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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In The Hood
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trading route, on the border between the North and South
At a small outpost called Red Clay Village"
What the fuck y'all niggas thought, huh? What you thinkin' bitch?
Are you stupid son, must be stupid kid
What the fuck is wrong? It's the Wu bitch
Ain't got a clue bitch, tie ya shoe bitch
Tryin' to tell y'all niggas, give you a fair warnin'
Just a chance to live, so you can see ya kids
Yo son nah, before I split ya wig
I'd rather feed you this, but you ain't wanna eat it
So now you got to feel it!
Yo what the, yo
Let me fuck it one more time then y'all can fuck
Y'know how we do it in the hood
Yo, yeah, turn the mic up, yeah, yo
Y'all niggas better rock y'all hoodies
Take money snatch jewelry, in the hood
You find the best woman lookin' good
Diamond she need polishin'
In my hood, all the gunshot legal
At the same time we gotta stop killin' our people
Keep it in the hood, niggas walk with they gun
Keep it in the hood that's where we come from
I rep Brooklyn, home of the gangsta
I know a few murderer, drug dealer
In the hood, we speak mathematics and build
What's the total weight of the brain, Allah real
Slang jacks and hold gats, in the hood, 80 proof
Get my dick sucked on the roof of the projects
Dice game in the park, blunt sessions after dark
Movin' with the Wesson
Welcome to the God we build and drop a lesson
Pussy hole testin', in the hood
Got the word from the hood rat, shorty on the wood
Murder, bad boy ya block off ah
Murder, rude boy ya pop off ah
Murder, nine millimeter me say
Murder, no time fi talk, one fi
Murder, men an' dem ah talk 'bout di
Murder, Masta Killa come calm wit nying
Nying, nying, nying, nying, nying
Nying, nying, nying, nying, nying, me say murder
Hey yo, we boys in the hood, big bad wolves in the woods
It ain't all good, pass the goods
Deep in the project halls waitin' to shine
Walk with a nine and talk with gang signs
In the hood, niggas put twenty on Hoopties
Four heads, one forty ounce and a loosie
And keep dough on the flip, a hoe on the strip
And roll dick throw on the flip
Weed clouds thick enough to block the sun
Cops come, but thugs never drop the gun, understood?
Far from ya Hollywood
From day one, I vowed I would keep it in the hood
From project chicks with hips and slim waists
From five dollar plates apartment six-eighths
O.G, I spit G to the young ones
I keep it in the hood that's where I come from
Murder, bad boy ya block off ah
Murder, rude boy ya pop off ah
Murder, nine millimeter me say
Murder, no time fi talk, one fi
Murder, men an' dem ah talk 'bout di
Murder, Masta Killa come calm wit nying
Nying, nying, nying, nying, nying
Nying, nying, nying, nying, nying, me say murder
This is the place where thugs is born, in the hood
Blink to long ya life is gone, in the hood
Convicts still live with they mom
And they whole family tree is tattooed on they arm, in the hood
Crack fiend'd furnish a 'Llac, in the hood
African's be drivin cabs, in the hood
In the streets the ghetto is hot
And the illest gangsters, on the block with cops, in the hood
The ones you love'll fill you with slugs, in the hood
Babies born addicted to drugs, in the hood
We make life or death decisions
And the school system is like a minimal prison
So you can't knock the hustle or the life that I'm livin
In the hood, it ain't all good, repent or you sinnin
Murder, bad boy ya block off ah
Murder, rude boy ya pop off ah
Murder, nine millimeter me say
Murder, no time fi talk, one fi
Murder, men an' dem ah talk 'bout di
Murder, Masta Killa come calm wit nying
Nying, nying, nying, nying, nying
Nying, nying, nying, nying, nying, me say murder
Rude boy ya pop off ah
Murder, no time fi talk, one fi
Murder, no time fi talk, one fi
Murder, rude boy ya pop off ah
Murder, men an' dem ah talk 'bout di
Murder, rude boy ya pop off ah
Murder, men an' dem ah talk 'bout di
Murder, Masta Killa come calm wit nying
Nying, nying, nying, nying, nying
Nying, nying, nying, nying, nying
The opening lines of this Wu-Tang Clan song, "The story you're about to see, occurred along the main Trading route, on the border between the North and South At a small outpost called Red Clay Village", set the stage for a gritty, violent narrative. The song is a vivid portrayal of life in the hood - a place where survival is paramount, and the inhabitants are accustomed to violence, drugs, and crime. The lyrics discuss the harsh reality of living in the hood, where murder, drugs, and crime are everyday occurrences. The rappers speak of their experiences, their struggles, and their triumphs, offering listeners an unvarnished glimpse into a world that is often ignored or misunderstood by outsiders.
The theme of the song revolves around the struggles of marginalised people in society, as the rappers explore the causes and effects of poverty, violence, and socioeconomic disadvantage. The song speaks of the failings of the education system, the challenges of raising children in the hood, and the systemic injustices that keep people trapped in a cycle of poverty and violence. This song is a commentary on the state of society, its flaws and struggles, and the trying conditions that Black people have to face in the hood.
