“Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers” was released on November 9, 1993 on Loud Records. An important date for Hip Hop heads as A Tribe Called Quest also released their classic “Midnight Marauders” on the same day. The title of the album pays homage to two martial arts films (“Enter the Dragon” and “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin”) that inspired the group. “36 Chambers” was the Wu-Tang’s group debut and the catalyst for a style, a culture and several successful careers. The production was handled by the RZA, who manipulated samples from old Soul records transforming them into a rugged landscape for their lyrics. The album features vocals from the RZA, the GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Masta Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. All having their own unique style but also maintaining a rough, raw and aggressive tone throughout. “Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers” is probably one of the most important albums to come out due to its impact not only on Hip Hop but on popular culture.
Guest choice: Mike T's (@mike_t_bvnm) second appearance on the blog
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Chris: Mike, what did you know of the Wu-Tang Clan before this review and why did you want to review "Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers"?
Mike: To be honest I didn’t know really anything about Wu-Tang. Just that they were a Hip Hop group from the early 90’s, and that they had a member Ol’ Dirty Bastard. I wanted to review this because I know a few diehard fans, and in the past year Bearded Villains have been doing Wu-Tang Wednesdays, so I wanted to get a better understanding why Wu-Tang. What set them apart from other rap groups from around the time? One thing I noticed with these fans, it wasn’t just “I’m a fan” it was a lifestyle for them. Wu-Tang fans really take on that “live by the sword, die by the sword” mentality, so I felt “Enter the Wu-Tang: The 36th Chamber” was a good place to start because this was their first album. This was a great place to start because its where the group started.
Chris: That’s true. I do know a lot of very loyal Wu-Tang fans. Some of them have even put ink to their skin to show their allegiance. I definitely consider myself to be a fan of their music and probably a little more so when I was younger. I remember kind of around the time that their second album “Wu-Tang Forever” dropped, I had drawn a white Wu-Tang symbol in whiteout on to the back of my backpack. I also had a “Enter the Wu-Tang” poster hanging up in my bedroom.
So "Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers" was recorded with an extremely low budget. The recording space was small and the equipment they used wasn't the most expensive. What did you think of the overall quality of the production? Does it detract from its overall quality or does it enhance it?
Mike: This album had a very unique sound right off the get go. It was one of the very first things I noticed about the aesthetic of the album. It’s a very raw sounding album. The sound reminded me of being at a small little hole in the wall concert venue. Like they recorded this album in front of like 15 people at a show. I think this sound gave the album its own identity in a sense. It lets the listener appreciate the talent of the artists. They didn’t need high production equipment to put out their material. If the album was over produced like a lot of albums nowadays I feel it would have lost its authenticity. I personally don’t think it detracts from the quality. These artists were raw, so it fits who they were I feel. If anything I think it enhances the experience for the listener.
Chris: I agree. I, to this day, prefer the gritty of this recording. A lot of music being made today is a little too clean for my palate.
So I read that to decide who was going to be on each track, the RZA would have the guys battle to see who would earn the right to be on the song. Which rapper or rappers stand out for you on this album?
Mike: This is a hard question to answer. Strictly because the only MC’s I can distinctly make out is Method Man, and ODB. ODB for me is easily the easiest one to point out. This was just because of how unique his voice, and style was. Method Man is probably the second one I can make out. The rest because I can’t put a face to name makes it hard. This I think was just due to I didn’t look up interviews or anything going into this review. I wanted to experience the Wu for what the album was. I didn’t want anything to take away from the listening experience for this. But I think you can hear how they took that rap battle feel, and put it towards this album. It really did just feel like a cypher every time a track came on. Just one after another.
Chris: That’s fair. Remembering back to when I was first listening to this album ODB and Method Man stood out to me as well. For me now though, this album really showcases Raekwon and Inspectah Deck. I think lyrically they were so far ahead at this point and that shows just be the shear fact of how many songs they were on. I’m glad that ODB stood out to you, like Method Man said, he’s the Ol’ Dirty Bastard because there is no father to his style. A lot of people don’t really appreciate how hard that style is. ODB is a treasure.
Wu-Tang Clan – “Shame on N***a”
Chris: The Wu-Tang Clan employed a nontraditional style. Nontraditional in the sense of their song structure, their free-associative lyricism, and their utilization of primarily Soul samples. What did you think of the Wu-Tang style and do you think that it had an effect on future generations of rappers?
Mike: Their style is what set this apart from any other Hip Hop album I’ve listened to. They brought that “fighting style” from the movies they loved and applied it to their music. Everyone might have their small quirk to distinguish them, but as a whole they brought a new force to the hip hop scene. It was different listening to Hip Hop with very little hooks/choruses, but like I had said previously they brought that battle rap feel to the album. I’m sure they had a huge impact on future generations. Especially the underground Hip Hop scene. This might not be a rap style you’ll hear or see on the current mainstream Hip Hop scene, but real lyricists, and MC’s you can probably find someone that resembles a Wu-Tang feel.
