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
respect mine
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fuck ya'll niggaz is talkin' bout? (clack clack-cla-clack clack)
Crunchy chump motherfuckas, ya'll niggaz is all pussy
That's my word, ya'll know how the realest niggaz is
Don't let me tell ya'll again, bitch, straight up
I put all this right there, on niggaz in H.T.M.'s son
Aiyo, aiyo, aiyo
All magazines lit, fly life we live
The lingo is to let, ya'll niggaz know, how niggaz rep
I'm set, lightin' the purple in a new jet
Triflin' work, let's murder everything that move on the set
[Method Man]
Goin' back to basics, shit you catch case with
Style laced with, arsonic, before you taste it
Rap matrix, gemini's is two faced it, I heard Rob Based it
"Bad boys" retire out the game just like Mase did
Dish it out and take it
To where I'm bout to go and everybody ain't gon' make it
[Raekwon]
Blow shipments out the rap shit, clap shit
Most of us attack shit, mean Benz, ballin' wit the bad chick
Take over, quick fast, violate, slap shit
And every borough, state, town, prison, map shit
Makeover hoes that blow, they attract dick
Shine on my jims, glow, on the low, slap dick
To every mean queen clean, keep it black chick
My motto, CREAM, green bottle of the phat shit
[Chorus: x 2]
[Interlude: Allah Mathematics scratched samples up (Cappadonna)]
"Brothers respect mine!" - Raekwon
(Uh, uh, what, for real nigga, step the fuck off?)
[Cappadonna]
Ah-yo, Ice Cream, real niggaz in whips
Fur coats, Gucci boots and shit, fly honey dip
Streets and clips is what we live for, rub on the floor
Ox in the jaw, rockin' the four, rugged and raw
Righteous and more, we the gliders, the outsiders
Killa Bee hivers, the big boy drivers
The conivers, the four fivers, survivors
We the livest and carry the heaters, coke is in the meters
Six to eight seaters, circle the mind readers
Pumas, Nikes, and Adidas, hip hop achievers
Love hood rats and love divas, love money, love sex
Love vets, love weed and love wrecks
[Method Man]
All in together now, follow me the Method
Raw individual, the enemy you slept with
No love here, no tender, love and care
But M.C.'s, I'm starvin', niggaz best before
For consumption, for wack assumption
You can catch a bad one or somethin'
From shotgun, you know I'm pza-pza-pumpin'
Jumpin', thumpin', get crunk and
Drunk inside the function
+Uncontrolled+ with the +Substance+
+Beneath the Surface+ there's +Redemption+
For Bobby Digital +Supreme Clientele+ convention, +Nigga Please+
Immobilarity they can't breath til they +Blackout!+
I used to write and smoke L's in the crackhouse
Pull your wig like a potato then I mash out
Check your ego at the door
Better wipe your feet before you step me, or it's yourz!
[Chorus: x 2]
The lyrics of Wu-Tang Clan's "Respect Mine" showcase an unapologetic sense of confidence and dominance. In the intro, Raekwon immediately asserts that those who doubt their power are "crunchy chump motherfuckas" and asserts that "ya'll know how the realest niggaz is." The chorus emphasizes their high-flying lifestyle and their ability to "murder everything that move on the set." The verses further emphasize their dominance, with Method Man rapping about his style being "laced with arsonic" and proclaiming that "everybody ain't gon' make it" where he's headed. Raekwon describes being able to "take over quick fast" and "blow shipments out the rap shit" while also describing his love of money and power ("My motto, CREAM [Cash Rules Everything Around Me], green bottle of the phat shit"). Cappadonna adds his own perspective, describing his love of flashy clothing and cars, as well as his love of women and drugs.
Overall, the lyrics of "Respect Mine" portray the Wu-Tang Clan as a group that is not to be trifled with. They take what they want, live life on their own terms, and enjoy the spoils of their success. It's a classic example of the confident, braggadocious style that has made Wu-Tang Clan one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all time.
Line by Line Meaning
Fuck ya'll niggaz is talkin' bout? (clack clack-cla-clack clack)
What are you all talking about? You're all fake and cowardly, and I won't hesitate to use force against you if necessary.
Crunchy chump motherfuckas, ya'll niggaz is all pussy
You're all weak and pathetic.
That's my word, ya'll know how the realest niggaz is
I'm real and everyone knows it.
Don't let me tell ya'll again, bitch, straight up
Don't make me repeat myself, idiot.
I put all this right there, on niggaz in H.T.M.'s son
I'll take care of business and handle anyone who crosses me or disrespects me.
All magazines lit, fly life we live
We're living the high life and enjoying the benefits of our success.
The lingo is to let, ya'll niggaz know, how niggaz rep
We're making it clear through our lyrics how we represent our crew and our lifestyle.
I'm set, lightin' the purple in a new jet
I'm comfortable and successful, enjoying a luxurious lifestyle and smoking weed on a private jet.
Triflin' work, let's murder everything that move on the set
Let's take care of business and handle anything that opposes us or gets in our way.
Goin' back to basics, shit you catch case with
We're getting back to our roots and doing what we need to do to succeed, sometimes including illegal activities.
Style laced with, arsonic, before you taste it
Our music is powerful and dangerous, with a strong sense of rebellion and aggression.
