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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Incarcerated Scarfaces
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
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Yeah, come on, come on, come on (Wu)
Say, "Do, do" (yeah)
What? What? What? What? What? (yeah, yeah)
(Let's go) say, "Do that shit, do that shit, do it"
(Do that shit, do that shit, do it) turn mic up, no, now
Say, "Do that shit, do that shit, do it"
(Do that shit, do that shit, do it)
Now, yo, yo, what up, yo? Time is runnin' out (yeah)
It's for real, though, let's connect, politic, ditto (yo, yo)
We could trade places, get lifted in the staircases (what? What?)
Word up, peace, incarcerated scarfaces
My thug-related style attract millions, fans
They understand my plan, who's the kid up in the green land?
Me and the RZA connect, blow a fuse, you lose
Half-ass crews, demolished and bruised
Fake be frontin', hourglass-heads niggas is wantin' (what?)
Shuttin' down your slot, time for pumpin'
The poisonous sting, which thumps up and act chumps
Rae's a heavy generator, but yo, guess who's the black Trump?
Dough be flowin' by the hours, nigga, we got the collars
Scholars, word life, peace to Power and my whole unit (yeah)
Word up, quick to set it, don't wet it
Real niggas lick shots, peace Connecticut
Now, yo, yo, what up, yo? Time is runnin' out
It's for real, though, let's connect, politic, ditto
We could trade places, get-, staircases (what?)
Word up, peace, incarcerated scarfaces
The opening lines of "Incarcerated Scarfaces" by Wu-Tang Clan set the tone for the entire song: "Now, yo, yo, what up, yo? Time is runnin' out. It's for real, though, let's connect, politic, ditto." The song is about the urgency of life and the need to connect with like-minded individuals before time runs out. The lyrics speak to the hustle and grind of the streets and the struggle to survive.
The song's chorus, "We could trade places, get lifted in the staircases, word up, peace, incarcerated scarfaces" speaks to the realities of life on the streets. The idea of trading places and getting lifted in the staircases is a reference to the idea of escape, of getting out of the life they are living. The final line, "peace, incarcerated scarfaces" is a nod to those who are trapped in a life of crime and the hope for peace and better days.
Throughout the song, Wu-Tang Clan references their thug style and the power that comes with it. They speak to their connections with each other and to powerful people in the industry. The song also touches on the violent nature of street life and the need to protect oneself and one's crew.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, 'Wu'
Greetings, Wu-Tang Clan
Yeah, come on, come on, come on (Wu)
Let's go, let's get started with this song and represent Wu-Tang Clan
Say, 'Do, do' (yeah)
Call-to-action to the audience, let's do this
What? What? What? What? What? (yeah, yeah)
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm, let's get hype
(Let's go) say, 'Do that shit, do that shit, do it'
Let's get the party started, let's go and do our thing
(Do that shit, do that shit, do it) turn mic up, no, now
Amplify the sound, let everyone hear us now
Say, 'Do that shit, do that shit, do it'
Repeating the call-to-action, urging the audience to participate
(Do that shit, do that shit, do it)
Encouraging the audience to get into the groove
Let's go, y'all (come on)
Final call-to-action to start the song
Now, yo, yo, what up, yo? Time is runnin' out (yeah)
Opening verse, addressing the audience and acknowledging the passage of time
It's for real, though, let's connect, politic, ditto (yo, yo)
Inviting the audience to connect and discuss important matters
We could trade places, get lifted in the staircases (what? What?)
Suggesting a change of environment and enjoying the high life in staircases
Word up, peace, incarcerated scarfaces
Parting words, expressing goodwill towards those who are incarcerated and scarred
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Abrim Tilmon, Corey Woods, Robert Diggs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind