Wu-Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Clan's 1993 and 1997 Albums

Quote
"Crime pays; the law's long arm be trying to strong-arm; walking time bombs before I bomb firearm. . . . warfare is inevitable; rebel; I hold several government officials. . . . like Nat Turner create a spectacle; I may die in the scuffle but I'm taking forty devils";
"The City"; Wu-Tang Clan, Wu-Tang Forever, 1997, Loud Records, Wu-Tang Productions, RCA Records, BMG Distribution, BMG Entertainment, Bertelsmann AG.

Article
      From the beginning, with their debut album, the Wu-Tang Clan rappers used violent imagery to tell rival rappers that Wu-Tang Clan were the best, and as usual with "gangsta" rap music, their lyrics blurred the line between what could be two distinct messages. A listener could interpret the violent imagery as being threats to destroy the popularity of rival rappers or as being threats to harm them physically or to kill them. Because the line is blurred by "gangsta" rappers, they really are relaying both messages.

      Besides making vivid death threats, the rappers use aggressive expressions to describe their musical style and their influence. For examples, some words and expressions used by them to describe their rap style are as follows: dangerous, hazardous, hardcore, wild, berserk, "bizarro," "vicious act of terrorism," "P.L.O. style," rugged, "buckus style," the ruckus, "murderous material," "thoughts that bomb," "shit like math," and "drop that science." Some of the ways in which they describe themselves are as follows: clan of terrorists; "I'm terror," from Track 2; "crews be acting like they gangs," from Track 2; camouflaged large niggas; hell-raisers; rap assassins, sorcerers, "Killa Bees," Navy Seals, and rap fanatics.

      Black identity phrases come in the following expressions: Egyptian musk, slave-man boots, niggas, knotty-headed niggas, ghetto, projects, slums, Spike Lee's movie Do the Right Thing, Afro, young black youth, runaway slave, addressing men in the second person as "black," and "kicking rhymes like Jim Kelly or Alex Haley." (Jim Kelly is a black martial artist who starred in many movies, and Alex Haley was the author of Roots which became a TV mini-series and of a biography about Malcolm X which was made into a Spike Lee film.) Black alliances that they praise are Zulu Nation and Nation of the Gods and Earths, and the rappers refer to themselves and to other men as "gods." Affiliations with Nation of Islam doctrines come faintly with the following phrases: referring to themselves as "civilized," from Track 3; saying that they are "like the Tribe of Shabazz," from Track 4; referring to Brooklyn as "Medina," from Track 5; referring to whites as "devils," from Track 6; and referring to themselves as gods.

      The smoking of marijuana is promoted on several tracks, and on one of them, they dream of getting enough money through crime to start a marijuana farm. ("Can It Be All So Simple.") One track gives a matter-of-fact account of one who grows up committing crimes, dealing drugs including taking in large shipments of cocaine from "across seas," and "sticking up white boys in [basket]ball courts." Next, the Wu-Tang Clan rappers say that young black men who deal drugs are those "who never had much." The rappers then speak of giving up the drug dealing and of telling young blacks that instead of dealing drugs, their "working hard may help [them] maintain." However, near the track's close, Wu-Tang Clan rappers say that young blacks will not listen because they were "neglected," and that the way of life of violent young blacks "gots to be accepted" because "life is hectic." The track ends with the following phrases: "niggas gots to do what they gotta do to get a bill. . . . because we can't just get by no more. . . . cash rules everything around me; cream, get the money, dollar-dollar bill, y'all, yeah." ("CREAM.")

      "Gangsta" rappers often designate as a "snake" any person who is perceived by the rappers to be diminishing the popularity of specific "gangsta" rappers or of "gangsta" rap in general. Wu-Tang Clan threatens to "bring death to a snake when he least expect[s]." ("Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber.") The RZA says that his voice flows like Christ's when he "speaks the gospel," and that the music has an effect like "African drums." He is crazy and flamboyant, he says, for "the rap enjoyment," and that as a consequence, his "Clan increase like black unemployment." ("Protect Ya Neck.") A rapper says that "Wu-Tang is coming through with full-metal jackets [as a] God squad" in order to give "Bernhard Goetz what he deserves." ("Clan in da Front.") A rapper says that he does not speak like "the devil," for instead he is "the god." The following is said about the effect they want to have on whites in America: "I'm gonna give it to you . . . raw like cocaine straight from Bolivia; my hip hop will rock and shock the nation like the Emancipation Proclamation. . . . I'm making devils cower to the Caucus Mountains." ("Da Mystery of Chessboxin.")

