Wu-Tang Clan
Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Loud Records, 1993
I just spent a long, long time typing a very long and elaborate essay on this album. But then I highlighted it and deleted. In truth, I've written about this album before and gotten paid to do so. But when I did it then, it was a lot of y'know -- critical prose?
I guess what I want to say here is this: I remember so vividly what it was like when this album came out. It was (to paraphrase GZA's LIQUID SWORDS) the Autumn that everything changed. Suddenly every rap magazine lost interest in the West Coast, G-Funk, etc. There was a very serious excitement about the East Coast. Party rap was out. NOBODY knew who these dudes were (seriously, Ghostface wore a fucking mask for a WHILE!) but there were soooooo many of them. And they were on this new unheard of label. And they were dropping tons of singles. And getting ltitle to no airplay. But everyone had a dubbed tape. It was just this really weird... buzz?
And I very vividly remember listening to the album for the first time. It was so intense an experience. And really think about how intimidating it was to hear eight completely individualized new personalities at once (that was an UNHEARD of size for a rap crew at the time). This wasn't like hearing about Biggie, or Nas, or etc for the first time and getting to know their certain style. This was learning a giant cast of new voices. But it was thrilling.
And bottomline: it still is to this day. ENTER THE WU-TANG is a pretty unparalelled record it scope, vision and execution. The journey thru the 36 Chambers is not unlike a tour of the Seven Circles Of Hell. Although admittedly I guess it is more fun.
Like I said, I could really spend serious time discussing what is so Musically and Lyrically enthralling about this record. But I don't want to. Not here. Not now. I just want to say that if yr a fan of hip hop, you Must own this. And if you even have a passing interest in hip hop, you Must own this. And if you don't like hip hop, maybe you should give this a shot. Because it's really an Experience worth Experiencing if you haven't. And if you have, you're probably revisited it a million times like I have and never felt it diminishing in kicking you in the fucking guts.