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
The W
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I grew up around block parties ready to rock
Behind the rope nigga with my rhymes on cock
The verse shot first nigga who had shit to pop
A bad weather blow the feathers off a hundred flocks
With 70% goose, 30 ducked, get stuck
And each link in your chain is trucked
No ends in this rhyme cipher with nine snipers
I live around DJ's, b-boys, MC's
Through rap never thinkin' +Airways+ are TVs
It was strictly all about magnificant rhyme clout
+Rec Room+, 2 dollars with the flyer as we would doubt
Now his wigs pushed back
Name scratched off the plaque, too wild to re-enact
(Yo)
(Chorus x2: U-God)
Got to check out +The W+, got to check out-- +The W+
Got to check out +The W+, got to check out-- +The W+
(Method Man)
MC's have the right to remain silent
Everything you say can and will be used against y'all muh'fuckers
And Mef can only trust ya as far as I can see ya
Me need ya? That'll be the.. day, ya busta
It gets no rougher when, me and my comrades rush ya
Like red heat with hammers and sickles
I milk like ya baby mama's nipples, got issues
It's just us, so what's what if any can touch us
Then lord strike me down where I stand at now
wit this bottle of Remy, gettin' fucked up child, listen
The most notable MC, ya source for hip hop quotable MC
Of course it's Tical!
(Chorus)
(U-God)
The Princess, the Pope, incest, dope
Choke you by the throat, the chrome handle smoke
The man not for joke, we all out for broke
Plus the herbal that I tote, the murder that I wrote
You can't do me none, my Uzi weighs a ton
I'm comin' from the slum, Wu is number one
I stumbled on the drum, the Gods are troublesome
+Rumble+ when we come, boy you better +Run+, +Run+
(Chorus)
(Raekwon)
Aiyo, it's like this jumpin' out of golden whips
Flashin' mega bricks, outfits, rock ridiculous whips, bitch
Wavy hair, men of the year, bent in the stairs
Sick winter gear, been on position is where
Call him an Asiatic God-body, +Longevity+
Slang rap, you get your whip wrapped
Swing through the hood calmly
Yo what up? Staten Island, Bush, George
Dust shut shit off, whips spin off
Get off, slips, which, wiz
Mind di-tects mines, lines lick sick nines
Pick wines, lift up, bill a nigga six flies
Dip wide, dress my shit up, fuck six times, wish mine
Rub lamps, take thousand dollar crystalines
(Chorus)
The lyrics of Wu-Tang Clan's song The W tell the story of growing up in the hip-hop scene, surrounded by DJs, b-boys, MCs, and block parties. The singer reminisces about the days when it was all about the magnificence of the rhyme clout and the party scene. The lyrics explore themes such as loyalty, trust, and survival, as well as the concept of maintaining one's reputation and staying true to oneself in a competitive and ever-changing world.
The lyrics also highlight the Wu-Tang Clan's unique sound, which blends gritty street poetry with complex wordplay and vivid storytelling. The song features multiple verses from different members of the group, including GZA, Method Man, U-God, and Raekwon, each bringing their distinctive style and energy to the track.
Overall, The W is a powerful and introspective ode to the roots of the Wu-Tang Clan's music and culture, showcasing their ability to capture the raw essence of urban life and deliver it with lyrical precision and artistic finesse.
Line by Line Meaning
I grew up around block parties ready to rock
I was raised around neighborhood parties that were always ready for music and dancing
Behind the rope nigga with my rhymes on cock
I always had my rhymes prepared to perform, being ready for the opportunity to step up to the mic
The verse shot first nigga who had shit to pop
I was the first to fire off a verse when it was my turn to perform and show off my skills
A bad weather blow the feathers off a hundred flocks
A stormy weather could ruin the livelihood of a hundred families and leave them devastated
With 70% goose, 30 ducked, get stuck
The majority of what I do is successful, but sometimes I fail and get stuck
And each link in your chain is trucked
Every part of your operation is vulnerable and can be taken out
No ends in this rhyme cipher with nine snipers
There's no way out of this rap competition with my nine sharp-witted rhymers (like snipers)
Charge of the kiss from the Pied Piper
I am leading with a captivating style of rapping, like the Pied Piper's enchanting flute melody that led people along
I live around DJ's, b-boys, MC's
I grew up in an environment surrounded by DJs, breakdancers, and rappers
Through rap never thinkin' +Airways+ are TVs
Through rap, I was never thinking of the airwaves as televisions or visual mediums
It was strictly all about magnificant rhyme clout
It was all about the impressive power and impact of our rhyming skills
+Rec Room+, 2 dollars with the flyer as we would doubt
We would doubt we could even afford to get into the recreation room where rap battles were held, but often got in for two dollars with a flyer
Now his wigs pushed back
Now he's been defeated so much in rap battles that his wig is askew or knocked off
Name scratched off the plaque, too wild to re-enact
His name has been removed from the records of victorious rappers because his style was too extreme to repeat in polite society
MC's have the right to remain silent
As rappers, we have the right to refuse to speak or stay quiet about anything
Everything you say can and will be used against y'all muh'fuckers
Any words that you say as a rapper can and will be used against you in rap battles
And Mef can only trust ya as far as I can see ya
My trust for you can only extend to my limited ability to see through your actions and words
Me need ya? That'll be the.. day, ya busta
Do I need you? That will never happen, you nobody
It gets no rougher when, me and my comrades rush ya
No one can approach us as aggressively as we will approach attacking you along with our fellow rappers
Like red heat with hammers and sickles
Our attack would be as hot and pointed as red-hot metal objects that resemble hammers and sickles
I milk like ya baby mama's nipples, got issues
I extract every benefit I can in order to succeed, but I acknowledge that I have problems to solve
It's just us, so what's what if any can touch us
We are united and believe no one can overcome us, so it does not matter if anyone threatens us
Then lord strike me down where I stand at now
If I'm lying about our unshakable strength, let God punish me where I'm standing at this moment
wit this bottle of Remy, gettin' fucked up child, listen
While drinking this bottle of Remy Martin cognac, I'm getting completely drunk -- listen to me!
