The Wu-Tang Clan
were the most influential and groundbreaking hip-hop act to emerge in the '90s. With their debut album, 1993's
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
, the group introduced a distinctive sound and style, with dark, atmospheric backing tracks (often punctuated by samples from vintage martial arts movies) and streetwise raps from a nine-man team of gifted MCs whose diverse styles complemented one another while maintaining strongly individual personalities (most of the
Wu-Tang
crew would pursue successful solo careers while still working with the group, including
Method Man
,
Ghostface Killer
GZA
RZA
, and
Ol' Dirty Bastard
).
The Essential Wu-Tang Clan
is a collection that includes 29 standout tracks from the albums
Wu-Tang Forever
The W
Iron Flag
, as well as rare soundtrack selections and compilation cuts. ~ Mark Deming