Wu-Tang Clan is a gritty American rap group founded in, and mostly hailing from, Staten Island, New York. The group is comprised of nine original members from the New York City boroughs of Staten Island, Brooklyn and the Bronx.
Wu-Tang Clan’s original members are: RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Quasi-member Cappadonna is sometimes included as a founding member.
In 2008, Wu-Tang was labeled the number 1 greatest hip-hop group of all time by About.com:
The most powerful weapon in any group’s arsenal is neither beats nor rhymes–not even one of those big headnodders that RZA used to make every 2 years. No, no weapon in hip-hop history can rival the chaotic cohesion of the Wu-Tang Clan. The Clan had so many characters, each with his own eccentricities. They were fearless in their approach. There’s a good reason no group has been able to successfully recreate their sound. The crew spawned gazillions of loosely associated acts. Their classic albums spawned classic albums.
This would be correct, as Wu-Tang’s affiliated acts are nearly innumerable. Spinoffs of the clan include solo acts by nearly every original member, including Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. Groups affiliated with the clan include solo act Shyheim the Rugged Child, and bands A.I.G., The Beggas, The Gravediggaz, Ancient Coins, Brooklyn Zu, Killarmy and Wu South.
Below is a video of one of the Wu-Tang Clan’s first singles, “Da Mystery of Chessboxing.”
