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Article and photos by Mary Andrews Are you ready to hear some Wu-Tang? A resounding yes came from the sold-out crowd as they clapped and chanted for their favorite rap legends. They were global superstars in the early to mid '90s, but their popularity warned toward the entrance of the millennium. The 'Clan' is seeing a resurgence these days, but if you asked a fan at this show, Wu-Tang Clan have always been on top.Wu-Tang Clan celebrates the 25th anniversary of their breakthrough album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) with a world tour and a critically acclaimed Showtime four-part docuseries. The band popularized 1990s East Coast hip-hop and shaped the parameters of rap music and pop culture. They were a unique phenomenon with ten artists with a name pulled from martial arts films and rhymes that ranged from emotional to strange. They were hugely successful as a group and as solo artists. Together they created what is often referred to as the golden era of hip-hop and their first album is considered one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. RZA formed the group on Statin Island and created its music on old beat machines. He crafted dark compositions that sampled obscure soul, funk, and gospel records from the 1970s.The music was prophetic to those who had experienced the utter poverty of New York City in the 1990s. The air in the outside arena was filled with the fumes of reefer early on in the evening. There were two opening acts that the fans had to patiently endure. Once DJ Freebase introduced the band, Wu-Tang Clan took the stage. Finally, the Tucson crowd got to see and experience core members: RZA, Method Man, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Cappadonna, Inspectah Deck, and Masta Killa in the flesh. An added bonus was the performance of Young Dirty Bastard filling in for his dad Ol' Dirty Bastard on ODB's tracks. They got things kicked off with "Bring on the Rukas." What followed was the entire Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) record. "C.R.E.A.M.," the Wu's biggest single to date, featured Deck and Raekwon rapping in searing detail. Other crowd favorites were "Protect Ya Neck," "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F'Wit," and "Can It Be So Simple." "Come Together" separated the first and second half of the show. The second half contained songs from other Clan albums as well as material from the solo careers of the members. One could call this a nostalgia show, but they would be so wrong. The music still feels current, gritty, and relevant after 26 years. They have endured racism and poverty to get where they are now. Today there certainly seems to be a resurgence for Wu-Tang clan. Maybe that is due to a political climate that demands that we have some Wu-Tang truth and idealism. |
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1. Intro 2. Bring da Ruckus 3. Shame on a Nigga 4. Killa Bees on the Swarm 5. Clan in da Front 6. Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber 7. Run (Cappadonna song) 8. Can It Be All So Simple 9. Chessboxing 10. Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit 11. C.R.E.A.M. 12. Method Man 13. Tearz 14. Protect Ya Neck 15. Come Together (The Beatles song) 16. Reunited 17. For Heavens Sake |
18. Severe Punishment 19. Duel of the Iron Mic (GZA/Genius song) 20. Mary Jane (Rick James song) 21. Ice Cream (Raekwon song) 22. Love Rap 23. UFO 24. 7 Minutes of Funk 25. Mathematics Set 26. 4th Chamber (GZA/Genius song) 27. Shimmy Shimmy Ya (Ol' Dirty Bastard song) 28. Got Your Money (Ol' Dirty Bastard song) 29. Da Rockwilder (Method Man & Redman cover) 30. Brooklyn Zoo (Ol' Dirty Bastard song) 31. Da Rockwilder (Method Man & Redman cover) 32. Duel to the Death 33. Triumph |
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