Chris: Yeah, you’re right. The way they rhyme, they do kind of remind you of a pack of ninjas, each with their different style or different weaponry, but you also have songs like “Can It Be All So Simple”, “Tearz” or “C.R.E.A.M.” which are a little more introspective. I’ve always appreciated that about the WU. Also, I’ve always really dug the RZA’s use of soul samples, I think it serves as a cool juxtaposition.
Wendy Rene – “After Your Laughter”
Chris: What were some of your favorite tracks?
Mike: Favorite tracks from this album. This is a good one. “Bring Da Ruckus” is one for sure. It was a great track to open the album up to. For a record to have very little to no real hooks or choruses I liked this track a lot cause it instantly made your head bob. Plus, it got you saying “Bring da motha F@%$^*g Ruckus!”. “ “Wu-Tang: 7th chamber” is a great example of just how they all can just jump on the track, and just go. Because what I really liked about this album, and these tracks was the samples of the Kung-Fu movies they incorporated. It gave me this mental image of someone with a mic, and tape recorder just sitting in front of the tv. Splicing the tapes together. This was a hard album to pick a favorite track for me. This was just because you can start this album, and just let it play. “C.R.E.A.M.” Is going to be up there. I felt I couldn’t narrow down favorites because the whole album felt like a movie. There’s always favorite parts of a movie, but as a whole it’s just good because of how different their sound was.
Chris: That’s funny. I remember the first time I put on this album and “Bring da motha…” comes on, I had to turn that shit down immediately! See, my parents used to censor us as kids so our way around that was to get our music from Colombia House and you’d just have to make sure that you got to the mail before one of them did. It was through Colombia House that I came up on “36 Chambers”.
Wu-Tang Clan – “Bring Da Ruckus”
There could be some other acts that tried to incorporate dialogue from Kung Fu movies before but none that I know of. Another example of the RZA’s genius!
Wu-Tang Clan Kung Fu movie samples
Chris: You watched "Wu-Tang: An American Safe." I haven't seen it yet. What did you think? and did it make you change how you felt about the album?
Mike: The show was good. As far as a Wu-Tang show I felt it was more of a back story show for each member of the Wu-Tang. It heavily focuses on Bobby Diggs Aka The RZA. I felt it was more of a show about each member, and them living in the projects of Staten Island. I would definitely recommend watching it if you haven’t seen it. I don’t really think it changed the way I felt about this album in particular, but more it gave me an appreciation for RZA. His work ethic to want to do music, and get away from the drug scene. I really liked how it showed the audience that RZA really wanted to bring the best rappers he knew around together, and succeed together. It was a very “everybody eats” mentality.
Chris: I’m sold. I definitely want to watch it.
Wu-Tang: An American Saga Official Trailer
Mike: I have a question, what was up with skits? So I have a love/hate relationship with skits, especially on this album. Sometimes they were a little long winded, I felt. Like the torture skit before “Method Man” it was funny but it was too long. I think that it would have helped if the skits were separate tracks instead an additional 2 minutes to the song.
Chris: Yeah, I hear you and that skit in particular was a little…
Mike: Haha yeah, it reminded of the “you know how I know you’re gay…” scene from “The 40-Year Old Virgin”
“You know how I know you’re gay”
Chris: Would you consider yourself to be a Wu-Tang Clan fan at this point? Has listening to "Enter the Wu-Tang" inspired you to check out any other Wu-Tang projects?
Mike: Would I consider myself a fan now? I would say yeah this turned me into a fan. I’ll be checking out more of their music. I’ve already checked out GZA’s solo album. I will be listening to more of the Wu-Tang as time goes. But I won’t say I’m a diehard fan just from this listen. It wasn’t something I grew up listening to. Granted they came out when I was 3 lol. But I’ll definitely be listening to more. I also want to check out each person’s solo project to really get a feel of how each member had their own style.
Chris: If you include the solo projects, the Wu-affiliates and their group projects you can definitely understand the Wu diehards. There is just an abundance of dope shit to listen to. It’s kind of cool that you can listen to their entire catalog now but man, I remember how the anticipation for the next Wu release felt and it hardly ever disappointed. Listening to it now, I think I might actually like it even more. Honestly, it was kind of refreshing to hear it again.
So in closing, did you know that Childish Gambino got his name from the Wu-Tang name generator?
Mike: Shut up! I didn’t know that.
Chris: Yup! Look up your’s! Mine is “Occultist Unlucky”
Mike: Mine is “Romanticist Quick”
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