Both are non-violent, unless pushed first; like Kung Fu, The Wu is a strike-when-needed-art. And Caine was also so correctly regretful and apologetic about your need to have him subdue your aggression down, without even breaking into a deep breath.
I won't strain the parallel too far, but they remind me of each other and I respect the message of both.
Still, you can’t take everything they say seriously. Why? Because you’re not supposed to and they don’t want you to. From Shaolin to living rough there are many deep themes here. But with this intelligence comes men who also have a sense of humor, a comics obsession - and names like U-God and Ghostface Killah.
Also, since there’s nine of them, I’m sure they spend a lot of time looking over at each other going, what the fuck? Nevermind an outsider plugging in, trying to get in on it.
Except a lot of people have plugged in.
Reading the book is like having the manuscript of the play in front of you, or being in on the conversations that got the producer, directors and performers to the stage. Anyone who has listened to the Wu will hear the writing, and recognize it as the sound just like RZA’s rapping.
There are no simple ways to describe the vocal delivery of any of the Clan. None are simply “machine-gun” or “raw”, none just “laid-back” “blunted” or “smooth.” They are unique in the world of rap - especially that mack, I'm-scared-and-you-can-hear-it-in-my-voice, Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
There are a lot of layers.
If you watch the vid for “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” — you can pretty such see why Ol' Dirty Bastard is now gone, dead. A heart of gold I’m absolutely positive but drugged up and out. I’ve been saying for a long time that I never liked ODB's first solo album “Return to The 36 Chambers, Dirty Version” Perhaps I should listen to it again to be sure.
The Book
I've tried to break down the overall picture of the Wu-Tang Manual here. But some of the specifics of the Manual include great mini-bios of each of the nine members of the crew: RZA (Robert F. Diggs, 7.5.69), GZA (Gary Grice, 8.22.66), Ol Dirty Bastard (Russell Jones, 11.15.68-12.15.04), Method Man (Clifford Smith, 4.1.71), Raekwon (The Chef) (Corey Woods, 1.12.70 - stretching those threads!), Ghostface Killah (Dennis Coles, 5.9.70), Inspectah Deck (Jason Hunter, 7.6.70), U-God (Lamont Hawkins, 10.11.70), and Masta Killa (Elgin Turner, 8.18.69).
Article comments
1 - MRBenning
The only album I have is Wu-Tang Forever. I found it to be pretty interesting, but never really got into it too much. I think, after reading your review, that I may not need to know too much about the group to get into RZA's philosophy. Nice work.
2 - Temple Stark
>>subdue your aggression down
That was my non-confrontational way od saying "Kick their ass."
Thanks Michael.
3 - Phillip Winn
The Wu is pretty incredible, and mind-bogglingly prolific. RZA is crazy, but in a good way. The dude knows kung-fu, hardcore.
Great review!
4 - windwalker
Check out wuforever.com
for latest daily wu-tang news
5 - Aaman
Tommy was good, and Who's Next - kinda downhill for the rest.
6 - sonja valentine
good review -
their kung-fu is definitely tight
especially (the underrated) Inspectah Deck
7 - HW Saxton
To make a long post short: Great review.
8 - Temple Stark
This is one I stressed mightily over. There is so much going on and its sometihng that people who aren't fans, I felt, would be if not fascinated by, pretty interested to read - the book that is.
I held on to this one too long too try and find the right words, and as most writers, I'm still not quite happy.
Thanks though.
9 - HW Saxton
I picked this up friday and I finished
it today. Great read.It made my weekend.
Thanx for the recomendation.I'd have to
say it's a great read whether you are
into Hip-Hop or not.If you are though it
makes it that much better.Funny, but now
I want to go watch "Mad Monkey Kung Fu"
and break out my old 12' hip hop singles
for some odd reason.
10 - L. Cue
what do you think TS? Let's make this a Wu summer!
11 - Temple Stark
I'm all about the Wu. Seriously, this book confirmed so much about my impressions - and todl me much more aobut their backgrond and outlook than I knew. So glad HW liked it too.
Post your own review man.
And I did listen to ODB's solo release again. "Shimmy ..." is really the only song I like - the others are way to "in the gutter" for my tastes. It was more controlled and together than I remembered, however.
12 - wuforever.com
dont forget
wuforever.com
largest wu-tang community
3000+ photos
200+ wu-tang wallpapers
13 - jonny blaze
the wu-tang is the ultimate rap group. The only bad thing about the wu-tang now is that wenever i listen to ne of their new stuff i just want to hear the fatherless rythem of ODB. Method man is still their, but the clan just ain't the same without dirt mcgirt.