Reviews (page 10 of 15)
Not my jam. I think I’m the wrong generation.
Didn’t enjoy. I’m not afraid of the f word but stringing a bunch of f’s & mf’s isn’t my idea of a good song writing
Goes pretty hard 3.8
Greatest album
Not for me.
Sorry I just don't see it - I mean it's OK, but I prefer others
Good lyricism, but some of the beats let it down. Not a bad album.
Apple Music called this a pop album, but I’m still not fucking with it
Good start to the morning
3 out of 5. This album has good energy and I love the references to martial arts movies and Voltron throughout. Overall it's still hard for me to get into this one but I can see how others can hold it up to high regard.
I did not expect to enjoy this album this much. This is a solid album.
4 stars
Wu-Tang Clan has been one of those names I've heard thrown around a lot through the years. Often in a very positive light, so I've always meant to listen to some of their stuff, but have never actually sat down and done it until now. I gotta say it's not all killer, I don't really get the point of having what's basically interviews on here, that feels like filler. But I like the flow and the beats of a lot of the stuff. I'm not huge into hip-hop, so I don't know if I'll go back and listen to this one again, but that's not because I disliked it and I'm generally left with a positive impression of Wu-Tang Clan. I can clearly see how this has inspired a lot of other hip-hop through the years even without being very into hip-hop so that just confirms to me that their legendary reputation is well earned to me Standouts Bring Da Ruckus 4/5
Absolute classic and stands up as strong, if not stronger compared to so much of what is out there, today. I haven't listened to this album in at least half a decade, and it was an absolute joy and like rediscovering something that blew my mind once again.
Not my thing, but it was listenable.
apparently they are something to fucking with.
While Rap isn't my preferred genre it's obvious this is above average. Whoever put the music samples together did an excellent job. With that and the snippets of old Kung Fu movies it was my favorite aspect of this album.
This is why I signed up for this experience. I would have never listened to this album or learned so much about the band and album from the fellow listeners review. Favorite track: Second version of Method Man.
Meh
Wu Tang is for the Chidren
A few classics but not my thing
Album is a GOAT, great lyrics and beats, hard not to like. 3.8
Brilliant old school rap
Violence that becomes cartoonish and a host of personalities that bounce off each other, showing their skill and how raw the sounds are. When I listen to this album all I can think about is don't fuck with the Wu-tang clan.
Ganske bangin siste to sangene var mid tho
Dollar dollar bill, y’all! 💲 Are we dealing with the best hip hop album, ever? I think we might be.
Yes!!! Not only do I get a hip hop album, I get one of the best classic hip hop albums of all time??? Sign me up! Seriously though, this album is great, and so is the Wu-Tang Clan. The blend of cultures and abilities seen in their records is nothing but admirable. Every member has something unique and powerful to offer, yet under the same amazing production as everyone else. The Clans ability to make songs so adventurous and lyrically deep while also pushing these songs, and the genre, into the mainstream, is amazing and a great example of their huge influence on all of modern hip hop. The Wu-Tang Clan has always been known for doing their own thing and reaching out to millions instantly, and this record is the greatest example of that. Despite all the subtle references and raw production, the songs on this album are still all classics and still brought many people into the world of rap. Wu-Tang Clan has rightfully earned their place among the greats like Dre and Pac.
Rap is just not my thing but this album was better than most of the rap I've heard here so far. I'm thinking 2.5/5 but I'll round up because I liked this more than I thought I would. {But wouldn't choose to listen to this on my own.}
i've never listened to wu-tang before but i wish i had sooner! this album was great. i am finding myself a big fan of this era of rap and this is one of the best complete albums i have heard. the production and beats on this one are so great and the verses here are witty, fun, and their flow is excellent. obviously wu-tang gets a lot of hype (we've all seen the t-shirts from hot topic and the posters in college dorms) which, i think steered me away, thinking they were somehow overrated. nope. this is great stuff!
Okay background music maybe. The music is good but rap vocals are just not something I enjoy.
Een album dat ik op vinyl heb. Dat scheelt altijd! Sowieso zegt het al voor een groot deel wat ik van dit album vind. Dit is namelijk legendarisch als je het mij vraagt. Keiharde straatrap, gecombineerd met de absurde samples uit kungfu films. SZA en RZA zijn genieën en moeten ook zo behandeld worden. Niet alleen als muzikale genieën, maar ook financieel door in de contracten op te nemen dat ze alleen als WU-Tang zouden tekenen en dus los ergens anders konden tekenen. Bril-jant. Zodra je het album aan zet hoor je meteen de klassieke kungfu invloeden en die gaan niet meer weg de rest van het album. Je weet meteen waar je aan toe bent en wat voor soort album dit gaat worden. De verses worden onderling omgewisseld en eigenlijk op elk nummer is er wel een ander clan lid dat de show steelt. Waarom is dit dan geen dikke 5 sterren? Sommige nummers gaan voor mij net ff te lang door, en ook het hele album an sich voelt soms net als iets te veel van het zelfde. Maar toch, je kan jezelf geen hiphop fan noemen zonder dit album in de kast. En eigenlijk geen muziek fan zonder het album tenminste een keer te hebben gehoord. FAVO: Bring da ruckus, Shame on a , Clan in da front, Can it all be so simple, Wu tang aing nuthin to F with, CREAM, Protect Ya Neck, Tearz
++: Bring da Ruckus, Shame on a Nigga, Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber, Da Mystery of Chessboxin', Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit, C.R.E.A.M, Method Man +: Clan in da Front, Can It Be All So Simple · Intermission, Protect Ya Neck, Tearz, Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - Part II · Conclusion 9,1/10
How do you grade an album where you recognise its importance, but basically didn't massively enjoy it? OK, in the Rap category, it's definitely legendary for a reason, but... doesn't do much for me.
