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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Method Man Skunk Mix
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The RZA, the GZA, Ol Dirty Bastard, Inspecktah Deck, Raekwon the Chef
You-God, Ghost Face Killer and the Method Man
M-E-T, H-O-D, MAN
M-E-T, H-O-D, MAN
M-E-T, H-O-D, MAN
M-E-T, H-O-D, MAN
Hey, you, get off my cloud
You don't know me and you don't know my style
Who be gettin' flam when they come to a jam?
Here I am here I am, the Method Man
Patty cake patty cake hey the method man
Don't eat Skippy, Jif or Peter Pan
Peanut butter, 'cause I'm not butter
In fact I snap back like a rubber
Band, I be Sam Sam I am
And I don't eat green eggs and ham
Style will hit ya, wham!, then goddamn
You be like oh shit that's the jam
Turn it up now hear me get buck wu-wu-wild
I'm about to blow light me up
Upside downside inside and outside
Hittin you from every angle there's no doubt
I am, the one and only Method Man
The master of the plan wrappin' shit like Saran
Wrap, with some of this and some of that
Hold up (what?) I tawt I tat I putty tat
Over there, but I think he best to beware
Of the diggy dog shit right here
Yippy yippy yay yippy yah yippy yo
Like Deck said this ain't your average flow
Comin' like rah ooh ah achie kah
Tell me how ya like it so far baby paw
The poetry's in motion coast to coast and
Rub it on your skin like lotion
What's the commotion, oh my lord
Another corn chopped by the Wu-Tang sword
Hey hey hey like Fat Albert
It's the Method Man ain't no if ands about it
It's the Method
All right, y'all get ya White Owls, get ya meth, get ya skins
Don't forget your forty
And we gonna do it like this
I got, fat bags of skunk
I got, White Owl blunts
And I'm about to go get lifted
Yes I'm about to go get lifted
I got, myself a forty
I got, myself a shorty
And I'm about to go and stick it
Yes I'm about to go and stick it
Uhh
H-U-F-F huff and I puff
Blow like snow when the cold wind's blowin'
Zoom, I hit the mic like boom
Wrote a song about it like to hear it here it goes
Question what exactly is a pantie raider
Ill behavior savior or major flavor
All of the above oh yeah plus I do so
Also flam I'm the man call me super
Not an average Joe with an average flow
Doing average things with average hoes
Yo I'm super I'll make a bitch squirm
For my, Super Sperm (check it)
Check it I give it to ya raw butt naked
I smell sex pass the Method
Let's get lifted as I kick ballistics
Missiles and shoot game like a pistol
Clip is loaded when I click bang dang
A Wu-Tang slug hits your brain
J-U-M-P jump and I thump
Make girls rumps like pump and Humpty Hump
Wow, the Shaolin' style is all in me
Child, the whole damn isle is callin' me
P-A-N-T-Y R-A-I-D-E-R mad raw I don't cry
Meaning no one can burn or toss and turn me
Ooh I be the super sperm
Chim chimmeny chim chim cherie
Freak a flow and flow fancy free
Now how many licks does it take
For me to hit the Tootsie Roll center of a break
Peep and don't sleep the crews mad deep Wu-Tang
Fading motherfuckers like bleach
So to each and every crew
You're clear like glass I can see right through
You're whole damn posse be catchin' 'em all cause you vic'd
And ya didn't have friends to begin with
I'm
M-E-T, H-O-D, MAN
M-E-T, H-O-D, MAN
M-E-T, H-O-D, MAN
M-E-T, H-O-D, MAN
Here I am, here I am, the Method Man
Straight from the slums of Shaolin
Wu-Tang Killa Bee's on a swarm
(Your soul have just been taken through the 36 chambers of death, kid)
(Word to mother, Method Man signing off, peace)
The lyrics to Wu-Tang Clan's "Method Man Skunk Mix" describe the group's unique style and showcases the individuality that each member brings to the group. The song is filled with metaphors and wordplay that go beyond the typical themes of hip-hop, which demonstrates the intellectual depth of the members.
The song begins with a listing of the members of the group, who come from the "slums of Shaolin," a reference to the Staten Island neighborhood where most of the members grew up. Straight away, the song establishes that Wu-Tang Clan is not a group to be taken lightly, and each member is a talented individual. The repeated chant of "M-E-T, H-O-D, MAN" highlights the centrality of Method Man, making it clear that he is a core member of the group.
