Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan > Reviews > Bring da ruckus. In fact bring it all on

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
Value for Money

Advantages:	Unreal production .  MCs of the highest quality
Disadvantages:	None I just wish the next two could've been as good

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I simply cannot believe that this album is appearing in bargain buckets or on reduced shelves. It is so good it hurts!

Back in 1993 Hip Hop was changing tack. New York was always home of what is now the biggest selling type of music on the globe, but the West Coast was taking over thanks firstly to the gangsta rap of NWA then the G-Funk of Dre, Snoop Warren G etc.

But straight outta Staten Island NYC came the clan. They first dropped a 12inch single which appears on this album entitled Protect Your Neck. How a debut single can be this mature is hard to figure out.

The clan were 8 strong and all eight have their segment on this song, and it was the perfect introduction to their different MCing styles.

Then we saw the album and every song makes you gasp. The opening track "Bring Da Ruckus" is probably the best opening track in the history of music and perfectly describes what was to follow.

But in addition to these two tracks there are eleven more to assault your eardrums. There is not a weak one amongst them, But the oft quoted C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) has the sort of addictive rift that will have you rapping along in your sleep.

The MC skills differ from the high pitched Ghostface Killa to the gruff ODB who of course has since enjoyed solo success in the U.K single charts. In the middle there is the fast rapping of RZA and the sensational talents of Method Man who seems to guest on every rap combos output these days such is his stature in Hip Hop.

But it is the production that is a knock out. RZA has an obsession with Kung Fu and old martial arts movies and samples of these can be heard throughotu the album, together with the swishing of swords. Sounds wierd written down, but just listen and you will be amazed.

Wu-Tang have brought out two albums since this one and there have been numerous solo efforts, but this is really the standout and the performances of all their careers. In fact it could just be the best album ever written.