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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gun will go feat sunny valentine
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We got butter
Gonna go
Gonna go
One thing for sure keep you a vault
Keep a nice crib fly away Keep to the point
Keep bitches in their place keep the mac in a special place
Keep movin for papes
Keep cool
Keep doin what you doin
Keep it fly keep me in the crates
[Rekwon]
Cause I will erase shit on a real note yous a waste
Its right here for you I will lace you
Rip you embrace you
Put a nice w up on your face
Word to mother you can get chase
It s nothing to taste
Blood on a thug
If he gotta go
All I know is
We be giving grapes
This is a place from where we make tapes
We make them everywhere stealing all
We be making base
You'll be making pace
These little niggas they be making shapes
Our shit is art yours is trace
This is the way that we roll in the street
You know when we roll we be packing the heat
Gonna go Gonna go Gonna go Gonna go Gonna go Gonna go
[Method Man]
This is poverty island man these animals don't run
Slums where the ambulance don't come
Who got the best base fiends waiting to smoke some
Approach son
Ask him where he getting that coke from
My dudes hug blocks like samurai shogun
Cause no v and no ones Equalin no fun
Who wanna treat they know huh
Body to go numb
A woman need funds plus her hair and her toes done
It is what it is though
You Fuck with the kid flow
You make it harder to dough the harder the get go
Harder to pimp flow harder when it snow
The pinky and the wrist glow
Cause here we live fo
Get guap and get low
But first off you gotta get the work off
To get from the curse boss
Yeah See I'm the shit
Them dirt on the fifth know
Hustling from the get go
The motto is get mo
[Chorus]
This is the way that we roll in the street
You know when we roll we be packing the heat
Gonna go gonna go gonna go gonna go gonna go
[Gza]
We was quiet flashy brothers
Strapped all along with the dirty 38 long
12 hour shift gate took case in state
you think he wont hold his weight
put the money on the plate and watch it get scraped
We get ape up in that club
Off that juice and hen
And its an no win situation
Fucking with them
You mean like Ewen at the front of the rim
Finger roll a dutch
Million dollar stage is touched
Techs gauges bust
Trust no one
The lone shogun
Rugged tim boots stompa
Damaging lyrical mass destruction launcher
Nothing can calm the quakage
When I break kid
Peace to my brothers up north
Doing state bids
This is the way we be rollin in the street
You know when we roll that we be packing the heat
Gonna go gonna go gonna go gonna go gonna go
This is the way we be rollin in the club
You know when we roll that we be packing 32 slugs
Gonna go gonna go gonna go gonna go gonna go
The song "Gun Will Go" by Wu-Tang Clan is a gritty and intense rap song with powerful lyrics about surviving in a dangerous and violent world. The lyrics are full of advice and warnings about keeping your guard up, staying focused, and being prepared for anything. The song is about the harsh realities of life on the streets, where gangs, drugs, and violence are a constant threat.
The lyrics are delivered by three different Wu-Tang Clan members, each with their own unique style and flow. The first verse is delivered by Raekwon, who warns about the importance of keeping your enemies at bay and staying focused on your goals. Method Man delivers the second verse, which is full of vivid imagery and metaphors about the struggles of life in the ghetto. GZA delivers the final verse, which is a powerful call to arms for all those who are struggling to survive in this harsh world.
The chorus of the song is a repetitive chant of "Gonna go, gonna go, gonna go," which adds to the overall sense of urgency and intensity in the song. The beat is hard-hitting and aggressive, with a heavy bassline and sharp snare hits. The song is a classic example of Wu-Tang Clan's signature sound, which blends raw street poetry with gritty, sample-based production.
