Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 9, 1993[1] | |||
Recorded | 1992–1993 | |||
Studio | Firehouse (Brooklyn, New York) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 58:26 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | RZA (also exec.) | |||
Wu-Tang Clan chronology | ||||
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Singles from Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | ||||
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Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is the debut studio album by the American hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released on November 9, 1993, by Loud Records and RCA Records. Recording sessions took place during late 1992 to early 1993 at Firehouse Studio in New York City, and the album was produced by the group's de facto leader RZA. Its title originates from the martial arts films Enter the Dragon (1973) and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978).[3]
The distinctive, gritty sound of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) created a blueprint for hardcore hip-hop during the 1990s, and helped return New York City hip-hop to national prominence. Its sound also became greatly influential in modern hip-hop production, while the group members' explicit, humorous, and free-associative lyrics have served as a template for many subsequent rap records. Serving as a landmark release in the era of hip-hop known as the East Coast Renaissance, its influence helped lead the way for several other East Coast rappers, including Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Mobb Deep, and Jay-Z.
Despite its raw, underground sound, the album had surprising chart success, peaking at number 41 on the US
Background
In the late 1980s, cousins
RZA began collaborating with Dennis Coles, later known as
Recording and production
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was recorded at Firehouse Studio in
Group leader RZA produced Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by creating sonic collages from classic soul
Music and lyrics
According to music journalist Ben Yew, the minimalist means of production plays directly into the music's "street" aesthetic. "Because [RZA] didn't have the best mixing or recording equipment, the album is wrought with a 'dirty' quality—the drums have more bass and are more hard-hitting than they are crisp and clean; the samples have an eerie, almost haunting type of echo; and the vocals, because each member's voice is already aggressive and gritty, perfectly match the production."[11] Although Ol' Dirty Bastard is given co-production credit on "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" and Method Man is co-credited for "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit", critics and admirers universally credit RZA with developing what Pitchfork called a "dusty yet digital production style [that] helped legitimize the use of more diverse sample sources to the hardcore New York rap massive, breaking away from James Brown based beats and embracing a style that turned the Underdog theme into the menacing coda for a group of underground terrorists."[12]
Enter the Wu-Tang ushered in a new standard for hip hop at a time when hip hop music was dominated by the
With the exception of "Method Man" and GZA's "Clan in da Front", every song features multiple rappers contributing verses of varying lengths.
The lyrics reach back to New York's own Rakim: dense battle rhymes potent with metaphors. Each Wu MC links his rhymes to crime and violence, allowing his preoccupations to surface subtly and indirectly, rather than spouting off overt gangsta-isms designed to shock ... The hood imagery of the lyrics is utterly pervasive and uncompromising, immersing the listener in a foreign land smack in the middle of New York. There is no celebration here, and little hope.[16]
— Gavin Mueller
All nine original Wu-Tang Clan members contribute vocals on Enter the Wu-Tang. Masta Killa only appears on one track, contributing the last verse of "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'", but all the other rappers appear on at least two songs. Method Man and Raekwon are the most prolific of the group, featured on eight tracks. Though the performers have widely differing techniques, the chemistry between them is a key ingredient of the album's success.[10] Pitchfork asserts that "Half the charm is in the cast's idiosyncrasies: ODB's hovering sing-song, Raekwon's fake stutter, Ghostface's verbal tics, Method Man's hazy, dusted voice."[12]
Title and packaging
Part of the album's title originates from the
In reference to the 1978
The album's front cover image was photographed by Daniel Hastings. It features only six members of the Wu-Tang Clan: RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, and Raekwon; member
Singles
"
"
Wu-Tang made music videos for the three A-sides and the B-side songs including "Method Man", "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'", and "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta Fuck Wit".[
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Chicago Sun-Times | [23] |
Entertainment Weekly | A[24] |
Rolling Stone | [14] |
The Source | 4.5/5[25] |
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was received positively by contemporary critics. In an article for
Retrospect
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [30] |
MusicHound R&B | 5/5[31] |
Pitchfork | 10/10[32] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [33] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 8/10[34] |
Tom Hull – on the Web | A−[35] |
XXL | 5/5[36] |