The rest of the song is a mash-up of Method Man's verses and interjections from the rest of the group. There's talk of skating on cloud nine, a reference to being high, and a juxtaposition with Method Man's tough image. There's also a nod to the Dr. Seuss book Green Eggs and Ham, and a mix of braggadocio about Method Man's skill with women and his sexual prowess.
Line by Line Meaning
From the slums of Shaolin, Wu-Tang Clan strikes again
Wu-Tang Clan returns from their birthplace to release another album
The RZA, the GZA, Ol Dirty Bastard, Inspecktah Deck, Raekwon the Chef
Members of Wu-Tang Clan are named in the song
You-God, Ghost Face Killer and the Method Man
Additional members of Wu-Tang Clan are named in the song
M-E-T, H-O-D, MAN
The spelling of the Method Man's name is provided
Hey, you, get off my cloud
The Method Man wants someone to stop bothering him
You don't know me and you don't know my style
The Method Man accuses someone of not understanding his approach to music
Who be gettin' flam when they come to a jam?
The Method Man asks who is causing trouble at a party
Here I am here I am, the Method Man
The Method Man announces his arrival to the party
Patty cake patty cake hey the method man
The Method Man references a children's game
Don't eat Skippy, Jif or Peter Pan
The Method Man advises against eating brand-name peanut butter
Peanut butter, 'cause I'm not butter
The Method Man claims he is not easily spreadable
In fact I snap back like a rubber
The Method Man describes his ability to bounce back from criticism
Band, I be Sam Sam I am
The Method Man references a character from a Dr. Suess book
And I don't eat green eggs and ham
The Method Man continues the Suess reference by declining to eat a famous dish from the book
Style will hit ya, wham!, then goddamn
The Method Man promises to impress listeners with his style
You be like oh shit that's the jam
The Method Man expects listeners to appreciate his music
Turn it up now hear me get buck wu-wu-wild
The Method Man wants listeners to enjoy his music at a higher volume
I'm about to blow light me up
The Method Man wants to be appreciated for his music
Upside downside inside and outside
The Method Man wants his music to be appreciated from every angle
Hittin you from every angle there's no doubt
The Method Man emphasizes the universality of his music
I am, the one and only Method Man
The Method Man proclaims himself as unique and irreplaceable
The master of the plan wrappin' shit like Saran
The Method Man believes in his ability to produce quality music with ease
Wrap, with some of this and some of that
The Method Man describes the creative process behind his music
Hold up (what?) I tawt I tat I putty tat
The Method Man references Tweety Bird from the Looney Tunes cartoons
Over there, but I think he best to beware
The Method Man warns listeners of danger in the area
Of the diggy dog shit right here
The Method Man claims his music is the best
Yippy yippy yay yippy yah yippy yo
The Method Man uses a catchphrase from a cowboy song
Like Deck said this ain't your average flow
The Method Man references Inspecktah Deck of Wu-Tang Clan and his unique musical style
Comin' like rah ooh ah achie kah
The Method Man uses a chant from Native American culture to intensify the music
Tell me how ya like it so far baby paw
The Method Man checks in with listeners to see if they're enjoying the music
The poetry's in motion coast to coast and
The Method Man believes that his music is universal and reaches across America
Rub it on your skin like lotion
The Method Man advises listeners to appreciate his music as if it was a soothing lotion
What's the commotion, oh my lord
The Method Man is surprised by the reaction his music is generating
Another corn chopped by the Wu-Tang sword
The Method Man references Wu-Tang Clan's impact on the music scene
Hey hey hey like Fat Albert
The Method Man references a popular character from a TV show
It's the Method Man ain't no if ands about it
The Method Man proclaims his identity as an artist
It's the Method
The Method Man restates his identity as an artist
All right, y'all get ya White Owls, get ya meth, get ya skins
The Method Man references drug use among listeners
Don't forget your forty
The Method Man references drinking alcohol
And we gonna do it like this
The Method Man prepares listeners for what's next in the song
I got, fat bags of skunk
The Method Man references having marijuana
I got, White Owl blunts
The Method Man references having cigars to smoke marijuana in
And I'm about to go get lifted
The Method Man is preparing to get high
Yes I'm about to go get lifted
