But that still didnвЂ™t stop the group (or its label, Loud) paying up to sample a chunk of classic soul or funk. YouвЂ™ll hear the characterвЂ™s name shouted out later on occasional Wu releases, and he also put in an appearance on a 1998 indie rap release by Shadez of Brooklyn under a new guise as Jackpot.ДЄ large part of the charm of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is its lo-fi sonic ambiance. According to the RZA though, he came close to offering a local Staten Island MC named Scotty Wotty an official place in the crew. Cappadonna became something of a semi-member but never secured water-tight Wu status.

The official ranks of the Wu-Tang Clan number nine: RZA, GZA, Ghostface, Raekwon, U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, Method Man and the now departed OlвЂ™ Dirty Bastard. According to Yoram Vazan, the studioвЂ™s owner, the crewвЂ™s first single, вЂњProtect Ya Neck,вЂќ cost $300 worth of studio time to complete. The Wu recorded their debut album at Firehouse Studios, which also facilitated rap hits from Audio Two, MC Lyte and Das-EFX. вЂњGhostface would throw on his big, oversized coat and just stack four or five cans in his coat pockets, and weвЂ™d walk out,вЂќ he told the Village Voice. ODB certainly mined a look you could kindly call вЂњdisheveled poverty chic.вЂќ According to 9th Prince, RZAвЂ™s younger brother, the low budget living was a true part of their life and Ghostface would frequently make shoplifting trips to the local store to help feed the Clan. The ClanвЂ™s early image involved the idea that they were a bunch of scrappy, striving artists from the slums of Shaolin. (The song also features RZA in his Prince Rakeem guise and he name-checks Raekwon.) Self-referentially, the bone passing saga continued when Masta Killa updated the song for 2006вЂ™s Made in Brooklyn. вЂњBring the RuckusвЂќ is fleshed out with a (subsequently unclearable) sample and some alternate lyrical performances, while tracks that never made the final album include вЂњWu-Tang Master,вЂќ вЂњProblemzвЂќ and вЂњThe Wu Is CominвЂ™ Through.вЂќ Most intriguing though is вЂњItвЂ™s All About Me,вЂќ which references De La SoulвЂ™s вЂњMe Myself And IвЂќ and flows forth in an uncharacteristically lackadaisical manner.Дuring вЂњClan In Da Front,вЂќ the GZA makes one of the albumвЂ™s many references to weed when he implores, вЂњPass the bone, kid, pass the bone.вЂќ But beyond the blunt craving, the line also nods to the rapperвЂ™s prior unsuccessful career when he called himself the Genius and was signed to the Cold ChillinвЂ™ label вЂњPass the BoneвЂќ was a ruggedly chugging production that was left off his debut album, 1991вЂ™s Words From the Genius, but added to a 1994 re-release. The demo tape which begat Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is a fascinating affair.

Enter the wu tang clan