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.
www.wutang-corp.com
Sucker MC's
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Daddy's home, your daddy's home to stay
(Meth)
Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo same time same channel
Nasty vandals too hot to fucking handle
Bring the ruckus to all you knotty head fuckas
Shit's like Hammer Time, niggas can't touch us
(RZA)
Straight up and down Wu-Tang forever
Come tougher than DJ ?'s leather
Make a better tomorrow
Condition your atmosphere, air like feathers
The fire come, transmit vire come
The higher sire come, we burn your wire
Wu-Tang be number one...
(Meth & RZA)
Four years ago a friend of mine
Asked me to say some MC rhymes
So I said this rhyme I'm about to say
The rhyme was Meth and it went this way
Yo, we took a test to become an MC
All the withers in the crowd got amazed at me
God threw me inside his Cadillac
The chaffuer drove off and we never came back
Meth cut the record down to the bone
And now I rock solid chrome microphones
Now we signing autographs, with cheers and laughs
Champagne, caviar, and bubblebaths, but see...
That's the life that I lead, you sucka MC, we G-O-D
Take that and move back, or catch a heartattack
Because there's nothing in the world the gods could ever lack
I chill at the party in my b-boy stance
Walk, cap low, 45 in my pants
Fly like a dove, that come from up above
My nigga's Iron Lung but you can stay one love
It's just a one two three a three a two one
Throw your blunts in the air for the god Iron Lung
Blow them right in your face with the bass
You messed up, come in first place, the real rap taste
First come, first serve basis
Coolin out boo, take you to the def places
One of a kind for you people's delight
And to you sucker MC, you know it ain't right
Bet you bite all your life, cheat on your wife
Run in a gun fight with nuthin but a knife
Bangin with your boy, slingin with the crew
And everybody know what you've been through
It's the one two three three two one
Throw your blunts in the air for your dunn Iron Lung
Smoke in your place with the highs and the bass
Come in first place in the real rap race
Go uptown, buy a bag of brown
You sucker MC, a sad face clown
Gettin OD ready to rock crowds steady
You drive a big car get your gas from Getti
(ODB)
I'm ODB in the place to be
Didn't go to St. John's University
In the streets of Brooklyn I aquired the knowledge
A Law of Mathematics that's higher than college
I'm fly on skins that I gets in Queens
She love filthy swine and my collard greens
I'm dressed to kill, you know our style
Cause niggas don't know that Dirty Dogg fly
If you wanna see
the true essence of hip hop, look no further than Wu-Tang Clan's "Sucker MC's." The track is a throwback to the old school era of rap, with a heavy emphasis on lyrical skill and braggadocio. ODB kicks things off with his trademark energy, proclaiming "Daddy's home, your daddy's home to stay." Meth and RZA follow with tight verses that showcase their impressive rhyming abilities. RZA in particular delivers a memorable line: "Come tougher than DJ ?'s leather," which pays homage to legendary hip hop DJ Jam Master Jay.
The chorus features Meth and RZA trading bars as they recount their rise to fame in the rap game. They recall a moment four years ago when a friend asked them to showcase their MC skills. The resulting rhyme was Meth's, which they decided to cut on a record. From there, the Wu-Tang Clan took the world by storm, becoming one of the most influential rap groups of all time.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy's home, your daddy's home to stay
ODB is back and he's here to stay.
Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo same time same channel
Here we are again, the same Wu-Tang Clan, same vibe, same energy.
Nasty vandals too hot to fucking handle
The Wu-Tang Clan is so fierce and powerful, that they're impossible to control.
Bring the ruckus to all you knotty head fuckas
The Wu-Tang Clan is bringing the chaos to all of their haters, challenging them to try and stop their reign.
Shit's like Hammer Time, niggas can't touch us
Like MC Hammer, the Wu-Tang Clan is untouchable, and they'll continue to dominate the game.
Straight up and down Wu-Tang forever
The Wu-Tang Clan will always be here and they'll never quit.
Come tougher than DJ ?'s leather
The Wu-Tang Clan is even tougher than DJ ?'s leather jacket, and they can't be taken down.
Make a better tomorrow
The Wu-Tang Clan is focused on pushing the culture forward and promoting a brighter future for all.
Condition your atmosphere, air like feathers
The Wu-Tang Clan wants to create a comfortable environment for their fans, where everyone feels light and free like feathers.
The fire come, transmit vire come
The Wu-Tang Clan brings the fire, and their energy and passion is contagious.
The higher sire come, we burn your wire
The Wu-Tang Clan's power is so intense that it can even destroy the wires that hold everything together.
Wu-Tang be number one...
The Wu-Tang Clan will always be the greatest.
Four years ago a friend of mine
Meth is reminiscing about the moment he started his journey as an MC.
Asked me to say some MC rhymes
His friend challenged him to come up with some rhymes.
So I said this rhyme I'm about to say
Meth is about to spit a rhyme that he crafted four years ago.
The rhyme was Meth and it went this way
Meth is about to show off his skills and perform his famous rhyme.
Yo, we took a test to become an MC
Meth and his crew worked hard to become the best MCs they could be.
All the withers in the crowd got amazed at me
When Meth performed his rhymes, the audience was blown away by his talent.
