Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Wu-Tang Ain't Nuttin' To F*@k With!

If your a Hip Hop Culturist & Activist like myself...this album is a must have. Either on cassette or cd, you'll play this album from start to end without fast-fowarding anything.
-Bugzee One of Uncontrolled Substance November 29, 2008

Still great

Once in My life (the 90's to be accurate) I listened to nothing but hip-hop. That period is over a long while ago, and lot's of the albums I owned I couldn't listen to ever again! One of the great exceptions is the debut of Wu-Tang Clan, that really holds up well more than ten years later. What I really liked about their music, and still does, is not only their quirky idea of sampling sound-bits from chop-sockey films. It was even more their minimalistic, raw and kinda gritty sound. Most of the tracks were made of only one small sample and a drum beat. And all of the rappers are good, and could deliver some surprising kicking lyric. Check tracks like 'Tearz', 'Protect Ya Neck' and 'Clan in Da Front', that's it! Just forget the latest flops from the clan and go straight for the 36 chambers of death! August 24, 2008

A Dirty, Grimmy - Hip Hop Juggernaut Masterpiece

A little F.Y.I. - the facts I'm gonna drop, are not assumptions, I got them from RZA, and other Clan members in interviews.

Dr. Dre's The Chronic ('92) and Snoop Dogg's Doggy Style ('93) were the two rap albums that stood out the most (sales/public wise) when this was released. Wu Tang, out of nowhere came, brought the ruckus and helped put New York back on the map, thanks to college radio, a little airplay on Yo MTV Raps, and most importantly ... skills, and originality. The West Coast for the most part, boasted about degrading women, selling narcotics, and murdering fellow human beings. All of which basically encourages non prosperous lives, jail, and even death (I must add, that I'm not knocking on those albums. The chronic was one of the first rap albums I ever got, I'm just stating the lyrical content.) Then you got Wu Tang, who have classic battle rap lines (which is traditional in Hip Hop) and lyrics that cover REALITY, not FANTASY/NEGATIVITY. A few examples; "Can It Be All So Simple" deals with the outcome's of street life. It was very necessary to have Rae and Ghost hold the fort down on that track, being that those two partipated in that lifestyle more than the other members. Then you got C.R.E.A.M. which deals with poverty, and certain things people will do to get out of it. Rae, and Deck brief up their life story's in each of their verses. I love the chrous/acronym of it "cash rules everything around me" Indeed we can all relate to that - money does conrol people. People will do wicked, shaddy acts to get it, people will go through hell for it. Just look around. Finally we got "Tearz." All the members were scheduled to record a song together, but only Ghost and RZA showed up. The rest were either A.) in jail, or B.) were too broke to pitch in their share for studio time. So they said f**k it, we'll do a song without them, the outcome - "Tearz." The beat, and lyrics (in my opinion)are straight up flawless. The topic as well, which deals with dealing with the death's of peers, and loved one's - something obviously quite common in the inner city. I've done my research on Wu Tang, and finding out what was going on with them when they made this, explains the album alot more. If you're at all interested in reading up on Wu, I must recomend "the Wu Tang Mannual" and "Check The Technique." "Check The Technique" has a very long chapter covering all the stories, and mythologies behind this album.

Finally, I must go to RZA's production. RZA mc'd before he got into producing, but was always dissapointed with other producers ways of doing things. They'd make a beat, then bounce - expecting him to work around it. RZA would tell them they should work, so that the beat, and the versus are completely synchronized. After searching for a producer who would be willing to take this approach, and finding no one, RZA decided he'd do it himself. He spent endless time studying production, and instead of immulating the producers he liked best, he decided he'd be INFLUENCED by them, and not COPY them - something Hip Hop acts should take notes on now of days. Personally, I absolutely love the production in this. It definately isn't pretty. It's rugged, and raw, and helps formulate the whole aura of this masterpiece.

If you've read this far, I can only assume you own this. If you don't, and are willing to give it a shot - just a heads up; DON'T expect a lavish, polished, party vibe for this album. You'll miss the whole thing if you do. Now of days, the cool thing is to dress up fancy, make songs for the clubs, and try to impress women with soft lyrics (if you haven't realized this already.) Just listen for yourself, this is completely opposite. check out Hip Hop/rap albums that came out in '93, and just compare this to whatever you checked out. This is truely an original piece of work. August 14, 2008

The cornerstone of east coast hip hop

I should not have to write a review for this album For this album compares to the Beetles White album or Mozart. what fans (and Non Fans) of the Wu-tang Clan do not really realize is this album was a necessity for the east coast during this time. a lot of artist and albums after Enter the 36 pretty much copied this formula of lyrics, Beat making, and even group affiliation. back then it was unheard of to have Nine Emcee's (who all had an exceptional level of skill) in a group. but since this album, you had the boot camp clique, Flipmode squad, terror squad, and the dirty dozen (commonly known as D 12). Lyrics took a dramatic turn to be way more metaphorical. Rhyme schemas were influenced, story telling became more dramatic, Beats became more raw & more complexed. Alot of producers today are Directly or indirectly influenced by the Rza. The rza was the first beat maker who put a singing samples over lyrics. He was also the first to infuse far eastern samples and sounds with raw hip hop drums and bass. I can go on for days about this album but for the people who have not heard this album it is O.K . because this is one of the great albums of the 20th cenutry that will be studied in furture years to come. May 29, 2008

Torchbearers of the Golden Era

If you think back, the years leading up all the way through the middle of 1993 had been dominated by the West Coast, and rightfully so.

You had one of the best beatmakers on either coast in Dr. Dre, produce an outright classic of an album (The Chronic). His protege (and probably the world's best known rap artist), Snoop Doggy Dogg goes on and produces another classic LP in " Doggystyle". Add to that mix urban film classics such as " Boyz N Da Hood" and "Menace To Society", and the West Coast owned the scene until...Wu-Tang Clan drops "Enter The Wu-Tang".

Now it must be said, "Enter" is far from a perfect album. As a matter of fact, I heard more miscues on this album then any album I could ever remember. For example, listen to the beginning of C.R.E.A.M. as Raekwon tries to initiate the song w/o the beat. They make up for this with raw energy, action packed rhymes, and innovative production.

That raw energy can be found early and often in songs like " Bring Da Ruckus" and " Shame On A N!&&@". Now, this album has an early intermission, but with that comes the classic "Can It All Be So Simple". This is one of those joints you just sit back to with a drink and just think about yesteryear.

The next two tracks do a great job of setting the stage for one of the best acronyms in the English speaking world with "C.R.E.A.M.". I mean, the song is perfect, from the lyrics to the hook, and don't get me started on the staggering piano loop. RZA's beats on this album are some of the genre's best.

Personally, I would rather have seen the album end with " Protect Ya Neck" instead of a weak song like " Part Two", but that's me being picky.

All in all, this is a good album that sets the stage for classic LP's such a Liquid Swords and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Cop it and see the progression I speak of.
April 6, 2008

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