I still regularly listen to this album some 30+ years after release. It was ground-breaking at the time and still sounds fresh and relevant today. On a related note I saw GZA at Dreamland in Margate in the summer of 2023 (he was performing, and not just a on the rides with his family) and it was fucking awful!!
Top 5 Hip Hop album for me.
2/5
I think it’s a testament to this project that I can articulate specifically why I don’t like this. They’re skilled rappers, but these beats kind of suck.
One of those classics where I'd heard most of the songs without ever hearing the album. I don't know why I never owned this. It also sounds more old school than I would have believed.
Classic album. Brings da ruckus. Innit.
Good length. Solid standouts. 4 stars
Good album, but I don’t click with it like I do with other golden age hip hop albums. I’ll be sure to keep listening to it though.
Felt like I heard the same song 15 times
Não é para mim. Ouvi apenas 5 músicas e não deu mais
My favorite rap album of all time. Every song is a banger. The lines, the beats, the various artists that come together to bring solid song after solid song. The fact that this is a debut album still blows my mind. Masterpiece. 10/10
Building block for the genre, not a ton of replay value - illmatic and liquid swords are better
BEST SONGS: - Can It Be All So Simple - Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F'With - Tearz
🔥
I felt a bit bludgeoned by this one.
Was unsure about this one, so gave it a second listen. While it had a few catchy songs and some interesting sounds at times, overall it was just okay.
For decades, people have been telling me that I would love Wu-Tang. They were all correct. Halfway through the second song, I know this is my new favorite thing in the world. Calling it 5/5 from here.
Sticky
10/10 no notes
Excellent stuff
Amazing old school Hip Hop Rap. The real thing.
Probably my favorite rap album of all time. Everything sounds great and this is a fun album to listen to.
I just struggle with rap music. just not for me.
The ex-champions of hip-hop with their album I really didn't get that impressed.
Rough, rugged and raw. This album took me back to working with teens in a residential setting who ate this up. The lyrics, the fashion, the slang, the imagery. It was powerful then, and I dig it now too.
This kicked ass.
Solid album. I love the sound of the album - including the rapping, which I include as an instrument rather than an element of the lyricism - but drags on in places, and does get a bit repetitive. Great introduction, and C.R.E.A.M is great, obviously Musicality: 8/10 Musicality: Excellent execution with numerous standout moments. Lyricism: 5/10 Not particularly lyrically meaningful - rapping falls in musicality. Production Quality: 8/10 Very high quality; exceptionally well-mixed and produced. Artistic Expression: 7/10 Creative and original, with clear artistic vision. Cohesiveness and Flow: 6/10 Generally cohesive, with some strong points. Replay Value: 6/10 Above average; several tracks are worth revisiting. Average: 6.7/10
Super super awesome stuff. Love the like samples of samurai tv show stuff. Rapping has aged super well in terms of cleverness and irreverence. Method man is my fucking guy
Ain’t nothing to fuck with! This honestly didn’t wow me the way it did the first time I listened to it in high school. But also I was on my way to the airport so was a little distracted. Still holds up though, and is so fun.
Buen disco pero ai el hip hop 2D
I have always loved this album. Great hip hop, A little bit samy after a while hence a 3/5 Favourite song: CREAM Least favourite: Clan in de front Album artwork: I wouldnt hang it up at home
I enjoyed the music i.e. the sampling and effects etc, but the lyrics didn't appeal. I'm not the target audience. I prefer The Herbaliser.
Not even fair to get 36 chambers as my first album. A classic. While I appreciate 90’s hip hop, more recent hip hop tends to resonate with me more. That said, you’ve gotta appreciate one of the main albums that defined that 90’s sound. This was probably only my 3rd or 4th listen straight through this album and I tend to like the hits more than the album as a whole (which is rare for me). Some of the shock tracks fall a little flat for me. Overall, it was nice to revisit this one and I appreciate it for what it is and what it did, but it’s not one I’ll go back and listen straight through too often. Still a great album. Highlights: Bring Da Ruckus 7th Chamber Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F’ Wit C.R.E.A.M
Probably some of this is due to some hip hop bias, but this album is perfect. It doesn’t get better than this. RZA and the other members of wu tang created an iconic sound, a production style that inspired the decades of New York rap since. The beats on this album are some of the greatest ever created, and the rhymes are just as good.
Love Wu-Tang!
G.O.A.T.
Not quite my genre, but extremely well done
This is the sound I expect from old school hip hop
meh. its okay.
Fabulous
Wu tang clan ain’t nothin to fuck wit
CREAM is almost 5 stars on its own. But the rest of this is pretty average.
Nope...
A classic and incredibly impactful album from one of the greatest groups in Hip Hop. While I don't have every song in constant rotation, the vast majority are, and they still hold up incredibly to this day.
Plenty of cool beats, samples, and hooks at the base of many of these tracks, but they’re inaccessible unless you’re ok with being subjected to lots of nonsense to get them. What nonsense? Intro to Method Man is Exhibit A, but it’s everywhere and prevents enjoying the otherwise cool beats. Tearz is the best track, with only minimal nonsense in the intro.
LOVE THIS
I wasn't blown away by any of the individual efforts from Wu Tang members that we've had yet, so I wasn't really expecting to love this either. But the whole seems to be greater than the sum of its parts, because this was pretty good.
so fire. lyrics on top
I actually enjoyed this much more than I thought I was going to. Though frequently at a loss as to what the gentlemen are trying to tell me, the flow of the rhymes, the beats, and the way that Kung Fu movies are intermixed, make the entire thing soooooo much better than similar innercity rap albums. ... and I learned how to properly pronounce GZA and RZA... Fo-SHZA!
Love this album, been listening to it off and on since high school. It is one that has definitely grown on me over the decades, as has most hip hop in general. I remember it sounding so much different from other groups in the late 90's, but listening now I'm surprised how similar they sound to some of their west coast contemporaries compared to styles of today.
Decent album. I just don't care much for this period of rap. There's good parts but unfortunately it doesn't fully click. 3/5
It’s insane how good the clan sound together and how they play off each other. The nerdy ode to martial arts shlock really sells the whole concept and makes this essential listening, one of the best rap albums ever. A-
Absolute hip hop masterpiece, huge ar the time and has aged well too, so much better than the west coast gangster rap from the same era.
Utter useless trash. Total shit. Don't even waste time reading this review, just move on.
Gritty and foundational. This was a fun listen. "Dated" might be an appropriate descriptor, if unfair and reductive. I'm embarrassed I hadn't heard this in full until now. Wu-Tang is for the children. Highlights: Bring Da Ruckus, Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuting ta F' Wit, C.R.E.A.M., Protect Ya Neck
4.5
🐝 hard to believe this album is over 30 years old. Fantastic stuff.
The do like a ruckus
SOLID
I don’t really class this as music. It’s more bad poetry with a backing track. In this case, the backing track is a terrible rendition of 1970’s karate film sound effects. Not for me.
great music - don't love the intersticial chit chat, but it's culturally relevant.
sorry, couldn't finish
Not really my thing, but it was catchy. 3/5
Niet mijn jam, maar wel oke
Ha! Just a few days after the Method Man album and saying I wanted to hear more from Wu-Tang, I get this. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy it as much as “Tical,” although it’s still solid and enjoyable hip hop. I can’t quite pin down why; I don’t think it has quite the dark sound that I liked so much on Method Man’s album. Maybe it would grow on me with repeated listens. Favorite track: C.R.E.A.M.
The samples, the beats, the lyrics, the mountains of charisma coming from each group member; everything about this album kills. Wu-Tang Clan truly is nothing to fuck with.
Best song: Protect ya neck
I know this is probably sacrilege but this is only okay :/
Achei um pouco poluído, mas acho que é muito em função do meu gosto.
Shame on a nigga CREAM Tearz ❤️
Catchy stuff.
OK, then. Dope beats, check. A parade of talented MC's spittin bars, check. Lots of kung fu samples, check, check, and double check. With all due respect to the "gangsta rap" in the 80's, the Wu opened the door for what became the Tupac/Biggie sound of 90's hip hop. Just the same, getting all the way through this was a slog towards the end. The tacked on remixes at the end don't help much -- and the back end of the album drags after Protect Ya Neck. It's groundbreaking stuff, sure -- but it doesn't reverberate with me in my 50's like it did in my 20's.
There is not much to say here. Obviously, one the greatest and most important hip-hop albums ever, but also one of the greatest in music period. World-changing!
Fique muito surpresa! Não conhecia absolutamente nada sobre eles e percebendo a importância deles pra história tornou tudo mais interessante. O album é impactante, com certeza terei que estudar mais e ouvir mais álbuns!
This was so peppy and fun to listen to!
instant 5. childhood classic
This is pretty dull stuff. I kind of like the music, but the vocals come across like a gang of loads of people contributing random violent braggadocio. Oh, and I was streaming an expanded edition.
I mean, come on, I've loved this since 1996. Had it on cassette, cd, mp3, iPad, and vinyl.
Tried, but couldn’t listen. Horrible lyrics.
Too much talking and swearing. Good rhythm at times but I certainly wouldn’t volunteer to listen again. 1*
Not a fan.
Forgot how good this album was until I relistened to it. Absolute classic of this genre, and possibly my favourite rap album of the 90s. Fav tracks: CREAM, Da Mystery of Chessboxin', Protect Ya Neck
Not really a whole lot of music on this I mean, just a steady kind of backbeat and then a lot of rapping. I’m not a huge rap fan anyway, but I did like some of the Beastie Boys stuff and some of run. DMC didn’t do much for me.
lyrical miracle
Wu-Tang for President 2024!
Best.
It is a good album. Let's get that out of the way. I cannot get myself to hear "all time great" album no matter how hard I try. I am so sorry. Favorite track: Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit
C.R.E.A.M.
Another album I already know, one of the best.
It probably took a second for many to realize at the time, but Wu-Tang Clan was a hip-hop dream team. When you consider the solo and future careers of the vast roster, it's pretty apparent that this group was a force in retrospect. Not to mention that this was Wu-Tang Clan's DEBUT album. A classic in not only the East Coast hip-hop sphere, but in ALL of hip-hop. As for the album itself, it's pretty raw and gritty throughout. After reading up on some of the album's production, this grittiness makes sense given the limited budget the group apparently had to deal with. Nothing about it sounds "cheap" though, if that makes sense. The group clearly leans into this somewhat hardcore and menacing theme all throughout, complete with many soul samples and clips from old kung-fu movies that have since been made iconic. Plus, the large roster allows each rapper to bounce off of each other and essentially "tag team" in many of these tracks, prominently shown in "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" and "Protect Ya Neck". I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention the classic single "C.R.E.A.M.", which still has a resounding impact on hip-hop 30 years later. The hard-hitting, dusty sound and production of 36 Chambers might be off-putting for some people (I'll admit that the intro to "Method Man" still makes me cringe...). This is still a culturally significant album in the scope of hip-hop and even more so when zooming into the East vs West Coast hip-hop picture from the time, as the West Coast had all the momentum with the emergence of G-funk. I'd say that the East Coast hip-hop scene fared pretty well when you look at the rest of the 90s and what followed 36 Chambers.
i don't know shit about rap/hip hop, but i didn't hate it sooo
Look, they told me themselves, "Wu-Tang Clan ain't nothing to fuck with." So I haven't fucked with them, and for that reason, I felt very nervous listening to this album. But now I'm starting to think they meant something else when they said that.
Ric Flair “WOOOOO!” but he’s referencing Wu-Tang.
Yeah. I think I like this album. I'm not sure what a Russian screwdriver is. I expect it's a vodka and orange juice drink?
This is pretty interesting. Though I don't think there are a lot of tracks here that stand out and demand relistens, the whole work is compelling. It is well crafted, well produced, and feels very intentional.
Arguably the greatest rap album of all time. Every member was clearly on their game in terms of flow and lyrics. Best song: Bring Da Ruckus
Notable tracks: Shame On a Nuh, Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit, C.R.E.A.M., Protect Ya Neck
Exakt såhär tänker jag att Hip Hop ska låta. Jag fattar ju att det är bra. Kommer jag själv att lyssna igen. Nej jag kommer ju inte det. Men är det bra. Ja det är ju det. Så hur ska jag sätta betyg? Det får bli ett neutralt mittenläge.
Bra skit! Da mystery of chessboxin och method man är bäst. Skönt flow.
Ikoniskt mästerverk.
yeah
This album is FIRE. Straight fire. Oozing charisma and fantastic lines. It gave us classics like ‘Wu Tang Clan ain’t nothin’ to fuck with’, Protect Ya Neck, Shame on an N**** and CREAM! Haven’t listened to this album in so long, but I welcomed it with open arms. Amazing rap album.
More enjoyable than I was expecting. Definitely better than the solo acts that branched out from Wu-Tang, but this wasn’t anything more than a 3/5.
I am no rap connoisseur so I will never be able to notice the differences in styles, but this just sounds like another 90's rap album to me. Better than the solo efforts by ghostface and RZA, but only marginally.
This is a very impressive hip hop classic. It is from 1993, but sounds like it could have been released today. All great Wu-Tang Clan members are there in peak form. Great production, great songs, great raps!
3.5/5
Regardless of whether you like this album, just know that: Wu-Tang is for the children.
Why do I remember this being much better than it actually is? I’m by no means offended by the word f*** (not sure if I’m allowed to type it here), but the overuse on this album became annoying, honestly. And although this is an incredibly skilled group of rappers, but I found the beats more annoying than catchy.
This is the Masterpiece of 90s rap music. Amazing how sensitive my ears are now to swear words. In high school did not even notice. The album is kept fresh with the host of rappers and rapping styles. The lyrics (hoe er full of swears) are clever & satirical and relevant to the culture. Bonus the king foo theme! Wu Tang forever.
What a mountain of an album. 'tis nothing to fuck with, indeed. 4.5
One of the quintessential 90s East Coast rap albums, next to the likes of Ready to Die and Illmatic. From the dark and dusty production of RZA to the furious rhymes of the various group members such as Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, and Method Man, there's a lot of great moments by the individual members along with some very memorable beats such as the smooth piano looping of "C.R.E.A.M." to the dark drums of "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'".
It was good! I enjoyed the fun, the cumminess, the creative lines, the wordplay, it wasn't earth-shattering to me as someone in 2024. It'd be hard to appreciate this the way it was received at the time. I'd love to go back in time and experience this album, and that era of hip hop as it happened. Enjoyed! 3/5
Solid flow but not too interesting of music
Not a hip hop fan, but enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought it would. The production is right up my ally and I love the vocal delivery. Its still not the kind of album I would normally listen to, but actually enjoyed my listens of this album. FAVORITE SONGS - Bring Da Ruckus - Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit 3.75/5
I listened to this album for the first time a few years ago, when I was trying to get better acquainted with hip hop music, but this is my first time revisiting it. This album is absolutely fantastic. A piece of pure hip-hop, Enter the Wu-Tang has fantastic rapping, catchy rhymes, and a talented group of artists who elevate this album to a unique tier of greatness. The production is minimal, but I didn’t mind at all; this album doesn’t need anything to take away from its hard-hitting rapping and lyrics. RZA somehow manages to take bright samples from soul music and create sounds that match the menacing tone of this album. With its gritty imagery, Enter the Wu-Tang is a masterclass in gangsta rap and hardcore hip-hop. This album somehow manages to elevate both the talents of the individuals and the incredible result of their collaboration. I love how this album never feels weighed down by the number of people that were involved with its creation and recording. Too often, albums are weighed down by a grand vision that doesn’t translate to an end result that isn’t overblown and overwhelming, but this album avoids that trap. Ol’ Dirty Bastard is my favorite rapper of the original members of the group; the distinct growl of his voice is the perfect addition to this group. “C.R.E.A.M.” is my favorite track on the album, with its tinkling piano sample and a beat that feels like riding a series of waves. This album is a masterpiece from start to finish, and I loved revisiting it today.
High 3, enjoyed it more than I expected to
One of the greatest
I’m a child at heart and Wu-Tang is for the children
Classic rap!
