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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Shame on a Nigga
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
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Who buck wild with the trigger
Shame on a nigga who try to run game on a nigga
I'll fuck your ass up
(Yo hut one, hut two, hut three, hut)
Ol' Dirty Bastard, live and uncut
Styles unbreakable, shatterproof
Blaoww, how you like me now?
Don't fuck the style, ruthless wild
Do you wanna get your teeth knocked the fuck out?
Wanna get on it like that, well then shout
Yo RZA, yo razor, hit me with the major
The damage, my Clan understand it be flavor
Gunning, humming coming at ya
First I'm gonna get ya, once I got ya, I gat ya
You could never capture the Method Man's stature
For rhyme and for rapture, got niggas resigning, now master
My style? Never
I put the fucking buck in the wild kid, I'm terror
Razor sharp, I sever
The head from the shoulders, I'm better, than my competta
You mean competitor, whatever, let's get together
Shame on a nigga who try to run game on a nigga
Who buck wild with the trigger
I react so thick, I'm phat and yo
Rae came blowing and blew off your headphones black
Rap from yo Cali to Texas
Smoother than a Lexus, now's my turn to wreck this
Brothers approach and half step
But ain't heard half of it yet and I bet you're not a fucking vet
So, when you see me on the real, forming like Voltron
Remember I got deep like a Navy Seal
Shame on a nigga who try to run game on a nigga
Who buck wild with the trigger
Shame on a nigga who try to run game on a nigga
I'll fuck your ass up
Yo
I come with that ol' loco, style from my vocal
Couldn't peep it with a pair of bi-focals
I'm no joker, play me as a joker
Be on you like a house on fire, smoke ya
Crews be acting like they gangs, anyway
Be like, "Warriors, come out and play, yay"
Burn me, I get into shit, I let it out like diarrhea
Got burnt once, but that was only gonorrhea
Dirty, I keep shit stains in my drawers
So I can get fizza-funky for you
Murder, taste the flame of the Wu-Tang, rah
Here comes the Tiger verse Crane
I'll be like wild with my style
Punk, you play me chump, you get dumped
Wu is coming through at a theatre near you
And get funk like a shoe
What?
The lyrics to Wu-Tang Clan's song Shame On A Nigga are a confrontational statement on the dangers of trying to deceive and trick someone who is not afraid to use violence. The song opens with the repeated phrase of "Shame on a nigga who try to run game on a nigga," which is a warning to anyone who might underestimate or disrespect the Wu-Tang Clan or their community. The "nigga" in the song can be interpreted as a racial epithet, but it's also a term of endearment within the community, signifying that the group is addressing their peers and not outsiders. The chorus cleverly uses the word "trigger" both as a reference to guns and a metaphor for the power of words in rap music.
The first verse is spoken by Ol' Dirty Bastard, who introduces himself as live and uncut, with styles that are unbreakable and shatterproof. He advises the listener that if they want to "get gun," they should be prepared for the consequences. ODB then launches into a rhyme that is full of aggression and bravado, daring those who oppose him to fight him. He repeats the phrase "Wanna get your teeth knocked the fuck out" twice, emphasizing his willingness to use violence to defend himself and his community.
The second verse starts with a shoutout to RZA and his production skills, describing the sound that the Wu-Tang Clan produces as "damage" that their fans appreciate as "flavor." Method Man then takes over, boasting that he is unmatched in his rhyming ability and that he leaves his competitors "resigning." In the third verse, Raekwon introduces himself with a rhyme that is "smoother than a Lexus." He challenges his rivals to step up and face him, but warns them that they are not ready for what he has to offer. The final verse is spoken by GZA, who describes his style as "loco" and pledges to come after anyone who crosses him. The verse ends with a reference to the martial arts movie genre, with GZA comparing himself to a tiger fighting a crane.