Line by Line Meaning
We got butter
We have money or drugs
Gonna go
We are going to take action
One thing for sure keep you a vault
Make sure you have a secure place to store your valuables
Keep a nice crib fly away Keep to the point
Stay in a nice home and avoid distractions, stay focused
Keep niggas outta your face who snakes
Avoid people who are untrustworthy or disloyal
Keep bitches in their place keep the mac in a special place
Keep women under control and keep your firearm secure
Keep movin for papes
Continuously work to make money
Keep cool
Stay calm in difficult or dangerous situations
Keep doin what you doin
Continue with your current activities and lifestyle
Keep it fly keep me in the crates
Stay stylish and keep the music fresh
Cause I will erase shit on a real note yous a waste
I will eliminate anyone who is not useful or worthy
Its right here for you I will lace you
I will provide you with what you need to succeed
Rip you embrace you
I will defeat and overcome my enemies
Put a nice w up on your face
I will leave my mark on my enemies
Word to mother you can get chase
I will pursue and catch anyone who crosses me
It s nothing to taste
It's easy to take down my enemies
Blood on a thug
Violence is common among criminals
If he gotta go
If someone poses a threat, they will be eliminated
All I know is
My focus is on what I need to do
We be giving grapes
We distribute drugs
This is a place from where we make tapes
We record music anywhere we can
We make them everywhere stealing all
We make music all over, taking inspiration from different sources
We be making base
We create a foundation for our music
You'll be making pace
You'll be trying to keep up with us
These little niggas they be making shapes
Less experienced artists try to imitate us
Our shit is art yours is trace
Our music is original and creative, yours is a copy
This is the way that we roll in the street
This is how we operate in dangerous urban environments
You know when we roll we be packing the heat
We always carry firearms for protection
This is poverty island man these animals don't run
This is a dangerous and impoverished area where people don't back down
Slums where the ambulance don't come
An area where emergency services don't quickly respond
Who got the best base fiends waiting to smoke some
We have the best drugs and people are eager to buy them
Approach son
Come closer and let's talk
Ask him where he getting that coke from
Question where they are sourcing their drugs from
My dudes hug blocks like samurai shogun
We always control and protect our territory
Cause no v and no ones Equalin no fun
Without money, life isn't enjoyable
Who wanna treat they know huh
Who is trying to start trouble with us
Body to go numb
The result of using powerful drugs
A woman need funds plus her hair and her toes done
Women need money for beauty treatments and basic necessities
It is what it is though
There is no changing the current situation
You Fuck with the kid flow
Don't mess with my style of music
You make it harder to dough the harder the get go
The more obstacles I face, the more difficult it is to make money
Harder to pimp flow harder when it snow
Operating in winter conditions is more challenging
The pinky and the wrist glow
I have luxurious jewelry on my pinky and wrist
Cause here we live fo
We live life to the fullest
Get guap and get low
Make money and avoid trouble
But first off you gotta get the work off
You have to sell drugs to make money
To get from the curse boss
To break out of poverty and negative cycles
Yeah See I'm the shit
I am great at what I do
Them dirt on the fifth know
People who live in poverty understand the struggle
Hustling from the get go
Working hard from a young age
The motto is get mo
The goal is to always make more money
We was quiet flashy brothers
We were low-key but still had expensive possessions
Strapped all along with the dirty 38 long
Always carrying a concealed weapon
12 hour shift gate took case in state
Working long hours and staying alert
you think he wont hold his weight
Don't underestimate someone's ability to carry out a task
put the money on the plate and watch it get scraped
Put money out and it will quickly disappear
We get ape up in that club
We get wild in the club
Off that juice and hen
Drinking alcohol and getting drunk
And its an no win situation
The situation is not favorable
Fucking with them
Interacting with a dangerous group of people
You mean like Ewen at the front of the rim
You'll end up being the target of violence
Finger roll a dutch
Rolling a blunt with skill
Million dollar stage is touched
Performing on a stage is a lucrative career
Techs gauges bust
Guns are fired and cause destruction
Trust no one
Never rely on anyone else
The lone shogun
I am a solitary warrior
Rugged tim boots stompa
Wearing sturdy boots and walking with confidence
Damaging lyrical mass destruction launcher
Spitting powerful and destructive lyrics
Nothing can calm the quakage
No one can stop the chaos and violence
When I break kid
When I become successful
Peace to my brothers up north
Sending good wishes to people in prison
Doing state bids
Serving time in state prison
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CLIFFORD SMITH, COREY WOODS, ELGIN EVANDER TURNER, ROBERT F. DIGGS, SUZANNE VALENTINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind