Early Facts You Need To Know About The Wu-Tang Clan

The Foundation

The early industry roots of the Wu-Tang Clan start with the group’s front man, founder, and producer, the RZA, and his cousin, the Genius (also known as The GZA).

In 1991, two years before the release of the clan’s debut album, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), rapper the RZA was signed to Tommy Boy Records as Prince Rakeem where he released the single and video “Ooh I Love You Rakeem.” The song and video were both in stark contrast to the grittiness of the Wu-Tang debut.

“Ooh I Love You Rakeem” — with its bouncy horns and chanted “we love you Rakeem” hook— sees a clean-cut Robert Diggs as the slick ladies man sporting a tuxedo in the song's video. According to the Village Voice, Rakeem signed a single deal with Tommy Boy with an option for a full album .

“RZA intended ‘Ooh I Love You Rakeem’ to be the label-placating, radio-friendly song that was required of all early ’90s rap records. While he first sparked the label’s interest as the rugged Shaolin dude we know today, his reputation at the label as a charming ladies’ man resulted in the push for a more romantic introduction.”

After the song failed commercially Rakeem was dropped by Tommy Boy.

GZA also released a project in 1991 titled “Words From The Genius” on Cold Chillin’ Records.

“I don’t think the time that he came to Cold Chillin’ was the perfect time for him,” Juice Crew member and Cold Chillin’ artist Kool G. Rap said in Goin’Off  by Ben Merlis. ”If he had been there closer to the mid 1980’s when me, Kane and Craig G got there he would have been more affiliated with the Juice Crew and he would have gotten a better shot. He was just on the label, so he didn’t get none of the momentum that the Juice Crew would get. He pretty much had to struggle on his own with a roster of affiliated artists.” 

Easy Mo Bee, who produced Words From The Genius, told Merlis that he has demo tapes by The Genius that contains rhymes that found their way onto Enter The Wu-Tang. “Every time he came to the crib he would bring somebody different”, he recalled. “I remember a young Raekwon tagging along and he also brought this guy named Ason who called himself Ol’Dirty Bastard.

Ol’ Dirty Bastard, or ODB as he would come to be known, was also a cousin to Rakeem and the Genius. The trio once formed a group called Force of The Imperial Master (later known as All In Together Now) before Genius and Rakeem released their 1991 offerings.

The Business

After Rakeem and the Genius were free of their respective record deals, Rakeem vowed not to seek out another deal based on the structure of the deals that he and his cousin signed to previously. Rakeem, who had changed his name to the RZA, gathered the best MC’s in New York City’s Staten Island and joined them with his cousins.

"If you keep eating McDonald's, you gonna get sick” he told NPR regarding the formulation of the clan. "You need a real home-cooked meal. And I knew that that would be healthier. And that's what Wu-Tang was: It was a home-cooked meal of Hip-Hop. Of the real people." 

The RZA named his new collective the Wu-Tang Clan based off of the bad guys in one of his favorite martial arts movies.

"I thought that Wu-Tang was the best sword style," he said. "The best sword-style of martial arts, and the tongue is like a sword. And so I say that we have the best lyrics so therefore, we are the Wu-Tang Clan."

Steve Rifkind had just formed Loud Records and when he heard the Wu-Tang’s independently pressed single “Protect Ya’ Neck” on the radio he became interested in signing the group. RZA was able convince Rifkind to sign the entire group for $60,000, but in an unprecedented move he also convinced Rifkin to allow the individual group members to act as free agents signing to other labels, under the Wu banner. RZA’s goal was to spread the groups signature sound to as many labels as possible and he did just that, securing 5 major label deals for Wu members at a time when only six major labels existed. More than seven group albums and dozens of individual albums later the Wu-Tang is one of the most recognizable names and logos in music conquering the silver screen, fashion, music and television. 

More Facts about The Wu-Tang Clan

The Wu-Tang Clan is a legendary Hip-Hop group from Staten Island with some members like ODB, GZA, and Masta Killa coming from Brooklyn, New York.

The group has nine members: RZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, Raekwon, GZA, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard.

Their debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) included hit tracks such as "Protect Ya Neck" and "C.R.E.A.M." 

They were nominated for a Grammy for their second studio album, Wu-Tang Forever. 

Many members went on to release successful solo albums, such as Method Man's Tical, Ghostface Killah's Ironman, Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, and GZA's Liquid Swords.

The story of the Wu-Tang Clan is documented in the Hulu TV series Wu-Tang: An American Saga.

The Wu-Tang album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin was released as a one-of-a-kind collector's item, with only one copy produced.

"The Wu-Tang Manual" is a book written by RZA and Chris Norris, a guide to the group's history and philosophy.

Wu-Tang Clan is still releasing music, including A Better Tomorrow and Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.

"Triumph" remains one of their most iconic tracks, featuring all group members showcasing their lyrical prowess.