"Enter The Wu-Tang" (36 Chambers) came out in 1993 as the debut album from the Staton island Hip Hop crew, Wu-Tang Clan. The crew who consisted of U-God, Inspectah Deck, ODB (deceased), Ghostface Killah, GZA, Method Man, RZA, Raekwon and Masta Killah were groundbreaking as they broke through with a hardcore underground sound to re-mould the way that East Coast Hip Hop would be done thereafter.
1. "Bring Da Ruckus"
Bringing the high-quality from the start of the release, you get a killer cut from the group which gets them coming out with some of the most hardcore material to really put an impact on listners who perhaps wouldn't expect to be hit with such in-your-face raps from four of the MCs, and rough beats from RZA.
**Five Stars**
2. "Shame On A N***a"
ODB is the first that you hear from for this on, and with his gravelly voice, you have to take notice as he comes with unorthodox words, which range greatly in its cntent and don't seem to relate to each other with that great a significance. Follwoing this, you have some more standard work form Meth' and Raekwon, who both offer original takes on the music
that has come before them in the Hip Hop genre.
**Five Stars**
3. "Clan In Da Front"
The group enforce their great power in this one as they rap with great urgency on a track which has GZA do things all on his won with some beats from RZA, who offers the type of head-bopping production which perfectly matches the expectatctions of the East Coast Hip Hop material that they represent (and to some degree) pioneered.
**Five Stars**
4. "Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber"
This is the original to a track which is re-done for the final track on the labum, and I must say that the second version is a great improvemnt on this. Here all the focus is on the lyrics, and so you have to pay full attention to this aspect of things, as opposed to later on where the beats ease you into things and offer aid. .
**Three Stars**
5. "Can It Be So Simple"
I wasn't feeling this one too much, and I felt that it was one of two tracks which let down what would be a flawless release. All of the focus is put upon two members of the nine-man crew, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah , and for me, their lyrics need to be slpet on (or at least for longer than the rest) and so you have to work for enjoyment in it.
After a quick comparison with swordfighting and chess in a sample from the "Shaolin & Wu Tang" film which inspired their work, you get a track which has seven members of the crew showing how they use this in their own work, and dipaly it clearly with great word-play and unstoppable flows.
**Four Stars**
7. "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F Wit"
This one seems to take on from where the opneing track started as ou have them coming out with even more hardcore, Gangsta Rap-styled rhymes on top of the "Impeach the President" break (which seems to be the perfect setting to get it going. RZA is the amin attraction here, and as well as producing it alongside Method Man, he raps in most of the tune too.
**Five Stars**
8. "C.R.E.A.M."
This track is an undeniable classic for the Hip Hop genre as a whole. It gets them doing a track called "Cash Rules Everything Around Me", and it gets them explainign this statement for the whole of the tune as they explain how this (or rather the lack of it) has shaped their life, espeically in the early years of their lives.
**Five Stars**
9. "M-E-T-H-O-D Man"
Following a short skit which gets the crew describing their unique methods to torture people, you get a solo track by Method Man, where he completely rips tings apar with this opportunaity to show off his hardcore lyrical skills and originality in his delivery and wordplay. RZA beats are hard, and exactly what is needed to drive the artist's work.
**Five Stars**
10. "Protect Ya Neck"
This is a hard track for them, and one of the singles from the record as it gets the mos varied roster of Clansmen as all apart from Masta Killah gets a verse to themself, and bring more a of stuff that made them so great. The thing is filled withsurprises as you are refreshed by a new rapper on each verse, and it really excite you.
**Four Stars**
11. "Tearz"
I have to say that this is amongst the weakest tracks that you find on the release and with so many high-quality tracks, it stands out quite significantly, but for all the wrong reasons as it gets them performing a rather average song that only seems to keep things together with the hard beat from RZA.
**Three Stars**
12. "Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber" (Part II)
Here is a revisited version to the track from earlier on in the album, and here they kick in in a big way whilst rapping out the lyrics yet again and putting these to improved beats from the RZA, who take things to a much higher level, from what was a pretty average track before it. I'm glad that they chose to do this one again, as they make fill use of the lyrics this time around.
**Four Stars**
This album is rightfully considered a classic for Hip Hop, and has them break through in a dramatic fashion with groundbreaking use of the Hardcore Hip Hop style, which gets them use their lyrics in a way that hadn't really been explored up to that point. This album shaped the sound of the New York and Philadelphia Hip Hop scene ever since, so you cannot deny its significance to the world today.
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This debut revolutionized hip-hop (and launched half a dozen solo careers), as much for ... more
The RZA's raw barrage of off-kilter, off-key loops and sound effects as for its elliptically violent lyrics. Martial arts--at least as they appear in kung fu movies...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Bring Da Ruckus Shame on a nigga Clan in da front Wu Tang : 7th Chamber Can it be so ... more
simple Da mystery of chessboxin' Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit C.R.E.A.M. Method Man Protect ya neck Tearz Wu Tang : 7th Chamber - Part II Method Man (Skunk mix...
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Advantages: Incredible Lyrics, Rza Production usually intact, Nas and Redman Appearances Disadvantages: ODB is still MIA, Busta Rhymes, Too Much Cappadonna, Some Below Average or Horrible Tracks
bigdiship-hop 17.08.2004 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of W, The - Wu-TangClan
Advantages: Nice guest rappers like Ghostface and Raekwon turn up at AFTERPARTY and THE TURN respectively. Disadvantages: The lyrics from Method man are disgusting and the musical production is revolting! SAY WHAT?
Jan 7th, 2009
exceptional by (4%):
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