Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is celebrating its 25th anniversary. More than two decades later, the group’s classic debut stands as one of the most iconic albums in not just Hip Hop history but music as a whole.
Since their opening salvo arrived in 1993, the group’s empire has expanded exponentially. Fruitful solo careers, countless affiliates, the Wu-Wear brand and much more have all prospered thanks to the landmark album that is 36 Chambers.
To commemorate the Wu-Tang’s anniversary, HipHopDX looks back at the legendary crew’s first LP to highlight some of the best lyrics from the original nine members.
GZA – “Clan In Da Front”
“The Wu is coming through, the outcome is critical/Fucking with my style is sort of like a miracle/On 34th Street in the Square of Herald/I gamed Ella, the bitch caught a Fitz like Gerald-/-ine Ferraro, who’s full of sorrow/’Cause the ho didn’t win, but the sun will still come out tomorrow”
Inspectah Deck – “C.R.E.A.M.”
“But I’m still depressed, and I ask what’s it worth/Ready to give up so I seek the old Earth/Who explained working hard may help you maintain/To learn to overcome the heartaches and pain/We got stick-up kids, corrupt cops and crack rocks/And stray shots, all on the block that stays hot”
Ghostface Killah – “Bring Da Ruckus”
“Ghostface catch the blast of a hype verse/My Glock burst, leave in a hearse, I did worse/I come rough, tough like an elephant tusk/Your head rush, fly like Egyptian musk/Aw shit, Wu-Tang Clan spark the wicks and/However I master the trick just like Nixon”
Raekwon – “Can It All Be So Simple”
“Yeah, my pops was a fiend since 16/Shooting that ‘that’s that shit’ in his bloodstream/That’s the life of a grimy, real-life crimey/And niggas know that habit’s behind me/Day one, yo, growing all up in the ghetto/Now I’m a weed fiend jetting to Palmetto”
Masta Killa – “Da Mystery Of Chessboxin”
“This technique attacks the immune system/Disguised like a lie, paralyzing the victim/You scream as it enters your bloodstream/Erupts your brain from the pain these thoughts contain”
Method Man – “Shame On A Nigga”
“Yo RZA, yo razor, hit me with the major/The damage, my Clan understand it be flavor/Gunning, humming, coming at ya/First I’m gonna get ya, once I got ya, I gat ya/You could never capture the Method Man’s stature/For rhyme and for rapture, got niggas resigning, now master”
Ol’ Dirty Bastard – “Protect Ya Neck”
“Straight up and down, that shit is packed jam/You can’t slam, don’t let me get fool on him, man/The Ol’ Dirty Bastard is dirty and stinking/Ason Unique rolling with the night of the creeps/Niggas be rolling with a stash, ain’t saying cash/Bite my style, I’ll bite your muthafuckin’ ass”
RZA – “Tearz”
“I picked him up, then I held him by his head/His eyes shut, that’s when I knew he was/Aw man, how do I say goodbye?/It’s always the good ones that have to die/Memories in the corner of my mind/Flashbacks, I was laughing all the time/I taught him all about the bees and birds/But I wish I had a chance to sing these three words”
U-God – “Da Mystery Of Chessboxin”
“My Hip Hop will rock and shock the nation/Like the Emancipation Proclamation/Weak MC’s approach with slang that’s dead/You might as well run into the wall and bang your head”
Listen to Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in its entirety below.
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And ever since, rap has been reduced to mumbles about codeine and ani republican jabs – rappers went from hustlers to fiends, labels bang harder than any gang – but all the industry seems to care about is trump – what a time to be alive
Top 5 albums ever point blank no arguments.
Ol dirtys verse on mystery of chessboxing might be the illest on the whole project.
Not too many rappers spit these kind of bars before. You had rakim and G rap but wu change the whole industry. The cyphers, the slang, the energy, the clothing and branding. Being able to shop solo to different labels. It was a fucking movement that is still running strong. Wu for the children
Ever since I first listened to the album 25 years ago and watched all of the videos, I always have an image in my head of a cold winter’s night in Staten Island, hanging out in front of the projects and hoppin inside a Mazda MPV.
Brick da ruckus rly? How can u disrespect this milestone and make a typo like that
This album is a top 3 of all time. Straight up.
36 Chambers is what hip hop is to me. One simply can not make more important album not just in rap but in music general idc if that’s just me. This lp is my whole life. Wu Tang is for the children. Again n again.
RZA verse on Tearz is mad underrated… shit bring me to tears every time
“Rough like Timberland wear, yeah!”
Greatest hiphop album of all time.
I mean “Enter the 36” not Protect Ya Neck.
I’ll sew your asshole close and keep feeding you…and feeding you…and feeding you…and feeding you! Method Man
I’ll sew your asshole close and keep feeding you…and feeding you…and feeding you…and feeding you! Meth
Ice cold that was shit! Get ready for the next classic from the wu.
Lame Corny Nonsense, I’d we’re talking lyrical madness Jay Electronica all day. Playboi Carti and Uzi Vert could slaughter these losers
LMFAO!!! Gayboy Retadi and Lil Suzi Skirt are super whack!!!! Bet that no one will be talkin bout their whack albums 25 years later. You obviously don’t know s#!+ bout real hip hop; time for you to STFU and sit you little dumb a$$ down. LMAO!!!
You sir are an idiot.
Lollllll this article sucks, inspectah decks triumph verse is the most iconic verse in hiphop history and they didnt post it?
It’s not on Enter the 36 chambers dummy.
You sound stupid obviously you know nothing about real hip hop but only the garbage of today 25 yrs from now knowbody will remember any of the artist you just meantioned meanwhile Wu tang clan are first ballad h.o.f members!!!!