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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Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love music, I'm a b-boy
Are you the undercover or the decoy
I'm heavy with the D, Trouble T Roy
A pit with no muzzle, about to bust your bubble like a tree lord
Too much marijuana got me p-noid
I'm killing instrumentals with that All So Simple Can It Be, boy
Shout to Lil Cease, B.I.G., boy
88 keys on the keyboard
I'm down to catch wreck, take them first three letters out of record
It's Meth, you heard it through the wire I could be more
Or washed up like Sonny Black's body on the seashore
That's a problem, I could be yours
A monster without the mad scientist and Igor
I've heard it before, a third of these boys
Got murder raps and never even murdered before
Keep watch, lights out when the beat drop
Keeping the streets locked
I'm calling all G's from each block, from each block
Keep watch, lame niggas out there can kick rocks
Run these streets out here don't need cops
I'm calling all G's from each block, from each block
Codename Sensei, I live what my pen say
Game hall of fame, flow is MJ
Muy caliente, je m'apelle Rebel, capiche, comprende?
Son I'm touching 'em up, trust I'm like
Justin Tuck how they ducking the rush
Trying to break bad, you catch a bad break
Like I own a bake shop how I stack cakes
Greatness was nothing, Deck the next Nike ad
Wifey bad and my life got 'em slightly mad
Cause I shine like chrome in July
Soldier I opened your eyes, noticed the lies
DEA say I'm drugging 'em
I get you leaning hard, I get the fiends to nod, I mean they loving 'em
All hail your highness, terrific win
Put a so-called beast in his place, Pacific Rim
Keep watch, lights out when the beat drop
Keeping the streets locked
I'm calling all G's from each block, from each block
Keep watch, lame niggas out there can kick rocks
Run these streets out here don't need cops
I'm calling all G's from each block, from each block
Foul ass police, crooked ass friends
I don't give a fuck yo, the drama never ends
I'm a project nigga, I don't care about the Benz
Plus I had a lot of chicks, you can have those bitches
But I murder your bloodclot if you touch my riches
Yeah crazy ass skipper, I be in the slums, nigga
Fuck where I come from I'm a quiet gangster nigga
First I get you comfortable, then I start shanking niggas
Park Hill code is don't violate the family
Brother to brother it's no snakes in the amnesty
I come through wilding on some Wu-Tang Can It Be
Googly-eyed nigga, chop his face in the ministry
Never scared to do the time, fuck the penitentiary
Leave a bunch of dead niggas, don't forget to mention me
The angel of rap, the un-ordinary light
Already did what I was gonna do before you even got the mic
We left a large solar cloud distinguished by size
Interaction with the wise and civilized
The mind caused matter to fall into a center
A great deal of heat that'll radiate within ya
From out of this collision
The central cord became thick enough to trap its own light and bring vision
Each drop full of Hip Hop energy
Balanced on all sides such great symmetry
The bars unlocked the power of the stars
The mirror in the telescope pinpoint the Gods
From a distance, acting as a guiding coach
Analyze the board, universal approach
Retune the soul to a certain pitch
Changing the frequency frequently, hitting a certain switch
The love is paramount, the connect is brotherly
Respect for the intellect and broad discovery
Keep watch, lights out when the beat drop
Keeping the streets locked
I'm calling all G's from each block, from each block
Keep watch, lame niggas out there can kick rocks
Run these streets out here don't need cops
I'm calling all G's from each block, from each block
In the beginning of the song, the singer establishes his love for music and his identity as a b-boy. He asserts that he is not trying to be a drug dealer, using the term "D-boy," and makes references to Lil Cease, B.I.G., and Redman. Later in the song, he takes on the persona of a gangster, declaring his willingness to do time in prison and leaving behind a pile of dead bodies. However, he also describes his admiration for artistic symmetry, analyzing the board with a universal approach and "un-locking the power of the stars."
The overall message of the song appears to be a call to action for "G's from each block" to unite and keep watch over their communities. The singer encourages listeners to keep the streets locked and protect their neighborhoods from those who would do them harm. He also emphasizes the importance of brotherhood and respect for one another's intellect and broad discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't trying to be no D-boy
I'm not trying to be a drug dealer
I love music, I'm a b-boy
I really enjoy music and I'm into the hip-hop culture
Are you the undercover or the decoy
Are you a cop or a snitch?