Line by Line Meaning
The story you're about to see, occurred along the main
Trading route, on the border between the North and South
At a small outpost called Red Clay Village
This is a warning that the events described in the song happened in the dangerous area between the North and South, in a small outpost called Red Clay Village.
What the fuck y'all niggas thought, huh? What you thinkin' bitch?
Are you stupid son, must be stupid kid
What the fuck is wrong? It's the Wu bitch
Ain't got a clue bitch, tie ya shoe bitch
Get the fuck back, 'fore we break a f, listen
Tryin' to tell y'all niggas, give you a fair warnin'
Just a chance to live, so you can see ya kids
Yo son nah, before I split ya wig
I'd rather feed you this, but you ain't wanna eat it
So now you got to feel it!
The Wu-Tang Clan is warning listeners to be careful in the hood, because they're willing to fight and kill anyone they perceive as a threat. They're offering a warning as a chance for people to survive and live long enough to see their children grow up. The Wu would rather not fight, but they will if they have to.
Yo what the, yo
Let me fuck it one more time then y'all can fuck
Y'know how we do it in the hood
Yo, yeah, turn the mic up, yeah, yo
This is just a brief interlude in the song. Wu-Tang Clan is asking to turn up the mic and announcing they know how to live and survive in the hood.
Y'all niggas better rock y'all hoodies
Take money snatch jewelry, in the hood
You find the best woman lookin' good
Diamond she need polishin'
In my hood, all the gunshot legal
At the same time we gotta stop killin' our people
Keep it in the hood, niggas walk with they gun
Keep it in the hood that's where we come from
In the hood, one must always be prepared to fight. The residents of the hood rob people and steal jewels. They notice attractive women who need attention like a diamond needs polishing. Gunshots are an everyday occurrence, but the Clan calls for an end to senseless violence among their own kind to keep the heart of the hood beating. They urge others to carry their weapons and hold onto their roots.
I rep Brooklyn, home of the gangsta
I know a few murderer, drug dealer
In the hood, we speak mathematics and build
What's the total weight of the brain, Allah real
Slang jacks and hold gats, in the hood, 80 proof
Get my dick sucked on the roof of the projects
Dice game in the park, blunt sessions after dark
Movin' with the Wesson
Welcome to the God we build and drop a lesson
Pussy hole testin', in the hood
Got the word from the hood rat, shorty on the wood
Murder, bad boy ya block off ah
Murder, rude boy ya pop off ah
Murder, nine millimeter me say
Murder, no time fi talk, one fi
Murder, men an' dem ah talk 'bout di
Murder, Masta Killa come calm wit nying
Nying, nying, nying, nying, nying
Nying, nying, nying, nying, nying, me say murder
Brooklyn is home to the toughest people. In the hood, there are drug dealers, murderers, and people who speak the language of math while selling drugs and carrying weapons. The Clan enjoys the dark side of the hood, including sex on rooftops, gambling, and smoking weed after nightfall. They welcome everyone to learn from the lessons they teach and warn those who try to threaten them. The word on the street is that they're willing to kill anyone who tries to talk back or challenge them.
Hey yo, we boys in the hood, big bad wolves in the woods
It ain't all good, pass the goods
Deep in the project halls waitin' to shine
Walk with a nine and talk with gang signs
In the hood, niggas put twenty on Hoopties
Four heads, one forty ounce and a loosie
And keep dough on the flip, a hoe on the strip
And roll dick throw on the flip
Weed clouds thick enough to block the sun
Cops come, but thugs never drop the gun, understood?
Far from ya Hollywood
From day one, I vowed I would keep it in the hood
From project chicks with hips and slim waists
From five dollar plates apartment six-eighths
O.G, I spit G to the young ones
I keep it in the hood that's where I come from
This is the place where thugs is born, in the hood
Blink to long ya life is gone, in the hood
Convicts still live with they mom
And they whole family tree is tattooed on they arm, in the hood
Crack fiend'd furnish a 'Llac, in the hood
African's be drivin cabs, in the hood
In the streets the ghetto is hot
And the illest gangsters, on the block with cops, in the hood
The ones you love'll fill you with slugs, in the hood
Babies born addicted to drugs, in the hood
We make life or death decisions
And the school system is like a minimal prison
So you can't knock the hustle or the life that I'm livin
In the hood, it ain't all good, repent or you sinnin
Rude boy ya pop off ah
This final verse focuses on the gritty aspects of the hood. It's a tough place to grow up, with gangs, guns, and drugs at every turn. Even when you're young, it's important to remember where you came from. In the hood, poor families live with convicts, and drugs are everywhere. Even the cabs are driven by Africans. Cops and gangsters share the same streets, and the Schulzcrats often feel like prison. Despite all of this, the Clan can't knock the hustle. They live a difficult life, but they wouldn't want to be anyone else.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Elgin Evander Turner, Jason Hunter, Patrick Charles, Robert F. Diggs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind