Wu-Tang Clan Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) CD

Wu-Tang Clan: Prince Rakeem "The RZA" (rap vocals, programming); The Method Man, U-God, Rebel Ins, Shallah Raekwon, Ghost Face Killer, Ol' Dirty Bastard, The Genius "The GZA," Masta Killa (rap vocals).
Additional personnel: The 4th Disciple (scratches).
Recorded at Firehouse Studio, New York.
Along with Dr. Dre's The Chronic, the Wu-Tang Clan's debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), was one of the most influential rap albums of the '90s. Its spare yet atmospheric production -- courtesy of RZA -- mapped out the sonic blueprint that countless other hardcore rappers would follow for years to come. It laid the groundwork for the rebirth of New York hip-hop in the hardcore age, paving the way for everybody from Biggie and Jay-Z to Nas and Mobb Deep. Moreover, it introduced a colorful cast of hugely talented MCs, some of whom ranked among the best and most unique individual rappers of the decade. Some were outsized, theatrical personalities, others were cerebral storytellers and lyrical technicians, but each had his own distinctive style, which made for an album of tremendous variety and consistency. Every track on Enter the Wu-Tang is packed with fresh, inventive rhymes, which are filled with martial arts metaphors, pop culture references (everything from Voltron to Lucky Charms cereal commercials to Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were"), bizarre threats of violence, and a truly twisted sense of humor. Their off-kilter menace is really brought to life, however, by the eerie, lo-fi production, which helped bring the raw sound of the underground into mainstream hip-hop. Starting with a foundation of hard, gritty beats and dialogue samples from kung fu movies, RZA kept things minimalistic, but added just enough minor-key piano, strings, or muted horns to create a background ambience that works like the soundtrack to a surreal nightmare. There was nothing like it in the hip-hop world at the time, and even after years of imitation, Enter the Wu-Tang still sounds fresh and original. Subsequent group and solo projects would refine and deepen this template, but collectively, the Wu have never been quite this tight again. ~ Steve Huey
The Wu-Tang Clan seemed to come out of nowhere when they released their first independent single, "Protect Ya Neck." To the industry's surprise, it sold over 10,000 copies and enabled this conceptually innovative crew to land a deal with RCA. ENTER THE WU-TANG (36 CHAMBERS) is the first effort to "take you on" the full "lyrical high" of the Wu-Tang--eight "killer bees" who stem from that forgotten borough of New York City, Staten Island.
Prince Rakeem "The RZA" may dominate the loosely-based group's production chamber, but the success of the Wu-Tang should be credited to all. "Clan In Da Front" gives The Genius (aka "The GZA") the opportunity to prove to critics of his former solo career that he's far from played out. To the liking of many hardcore ruffnecks, "Shame On A Nigga" unites the Clan's most distinctive vocalists, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man and Raekwon The Chef; and fellow members Inspector Deck, Ghost Face Killer and U-God join forces on the album's highlight, "Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'." Both cuts prove the Wu-Tang to be the most lyrically diverse rap group on the streets today.
The Clan's alliances in the hip-hop community have already brought about crazy recognition to their brother-artists (The Gravediggaz, Shyheim aka The Rugged Child, Method Man's solo work), showing that the Wu-Tang's influence can be found in both the studio and the market-place. So, while they may have been dissed in previous incarnations, the Wu-Tang Clan understand that power comes from unity and that their's is far-reaching; or as they put it, "we form like Voltron."Rolling Stone (4/7/94, p.73) - 3 1/2 Stars - Good Plus - "...Wu-Tang make underground rap: low on hype and production values, high on the idea that indigence is an integral part of blackness....It's not enough to rhyme like have-nots and look like have-nots. They've got to sound like have-nots..."
Spin (9/99, p.131) - Ranked #22 in Spin Magazine's "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s."
Entertainment Weekly (12/17/93, p.70) - "...With its rumble jumble of drumbeats, peppered with occasional piano plunking, ENTER has a raw, pass-the-mike flavor we haven't heard since rap was pop's best-kept secret...." - Rating: A
Q (12/99, p.82) - Included in Q Magazine's "90 Best Albums Of The 1990s."
The Wire (10/01, p.44) - "...RZA was building a new house for HipHop, a place to mourn and think and wander..."
Vibe (12/99, p.158) - Included in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century
The Source (2/94, p.73) - "...This is not just another rap album with gangsta themes and gun smoke. [ENTER THE WU-TANG] is the manifestation of classic kung-fu type styles infected with the realities of ghetto life/death and strong Old School b-boy memories....A throwback to the days of 1986-87 when rap was filled with hones, greatness and skill..."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.59) - Ranked #62 in Mojo's "100 Modern Classics" -- "The RZA's atmospheric production spliced bullet chamber beats with eerie piano'n'string motifs..."