I'm heavy with the D, Trouble T Roy
I have a lot of experience dealing drugs and I'm reckless, like Trouble T Roy was on the dance floor
A pit with no muzzle, about to bust your bubble like a tree lord
I'm like a dog without a leash and I can burst your bubble, like a powerful person who's on top of their game
Too much marijuana got me p-noid
I smoke too much weed and get paranoid
I'm killing instrumentals with that All So Simple Can It Be, boy
I'm destroying beats with my rap skills, just like Wu-Tang Clan did with their classic song 'Can It Be All So Simple'
Shout to Lil Cease, B.I.G., boy. And Funk Doctor Spock, I mean Redman that's not Leonard Nimoy
I'm giving props to some other rappers, including Lil Cease and Notorious B.I.G., as well as Redman who's often referred to as Funk Doctor Spock
88 keys on the keyboard
There are 88 keys on a keyboard, as in a piano or synthesizer
I'm down to catch wreck, take them first three letters out of record
I'm ready to get into trouble and cause chaos, just like taking 'REC' out of the word 'record'
It's Meth, you heard it through the wire I could be more
This is Method Man rapping, and you might recognize my voice from 'All I Need (Razor Sharp Remix)', but I can do even more than that
Or washed up like Sonny Black's body on the seashore
I could also end up like Sonny Black, a gangster who was murdered and washed up on shore
That's a problem, I could be yours
This is a warning to anyone who wants to mess with me - I could end up causing problems for you
A monster without the mad scientist and Igor
I'm like a monster without the support of a mad scientist and his assistant, Igor
I've heard it before, a third of these boys
I've heard that a lot of rappers talk tough in their lyrics but have never actually committed any crimes
Got murder raps and never even murdered before
Some rappers have been accused of murder based on their lyrics, but have never actually killed anyone
Keep watch, lights out when the beat drop
Be alert and ready for anything when the music starts
Keeping the streets locked
We're keeping control of the streets with our music
I'm calling all G's from each block, from each block
I'm reaching out to all the gangsters from every neighborhood
Keep watch, lame niggas out there can kick rocks
Stay alert and ignore any weak or uncool people
Run these streets out here don't need cops
We rule the streets and don't require any police intervention
Codename Sensei, I live what my pen say
I'm called Sensei and I write about my real life experiences
Game hall of fame, flow is MJ
I'm one of the greats of rap and my flow is compared to Michael Jordan who's also a hall of fame athlete
Muy caliente, je m'apelle Rebel, capiche, comprende?
I'm on fire and my name is Rebel, do you understand? (in both Spanish and French)
Son I'm touching 'em up, trust I'm like Justin Tuck how they ducking the rush
I'm beating them up, and they're trying to avoid me like a quarterback avoids a defender like Justin Tuck
Trying to break bad, you catch a bad break
If you try to be a bad guy, you'll end up with bad luck
Like I own a bake shop how I stack cakes
I'm making a lot of money, like a bakery owner who stacks up cakes
Greatness was nothing, Deck the next Nike ad
I was always destined for greatness, and I could be in the next Nike commercial
Wifey bad and my life got 'em slightly mad
My girlfriend is very attractive and some people are jealous
Cause I shine like chrome in July
I'm really shining and standing out, like chrome on a hot summer day
Soldier I opened your eyes, noticed the lies
I'm like a soldier who's revealing the truth and exposing lies
DEA say I'm drugging 'em
The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) thinks I'm involved in the drug trade
I get you leaning hard, I get the fiends to nod, I mean they loving 'em
I'm supplying drugs that are so good, they're causing people to nod off and become addicted
All hail your highness, terrific win
I'm the king of this rap game and I'm having a great victory
Put a so-called beast in his place, Pacific Rim
I'm putting my competition in their place, like the movie 'Pacific Rim' where giant monsters are defeated by human pilots
Foul ass police, crooked ass friends
I hate both dirty cops and shady friends
I don't give a fuck yo, the drama never ends
I really don't care and there's always something dramatic going on around me
I'm a project nigga, I don't care about the Benz
I come from the projects and I don't care about having a luxury car like a Benz
Plus I had a lot of chicks, you can have those bitches
I had a lot of women, but I don't care about them anymore and you can have them
But I murder your bloodclot if you touch my riches
If you try to steal from me or take what's mine, I'll kill you
Yeah crazy ass skipper, I be in the slums, nigga
I'm a little crazy and unpredictable, and I hang out in the poorest neighborhoods
Fuck where I come from I'm a quiet gangster nigga
I might not be from a glamorous place, but I'm still a gangster and I'm not showy about it
First I get you comfortable, then I start shanking niggas
At first, I'll be friendly and put you at ease, but then I'll turn on you and stab you in the back
Park Hill code is don't violate the family
