Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group that consists of: RZA, GZA/Genius, Ghostfac… Read Full Bio ↴Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group that consists of: RZA, GZA/Genius, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group. They were formed in (and are associated with) the New York City borough of Staten Island (referred to by members as "Shaolin"), though Masta Killa and GZA are from Brooklyn and Inspectah Deck is from the Bronx. They have gone on to become multi-platinum record producers, Grammy winners, TV and film stars, screenwriters, product spokespersons, business owners and, most recently, major motion picture composers. The Clan featured nine MCs until the death of Ol' Dirty Bastard in 2004. One of the most critically and commercially successful hip hop groups of all time, Wu-Tang Clan shot to fame through their uncompromising brand of hardcore rap music. Since their debut, they have introduced or launched the careers of numerous other artists and groups, and already in 1994 there were credited to be over 300 Wu-Tang Clan affiliates, known as the Wu-Tang Killa Bees, consisting of rappers, producers, and record label CEOs.

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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Rushing Elephants
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yo, yo, yo, what up kid? Yo, these niggaz is back, son
I'm telling you, spit that, done it nigga
I seen it like a Zenith man, you hear me man?
Word up, man, y'all know what it is
It's on again man, for real man, Top Gun, what what?

Aiyyo, we came through thumping like elephants
The new Range is supercharged, I remains intelligent

Back to the formula, Lord, hard grammar
This is God school, make sure the lobby ain't jammed up

Excalibur swords, T-Rexes, Bibles of rhymes
We in the lunchroom, weed veggies for breakfast
Polo campus, sicker lances, the crisp
Hundred dollar kick niggas, that be showing you hand steps

Back to the dormitory, where niggas
Broke my forearm and index finger, now you write glory
True holding my flag, it's all engraved in my blade
So when I wave it, you gon' say Rae mad

Now it's '28 Days Later', now Wu's up, do something, you can't
It's blood in my eye, I might get amped
To rip something down, The Billboard holders is back
So when you see me, you gon' say he gets down

From darkness to DNA, I move with my brother
And we resonate, energy that shifts in colors
Bringing MCs punishment, then I'm done with it
The meter leave way on the fast break, I run with it

It was not a hobby but a childhood passion
That had started in the lobby and was quickly fashioned
Every line to line, bar for bar is clockwork
Hazardous and powerful enough to have your block hurt

Check the total amount of MCs inflicted
With torture, from moving with work that's restricted
We criticize producers 'til they joints are right
Then acupuncture the track with pinpoints of light

Hitting them from well concealed firing positions
With explosiveness that'll make the deaf listen
Drastic, pyroclastic, connected with the same old
Down the dangerous slopes of an active volcano

Blitz like the Green Bay Packers, sack like the linebackers
Hang with niggas like redneck crackers
Strangle cold bottles of Beck's like a vexed German
Duck low behind the car, my tech burning

Neck burning from eight karats of sunlight
Absorbed, in the grill Big Pun like
Lord of the Wu-Tang sword, know what that means?
Like J.R. Tolkien, it's the 'Lord of the Rings'

This is my man, Chef, auto, like Grand Theft Auto
The 18th letter, followed by the mark of Zorro
Plus A, not for apple but I pack an apple
Shorty try to buck back and knock me off the saddle

Caramel, pecan, sundae, Praline
Plump breasts, was filled with saline
Her big booty cousin, nasty Nadine
Get you on the floor, whore tried to double team

Is he still that nucca? Is he in the hood like that?
Is he really strapped? Will he really split yo' shit?
I thought you said he rap? Pull up in the yard, ten sets
He ain't flexing, microphone ripping, heat holding

Who testing? Rope-a-dope his black Lotus
Can't quote this, chat with the sword tongue
Duck when the axe is swinging, wild Apache drum
Crazy Horse kicking his thoughts, he won't quit

Can't tell 'em nothing, he grown, give the man room
Space was demanded, beat banging through the speaker
Voice, heat seek missile, guided at the listener
Swing to the gospel, catch up and wet at the brothel

Unstoppable, direction of my flow, optional
To the ear depending on the current of air, the crowd's in

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Wu-Tang Clan's song "Rushing Elephants" paint a vivid picture of the group's signature blend of aggression and intelligence in their rhymes. Built around gritty, hard-edged verses from Raekwon, GZA, RZA, and Masta Killa, the song begins with an announcement that the Wu-Tang Clan is back once again. Raekwon's verses depict a kind of towering, unstoppable force, with references to elephants and T-rexes, while GZA's bars focus on the technical aspect of his rhymes and the power of his voice. RZA's verse brings in references to both football and his own reputation as the lord of the Wu-Tang sword, and Masta Killa finishes things off by highlighting his ruthless mic skills and the need for space and respect when he's in his element.

Overall, the lyrics of "Rushing Elephants" showcase a kind of aggressive confidence that is typical of Wu-Tang Clan's style, with each rapper bringing their own unique perspective to the table. The metaphors and references used throughout the song add to its power and create a sense of unstoppable momentum that is reflective of the group's legacy.

Line by Line Meaning

Yo, yo, yo, what up kid? Yo, these niggaz is back, son
Hey, what's up? Wu-Tang Clan is back and ready to spit some fire

Aiyo, we came through thumping like elephants
We came through with power and strength like a stampede of elephants

The new Range is super-charged, I remains intelligent
My new car is high-performance and I'm still smart as ever

Back to the formula, lord, hard grammar
Going back to the basics of real hip-hop with sharp lyrics

This is God school, make sure the lobby ain't jammed up
This is a place to learn real skills and knowledge, so don't clog up the entrance

Excalibur swords, T-Rexes, bibles of rhymes
We have the sharpest rhymes, strong presence, and powerful messages

We in the lunchroom, weed and veggies for breakfast
We're still chillin' and eating whatever we want, even weed in the morning

Polo campus, sicker lances, the crisp
We're dressed in fresh Polo gear and have sick rhymes

Hundred dollar kick niggas, that be showing you hand steps
We're showing you how to get money and be successful with our skills

"Blitz like the Green Bay Packers, sack like the linebackers
We're coming hard and strong like a football team

Strangle cold bottles of Beck's, like a vexed German
We're drinking alcohol aggressively like angry Germans

Duck low behind the car, my tech burning
We're hiding behind a car with guns ready to shoot

Lord of the Wu-Tang sword, know what that means?
I am the leader of the Wu-Tang Clan and have the sharpest lyrics

Is he still that nucca? Is he in the hood like that?
Is Wu-Tang Clan still relevant and representing the streets?

Can't quote this, chat with the sword tongue
My lyrics can't be copied, I have a unique way of speaking that cuts like a sword

Unstoppable, direction of my flow, optional
My lyrics are unstoppable, but my style and direction can change

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Corey Woods, Elgin Evander Turner, Gary E. Grice, Robert F. Diggs

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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