Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan > Reviews > You Best Protect Your Neck Kid

Author's product rating:   

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

Advantages:	Groundbreaking
Disadvantages:	Not Many

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

The Wu-tang clan Released this album to a mass critical acclaim back in 1993. At the time hip hop was all about the emerging west coast scene, with artists like Dr Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg dominating the scene. This was all about to change when the members of the Wu dropped this album.

The album was produced by the Rza, a full time Wu-tang member and featured the rapping skills of the Gza, Ol Dirty B'stard,Inspecter Deck, U-God,Ghostface Killa,Raekwon, Method Man and Masta Killa. The Rza producion style was to use a compressed sound for beats and then add in some sound samples from old martial arts movies. These samples are a bit bizzare in places but I feel compliment the mood of the album(whick is pretty dark, by the way) very well.

36 Chambers also spawned the first hit for the collective C.R.E.A.M. or Cash Rules Everything Around Me, Which went on to introduce them to a wider audience. This particular track is often mentioned when "greatest hip hop tracks in the world ever vol 456" type lists are being compiled. Other standout tracks on the album include Tearz, which is a collection of tales of good times, followed by not so good times by people not considering consequences of their actions. Method Man gets a track all to himself which is proceded by the group discussing torture methods(?).

While this album is a classic it may be worth mentioning that there is some pretty choice language on it, so if you were buying for younger listeners it may be worth checking it out yourself first.

Wu has gone on since to be an international brand, with its own clothing brand (Wu wear) and countless albums relaeased by the members of the clan. All are not as great as this one but others i would recommend include

The Gravediggaz - The Pick, The Sicle and The Shovel.

The Gza - Liquid Swords

Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Check them all out

R.I.P. O'DB