In my neighborhood, it's important to respect the community and not harm each other
Brother to brother it's no snakes in the amnesty
We consider each other brothers and there are no traitors allowed among us
I come through wilding on some Wu-Tang Can It Be
I'm coming in strong and channeling the spirit of Wu-Tang Clan
Googly-eyed nigga, chop his face in the ministry
I might make you look stunned or shocked, and I'll chop you up and leave you in the government building
Never scared to do the time, fuck the penitentiary
I'm not afraid of going to jail and I hate the idea of being locked up
Leave a bunch of dead niggas, don't forget to mention me
I'm the type of person who takes revenge to the extreme and leaves bodies in my wake
The angel of rap, the un-ordinary light
I'm like a holy messenger of rap, someone who's unique and exceptional
Already did what I was gonna do before you even got the mic
I'm so quick and ahead of the game, it's like I've already said everything before anyone else even started talking
We left a large solar cloud distinguished by size
We made a big impact on the world of music and left a mark that can't be ignored
Interaction with the wise and civilized
We've had deep connections and conversations with some of the most intelligent and cultured people out there
The mind caused matter to fall into a center
Our thoughts and ideas were so powerful that they centered everything around us
A great deal of heat that'll radiate within ya
We bring a lot of energy and passion that can be felt inside of people
From out of this collision
Our music and ideas came from hard work and pushing ourselves to the limit
The central cord became thick enough to trap its own light and bring vision
Our core values and beliefs became strong enough to enlighten us and guide us in the right direction
Each drop full of Hip Hop energy
Every element of our music is infused with the energy and spirit of hip-hop
Balanced on all sides such great symmetry
Our music has balance and stability, just like a perfect work of art
The bars unlocked the power of the stars
Our lyrics and rhymes unleash the power of the universe
The mirror in the telescope pinpoint the Gods
We can see the gods and the divine in ourselves and in the world around us
From a distance, acting as a guiding coach
We can offer guidance and advice even from afar
Analyze the board, universal approach
We have a big-picture perspective and can see things from a universal perspective
Retune the soul to a certain pitch
We can help you reach a certain level of emotional and spiritual resonance
Changing the frequency frequently, hitting a certain switch
We're constantly adapting and evolving, and we can help you access deeper parts of yourself
The love is paramount, the connect is brotherly
Love is the most important thing, and we feel a strong connection and bond with each other
Respect for the intellect and broad discovery
We value and respect intelligence and learning, and we're always looking for new things to discover
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RONALD MAURICE BEAN, BETTYE JEAN BARNES CRUTCHER, GARY E. GRICE, DARRYL ROBERT HILL, JASON S. HUNTER, NATHANIEL PETERSON, DAVID PORTER, CLIFFORD SMITH, RONNIE WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kmk14
Gza's verse was sick, enjoy the lyrics!
[Verse 4 - GZA:]
We left a large solar cloud distinguished by size
Interaction with the wise and civilized
The mind caused matter to fall into a center
A great deal of heat that'll radiate within ya
From out of this collision
The central cord became thick enough to trap its own light and bring vision
Each drop full of Hip Hop energy
Balanced on all sides such great symmetry
The bars unlocked the power of the stars
The mirror in the telescope pinpoint the Gods
From a distance, acting as a guiding coach
Analyze the board, universal approach
Retune the soul to a certain pitch
Changing the frequency frequently, hitting a certain switch
The love is paramount, the connect is brotherly
Respect for the intellect and broad discovery
Alex Akis
I ain't trying to be no D-boy
I love music, I'm a b-boy
Are you the undercover or the decoy
I'm heavy with the D, Trouble T Roy
A pit with no muzzle, about to bust your bubble like a tree lord
Too much marijuana got me p-noid
I'm killing instrumentals with that All So Simple Can It Be, boy
Shout to Lil Cease, B.I.G., boy
And Funk Doctor Spock, I mean Redman that's not Leonard Nimoy
88 keys on the keyboard
I'm down to catch wreck, take them first three letters out of record
It's Meth, you heard it through the wire I could be more
Or washed up like Sonny Black's body on the seashore
That's a problem, I could be yours
A monster without the mad scientist and Igor
I've heard it before, a third of these boys
Got murder raps and never even murdered before
Keep watch, lights out when the beat drop
Keeping the streets locked
I'm calling all G's from each block, from each block
Keep watch, lame niggas out there can kick rocks
Run these streets out here don't need cops
I'm calling all G's from each block, from each block
Codename Sensei, I live what my pen say
Game hall of fame, flow is MJ
Muy caliente, je m'apelle Rebel, capiche, comprende?