      Of the samples that were licensed for use on their album, two were of GRAMMY notoriety, namely "The Way We Were," performed by Gladys Knight & The Pips and written by GRAMMY Award winners Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, and Marvin Hamlisch, and namely "As Long As I've Got You," performed by the Charmels and written by David Porter and GRAMMY Award winner Isaac Hayes. In the CD booklets, the Wu-Tang Clan sends out "peace" to the following artists and black alliances: Buddha Monk, Nasty Nas, Shyheim, 60 Sec. Assassin, Killah Priest, Master-Wu, Gangstarr, A Tribe Called Quest, Redman, Lord Finesse, Onyx, Ultramagnetic, Funkmaster Flex, Killarmy, The Source magazine, Kid Capri, Red Alert, Gravediggaz, Doug E. Fresh, Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, The Nation of the Gods and Earths, "The Mighty Zulu Nation," King Sun, Rikers Island, Alkaholiks, Lord Buddha, the Bushwick click, Run DMC, the Rebel Ins, and Yellowman.

      Wu-Tang Clan rapper RZA and Sunz of Man rappers joined in a 1995 release which promoted Nation of Islam and the Million Man March and which called on gangbangers to kill whites. (One Million Strong.) GZA and Ol Dirty Bastard each came out with solo albums in 1995. On Ol Dirty Bastard's album, Method Man makes clear his affiliation with 5 Percent Nation doctrines, saying that he fears that the 85 Percent do not have a "clue." In the next phrases, he goes on to associate himself with the Nation of Islam doctrine about Yakub, a black scientist, as the extremist group puts it, who created whites 6000 years ago. 5 Percent Nation and Nation of Gods and Earths carry on Nation of Islam's doctrine about the idea that black men are gods, and that whites trick blacks by telling them that God is unseen, and Method Man sends out the message as follows: "a mystery God, that's the work of Yacub." Ghostface Killah came out with a solo album in 1996.

      Wu-Tang Clan's second group album came out in 1997, and inside the booklets, pictures of the main rappers show them to be RZA "The Abbot," GZA "The Genius," Dirty "Osirus," U-God "Golden Arms," Masta Killa "High Chief," Method Man "Hott Nikkels," Raekwon "Lex Diamonds," Ghostface Killah "Ironman," and Inspectah Deck "Fifth Brother." Their violent racism is now less disguised and comes in abundance.

      The opening tracks sets the tone with doctrines from Nation of Islam and 5 Percent Nation. Blacks must stop killing blacks, listeners are told, and blacks must rise up for "the revolution." "The revolutionary war," the rappers say, is a "mental war" defined by Malcolm X as "the battle between God and devil." Blacks are the "original man, the Asiatic black man, the maker," "the cream of the planet earth," and the "father of civilization," and blacks, numbering "400 million," want to be "free." Blacks must get "the devil" out of their minds. Wu-Tang Clan rappers say that they do not believe that "man came from monkeys," and anyone who does believe is "dumb, deaf, and blind." Whites are referred to as "ape man" and "ape woman," and in a follow up reference to Nation of Islam's doctrine of Yakub, about whom it is believed was a renegade black scientist who created the white race 6000 years ago, Wu-Tang Clan condemns whites to death as follows: "you have a mankind that has a beginning to him, and his ending is about to come." A background voice talks about "the white man." Wu-Tang Clan makes it seem as if blacks today personally suffered through slavery by use of the word "us," and the way in which it is done is as follows: "it was a 100% of us, save the children, that came on the slave ships." "85 Percent of our future" are "uncivilized," Wu-Tang Clan says, and they are "poison-animal eaters," meaning that they eat pork. The 85 Percent are "slaves of the mental powers." "The 10 Percent" are called the "rich slave-makers of the poor," and they "teach the poor lies." In particular, the 10 Percent teach the 85 Percent that God cannot be seen and that one must look into the sky to see God. "The 5 Percent" are called "the poor righteous people who do not believe" what the 10 Percent teaches, and the 5 Percent must teach the 85 Percent that "the true and living god is supreme, being [the] black man from Asia." The 10 Percent are called the "blood suckers of the poor," while the 5 Percent are civilized and are known as "Muslims sons." Wu-Tang Clan says that "there is only one revolution." ("Wu-Revolution" from disc one.)

      The rappers speak of "the Indian that sold Manhattan to the white man," and they tell listeners that Wu-Tang Clan will "return like Jesus when the whole world need [them]." ("Reunited.") They speak of their influence as "grenades raid[ing] the airwaves" as being able to "spark friction" and cause "pure destruction." They say that they have "zero tolerance." Referring to Nation of Islam beliefs in black dominance and in the first race of being blacks, Wu-Tang Clan rappers say that they are of "dominant intelligence, Wu original; true colors step from the melanin." Calling themselves "crowd seducer[s]" and "black men that struck oil." ("For Heavens Sake--featuring CappaDonna.") Method Man says that he creates a "murder track," and he speaks of Armageddon as follows: "death come in the scripture; 2001 bring the rap Armageddon." Masta Killa explicitly refers to whites as devils and also to Nation of Islam's racial Armageddon as follows: "as my brothers and I reign rebellious, changing the course of time, devils no longer exist--says God Cypher Divine." The rappers speak of Allah, of using "mathematics as a tool," and of Moses. ("Visionz.")

