Wu-Tang Clan have announced the imminent arrival of a new book called Legacy ahead of the 30th anniversary of the group’s seminal debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).
The sprawling 300-page book, which was announced via a trailer on YouTube, will come housed in a golden globe casket that was designed by legendary sculptor Gethin Jones. Only 36 copies of the book will be sold, which inside will feature rare and never-before-seen images documenting the group’s journey. One of the copies will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s.
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“The Wu-Tang Clan: Legacy delves into the origin of the group, their history and respective journeys,” a press release reads. “Thoroughly and meticulously, this quintessential publication will honor not only the remarkable roster, but the executives, the affiliates, family and pivotable personnel that helped make the Wu-Tang Clan and the Legacy book come to life, unpacking their rich and raw history.”
Each book will be printed, bound and hand-stitched in Italy, and will be hand-signed, numbered and issued with a certificate of authenticity.
RZA added in a statement: “Items dating back hundreds, even thousands of years have graced the floors of Sotheby’s. It’s great that in our own lifetime, we were able to create something that will also grace these floors and be shared with the world.”
Regarded as one of the greatest rap albums of all time, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) dropped on November 9, 1993 and helped New York Hip Hop return to national prominence. Despite its underground status, the album peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 30,000 copies in its first week. By 1995 the project was certified platinum, and in 2018 it reached triple platinum.
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The 30th anniversary of 36 Chambers comes on the heels of Wu-Tang Forever‘s 25th anniversary, which was celebrated with a special edition vinyl reissue back in June.
The group’s sophomore effort was commemorated with a special vinyl pressing that included a lyrical booklet, a silver-colored 7-inch single of “Triumph” with “Heaterz” as the B-side, and a reissue of the album’s double cassette in a slipcase.
Additionally, Wu-Tang also revealed they’d be dropping a new video interview from 1997’s “Triumph” video shoot to further celebrate the occasion. They also announced Wu-Niverse, a series of short documentaries that focus on some of the group’s biggest fans and examine their deep love of all things Wu-Tang.
Wu-Tang Forever was just as successful as its predecessor, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and moving 612,000 copies in its first week. It was also nominated for Best Rap Album at the 40th annual Grammy Awards.
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For more information on the forthcoming “Legacy” book, visit WuTangLegacy.com. Pre-orders will be available starting December 16 at 3 p.m. ET.
