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 knew this chick by the name of Vevorine
Who introduced me to the streets and put me on to the game
We did in the rain, on the hood of a Range
But Vevorine, had a special friend called Heroin
She told me, that's how she met Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye
But back then, I ain't gon' front, I was peddling 'caine
In the, form of crack, she said that was a no-no
To how fast heroine, that's low as cocaine was
Martin had a dream, nigga, I did too
To make it out the hood, rich, bitch, off that stoup
So, I took it that thaw, and hit the street
With bundles of that ghetto love, to give it to kids
Momma said, never get high on your own supply
Especially if you plan to leave this hood bitch rich
Reminiscing on my past, damn it brings me to tears
See the more money that comes in, the more I disappear
Fresh to death, the latest kicks, rocking the latest gear
New Year's after the ball, twenty one song in they ear
Watch this strip, make me back it up, D'Angelo knows the feeling
Off that needles warm embrace, in a sexual heeling
This tracks moves like the 70's, got me feeling great
Watching my pen nodding off, spilling words out on the
I'm scared to love, cause you remind me of my past
Baby, you gotta trust me, cause I gotta girl and you got a man
I don't want you to judge me, I just wanna be your friend
Baby, you gotta trust me...
[Khalid]
Aiyo I live by the rules, trust nothing in skirts
Cause with that big butt and a smile, she be waiting to flirt
With a next man, a next hand, up under the skirt
Another dick in the jaw, more dick in the george
While you home sleeping, she creeping, you thinking it's yours
That's just how women is, I reminisce
On when I had to learn from experience, why they call you a bitch
And I ain't the best, but I ain't never denied
Tell me what nigga, flow sicker, spit shit better than mine
The plot dope on these tracks, you get federal time
You get your wig pushed back, that clap metal with mine
I'm on the grind, I don't settle for mines, nigga
With this track, a broad, with a pack, before I peddle a dime
Line for line, whose the best artist, the rest y'all garbage
But it's awkward, it's ass backwards, they still spinning your garbage
It's me, blunt: the artist, y'all niggaz is garbage
[Planet Asia]
Sweat jackets valor, rap money, looking like crack money
Relax, money, niggaz, it's raw, sweet aromatic
Backwood, fanatic nigga, this is Cali
Vigilante's tattered, the wife beaters and khakis
I'm taking over, cause y'all, cooking too much baking soda
B12, rock selling niggaz vacation's over
Medallion's guaca', only rock a three piece suit
Whenever holding case, the cops try to stop us
My henchmen behind me, in black benz's with big toppers
Get up on my life, nigga, the kid's proper
Wrist glint, the big shit, cult following fans be vixen
This is grown man business, pay attention
Or lay your position, fuck around and have a fatal collision
The moment where you should of made your decision
I made it, I'm living, I'm paid and I'm winning
From the aid of my wisdom, I created a system
The lyrics of Wu-Tang Clan's song "Listen," featuring Littles, Khalid, and Planet Asia, speak about the challenges and triumphs of life on the streets. Littles reminisces about his start in dealing cocaine, how he learned about the drug trade from Vevorine, and how he regretted his actions when he reflected. Khalid warns about the dangers of trusting women, while Planet Asia raps about the need for caution when dealing with police and the value of hard work.
The song explores the harsh reality of life, particularly for people who have grown up in poverty and the ghetto, and how they must fight to survive. The artists show how they have overcome these struggles through their music, which gives them a voice and empowers them to tell their stories. They also address the issue of the drug epidemic and its devastating consequences.
The lyrics are powerful and raw, and they offer a glimpse into the realities of life on the streets. The artists convey a message of hope and resilience, showing that even in the darkest of situations, it is possible to rise above it all and achieve greatness.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew this chick by the name of Vevorine
Who introduced me to the streets and put me on to the game
Littles had a friend named Vevorine who showed him the ways of the streets and introduced him to the drug game.
We did in the rain, on the hood of a Range
But Vevorine, had a special friend called Heroin
Littles had sex with Vevorine on the hood of a car, but Vevorine also had a friend named Heroin who she was heavily involved with.
