See these fans can’t resist the rush/they Wu-Tang for life/scared for life they forget the cuts …
Method Man - House of Flying Daggers – Cuban Linx 2
Wu-Tang Clan is moving back onto the Hip Hop landscape again and sometimes it seems like it just yesterday when they were the dominant sound by the summer of ‘95. The RZA’s distinct Shaw Brothers, dark production provided a canvas for each member’s unique style. There was a time when every hood in the tri state area and beyond was booming with one of the many Wu offerings. As almost every group member also signed solo deals with other labels. This business model is followed by almost every modern day rapper crew, one of the many testaments to the Wu’s forever imprint on the culture. Before Culture control belonged to Death Row, Bad Boy, The Roc, or Young Money there was Wu Tang. They have trail blazed in the form of MC’s having their own clothing line, the Wallabee era, music production for the MC fan, (you will routinely get a minute’s worth of beat at the end of songs so you can kick your own shit.) Web sites, video games, and my two favorite contributions slanguistics and the idea of alias ’ each having his own mythology and influences. To only name a few.
Cuban Linx is perhaps the most influential of all Wu-Tang solo projects, Rae was really the first to kick it with that deep cinematic imagination. His creation of a narrative album format revolving around cocaine trafficking, criminal activity, and a rise through the ranks of the illegal industry set the template for Criminology rap. You can see the much-argued imprint on albums from Jigga Reasonable Doubt, Biggie, Life After Death, and Nas It Was Written. Rea was our new G Rap
During the summer I was talking with my dude Julien about Cuban Linx 2 and some of the young bucks were chilling with us. One of them said who is Wu Tang again? That’s Method Man and that other dude right?
Like these cats run around spitting they little lyrics and talking about who is the greatest MC alive and they didn’t know Wu Tang! I almost blacked out on homeboy but instead took the opportunity to school them all on how Wu changed the game when they kicked in the door back in ’93 … and that’s when homeboy was like Marc, I was born in 1995, yo.
RIP ODB … Wu Tang FOREVER!
Strong article. Interesting point on age and the ways in which knowledge of important artists and their work often fails to be passed down through generations.
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