Over time, Enter the Wu-Tang became one of the most highly regarded albums in hip hop.[37] The album was originally given a rating of 4.5 mics out of 5 in The Source magazine in 1994;[25] however, it was given a classic 5 mic rating in a later issue of the magazine.[38] Similar to The Source, XXL magazine gave the album a classic rating of "XXL" in its retrospective 2007 issue.[36] In the book Spin Alternative Record Guide (1995), Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) has a critical rating of 8/10 from Spin.[34] In 2003, Rolling Stone named the album among the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", asserting that "East-coast hip-hop made a return in 1993."[39][40] The magazine later listed it as one of the "Essential Albums of the 90s" and "100 Best Debut Albums of All Time."[41][42] The Source cited Enter the Wu-Tang as one of the "100 Best Rap Albums", while also naming "Protect Ya Neck/Method Man" and "C.R.E.A.M." among the "100 Best Rap Singles".[43] MTV declared it among "The Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time",[44] while Blender named the album among the "500 CDs You Must Own".[45] Oliver Wang, author of Classic Material: The Hip-Hop Album Guide described it "as timeless an album as hip-hop has ever seen."[46]
Publications based outside of the United States have acclaimed 36 Chambers as well; Australia's Juice magazine placed it at number 40 on its list of "100 Greatest Albums of the '90s",
This is the sound of accidental fame. Something as unique and unusual as this record isn't supposed to find itself at the height of commercial viability; it's supposed to smolder underground, hidden from the view of mainstream America, who surely would not be ready for such a challenge. But America was ready, in part because this one challenged convention, not listeners. Sure, its sloppy drum programming, bizarre song structures, and unpolished sound quality disturbed commercial rap purists, but the talent was so inherent and obvious, and the charisma so undeniable, that it propelled the Wu-Tang Clan to the height of the rap game, and today stands not just as the hip-hop classic that introduced the concept of obscure thematic characters (each member's name references old kung-fu movies), but also bridged the gap between traditional old-school sensibilities and the technical lyricism of today.[12]
In a retrospective review, Robert Christgau found the Wu-Tang Clan "grander" and "goofier" than their West Coast contemporaries and concluded, "Expect the masterwork this album's reputation suggests and you'll probably be disappointed—it will speak directly only to indigenous hip hoppers. Expect a glorious human mess, as opposed to the ominous platinum product of their opposite numbers, and you'll realize the dope game isn't everyone's dead-end street".[28] In 2010, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[49] In 2022, the album was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[50]
Legacy and influence
East Coast hip hop
Adam Heimlich of the
At the time of the album's release, mainstream hip hop was dominated by the West Coast. Enter the Wu-Tang (along with Nas' critically acclaimed Illmatic and the commercial success of The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die) was able to shift the emphasis away from the melodious, synthesizer-driven G-funk and restore interest into the East Coast hip hop scene.[51] According to one columnist, "When Enter the Wu-Tang: The 36 Chambers first graced the pages of rap lore in 1993, Dr. Dre's funk-filled, West Coast gangster rap dominated the business. Though this initial dominance was difficult to overcome, Wu-Tang still managed to carve out a piece of rap history."[11]
Hip hop production
RZA's production on Enter the Wu-Tang had a profound and significant influence on subsequent hip hop producers.
The album would come to preview further work fueled by both cinematic samples and inter-woven genres.
Subsequent Wu-Tang work
Following Enter the Wu-Tang's success, the individual members of the group negotiated and signed solo contracts with a variety of different labels: Method Man signed with
On Enter the Wu-Tang's effect on the group and the music industry, the
In 2013, the group reunited, at the behest of RZA, for an album and tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the album's release.[60] The album was titled A Better Tomorrow and the tour included dates throughout the United States, Europe, and Russia.[61][62] All original members of the group who performed on Enter the Wu-Tang participated in both the tour and reunion album, excepting Ol' Dirty Bastard, who died in 2004.[46]
Accolades
Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
About.com
|
United States | 100 Greatest Hip-Hop albums [63] | 2008 | 4 | ||
Best Rap Albums of 1993[64] | 1 | |||||
10 Essential Hip-Hop Albums[65] | 4 | |||||
Blender | 500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die[66] | 2003 | * | |||
The 100 Greatest American Albums of All Time[67] | 2002 | 59 | ||||
Dancedelux | Spain | The 25 Best Hip-Hop Records[citation needed] | 2001 | 5 | ||
DJMag
|
UK | The Top 50 Most Influential Dance Albums Since 1991[citation needed] | 2006 | 38 | ||
Ego Trip
|
US | Hip Hop's Greatest Albums by Year 1980–1998[68] | 1999 | 1 | ||
GQ | UK | The 100 Coolest Albums in the World Right Now![citation needed] | 2005 | 35 | ||
The Guardian | 1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die[69] | 2007 | * | |||
Helsingin Sanomat | Finland | 50th Anniversary of Rock[70] | 2004 | * | ||
Juice | Australia | 100 Greatest Albums of the '90s[citation needed] | 1999 | 40 | ||
Les Inrockuptibles | France | 50 Years of Rock'n'Roll[citation needed] | 2004 | * | ||
