Enter The Wu-Tang

The media could not be loaded. One of the favorite albums of all time and i’m glad that it was in perfect condition. I was worried it would’ve been damaged or warped but it sounded perfect!

I've always been a huge fan of 1960s and 70s rock, like Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, CCR, Johnny Cash, etc., and in past years I've disliked more and more rap/hip-hop. I would listen to the popular tracks on the radio and enjoy them for a couple days until I realized they all are just terrible rehashed beats and lyrics about nothing. A few months ago I decided I wanted a good rapper/rap group to listen to, and I remember always seeing the Wu-Tang Clan appear in Chappelle's Show (my all-time favorite tv show), but I never listened to them. I bought "36 Chambers" with only the knowledge that it was rated very high here on amazon. When I first heard "Shaolin shadowboxing, and the Wu-Tang sword-style" I was confused to say the least. Then out of no where I hear "Bring the motha f@#%!n ruckus" and I was blown away. I listened to the entire album 3 or 4 times in a row, and then proclaimed to myself that the Wu-Tang Clan is the best rap group of all-time.Lyrics are very important to me in music, and today's music has no lyrical depth. The Wu has crazy good lyrics that took me a while to understand a lot of the metaphors used (I'm sure I still don't understand half of them, but that's a good thing in my opinion). Inspectah Deck's verse in "Protect Ya Neck" is probably my favorite verse of the album. Raekwon's verse in "7th Chamber" is tight as you know what. "Shake the ground while my beats just break you down" gets me every time! I also love the repeated terms such as "rap assassin", "rap fanatic", "Shaolin style", "Killa Bees", etc. They just used their own experiences, styles, and flavor in every word; something that isn't done very often today.Speaking of style and flavor, it amazes me that the Wu (mostly RZA) had the balls to incorporate so much Kung Fu and martial arts film references in this album. It really could have tanked the album, and certainly wouldn't be successful in today's world. But the risk paid off in dividends. It's the only album out there with such a unique style, which is evident throughout "36 Chambers". The beats are good enough to listen to without lyrics. It certainly has the 90s sound that put hip-hop to forefront of the music industry, but has unfortunately been abandoned over the years.To sum this up as best as I can, I owe the Wu-Tang Clan a lot for awakening me to what hip-hop and rap can be when done correctly. This album, as well as the other Wu-Tang Clan and Wu solo albums, will be on my playlist forever. I stepped to the Wu, and it was the best decision I ever made in my life.

This album is in line with a few other greats:Nas-IllmaticNotorious B.I.G-Ready to DieA Tribe Called Quest-Midnight MaraudersRun DMC- Raising HellIt's an absolute classic, I remember visiting new york for the first time, had just started skating and was really interested in hip hop, but was fed up with everything that was released (sadly all i heard was stuff like MC hammer before this album) having walked into a shop, the guy behind the counter gave me this album plus a few others and my life changed.I remember listening to the beats being crude, raw and so unique. The lyrics blew me away since all i had heard before this was "going from london to the bank" to " first things first kid you're messing with the worst, imma come down on you like a f*ckin curse!" was a huge thing at that time ( i was 13 at the time). I remember coming back home and just listening to 36 chambers on tape over and over and bugged my parents to get me the cd.Sadly over the years, moving from country to country i lost track of that cd, and eventually grew personally with my hip hop education, but whats so good about this album is that the msg remains the same, good music doesnt have to be what people or major labels HAVE to have it be.This album was as big an influence on me as Led Zep's Coda,Tool's Undertow, Beatles Abbey Road, Hendrix'sAre You Experienced and the sex pistols Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols.i know thats going over another genre, but for me they all played this important role in my life like enter the 36 chambers.as an adult now i can turn around and listen to it and remember good days skate parks, graffitti and sneaking off with beers and telling a PE Teacher that "hut one hut two hut three hut! ol dirty B**tard live and uncut!" is acceptable language and that he should "shut yo a** up!" if he didnt like it.instant classic, glad i bought it again and I will push this album onto my kids (if i ever have any) and skateboarding when they are old enough to see for themselves whats good and what they like.

Maybe you are reading this because you are new to music, new to the genre, or maybe new to our planet. Either way, welcome and read no further. Get this one here. There is no better way to dive into this pivotal, influential, and highly culturally significant group than starting right here. If you can find the vinyl, buy it. If you can find the CDs, get two. If you can find the videos online, watch them. If you don't know about the Wu Tang, open your hearts and minds and get ready for an experience and an education. If you already know about the Wu Tang, then hell-you-already-know, and you are just reading this here for fun and should buy a LP version for a friend.

Oh, I had the Tape when they first came out. Now I received and record player for Christmas and guess what my first record issss... Wuu ttang!!!!!!

Came in cracked but luckily I had backup cases