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
Intro
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you know the consequences if you should fail the test?
And not get to Death Alley
My advice is not to try it
I've made up my mind, I won't fail
Don't you know, the men in there, will be fighting to kill?
I know, they're all my brothers there, but they all have their orders though
Fight to kill, and show no mercy to anyone
What do you prove, if you're killed?
It simply proves, that I'm no good
Wu-Tang Clan rocks the world
Ok you guys ready?
Yo, yo I'm on the motherfuckin' air
Is this shit on? Yo
Yo nobody knows, nobody knows, nobody knows
No, no, no, no, no, no
Check it out, zig zag, 2017, another Wu saga
Continue like Buck Rogers in the 21st century and we still gotta duck the fucking coppers?
Take it back to this top of the beat that I'ma fuck with now
It's already happening? This shit is happening already? Yo, check it
The lyrics in the Intro of the Wu-Tang Clan's song depict a situation where someone is about to take a test to enter into Death Alley. The stakes are high because if the test is failed, the consequences could be dire. The singer advises against even attempting to take the test because of the potential for failure. The men in Death Alley are all brothers, but they have orders to fight to kill, hence the name "Death Alley." The singer, however, has made up his mind not to fail and is prepared to face any challenges. The question of what is proved by being killed is raised, and the answer is that it simply shows that the individual is no good.
The lyrics convey a sense of danger, brotherhood, and a willingness to fight for survival. The use of the term "Death Alley" implies that the situation is grave and potentially lethal. The emphasis on brotherhood also highlights the loyalty that the men have for each other despite their orders to kill. The singer's determination not to fail suggests a perseverance and resilience that are possibly necessary to survive in such an environment. Ultimately, the song's Intro sets the tone for the rest of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
He's taking the test
A person is about to undergo a test.
Do you know the consequences if you should fail the test?
If someone fails the test, there will be consequences and negative results.
And not get to Death Alley
If someone fails, they will not be able to proceed to a place called Death Alley.
My advice is not to try it
It's best to avoid attempting the test altogether.
I've made up my mind, I won't fail
The person is confident and determined not to fail the test.
Don't you know, the men in there, will be fighting to kill?
There are people in Death Alley who will fight to the death.
I know, they're all my brothers there, but they all have their orders though
The person understands that even though everyone in Death Alley is like family, they each have a duty to fight.
Fight to kill, and show no mercy to anyone
The men in Death Alley are instructed to fight brutally without any mercy.
That's why they call it, "Death Alley"
The name Death Alley refers to the life-threatening nature of the place.
What do you prove, if you're killed?
Dying in Death Alley does not prove one's worth or ability.
It simply proves, that I'm no good
Failing the test and getting killed in Death Alley does not mean that someone is worthless, but the person speaking believes it to be so.
Yo nobody knows, nobody knows, nobody knows
The person speaking is getting ready to speak about a topic and emphasizes that nobody else knows what they are about to say.
Take it back to this top of the beat that I'ma fuck with now
The singer plans to change the rhythm of the music to match their style.
It's already happening? This shit is happening already? Yo, check it
The person is excited that something is happening and wants to draw attention to it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Robert F. Diggs, Ronald Maurice Bean
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind