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The Empire State Building lit up yellow and black. These two colors, appearing together, are inextricably associated with the iconic Wu-Tang Clan logo. The 30th anniversary of the group’s debut, “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)”, has just passed. The album turned out to be a breakthrough for the sound not only of the East Coast, but also for the music industry. He laid the foundations not only for the characteristic “street style” of rap, but also for its fusion with the world of cinema.
Recorded at the Firehouse studio in Brooklyn in 1992-1993, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) became a real cultural phenomenon that quickly spread its tentacles throughout the United States. It combined elements of street, uncompromising rap with the avant-garde of the entire hip-hop culture. But it was the inspiration from Eastern martial arts that gave it its unique style.
Brutality? Balanced by the sounds of Soul masters
The group drew a lot of inspiration from films such as “Enter the Dragon” or “36th Chamber of Shaolin”. Yes, this is clearly visible in the title of the full-fledged debut. And it was not, to put it mildly, a golden time for rap from the east coast of the USA. Back then, artists from the scene around Los Angeles, creating the extremely laid-back and hedonistic G Funk subgenre, set the dance floors and listeners on fire with their hits. A group of 9 young men, rappers and one producer, decided to put an end to the “candy” sound. New York demanded blood and a return to the top.
Work, work and more work. New York is on everyone’s lips again
The process of creating the album was not a bed of roses. The limited budget, everyday dilemmas and the fulfillment of many functions by the mental leader and glue of Wu Tang, GZA (he was responsible for production, arrangement, mastering and even vocals), required a lot of determination from them. But their musical battle, lined with classic samples of Soul sounds and action films set in Eastern culture, took them straight to the top.
Although the album was lyrically brutal, just like the everyday life surrounding them on Staten Island, combined with soothing sounds it turned out to be a real hit. It was also an introduction to the city’s great return to everyone’s lips (a year later, the equally iconic “Illmatic” by Nas and “Ready to Die” by Biggie Smalls were released).
Legacy of the record. Recognition from the public, critics and even the government
Although “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” is already 30 years old, it still wins the hearts of younger and younger rap listeners. In October 2018, it went triple platinum, and in November 2023 it achieved another milestone of exceeding 1 billion views on Spotify. It was also placed 27th on the updated list of the 500 greatest albums of all time by the cult Rolling Stone magazine.
The legendary status of the album was also noticed by the Library of Congress. A year ago, the institution placed it in the National Recording Register. And all this because of its “cultural, historical and aesthetic” significance. The saga continues. Raise your hands in the inimitable “Wu” gesture.
Sources: WMV / X (Twitter), Wu Tang Clan / YouTube
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