Rap matrix, gemini's is two faced it, I heard Rob Based it
The rap game can be treacherous and full of phonies, but we've learned to navigate it and succeed in spite of the challenges.
"Bad boys" retire out the game just like Mase did
Fakes and posers can't last long in this game and are quickly exposed and forced to leave.
Dish it out and take it
We can dish out criticism and disrespect, but we're also prepared to take it when it's directed at us.
To where I'm bout to go and everybody ain't gon' make it
I'm headed for success and not everyone can keep up or handle the ride.
Blow shipments out the rap shit, clap shit
We're making big moves and doing whatever it takes to succeed, including violence if necessary.
Most of us attack shit, mean Benz, ballin' wit the bad chick
We're aggressive and unafraid of confrontation, and we enjoy the spoils of our success.
Take over, quick fast, violate, slap shit
We're prepared to take over the game by any means necessary, including violence and aggression.
And every borough, state, town, prison, map shit
We have influence and power in every corner of the world, even in prison.
Makeover hoes that blow, they attract dick
We have a lot of influence over women and can make them more attractive and desirable to men.
Shine on my jims, glow, on the low, slap dick
We have expensive and flashy jewelry, and we enjoy showing it off even if it means attracting negative attention.
To every mean queen clean, keep it black chick
We respect and appreciate strong black women who can handle themselves.
My motto, CREAM, green bottle of the phat shit
Our motto is Cash Rules Everything Around Me, and we enjoy the finer things in life.
"Brothers respect mine!" - Raekwon
We demand respect from everyone, especially other rappers and crews.
Ah-yo, Ice Cream, real niggaz in whips
We're real and authentic, and we enjoy driving around in expensive cars.
Fur coats, Gucci boots and shit, fly honey dip
We have a lot of money and enjoy dressing in expensive and fashionable clothing, as well as being surrounded by attractive women.
Streets and clips is what we live for, rub on the floor
We thrive in the dangerous environments of the streets and will use weapons and violence to protect ourselves.
Ox in the jaw, rockin' the four, rugged and raw
We're strong and raw, unafraid to use weapons and violence to defend ourselves.
Righteous and more, we the gliders, the outsiders
We're different and outside of mainstream society, but we're also righteous and stand up for what we believe in.
Killa Bee hivers, the big boy drivers
We're fierce and powerful, both as a rap collective (the Wu-Tang Clan) and as individuals.
The conivers, the four fivers, survivors
We're clever and determined, and we're able to survive and thrive in even the toughest environments.
We the livest and carry the heaters, coke is in the meters
We're the most exciting and entertaining, and we're not afraid to use guns and violence to defend ourselves.
Six to eight seaters, circle the mind readers
We enjoy flashy and expensive cars, and we're able to read and manipulate people's thoughts and emotions.
Pumas, Nikes, and Adidas, hip hop achievers
We love hip hop culture and are able to succeed and thrive within it, while also being fashionable and trendy.
Love hood rats and love divas, love money, love sex
We have a wide variety of interests and enjoy a lot of different things, including women, money, and sex.
Love vets, love weed and love wrecks
We also enjoy smoking weed and driving around recklessly, and we respect military veterans.
All in together now, follow me the Method
We're working together as a team, and Method Man is leading the way.
Raw individual, the enemy you slept with
Method Man is a unique and powerful individual who can be dangerous if underestimated.
No love here, no tender, love and care
We're tough and unafraid to show aggression and violence, with no room for love or affection.
But M.C.'s, I'm starvin', niggaz best before
Method Man is hungry for success and will do whatever it takes to achieve it, including defeating other rappers.
For consumption, for wack assumption
We're here to destroy other rappers who are weak and unworthy.
You can catch a bad one or somethin'
If you come against us, you'll suffer consequences.
From shotgun, you know I'm pza-pza-pumpin'
We're not afraid to use guns and violence to defend ourselves and take care of business.
Jumpin', thumpin', get crunk and
We enjoy getting pumped up and aggressive, ready to take on anyone who opposes us.
Drunk inside the function
We're not afraid to drink and party, even in dangerous environments.
Uncontrolled+ with the +Substance+
We're wild and unpredictable, fueled by drugs and alcohol.
Beneath the Surface+ there's +Redemption+
Even though we may seem dangerous and violent, there's a deeper layer to who we are and what we stand for.
For Bobby Digital +Supreme Clientele+ convention, +Nigga Please+
We're referencing other successful albums and using them to prove our own success and influence.
Immobilarity they can't breath til they +Blackout!+
We're so powerful and intimidating that other rappers can't even compete with us or breathe easy around us.
I used to write and smoke L's in the crackhouse
We may have come from humble or even dangerous beginnings, but we've risen to the top through hard work and determination.
Pull your wig like a potato then I mash out
We're not afraid to use violent and aggressive tactics to defend ourselves and defeat our opponents.
Check your ego at the door
We demand humility and respect from everyone, even other successful rappers.
Better wipe your feet before you step me, or it's yourz!
If you disrespect us, you'll suffer consequences, and everything you have will belong to us instead.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CLIFFORD SMITH, COREY WOODS, DAVID PORTER, DENNIS D. COLES, GARY E. GRICE, ISAAC HAYES, JASON S. HUNTER, LAMONT JODY HAWKINS, PETER O. PHILLIPS, ROBERT F. DIGGS, RUSSELL T. JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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