Ihan kuin tää ois tullut listauksessa jo kerran - sen verran samanlaisia nää Wu-tangit biisit ovat (dollar dollar bill yooo). Tunnustan merkittävyyden rapmusiikissa, onhan nuo taitavia. En vaan jaksa kuunnella tätä samanlaista äänimaailmaa ja flowta yli tuntia, tää tuntui harvinaisen tasapaksulta.
Esimerkillistä fantasian rakentamista, koomisen koskettavia hahmoja ja, tosiaan, BIISIT: mistä he repivät niin monta niin hyvää? Kiinnostukseni horjuu vain silloin, kun porukka innostuu räppäämään dissonantteihin jazz-sointuihin. 4+
They were a little past my prime rap listening days, but I would have loved this.
I am not their demographic. Method Man would be my favorite if I had to choose. I don’t love rap but i understand the significance of the Clan. If someone put this on, I would want to know all the words to impress them, but not enough to actually listen to their music. I feel like this is a hot take and I’m going to be hunted down by their fans. I wish I was better but I’m not.
I have to admit that I was very hesitant going into this album. Unfortunately, the older I get, the less appealing hip hop becomes to me. Nothing against it—it has its place—but most of it resonates more with a younger version of myself. Now that I’m older and past that stage of my life, it’s hard to find that neutral ground. So, I started this album with my guard down and my criticism left behind. Right from the beginning, it reminded me how much fun this era of hip hop was. All these MCs really blew up and went on to successful solo careers. It’s amazing to look back at how they all evolved after this album. Another great aspect of this album is the music production. I love the production and beats.
Rating: 10/10 One of the greatest albums of all time. Each member of the Wu-Tang clan is so strong lyrically and has their own unique style. The interplay and synergy between all of the members is unparalleled, the transitions between each verse feels so seamless every single time. Lyrically this album is battle rapping and about the struggles of the members' upbringings and is done in a way that is incredibly witty and thought-provoking. I heard this album many times and I am still discovering something new with each listen. A timeless hip-hop classic.
Not my thing. I can see how it's good but I just didn't like it.
Bring Da Ruckus Shame On A N Clan In Da Front Da Mystery of Chessboxin' Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta Fuck With C.R.E.A.M. Method Man Protect Ya Neck
This is what this challenge is all about for me. No doubt a super important album in the history of music, but one I’ve never listened to before. Full disclosure: I’m a white British girl who is embarrassingly lacking in hip hop knowledge - it’s a genre I’ve always wanted to explore a bit more - but even I can tell this is excellent. The soul samples the whole thing is built around, the distinct flow of each different rapper, the way everyone involved just seems to be having a real fuckin great time… It’ll take me a few more listens to really take it in, I think, but I’m definitely going to give it that time. I guess Wu-Tang Clan really ain’t nothing to fuck with.
The best rap music!
I'm not going to argue that this is the greatest hip hop album ever made, but I'm also not going to argue against it. This album changed everything. It was grimy, it was dirty, it was chaotic, it was layered, it was nerdy, it was SO FUCKING COOL. It was life in New York on the ground level, in a voice never heard in such a way. It was The Wire in aural format. It was, and continues to be as influential an album as has ever been created, a seminal piece of art, a nearly flawless masterpiece. PS - Don’t listen to the edited version that the included link takes you to on Apple Music. Take a second to find the full, unedited version in all its glory!
Was a fan then. Am a fan now.
Absolutely ahead of its time record, 31 years later this album is still gritty, hard, and amazing. It really highlights the skills of Method Man, RZA, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, and ODB. I’ll continue to play this album once or twice a year, forever.
Enjoyed
Absolute game-changer. Before 36 Chambers, samples were limited to James Brown, Funkadelic, etc., then along comes RZA and you get Thelonious Monk, Barbara Streisand, etc., even Dick Van Dyke! Literally made the entire record store fodder for new music. Besides the beats and solid rhymes, you can't over look the unique production approach. As gritty and authentic as ODB! RZA is the Steve Albini of hip hop
Meh
I love the Wu. that being said i dont think this record has held up as well as the biggie record we had a couple weeks ago. The beats are a bit repetitive and stale at this point 30 years later. A 5 star record through the 90s but probably only 3 stars in the world where Donald Trump is president.
Fuckin awesome.
Guys don't form game-changing musical groups with 7 of their best buds anymore.
Too many mfers and n-words for my taste. They are so angry.
Fun but not my thing. Oh well. I tried anyway.
Misogynistic racist violent , hate music. And zero talent. Why does anyone need to hear this?
This was a fun one. Now I know why Wu-Tang is for the children. Great beats and samples, rhymes off the hook. Just a great 90s rap album.
Decent hip hop album. The skits are annoying though
Not a big Wu-Tang fan, but once every 20 years it’s enjoyable.
Ekliger Rap ohne jegliche musikalische Note. Warum dürfen solche Elaborate mit gefühlt 1000 F & N Worten straffrei gespielt werden aber das Lied mit den “10 kleinen…” muss in “10 kleine Jägermeister” umbenannt werden. Um’s mal in Eurer Sprache auszudrücken “Eh WU-TANG Gang, “Shame On A Nigga” … I will watching you F with your Mother & Your Daughter 🤮”
Not for me
I hadn't played this record for years. It's good, but not as good as I remembered. Favorite song: Da Mystery of Chessboxin'
Not really my genre, but I guess it was alright. The rhymes and beats were solid, but I didn't really enjoy any of the songs very much. Two stars.