The Princess, the Pope, incest, dope
From royalty to religion to drugs and illicit sex, everything good, bad, and ugly is present in our society
Choke you by the throat, the chrome handle smoke
We can attack with deadly force, wielding cold metal guns that spew out smoke
The man not for joke, we all out for broke
We take ourselves very seriously and use any means necessary to achieve financial success
Plus the herbal that I tote, the murder that I wrote
In addition to carrying marijuana, I've written raps that could result in metaphorical bloody homicides
You can't do me none, my Uzi weighs a ton
No one can harm me or defeat me, as I'm armed with an incredibly powerful and heavy automatic gun
I'm comin' from the slum, Wu is number one
I'm a rapper from the ghetto, but my rap group, Wu-Tang Clan, is number one in the game
I stumbled on the drum, the Gods are troublesome
I discovered my talent for rapping almost accidentally, and now I can't escape the hardship and unpredictability of being a successful rapper
+Rumble+ when we come, boy you better +Run+, +Run+
When we arrive and commence our assault, you will experience a violent trembling, so run and get away as fast as you can
Aiyo, it's like this jumpin' out of golden whips
We're cruising around in golden luxury cars, showing off our wealth and status as rappers
Flashin' mega bricks, outfits, rock ridiculous whips, bitch
With big money, we're showing off our flashy jewelry, clothing, and absurdly expensive cars, demanding attention
Wavy hair, men of the year, bent in the stairs
Our crew has luxurious, wavy hair, the kind of status that makes us the men of the year, and we exude an atmosphere of cool style wherever we go
Sick winter gear, been on position is where
Our expensive winter clothing is sick-looking, and we've achieved the kind of influential positions that we hold today
Call him an Asiatic God-body, +Longevity+
We are powerful, god-like men, with a sense of Eastern mysticism about our identity, and we plan on maintaining our reign and influence for a long time
Slang rap, you get your whip wrapped
If you try to compete with us in a rap battle, you'll get whipped and humiliated
Swing through the hood calmly
Our swagger and style allow us to move through our neighborhood with confidence and composure
Yo what up? Staten Island, Bush, George
We're casually greeting people in our local area of Staten Island, specifically around the streets of Bush and George
Dust shut shit off, whips spin off
Our fast cars, or 'whips,' will create a whirlwind of dust as we speed off, shutting down anything trying to stand in our way
Get off, slips, which, wiz
Move out of the way quickly, criminals or anyone looking for trouble, or you might get caught up in our success and glamour
Mind di-tects mines, lines lick sick nines
Our minds are keen and our rhyming skill is like planting explosive mines -- explosive because they are so sick (amazing) and nine because it's the highest quality level
Pick wines, lift up, bill a nigga six flies
We choose delicious wines, lift each other up (motivate and support) and charge someone with a huge bill (making them broke) using the street slang 'flies'
Dip wide, dress my shit up, fuck six times, wish mine
We'll widen our sights beyond the local neighborhood, dress up and style ourselves even more impressively, get lots of sex (which is trivial to us), but still wish for more success
Rub lamps, take thousand dollar crystalines
We do everything we can to bring out the best of our potential (like rubbing a genie's lamp) and enjoy expensive crystals and jewelry
Got to check out +The W+, got to check out-- +The W+
You must take a look at our rap album called 'The W', it's imperative that you listen to this music
Contributed by Kylie H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kidk420
A short version of this song, with a rhyme from RZA, appeared as an interlude on The W a year earlier. It followed "Do You Really (Thang Thang) and led into the Busta Rhymes collabo "The Monument". I always wondered why the full version of the track wasn't released. I had no idea it appeared as a bonus track on the International release of Iron Flag a year later, so thanks for posting this! I'll subscribe for more gems like this!