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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The Black Diamonds
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
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I pick who I'm gonna bury next
Say your prayers fast,
'cause you're about to feel my arm in
Freedom of speech, watch how I reach my potential
I stay on the hunt for dope tracks and instrumentals
Travel the world, found black diamonds in the Everglades
The globetrotter, spot rusher
I bust in your mouth like a gusher, it's Wu-Tang motherfucker!
"Iron Man," I cock my music in the chamber
I'm God's gift, heard I was born in a manger
Danger! Cosmetic face rearrange you
Leave you slumped on the chessboard, found by a park ranger
Burst of adrenaline, bungee jumped off the Verrazano
I sky dive in some sky blue Ferragamo's
Ran the streets heavy, kept my charms chunky
You damn right I fuck fans and I keep the munchies
Guess you must be, the four dog fist champion
(I've heard of this devil's kick, of course yeah)
(Everyone knows in the Kung-Fu world)
(It's a method that's never been defeated yet)
Ha ha ha, and won't be
I suppose I should warn you
I've been given good money, to kill you
Yo, loose cannon, forty-deuce flicks, two parrots
Lay back at The Palace like Mike Harris
Callous, fly nicest, metallic bang mallets
Fly your whole cabbage to Paris
The black Pat Garrett, karats on Donna Karans
Guys die tryin' to drive the McLaren
Islamic, burn chronic out on the terrace
Angelic, your body lie cold without spirit
My finest hour, you're sacrificed to a higher power
Fly from the tower, I fry sour
And buy powder, 40 Cal give your pal a shower
You shit in your Calvin Klein trousers
The night prowler, your life is ours
Knife your Eddie Bauer, leave you pushin' up flowers
You ain't counter chip counters
Them niggas is pimps, your bitch shouted
The 650 get clouded
You'll see! I'm a master now
And whoever insulted you, pays with his life for this
That I swear! I'll fight now
(Okay, not bad)
(Patience, you've not seen it all yet)
Yo, gun or beef, I don't discriminate, beat dudes black and blue
Snack on crews like they food, takin' space up on my dinner plate
Dependin' on my mental state, the mood that I'm in'll make
Me charge like a bull, pull the tool out and ventilate you
Sin-ner takes you down, lace your crown, face get found
Full of rounds from the pound, that detonate when they penetrate
Can tell you always been a snake, you don't move like I do
Imitators hate the fact that they can't do what I do
I'm mindful of my rivals, I can smell 'em when they slide through
Provide you my arrival, still won't even get a side view
Won't know that life is over, 'til I'm standin' right beside you
It's not that I don't like you motherfuckers, I despise you
The other different pedigree, not cut from the same cloth
Stay G'd up from the feet up, while your heart pump duck sauce
I love it when they tough talk, my guns lust to bust off
But every time I squeeze they call police to bus me up North
Sin-ister the Finisher, they label me a menace and got
Mad when I laughed at the judge durin' sentencing
Not, glorifyin' prison but I'm built tough for biddin'
See survival of the fittest shit I live it e'ry minute
Every hour to the second, I'm granted my respect
Never catch the God in the yard, sharpenin' the weapons
Got, shooters on demand, new recruits to the Clan
Sticking everything movin', more loot for the fam
Ain't a damn thing changed, just say the name bitch
Wu-Tang! (Wu-Tang, Wu-Tang, Wu-Tang)
The lyrics of Wu-Tang Clan's "The Black Diamonds" are filled with vivid imagery and boastful expressions of power and skill. The song begins with a warning, indicating that the singer is ready to take on his next opponent and is urging them to pray because they are about to face his wrath. The theme of freedom of speech comes into play as the lyrics emphasize the artist's potential and determination to find great music and explore the world. The mention of "black diamonds in the Everglades" highlights the pursuit of rare and valuable treasures. The lyrics also touch on battling inner demons and temptations, symbolized by slap-boxing in the devil's cage. The singer portrays themselves as a globetrotter and spot rusher, ready to dominate and triumph. There are references to adrenaline-pumping activities like bungee jumping and skydiving, showcasing a fearless and adventurous spirit. The lyrics convey a sense of superiority and confidence, asserting the singer's role as God's gift and their ability to rearrange faces and leave opponents defeated. Additional lines reinforce their reputation as a music powerhouse and their tendency to engage with fans intimately.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DENNIS DAVID COLES, JERYL GRANT, GINTAS JANUSONIS, BORAHM LEE, RAHKEIM C MEYER, WESLEY MINGUS, ARNOLD MISCHKULNIG, NOAH ELIOT RUBIN, JOSH D WERNER, Dennis Coles, Josh Werner, Noah Rubin, Rahkeim Meyer
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