She told me, that's how she met Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye
But back then, I ain't gon' front, I was peddling 'caine
Vevorine told Littles that she met famous musicians like Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye through her involvement with heroin. However, Littles admits that he was selling cocaine at the time.
In the, form of crack, she said that was a no-no
Cause it's a poor man's girl, and I will never give love
Vevorine warned Littles not to sell crack because it is a low-level drug that only poor people use, and he should not develop an emotional attachment to the drug trade.
To how fast heroine, that's low as cocaine was
Martin had a dream, nigga, I did too
Littles acknowledges that while heroin was worse than cocaine, both drugs were still harmful to the black community. He also expresses his desire to achieve the same level of success as Martin Luther King Jr.
Momma said, never get high on your own supply
Especially if you plan to leave this hood bitch rich
Littles' mother warned him never to consume the drugs he was selling because it would negatively affect his business, and his ultimate goal was to become rich and leave the ghetto.
I'm scared to love, cause you remind me of my past
Baby, you gotta trust me, cause I gotta girl and you got a man
I don't want you to judge me, I just wanna be your friend
Baby, you gotta trust me...
Littles is afraid to fall in love because it reminds him of his past, but he still wants to be friends with a woman who is in a relationship. He asks her to trust him despite his complicated situation.
Aiyo I live by the rules, trust nothing in skirts
Cause with that big butt and a smile, she be waiting to flirt
Khalid does not trust women who wear revealing clothing because they may use their physical appearance to manipulate men into giving them attention.
While you home sleeping, she creeping, you thinking it's yours
That's just how women is, I reminisce
Khalid reflects on past experiences where women would cheat on their partners while they were asleep, and he recognizes that infidelity is a common trait among some women.
Line for line, whose the best artist, the rest y'all garbage
But it's awkward, it's ass backwards, they still spinning your garbage
It's me, blunt: the artist, y'all niggaz is garbage
Khalid believes he is a superior rapper to most other artists, but he finds it strange that others are still being played on the radio despite their inferior talent. He considers himself a straightforward and honest artist in a sea of subpar performers.
Sweat jackets valor, rap money, looking like crack money
Relax, money, niggaz, it's raw, sweet aromatic
Planet Asia describes his clothing and appearance as a rapper to resemble that of someone who has just made a lot of money selling drugs. He is enjoying the fact that his earnings are pungent and lucrative.
I'm taking over, cause y'all, cooking too much baking soda
B12, rock selling niggaz vacation's over
Planet Asia asserts his dominance over other drug dealers who use too much baking soda to cut their product. He uses a higher quality substance (B12) to sell his drugs, which allows him to outperform his competition.
Wrist glint, the big shit, cult following fans be vixen
This is grown man business, pay attention
Planet Asia flaunts his expensive jewelry, large net worth, and dedicated fan base. He emphasizes that music is serious business and should not be taken lightly.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: LESLIE SATCHER, MARV GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wavysaurusflex
Love this beat and the verses, this song goes hard!
@amazibrowning
Littles from Queensbridge was one of my favorites . He switched over to the management side of things but when he was with Mobb Deep (before the beef), Tragedy Khadafi, Noyd… man, the lyrical content that he had was dope fr. He even had a song with Raekwon!!! Littles set this joint off right!! Peace!
@ricardodelapena8067
used to jam to this almost every day when I was in college, had only like 3 CDs in my whip, Wu Tang Meets Indie Culture was my shit out of all them.
@metalfadedoom8564
ricardo delapena Ur down! u know wassup man i did the same but in high school lol
@ms-iz9ye
Same here. I remember when this first came out. One of the best tracks on this album.
@elvismunoz4305
An pasaao 12 año q escuche esta joyita..y sigue cautivandoo mis oidos. Foreva
@yorchdaniel6927
Mi canción favorita de Wu Tang
Me alegro por qué de dónde soy no es muy conocida xd
@BasicChannelRomania
Monster! Verses, beat... Fire!
@metalmike252
this is an example of how good of a rapper littles is
@GOTMYJR
shit go hard af