God threw me inside his Cadillac
Meth's talent was so great that it seemed like a divine force placed him in a luxurious Cadillac.
The chaffuer drove off and we never came back
Meth and his crew were on the road to success, and they never looked back.
Meth cut the record down to the bone
Meth didn't hold anything back and gave his performance everything he had.
And now I rock solid chrome microphones
Meth is now a successful MC and he's proud of his accomplishments.
Now we signing autographs, with cheers and laughs
Meth and his crew are enjoying the fruits of their labor and having a great time in the spotlight.
Champagne, caviar, and bubblebaths, but see...
Although Meth and his crew are living the life of luxury, they haven't forgotten where they came from.
That's the life that I lead, you sucka MC, we G-O-D
Meth is proud of his success and considers himself to be a god among lesser MCs.
Take that and move back, or catch a heartattack
Meth is so confident in his abilities that he's challenging lesser MCs to either step up or move out of the way.
Because there's nothing in the world the gods could ever lack
As a godlike MC, Meth believes that there's nothing he or his crew could ever be lacking.
I chill at the party in my b-boy stance
Meth is enjoying himself at a party, showing off his classic b-boy style.
Walk, cap low, 45 in my pants
Meth is keeping it cool and carrying a loaded gun, just in case.
Fly like a dove, that come from up above
Meth feels like he's soaring high above the competition, like a dove from heaven.
My nigga's Iron Lung but you can stay one love
Although Meth's crew is loyal and strong, he's also extending peace to others.
It's just a one two three a three a two one
The beat has dropped and Meth is ready to flow.
Throw your blunts in the air for the god Iron Lung
Meth's crew is so great that they're almost godlike, and their fans are showing them some love.
Blow them right in your face with the bass
Meth and his crew are bringing the bass, and it's so strong that it's blowing people away.
You messed up, come in first place, the real rap taste
If you're not on Meth's level, you're already behind him. He's got the true flavor of the game.
First come, first serve basis
Meth and his crew are here and they're ready to take over the game.
Coolin out boo, take you to the def places
Meth and his crew are all about good vibes and taking their fans to the best places in the game.
One of a kind for you people's delight
Meth and his crew are unique and special, and they're here to entertain and delight their fans.
And to you sucker MC, you know it ain't right
Meth is calling out all lesser MCs and warning them that they can't compete.
Bet you bite all your life, cheat on your wife
Meth is insulting lesser MCs, accusing them of being unfaithful to their spouse or biting other people's rhymes.
Run in a gun fight with nuthin but a knife
Meth is saying that lesser MCs are unprepared and poorly equipped to face off against his crew.
Bangin with your boy, slingin with the crew
Meth is tired of hearing lesser MCs boast about their accomplishments and brag about their crew.
And everybody know what you've been through
Meth is implying that lesser MCs have been through a lot of hardships and difficulties, but he's not impressed by their tough talk.
Go uptown, buy a bag of brown
Meth is telling lesser MCs to go buy some drugs if they want to feel cool, but he's not impressed by their lifestyle.
You sucker MC, a sad face clown
Meth is insulting lesser MCs, saying they're nothing but sad, pathetic clowns.
Gettin OD ready to rock crowds steady
Meth's crew is always prepared and ready to give their fans an amazing show.
You drive a big car get your gas from Getti
Meth is implying that lesser MCs are all about show and don't have any real substance or talent.
I'm ODB in the place to be
ODB is here and he's ready to rock the stage.
Didn't go to St. John's University
ODB didn't need a fancy education to be successful, he's a natural talent.
In the streets of Brooklyn I aquired the knowledge
ODB learned everything he knows from the rough streets of Brooklyn.
A Law of Mathematics that's higher than college
ODB's street smarts are even better than any academic knowledge he could have learned in college.
I'm fly on skins that I gets in Queens
ODB is a ladies' man and he attracts women easily in the Queens area.
She love filthy swine and my collard greens
ODB's lady loves him for his dirty, bad boy persona and his delicious collard greens.
I'm dressed to kill, you know our style
ODB is here to make a statement with his killer fashion sense and Wu-Tang style.
Cause niggas don't know that Dirty Dogg fly
ODB is telling everyone that they don't know how fly he really is.
Contributed by Scarlett B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Wideout4
That intro beat OMG
@MrKingte3636
I been saying this for years...when RZA start talking.....he freaked that shit
@Gemini3K
right?!!!? Even how they rap on it. I miss raw shit like that.
@alavro15
When ODB comes in..🔥🔥🔥 RIP to the God.
@fite1313
This whole album is full of dope covers of classics! I had this CD but my shitty Honda got stolen with my CD book in 2005. Got the car back 12 hrs later w/no CD book. I haven't found this song or this album ANYWHERE since then except here! Good shit!
@leestenson3167
Fuck tha Police by Bone Thugz was awesome too
@leestenson3167
It also had Def Squad (Erick Sermon Redman Keith Murray) doing Rappers Delight
@bdr5150
This is straight up 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Anyone think this is better than the original? Its a tossup to me!
@bigla4th83
This still slaps a classic cover of another classic with a wu twist it dont miss
@andystandys
I was 25 when this album came out, and it was actually my first taste of some of these older classic songs. I would go on to listen to and fall in love with the originals. It’s funny, now this album is almost 25 years old …