One of the greatest rap groups of all-time and one of the greatest rap albums of all-time
#221. There was nothing here that I thought was particularly great. It was alright I guess, but certainly no better than alright. 3/5: not spectacular Song added to playlist: Protection Ya Neck I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
This is not only one of the most influential hip hop albums of all time, but also one of the most engaging, entertaining, and borderline hilarious rap albums of all time. The longevity of this albums reign over the boom bap genre is even still very strong even over 30 years later. The only thing that turns me off of this album is how it has aged. It suffers from one of the things that most albums which are extremely influential suffer from: Since it's release, those inspired by Wu Tang have gone on to just make better music. Not to say this album is bad! I absolutely adore this record, but I believe in comparison to its successors it just unfortunately isn't as good. Not to mention almost every member of Wu Tang went on to make better music themselves. Other than that, this album is a Boom Bap classic and very fun to listen to, I would recommend this album to anyone attempting to get into hip hop, and as a large hip hop fan myself, I give this album a 4/5. If you like this album you might like 1999 - Joey Bada$$ Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest
Classic hip hop
Pretty decent hip hop.
Another classic hip-hop album, it's got the energy and performances you'd want for something like this. Some big hits and not a lot of boring songs, I'd say the main weakness is just the length for me. I did listen to the expanded edition that the link took me to, so maybe the shorter version is more my speed. Fav songs: - Bring Da Ruckus - Wu-Tang Ain't Nothin ta F' Wit - C.R.E.A.M
Stone cold hip-hop classic.
Protect Ya Neck. Fucking legendary. RZA, GZA,Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Ol' Dirty Bastard and the rest of Wu-Tang put their fucking stamp down HARD and the influence of this album is forever going to be around. Wu-Tang Clan influence ain't nuthing to fuk with.
NOPE!
Banger
Would've been a 5 if they ditched the skits
9/10
Raw as fuck. Holy fuck. Remember when rap used to be grimy?
ain't nuthing ta fuck wit!
Still nope
Beats from a deranged music box, verses from an insanely talented group of young rappers pushing each other higher and higher. Funny and dark, real and yet full of fantasy world making conjuring the Wu Tang kung fu mythology. RZA's beat making and overall production is lo fi genius: he builds a slow deep and spacious groove with simple bass and piano hooks, spooky atmospheric sounds, a bit of DJ scratching and bare bones drum machine parts..Their hugely effective platforms inviting the lyricists to fill in the room with one virtuosic performance after another.
I listened to this album four or five times and honestly afterwards I couldn't really describe it to you. It's just rap. Instrumentally, all the songs sound exactly the same. It's the same type of repetitive beat, and it might be just because I don't have a musical ear but all the rappers also sound the same. I didn't realize it was like 5 or 6 dudes singing until the end of Can It Be All So Simple when they went through each one of them. I see this as a testimony of the passage of time. Back in the days, apparently, this album was amazing. I guess we have come a long way since then, because any kid with a laptop and some free time can make a better album, in my opinion.
Masterpiece. "Tourture" Should be on display at the smithsonian.
This is some really good hip-hop. Shit constantly slaps. I don't know what else to say about this, just because I'm not familiar enough with the genre and the history of hip-hop. But I enjoyed it, and it was good music the whole time.
As a 21 year old white midwestern dude who spent a TON of his disposal income on CDs, I had opinions on music. I remember when I heard Method Man (the track), I realized it was 'different' from most of what we were hearing, and whoa, the words were fast. 4
Classic
This album is so fucking good. I can’t pick a favorite member because all of them knock it out of the park.
Ok but not for me
I liked the rawness in the beginning, but it lost me halfway through.
Yes, it is one of Hip Hop's great albums, but like the one from Gang Starr two days ago, for me it's greater in small doses. Just not a great enough connoisseur of this music to fully enjoy an album of it. Minus 1 in comparison to 'Step In The Arena' but plus 1 for 𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘰 👊 𝘩𝘢𝘢𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘨🗡
Ain't nothing to fuck with, for sure. 83/100
Despite the unsavoury lyrics centred around senseless gang violence, I can most certainly appreciate the conceptual drive behind this album. It’s inevitable that a combination of so many great MCs could make a record this good. The beats are excellent and are complimented well by the respective flows of all members involved.
Wow I don't think I had heard wutang before...those were the good old days.
5 star banger. One of the important Rap albums with great artistic creativity.
Classic album
Not my kind of noise
- first listen to wu-tang, fun as hell - chessboxin' is a hell yeah moment - ain't nuthing sounds like mf doom ngl - C.R.E.A.M. is insane - 4/5, good introduction to rap
This is not my favorite genre of music. But I can recognize quality. Also I remember how groundbreaking this was back in the day.
Untouchable classic, changed rap completely. Wu-Tang Forever! RIP ODB
Wu Tang truly started the east coast rap movement for me. The rawness of it all. The beats, the haunting piano, the chaos. Everyone else are imitators. The album might actually get stronger as it goes. C.R.E.A.M, Protect Ya Neck, Tearz are all on a very strong Wu Tang Sword side. There really isn’t a B side. 9.0/10
Fine I guess but not my thing
A complete and utter fucking masterpiece. Proper stompin album. One of the absolute greatest for sure. 5/5
Astonishing production, really does sound like they made it in their basement, and that it's still very creative and funny and entertaining is very impressive. Not much into hip-hop and my rating is for how likely I am to listen again, so only a 3. Still had to have experienced it.