The Method Man is definitely going to get high
I got, myself a forty
The Method Man has purchased a 40oz bottle of alcohol
I got, myself a shorty
The Method Man has obtained the company of a woman
And I'm about to go and stick it
The Method Man is planning to have sex
Yes I'm about to go and stick it
The Method Man is definitely planning to have sex
H-U-F-F huff and I puff
The Method Man references the sounds of inhaling and exhaling marijuana smoke
Blow like snow when the cold wind's blowin'
The Method Man compares his smoking to the blowing snow in winter
Zoom, I hit the mic like boom
The Method Man begins rapping aggressively
Wrote a song about it like to hear it here it goes
The Method Man references a famous catchphrase from a TV show
Question what exactly is a pantie raider
The Method Man asks a rhetorical question about his sexual prowess
Ill behavior savior or major flavor
The Method Man describes his personal style
All of the above oh yeah plus I do so
The Method Man believes he is all of the things he has claimed to be
Also flam I'm the man call me super
The Method Man proclaims himself a superhero
Not an average Joe with an average flow
The Method Man believes his rap style is unique and unusual
Doing average things with average hoes
The Method Man claims to not have relationships with boring women
Yo I'm super I'll make a bitch squirm
The Method Man boasts about his sex appeal
For my, Super Sperm (check it)
The Method Man makes a crude joke about his sperm
Check it I give it to ya raw butt naked
The Method Man is unafraid to speak bluntly and directly
I smell sex pass the Method
The Method Man is anticipating sexual activity
Let's get lifted as I kick ballistics
The Method Man prepares to smoke marijuana and rap
Missiles and shoot game like a pistol
The Method Man compares his rapping ability to a weapon
Clip is loaded when I click bang dang
The Method Man compares his rhymes to the firing of a gun
A Wu-Tang slug hits your brain
The Method Man believes his music has a powerful effect on listeners
J-U-M-P jump and I thump
The Method Man raps more aggressively
Make girls rumps like pump and Humpty Hump
The Method Man claims to be able to dance seductively with women
Wow, the Shaolin' style is all in me
The Method Man boasts of his Wu-Tang heritage
Child, the whole damn isle is callin' me
The Method Man believes he is famous across the country
P-A-N-T-Y R-A-I-D-E-R mad raw I don't cry
The Method Man references his ability to pursue women successfully
Meaning no one can burn or toss and turn me
The Method Man feels confident and secure in his abilities
Ooh I be the super sperm
The Method Man repeats his earlier crude joke
Chim chimmeny chim chim cherie
The Method Man references a song from the movie Mary Poppins
Freak a flow and flow fancy free
The Method Man raps with fluidity and free expression
Now how many licks does it take
The Method Man references a famous catchphrase from a commercial
For me to hit the Tootsie Roll center of a break
The Method Man gets playful with his lyrics, referencing a popular candy
Peep and don't sleep the crews mad deep Wu-Tang
The Method Man encourages fans to pay attention to the depth of Wu-Tang Clan's music
Fading motherfuckers like bleach
The Method Man suggests that his influence in the music scene will last
So to each and every crew
The Method Man addresses all music groups or cliques
You're clear like glass I can see right through
The Method Man claims he can easily read his competitors
You're whole damn posse be catchin' 'em all cause you vic'd
The Method Man claims his competitors are weak and desperate
And ya didn't have friends to begin with
The Method Man believes his competitors never had a true support system
I'm
The Method Man is about to conclude the song
Here I am, here I am, the Method Man
The Method Man repeats his catchphrase to conclude the song
Straight from the slums of Shaolin
The Method Man reminds listeners of his Wu-Tang heritage
Wu-Tang Killa Bee's on a swarm
The Method Man concludes the song by referencing Wu-Tang Clan's collective identity
(Your soul have just been taken through the 36 chambers of death, kid)
The Method Man is referencing the idea of spiritual enlightenment through experiencing Wu-Tang's music
(Word to mother, Method Man signing off, peace)
The Method Man concludes the song with a phrase of respect and peace
Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: CLIFFORD SMITH, COREY WOODS, DENNIS DAVID COLES, GARY E. GRICE, JASON HUNTER, LAMONT HAWKINS, ROBERT F. DIGGS, ROGER TROUTMAN, RUSSELL T. JONES
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