In the early 90’s East coast rap took a backseat to the West coast scene. Dr. Dre had released “The Chronic”, and along with N.W.A., Snoop and Nate Dogg, he took West coast rap to the mainstream.
While “The Chronic” was a significant debut, soon after that, another group from the opposite coast emerged, blazing a trail for an East Coast comeback that would bring on what many in the industry called “the East Coast Renaissance”.
Wu Tang Clan’s debut album “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” is easily one of the most influential hip-hop albums of all time. RZA’s distinctive production style and Wu Tang’s cast of unique and talented MC’s created the blueprint for hardcore hip-hop and helped revitalize the New York rap scene. The album laid the groundwork for young rappers on the East coast such as Nas, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G. and Mobb Deep.
Released in November 1993 the album's title originates from the martial arts film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. As the group’s de facto leader, RZA produced the entire album and used some eerie, peculiar beats along with a raw sound based on movie clips and soul music samples.
His production, along with the talents of Method Man, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and the rest of the Clan, helped make the album feel completely original.
Every track on the album is packed with fresh, inventive rhymes, which are filled with martial arts metaphors, pop culture references, threats of violence, and a truly twisted sense of humor. The album is great from top to bottom, but “Protect Ya Neck”, “Method Man”, “C.R.E.A.M.”, “Bring da Ruckus” and “"Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta Fuck Wit” stand out above the rest.
“Bring da Ruckus” is the first track on the album, and in a way it epitomizes everything the group wanted to accomplish on “36 Chambers”. The track is a burst of energy as it opens with a martial arts audio clip, leading into the opening line, with RZA emphatically stating: “Bring da motherfuckin ruckus/Bring da mother, bring da motherfuckin ruckus”.
The ferocious opening sets the stage for Ghostface Killah, who has the best verse on the track. He drops some perfectly placed cultural references as he raps: “However, I master the trick just like Nixon/Causin terror, quick damage ya whole era/Hardrocks is locked the fuck up, or found shot/P.L.O. style, hazardous, cause I wreck this dangerous/I blow sparks like Waco, Texas.”
"Method Man" is one of the most unique and original tracks on the album. Method Man the rapper introduces himself in a big way as he spits one of the best, yet simple choruses of all time: “I'm…/M-E-T, H-O-D, Man/ M-E-T, H-O-D, Man.”
Throughout the track Method Man shows off his confidence and bravado as he raps: “Here I am here I am, the Method Man/Patty cake patty cake hey the method man/Don't eat Skippy, Jif or Peter Pan/Peanut butter, Cause I'm not butter/In fact I snap back like a rubber.”
Essentially every track on this album is great, but "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nothing Ta F'Wit” might be the best of the bunch. The track has one of the best beats I have ever heard and RZA spits some truly great lines as he raps: “I be tossin, enforcin, my style is awesome/I'm causin more Family Feud's than Richard Dawson/And the survey said -- ya dead/Fatal Flying Guillotine chops off your fuckin head.”
"C.R.E.A.M." is easily my favorite track on the album. Raekwon and Method Man both spit some great verses, but this track is all about the chorus. Method Man’s gritty East coast drawl is instantly recognizable as he raps: “Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me/C.R.E.A.M./Get the money/Dollar, dollar bill y'all.”
The sound and style of the album became hugely influential in modern hip-hop production, while the group members' explicit, humorous, and free-associative lyrics created a blueprint for future rappers to follow.
“Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” was the start of something truly great in hip-hop, and the album is a definitive classic.
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