Artist: Wu-Tang Clan
Best Album: Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Best Song: C.R.E.A.M.
This Letter Could Have Been About: Watsky, Whodini, Wyclef Jean, Westside Connection

Why I’m Writing About This Artist: This is another one of those “Where do I start?” artists.  How about the roster?  From memory: The RZA, the GZA, Method Man, Raekwon the Chef, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck.  The ones I had to hit Wikipedia to remember: Cappadonna and U-God.  Understand that each of those guys has multiple solo albums along with the seven albums the Clan released and a few under pseudonyms or “related” acts like the Killa Beez.  It would take a dissertation to explain how the Clan’s various works fit together and I’m trying to limit myself to 500 words here.  Let’s just say this: by 1993, when Enter the Wu-Tang came out, the golden age of hiphop was drawing to a close.  In fact, I’d be comfortable calling Enter the Wu-Tang the final album of that era.

It was… different.  For starters, there were like 600 guys in the group.  Then there was the constant references to Eastern mysticism and the near-constant sampling of kung-fu flicks.  The Clan was a breath of fresh, if insane, air.  And they blew the hell up, starting a clothing line and who knows what else.  I’m pretty sure you could get Wu-Tang action figures at one point.

Add, at the very least, Enter the Wu-Tang to your record collection immediately if you don’t already own it.

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