Assertive and intense, with vivid imagery and an inspired use of sampling. Wu-Tang created a whole new musical sensibility here that was mind blowing at the time and still impresses today. Fave Songs: C.R.E.A.M., Da Mystery of Chessboxin', Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit, Protect Ya Neck, Shame on a N----
Decent hip-hop is decent. This is one of the very few hip-hop albums I had heard before, and it's pretty good. It's never going to be my music of choice, but it's totally listenable to.
Iconic album
This record has an overall sensibility that comes through.
One of the greatest ever. One of the most important rap albums ever made. This album changed the game when it came out.
Pretty good stuff
So many small samples, used as textures rather than dominant harmonic elements. Really cool to hear again
I can appreciate the pendulum shift that occurred as a result of Wu-Tang. However, I struggle to find consistent enjoyment when listening to their records.
EAST SIDE Wu-Tang emerged with the NYC renaissance and changed rap forever. Some of the oldest, most notable names in the game and listed by countless as a major influence: it's the style for me. The counterplay between all of their unique styles and sounds, all while sounding like you're hanging out with them cracking jokes about pop culture and shitting on each other
Not my usual type of music, the beats are a little monotonous. But I see why it’s considered good. Not an album I would choose to listen to again. No songs added to my favourites.
Det er sgu en klassiker. Det eneste essentielle album fra Wu-Tang, der ikke er et af medlemmernes soloprojekt. Sindssyge beats
De her beats lyder stadig så vilde, og må have lydt helt vanvittige i 93. Virkelig fede flows. Næsten fede skits. En af de bedste hiphop plader nogensinde
Følet mig væsentligt mere street efter at have hørt den her. Fede beats og fede rap-stilarter!
It was fine
Cash still rules everything around me... so I think it still holds. 4.5/5.
Solid hip-hop
huh
62 minutes might be three songs too long, but 36 Chambers was near-religion in my crevice of Cheshire in the mid-90s. I preferred some of the records that followed, but the scrappy, too-loud, raw and heavy qualities that the collective left behind with this stand out, along with the profanity, the sampler’s ear for minimalist earworms, and the violent surrealism of the lyrics delivered by some of my favourite voices in the genre. The songs are distinct, the album sequenced to bring out clashes, quite unlike the relatively polite wash of samey hip-hop this list mostly celebrates: the first half of the album flips mood, tempo and voice between every track. Even the skits feel more considered in their placement. This is a bleak, loud and oblique masterpiece, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, often brutal. It’s better than I remembered, and
I don't listen to The Wu-Tang Clan very often, but it's always a good time when I do. Gritty, serious but also lots of fun, with quality structure and delivery. Love it (periodically!) esp. ODB's contributions PSA: despite their claims to the contrary, Wu-Tang is not for the children. I had to turn it off 30 seconds into the daily school run
Favourite song - Wu Tang 7th chamber
This is NOT my field at all, but this album was endlessly fascinating. It has incredible tasty samples and beats, fierce delivery, and almost cinematic scenes. Listening to this album was like watching a movie that starts and ends by zooming in on a group of people in a busy conversation about their lives. I miss hip hop like this, raw and real but incredibly well crafted loops samples and rhymes. For a genre I know so little about, this was a surprisingly engaging listen
Even though I have been listening to hip hop for most of my life, I still feel like a guest when I listen to it. Maybe it has to do with the fact it is not music I grew up with - I really got into hip hop as a young adult, and so I feel that I never quite know the codes. In a way, listening to hip hop for me carries a sense of displacement, an unfamiliarity that is quite good, because it invites humility and a certain reverence. It's not unlike my experience as an immigrant, in many ways. When it comes to listening to records like this one, I want to make it justice, and I don't always quite know how because I cannot assume I understand the experiences and stories it carries. As I enter into this one, I also want to forget to some extend how much I know about the cultural significance this particular album has taken over time. The playfulness and the humor are striking here. The pop culture references are everywhere, the most obvious being the 70s Kung Fu movies that bring the running battle meta-theme for this album. But the record does not stop there, referencing so much black musical excellence in the sampling. RZA's work is stellar - such a brilliant blend of influences. This is a alchemic genius at work. This crew is tight - the interplay between all MCs brings so much fun and conversational quality in the music. The many different voices and styles, from cerebral to brilliantly chaotic, all draw the picture a complex web of characters. This is music brought together by a community. It has this feel and it makes me want to go back to it, like a good movie. Definitely a record to listen to before you die, if anything because of its historical significance and how much it has become a turning point of hip hop culture.
I like the king fu film influence, but there’s only so many n-word drops I can handle before I bow out. This album is clearly not made for people who look like me, and that’s probably right.
Great album. Love it.
I liked protect yer neck
i knew i'd like this since c.r.e.a.m has been a mainstay on all my hip hop playlists since i was like 13. like slightly too many skits for my liking, but it does give teh album a vivid personality.
Cmon. No misses. PERFECT 5/5
no surprise at all that im into this
4 enjoyed this album
Not my favorite collection of Wu songs, but I definitely respect some of these tracks
a classic!!
I hate rap
Rap - Hip-hop -- not my taste
Killer
I enjoyed this album, specially the first song, Protect Ya Neck, and Tearz, I just don’t know enough about the genre.
Well, for some reason, the link here took me to a strange edited version that didn’t have all the tracks, so don’t listen to that. Find the actual album and listen to that. Always such a perfect album. Even the “skits” are at least funny. (Maybe not intentionally, but still.) Wu-Tang forever, thank you!!!
Good stuff
I am surprised at how much I liked this. Dope beats, dope lines. Will probably listen a bunch more
Not my favourite genre, but appreciate the beats Best song: C.R.E.A.M
I may or may not appreciate the Kung-Fu theme loosely thrown in, but I enjoyed it for being a rap album with personality. It felt like watching a '90s Kung-Fu action movie, yet it's not brimming with aggressiveness. It's instead a journey paved with smooth, soulful beats.
Non fa per me
Can it be all so simple is a banger, so is method man!! I am enjoying this so much more than i thought i would, protect ya neck had me jumping around the room
This was on my kids playlist when it came out. My first time listening to it. I found the lyrics fascinating, since I had them in front of me. Not something I would listen to on a regular basis, glad I took the time to listen to this.
I will never listen to this again in my life
Hmmm. I almost didn't listen to this one. I'm 68. Wu-Tang Clan? But I actually liked it better than I thought I would. I don't like the lyrics or the violence but the sound and the beat were both good. I was bobbing my head, so, yeah, ok.
This was for the most part really fun, loose, and a lot of it sounded live. There was only one track I had to skip through because of how crazy violent and explicit it was. You could tell they were joking with each other, but still.
Unfortunately, the only version available to me is censored and it's killing the vibe. Especially on the hits.
We all know this album, so instead of a review here are some thoughts I had on this listen: • It sounds better at night than during the day. • My favorite verse on the album is ODB's in Chessboxin. • It's longer than I realized. • Going back to an earlier album on the list, Can Be All So Simple made me think of Portishead. The samples reminded me a bit of both Mysterons and Roads from Dummy. Also something about this song always stuck out to me, and still does. It feels different from the rest of the album for some reason. • Fun fact I learned 5 minutes ago. They sampled the theme song to Underdog - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa1fH0SvGPg 10/10
I don't even really like rap anymore but this album is unreal. I had even just listened to it within the last month to try to prove to Stijn that that wyclef jean album couldn't possibly be a 5 and on the same level. Amazing both times.
An OG and formative classic. Not much to say other than its another nostalgic album that brings me back to high school summertime.
This is one of my all-time favorite albums. Over half the songs are enduring classics and the remainder range from good to amazing. My favorite song is Da Mystery of Chessboxin'. ODB's verse on this is one of my favorites by him, and everyone else delivers as well. The stretch from Chessboxin' through Protect Ya Neck is an insane barrage of bars with amazing beats. I regularly listen to just that when I don't have time to get through the entire album. 31 years later, this album hasn't lost one step.
The best gangster rap album Ever made
a surprise! loved the flow of this, great beats
I know I’ll be in minority opinion here, but I’ve never gotten them. At all. I just kind don’t like this one bit. I’ll give an extra star because I know it’s supposed to be good, but I shall never ever circle back on this.
So many bad words!! It made me wonder if Eric can still rap Break Ya Neck. I wish he'd play with us. <sigh>
Goodness! Language! But I like.
Darker than the Gang Star album which made it harder to listen to but more enjoyable in a way. Resisted the urge to bust some caps into my colleagues after listening to it on the way to work despite their appalling behaviour. Wonder how many of the Wu Tang Clan are still alive?
Never listened to them before. Was expecting something a bit more radical. Had some decent tunes though, s’ok.
Nobody fucks with the Wu Tang and you can see why. Epic in places and they sound like a funny bunch. Family loved it.
I only listened to half of this album because I got bored of it
For me, one of the most impactful pieces of art I've experienced. 36 stars for the wu
Loved it
Didn’t live up to the hype
Wu Tang Forever 5/5
Hardcore east coast hip hop. Such a crazy album. How in the world did they manage to fit so many rappers in one album and have it not turn out a cramped mess? Seriously, they all stand out on their own too. Insane flows, insane lyrics, insane beats. I could hardly believe it was over so quick. Loved it from start to finish. Will have to revisit for sure. 4.5/5
Have listened to before. A great album that's fun to listen to.
no es mí estilo
Kenne ich nicht
Musical simple Hip-Hop.
3.5
Wu-Tang!
Not for me. No matter how many rap/hip-hop albums I listen to I just can't find an emotional connection to the vocals. The lyrics obviously can be deep but I've never had an easy time connecting to a rapper in the way I do vocalists.
Klassieker, altijd vijf sterren.
Wu-Tang Clan aint nothing to fuck with
amazing, the best, RAAAAAAAAAAAW ima give it to you like coke straight from bolivia
Jajaja Onvervalste klassieker
The black hole in my rap listening fell at such an innovative time and I wish I had not changed gears before this era. This is such good shit (even though the machismo always hits wrong for me) and the thing that jumps out are the great references and imagery the group uses. The album gets better as it goes along which is wild! The only knock I have is it still has a foot in old school where it could've taken a giant leap (even though it's a bound and did Wu-Tang save East Coast Hip-Hop?).
Nothing about this album was good for me. I guess I can appreciate that it was innovative and influential, so I won't give it a 1.
This album immediately hits a nostalgia bone. While it isn't actually my top Wu-Tang album, I would definitely understand why someone would have it at the top of their list for Wu-Tang, 90's hip-hop or all-time hip-hop. Such a great group of unique styles that combine with incredible beats and hooks to create an incredibly listenable album. Highlights: Starts incredibly strong with track 1 and 2 Tracks 7-10 are great Lowlights: Clan in the Front & 7th chamber were never my favorites and the interlude parts go on too long
I listened to this one twice, but I think it's one I needed more than twice and also to look along with the Wikipedia and "who sampled" to fully get it. There was some piano work that I was sure wasn't going to be sampled but I couldn't find any keys work on the personnel. Also just some classic tracks/references!
A few good classics, still love the energy in this album 30 years later.