Son I'm touching 'em up, trust I'm like
Justin Tuck how they ducking the rush
Trying to break bad, you catch a bad break
Like I own a bake shop how I stack cakes
Greatness was nothing, Deck the next Nike ad
Wifey bad and my life got 'em slightly mad
Cause I shine like chrome in July
Soldier I opened your eyes, noticed the lies
DEA say I'm drugging 'em
I get you leaning hard, I get the fiends to nod, I mean they loving 'em
All hail your highness, terrific win
Put a so-called beast in his place, Pacific Rim
Keep watch, lights out when the beat drop
Keeping the streets locked
I'm calling all G's from each block, from each block
Keep watch, lame niggas out there can kick rocks
Run these streets out here don't need cops
I'm calling all G's from each block, from each block
Foul ass police, crooked ass friends
I don't give a fuck yo, the drama never ends
I'm a project nigga, I don't care about the Benz
Plus I had a lot of chicks, you can have those bitches
But I murder your bloodclot if you touch my riches
Yeah crazy ass skipper, I be in the slums, nigga
Fuck where I come from I'm a quiet gangster nigga
First I get you comfortable, then I start shanking niggas
Park Hill code is don't violate the family
Brother to brother it's no snakes in the amnesty
I come through wilding on some Wu-Tang Can It Be
Googly-eyed nigga, chop his face in the ministry
Never scared to do the time, fuck the penitentiary
Leave a bunch of dead niggas, don't forget to mention me
The angel of rap, the un-ordinary light
Already did what I was gonna do before you even got the mic
We left a large solar cloud distinguished by size
Interaction with the wise and civilized
The mind caused matter to fall into a center
A great deal of heat that'll radiate within ya
From out of this collision
The central cord became thick enough to trap its own light and bring vision
Each drop full of Hip Hop energy
Balanced on all sides such great symmetry
The bars unlocked the power of the stars
The mirror in the telescope pinpoint the Gods
From a distance, acting as a guiding coach
Analyze the board, universal approach
Retune the soul to a certain pitch
Changing the frequency frequently, hitting a certain switch
The love is paramount, the connect is brotherly
Respect for the intellect and broad discovery
Keep watch, lights out when the beat drop
Keeping the streets locked
I'm calling all G's from each block, from each block
Keep watch, lame niggas out there can kick rocks
Run these streets out here don't need cops
I'm calling all G's from each block, from each block
Dimitar Kirchev
5 years since I first heard it...."The love is paramount, the connect is brotherly. Respect for the intellect and broad discovery". - GZA
99AL FAILI WAQAIN
Peace To The Gods; That’s hip-hop..
Dimitar Kirchev
GZA just killed it at the end. Perfect song. IMO the best from the album. Respect.
Треволин Марихуанов
И на мене ми е любимия баче,точно днеска има рожден ден!
Kmk14
Gza's verse was sick, enjoy the lyrics!
[Verse 4 - GZA:]
We left a large solar cloud distinguished by size
Interaction with the wise and civilized
The mind caused matter to fall into a center
A great deal of heat that'll radiate within ya
From out of this collision
The central cord became thick enough to trap its own light and bring vision
Each drop full of Hip Hop energy
Balanced on all sides such great symmetry
The bars unlocked the power of the stars
The mirror in the telescope pinpoint the Gods
From a distance, acting as a guiding coach
Analyze the board, universal approach
Retune the soul to a certain pitch
Changing the frequency frequently, hitting a certain switch
The love is paramount, the connect is brotherly
Respect for the intellect and broad discovery
roman slepcik
I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!!
El Axel
the lyrics are just epic
Joeltze // Verballerte Texte & durche Beatz !!!
Best track on the album!!
CYRUS GRAHAM
Musical Masterpiece first I heard this track.
Nicholas Tarnowsky
Guys...just drop the new album...20 year fans like myself are just waiting for it...release it WU