      Track 10 is dedicated to black men in "lock down [prison]." The "projects" see "constant war" in the "New World Order," says Wu-Tang Clan. The New World Order is called "slave trade" which enforces "minimum wage." Blacks must worry about "threats of enemy conquest" and about "crooked cops." Wu-Tang Clan says that "devils resort to trick-knowledge," and they say that they must "reach a whole nation" of blacks in order to wake them up. They call blacks who are incarcerated "victims." "Youth are injected with serums that lead to skin irritations," they fear, and babies are born disfigured. There is a description of a black-on-black killing, an uncle finding his nephew dead. Wu-Tang Clan asks the following question: "can a devil fool a Muslim nowadays?" Wu-Tang Clan refers to rappers as "Million Man March MC's." Blacks cannot relate to each other because they are in "the devil-mind state." The colors of the US flag are given the following symbolism: "the blue is for the CRIPS; the red is for the Bloods; [and] the white is for the cops." Wu-Tang Clan asks why blacks are fighting for the flag. ("A Better Tomorrow.")

      RZA says that it is "time for the Wu revolution" and that "gods is here to take over this shit." He says that on his side are Killah Priest, Sunz of Man, Killarmy, and Gravediggaz. ("Intro" from disc two.) They say that Allah is "heard and seen everywhere." They say that "innocent black immigrants [are] locked in housing tenements," and that the "85-Percent tenants depend on welfare." Stapleton federal housing project is "a concentration camp." RZA's "third eye" sees the following conspiracies: "babies have microchips inserted into their earlobes; blood is being contaminated; and the FDA is testing poison on the prison population. RZA says that his "occupation [is] to stop the inauguration of Satan [and that] some claim it was Reagan." As a result of his mission, he says, he comes "to slay men." U-God says that Wu-Tang Clan's goal is to "conquer land like Napoleon" did. "Gangsta" rappers refer to the roll of whites in society as "Babylon," and U-God says that Wu-Tang Clan will "cremate the whole Babylon." Referring to blacks as "chosen ones," Wu-Tang Clan rappers say that "chosen ones were holding guns" and will "attack." "The Last Days of time are surely here," he says, and now "snakes and flakes get blown" away by the "righteous" ones. The "divine" minds of the rappers will make blacks unify as one. U-God talks of smoking "a bowl of weed." Blacks who "play with guns" cause the "decreasing" of blacks and make blacks go against their "own." ("Impossible.")

      Crime pays, and blacks "stay hungry for money, drugs, and guns." Relaying a paranoia about a plot to kill off blacks in the projects, Wu-Tang Clan warn that a "military chopper come [to] gun down the slum." "Warfare is inevitable," a rapper forebodes, and so he imagines rebelling and holding several government officials hostage. He says that he creates a "spectacle" which is like what "Nat Turner" did. The rapper fantasizes the following about killing whites: "I may die in the scuffle but I'm taking forty devils." ("The City.") Wu-Tang Clan says that one of their goals is to "free the black man from the enslaved labor." "Niggas ain't" going to understand the lyrics completely until the year 2000, Wu-Tang Clan says, and in that year Wu-Tang Clan will put out its next album. ("Bells of War.") Because the "85 Percent [are] uncivilized" they continue to war with each other in rival gangs. ("Hellz Wind Staff--featuring Street Life.") They speak of "the science of the black man," of "Million Man March screamers," of being "the poor black man," and of having "the black heater [handgun]." They tell listeners that they are "blessed with wisdom of the ancients," that they "strike the cypher," and that they "raise the stakes on snakes." ("Heaterz--featuring CappaDonna.") Wu-Tang Clan rappers say that they are dealing with freedom, justice, and equality, and they advise "niggas [to] go pick up uniforms." ("The Closing.")

      In the CD booklets, "peace" is given out to The Gods and Earths, and to the following artists: Killarmy, Killa Sin, 9th Prince, ShoGun Assason, Dom PaChino, Supreme, 4th Disciple, Sunz of Man, Hell Razah, Prodigal Sunn, Killah Priest, 60 Sec. Assassin, Shyheim, Gravediggaz, LA The Dark Man, and Tim Dog. Raekwon sends out "peace" to "the jail niggas," and he tells them to go to "law libraries" in order to "fool these devils at their own tricks and trades." Inspectah Deck sends out "peace" to the following races: "all my black people, Puerto Ricans, Latinos, [and] all my niggas." Clothing having "Wu-Tang" printed on it is advertised as "Wu-Wear."

References
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Wu-Tang Clan, 1993, BMG/Music, Bertelsmann AG, General Electric.
Wu-Tang Forever, 1997, Wu-Tang Productions, Loud Records, RCA, BMG Distribution, BMG Entertainment, Bertelsmann, General Electric.

Posted at http://home.att.net/~phosphor on June 30, 1999.

Last editing was posted October 7, 1999.

Update: 8-10-99: link to Onyx.

The above article is not a complete summary of Wu-Tang Clan's connections to violently racist music, and readers may want to research and expose more of it.

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