The 100 Best Albums 1986–1996[citation needed] | 1996 | 59 | ||||
Mojo | UK | The Greatest Albums of Our Lifetime: 100 Modern Classics[71] | 2006 | 62 | ||
Mojo 1000, the Ultimate CD Buyers Guide[72] | 2001 | * | ||||
The Mojo Collection[73]
|
2003 | * | ||||
Mucchio Selvaggio | Italy | 100 Best Albums by Decade[citation needed] | 2002 | Top 20 | ||
NME | UK | 100 Best Albums of All Time[74] | 2003 | 82 | ||
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time[75] | 2012 | 30 | ||||
Nude as the News | US | The 100 Most Compelling Albums of the 90s[76] | 1999 | 61 | ||
Paul Morley | UK | Words and Music, 5 × 100 Greatest Albums of All Time[77] | 2003 | * | ||
Pitchfork | US | Top 100 Favorite Records of the 1990s[78] | 36 | |||
Q | UK | 90 Best Albums of the 1990s[79] | 1999 | * | ||
100 Best Albums of the '90s[80] | 2015 | 45 | ||||
Record Collector | Classic Albums from 21 Genres for the 21st Century[81] | 2000 | * | |||
Robert Dimery | US | 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[49] | 2005 | * | ||
Rock & Folk | France | The Best Albums from 1963 to 1999[citation needed] | 1999 | * | ||
Rockdelux | Spain | The 150 Best Albums from the 90s[citation needed] | 2000 | 25 | ||
The 200 Best Albums of All Time[citation needed] | 2002 | 178 | ||||
Rolling Stone | US | The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time[82] | 2020 | 27 | ||
100 Best Albums of the 90s[83] | 2010 | 29 | ||||
The Essential Recordings of the 90s[84] | 1999 | * | ||||
Germany | The 500 Best Albums of All Time[85] | 2004 | 453 | |||
Select | UK | The 100 Best Albums of the 90s[citation needed] | 1996 | 21 | ||
Spin | US | The 90 Greatest Albums of the 90s[86] | 1999 | 22 | ||
100 Greatest Albums (1985–2005)[87] | 2005 | 20 | ||||
Technikart | France | 50 Albums from the Last 10 Years[citation needed] | 1997 | * | ||
Tom Moon | US | 1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[88]
|
2008 | * | ||
The Source | The Source Magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums[89] | 1998 | * | |||
Toronto Sun | Canada | The Best Albums from 1971 to 2000[citation needed] | 2001 | * | ||
Uncut | UK | 200 Greatest Albums of All Time[90] | 2016 | 160 | ||
Vibe | US | 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century[91] | 1999 | * | ||
51 Essential Albums[92] | 2004 | * | ||||
Visions | Germany | The Most Important Albums of the 90s[citation needed] | 1999 | 67 | ||
(*) designates lists that are unordered. |
Track listing
All tracks written by Wu-Tang Clan and produced by RZA, except where noted. All scratches by 4th Disciple. Tracks 1 through 5 are referred to as "Shaolin Sword" while tracks 6 through 12 are referred to as "Wu-Tang Sword" on physical releases.
No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Bring da Ruckus" | 4:10 | |
2. | "Shame on a Nigga" |
| 2:57 |
3. | "Clan in da Front" |
| 4:33 |
4. | "Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber" |
| 6:05 |
5. | "
|
| 6:53 |
6. | "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" (co-produced by Ol' Dirty Bastard) |
| 4:48 |
7. | "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit" (co-produced by Method Man) |
| 3:36 |
8. | "C.R.E.A.M." |
| 4:12 |
9. | "Method Man" |
| 5:50 |
10. | "Protect Ya Neck" |
| 4:52 |
11. | "Tearz" |
| 4:17 |
12. | "
|
| 6:10 |
Total length: | 58:24 |
No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - Part II" |
| 5:08 |
13. | "
|
| 3:12 |
Total length: | 1:01:53 |
Vinyl and cassette
The vinyl and cassette track listing is slightly different from the CD and streaming version. The international cassette release also has the same tracks at the end of side two as the international CD.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Bring da Ruckus" | 4:10 |
2. | "Shame on a Nigga" | 2:57 |
3. | "Clan in da Front" | 4:33 |
4. | "Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber" | 6:05 |
5. | "Can It Be All So Simple" | 4:46 |
6. | "
| 6:48 |
Total length: | 29:19 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
7. | "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" | 4:48 |
8. | "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit" | 3:36 |
9. | "C.R.E.A.M." | 4:12 |
10. | "Method Man" | 5:50 |
11. | "Tearz" | 4:17 |
12. | "
| 6:10 |
Total length: | 28:53 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from AllMusic.[93]
Musicians
|
Additional personnel
|
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[103] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[104] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[105] | Platinum | 300,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[106] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
See also
References
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- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
- ^ "Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on November 6, 2003. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- ^ "Top 100 rap albums of 2002 in Canada". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ "Danish album certifications – Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
- ^ "British album certifications – Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ "American album certifications – Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
Works cited
- ISBN 0-312-24560-2. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
- ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
- Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
- ISBN 978-0306874468.
- ISBN 978-0-525-57388-3.
External links
- Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) at Discogs
- RapReviews: Back to the Lab — by Steve Juon