Line by Line Meaning
Shame on a nigga who try to run game on a nigga
Disrespect to someone who tries to deceive or cheat someone else
Who buck wild with the trigger
Someone who is unpredictable and may use violent action to respond to others
Shame on a nigga who try to run game on a nigga
Disrespect to someone who tries to deceive or cheat someone else
I'll fuck your ass up
I'll get you in trouble
Ol' Dirty Bastard, live and uncut
A raw representation of the artist who will hold nothing back or sanitize their message
Styles unbreakable, shatterproof
I am made of powerful stuff that cannot be easily defeated or broken down
To the young youth, you wanna get gun? Shoot
I am asking if you're prepared to use a gun if you want one
Blaoww, how you like me now?
I'm making a powerful statement that cannot be ignored
Don't fuck the style, ruthless wild
Respect the powerful and dangerous style that is wild and free-flowing
Do you wanna get your teeth knocked the fuck out?
I am warning you that you could get seriously hurt
Wanna get on it like that, well then shout
If you are truly interested in what I'm doing then say so
Yo RZA, yo razor, hit me with the major
I'm asking my associate to provide me with powerful tools
The damage, my Clan understand it be flavor
My associates know that our style is destructive and delicious
Gunning, humming coming at ya
I am rapidly approaching you with powerful and dangerous intent
First I'm gonna get ya, once I got ya, I gat ya
I'm going to go after you until I get what I want
You could never capture the Method Man's stature
No one can replicate the skill and stature of the Method Man
For rhyme and for rapture, got niggas resigning, now master
My skilled rhyming causes people to submit to me as their leader
My style? Never
No one could replicate my style
I put the fucking buck in the wild kid, I'm terror
I bring a dangerous and powerful energy to my style that can't be tamed
Razor sharp, I sever
I am razor-sharp and can cut through anything
The head from the shoulders, I'm better, than my competta
I can surpass my competitors with ease
You mean competitor, whatever, let's get together
I correct my associate's minor error and suggest we work collaboratively
I react so thick, I'm phat and yo
I respond with a powerful and substantial presence
Rae came blowing and blew off your headphones black
Raekwon's style is so powerful that it could damage your headphones
Rap from yo Cali to Texas
I can rap from California to Texas with ease
Smoother than a Lexus, now's my turn to wreck this
I am smoother than a luxury car and now it's my chance to shine and make my mark
Brothers approach and half step
People are hesitant when they meet me
But ain't heard half of it yet and I bet you're not a fucking vet
They haven't heard anything and I doubt they're even experienced
So, when you see me on the real, forming like Voltron
When you see me truly existing, I am a powerful and fully-formed entity, like Voltron
Remember I got deep like a Navy Seal
Remember I am highly skilled and can handle anything like a Navy SEAL
I come with that ol' loco, style from my vocal
I bring a wild and crazy vocal style to my rhymes
Couldn't peep it with a pair of bi-focals
You wouldn't be able to understand me even with strong glasses
I'm no joker, play me as a joker
Don't take me lightly or think I'm fooling around
Be on you like a house on fire, smoke ya
I'll pursue you intensely and quickly take you down
Crews be acting like they gangs, anyway
Groups of people act like they're gangs but aren't really
Be like, "Warriors, come out and play, yay"
I'm acting like the character Cyrus from the movie The Warriors, trying to summon groups into a fight
Burn me, I get into shit, I let it out like diarrhea
If you try to mess with me, I'll violently retaliate
Got burnt once, but that was only gonorrhea
I've faced difficulty before but it was only temporary and not significant
Dirty, I keep shit stains in my drawers
I am raw and unrefined, exemplified by literal stains in my clothing
So I can get fizza-funky for you
I cultivate this image so I can be wild and outrageous for women
Murder, taste the flame of the Wu-Tang, rah
Our rhymes can kill and you'll experience it now
Here comes the Tiger verse Crane
I am the Tiger moving smoothly and quickly against my opponent, the Crane
I'll be like wild with my style
I will be crazy and unpredictable with my rhymes
Punk, you play me chump, you get dumped
If you disrespect me, I'll violently reject you
Wu is coming through at a theatre near you
Our rhymes and style are going to be everywhere soon
And get funk like a shoe
We will be funky like an old shoe
What?
What do you want?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Clifford M. Smith, Corey Todd Woods, Lamont Jody Hawkins, Dennis David Coles, Robert F. Diggs, Gary E. Grice, Russell T. Jones, Jason S. Hunter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind