
He changed his appearance, left town, and got a new source for drugs.
The flipped cake, thought lighter than the feather
They made a lot of money surprisingly quickly.
Yet heavier than weight, when my mind state starts to break, take cover
The money they made carries a great responsibility, and when they become unstable, it could cause harm.
Over RZA instrumental, I'm damn near invincible, it's simple
When rapping over a beat by RZA, he feels unstoppable and powerful in his image.
Tell me, what are they like?
This line is a kung-fu movie sample to conclude the song.
They got holes in the top, five round holes
The person asking the question is inquiring about a certain object that has five holes on the top.
While I was watching, this stranger, hit them
A stranger has interacted with the object, perhaps causing damage.
But his fingers went right through the bone
The object is not what it seems, and it is easily damaged or destroyed.
So then, they've... mastered it
The people who use the object have learned its limitations and how to avoid damaging it.
It's some style of kung fu, you know it?
Kung fu is referenced, and someone asks if the listener knows about it.
The Skeleton Claw
This is the name of the kung fu style being referenced.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: CLIFFORD SMITH, COREY WOODS, DENNIS DAVID COLES, ELGIN EVANDER TURNER, LAMONT HAWKINS, ROBERT F. DIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind