Reviews (page 10 of 13)
A lot going on here and not nearly enough time to parse it all. I love the lo-fi sampling. The only member’s voice I can consistently recognize is ODB so it was hard to follow all the stories being told. But really sitting down to listen to the lyrics on C.R.E.A.M. was an intense experience. Could see myself giving this a higher rating on further listens.
I'm normally not a fan of this era/style of hip hop, but I enjoyed this. It's great to work to. It's very driving. The beat is this constant vintage metronome you can get lost in. The instrumentals in general are very hypnotic. Every once in a while a specific sample or synth bit breaks through like the soul sample/ keys on Tearz. The lyrics sorta float by in this haze of moody anger. Every once in a while a hook will break through (Wu-tang clan ain't nothin' to fuck with) or a disturbing/agressive interlude. I think with more time I'd be able to dig into the lyrics and get more out of the record. I can definitely feel the influence of this on hip hop still to this day. Very cool album (feels like an understatement).
Debut album. Hip Hop. Good beats throughout. Good lyrics at times. A hip hop album that still influences the genre to this day. Good tracks include Wu-Tang 7th Chamber, Da Mystery Of Chessboxin' , Method Man and Protect Ya Neck. Solid album.
I guess I’m just bad with classic hip hop. I know this is a classic. I agree that the various vocalists here have generally good delivery. It’s just extremely dull and uninteresting. The kung fun stuff is just silly. I don’t know… I can give it three stars because I know it’s important and a classic but I don’t really like it.
Not for me
not bad
Where it all started with ODB, Ghost Face Killa RZA, Method Man GZA and the rest of the clan. Very raw, but makes a statement. Not their best work, but some good old school hip hop. Sounded like they were having g a good time together while making it. Saw quite a bit of personality in all of the clips within the songs.
Yo solide
Another hip hop classic. All good, but I never really liked the WTC
Better than the majority of the genre from this time, but the bar isn’t particularly high.
I Like it
Surprisingly enjoyable, but after just about half the songs it got quite homogenous
Very solid, very influential album that I knew would be on the list. I usually don't like skits but the ones here work and I always enjoyed the Shaolin style of WTC even though all of the members' stronger work came after this. Track 4 "Method Man" is a new top from this album on this relisten. There's a few times where beats felt repetitive but overall still a good album. 3.25 for "tell me how you like it so far, Baby Paw?" rhyme alone.
Wu Tang Clan has always been a blind spot for me. I've always heard they are an influential rap group but somehow managed to incidentally avoid them. I've known about the various members that have come and gone but wouldn't have known any of their music beyond some titles that have become external pop culture references (CREAM, Protect Ya Neck, Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin to Fuck With, etc.). I went in with an open mind and was pleased with 36 Chambers. The rap is enjoyable with good contributions from a handful of members, Method Man being the highlight for me. The backing music is varied and a little more artistic than I've come to expect from rap/hip-hop. Overall a pretty solid rap album that I would put on the higher end of the genre from this list so far. I can appreciate Wu Tang's contributions to the art and will always loved that they share my love and respect for old school martial arts movies. Bonus points awarded as I recently watched The 36th Chamber of Shaolin for the first time and really enjoyed it (along with many other Shaw bros. classics). Good stuff. 3.07 stars
7/10 it’s alright.
Wanted to like this more but I see how it was influential at the time
Wu-Tang is for the children and I'm old as fuck.
Golly gee whiz! These fellas sure do seem angry 'bout somethin'! Seriously, this brings me back to high school with a bunch of country white kids (who had never even seen a black person) listening to this thinking it somehow gave them a dangerous aura of protection from bullies and invisible gangs. Meanwhile, I simply perfected my resting bitch face to much greater effect. Anyway... back on task. In a vacuum, I'm not sure I would be able to find much value in this beyond a few clever moments (found particularly more on the back end). From a cultural and temporal perspective, however, I do have more appreciation for what this inspired - directly and indirectly. An example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2UmNA9T3T8
Dolla Dolla bills y’all 7/10
I enjoyed this album much more than I thought I would. The downside is that it is incredibly long and as much as it was enjoyable in short bursts its not as an overall listening experience. If they created a tight edited album I could see rating it higher than I have for this one.
Pretty good. Sounds dated. But can also pick up on the influence it put out.
I wonder if there is anyone who is REALLY into rap skits. Like they have a list of the ten best rap skits on different albums and get really passionate about their criteria for what makes a good rap skit. I'd like to meet that person and discuss rap skits with them. Anyway I can see why people like this. These guys are very menacing, and are good at telling rhymes about why we should be frightened.
Will reiterate again I know very little about rap but this has some awesome funky sampling and fun flow on top of it. Some really fun songs, even if I might not come back to many, happy to have heard this. Lots of skits, eh? I was trying to think of any rock bands that did skits and the only one I can think is the album In Search of Lost Time by the band Partner - they do phone calls with their mom, dad, record producer, photographer - pretty fun album!
Ну средне. Пару раз почувствовал, что качало. Но это было 2 раза за 3 прослушивания. Я понимаю, почему это в свое время стало успешным. Однако я не носитель этой культуры, мне от ВуТанга далеко.
Youtube had a Clean version, so that's what I listened to. There's lots of anger, but the upbeat parts are fun and the slow parts are comfortable. Innovative and influential, so it still sounds fresh.
I really like 90s hip hop and this didnt disapoint though unfortunately i probably still have more fondness for Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. I quite enjoyed the incorperation of more classical instruments like pianos and strings in some of the songs and the general poetry of the lyrics is really good. CREAM was a particular standout and i also enjoyed the 7th chamber. I also think the pop culture references were really fun. Altogether a realy good album but probably not among my favourite hiphop albums. I was also really hungry while i listened to this so that may have affected my rating lol
freumi hert (ussert dass es so lang gaht) han jz 3 lieder hinder mier und finds echli langwilig hahahah can it be all so simple isch na cool I guess aber au nöd meh METHOD MAN coole ahfang und nachane leit sich mini begesiterig wieder okkkk de beat vo da mistery of chessboxin isch na cool, sehr gmüetlich wu tang clan pipapo ischmer chli zu nervös hee finds bis jz eifach mega ok aber reeecht langwilig protect ya nexk boppt no! ahh cool ich han die falsch version glost jaaa jz losis leider ide falsche reihefolg bring da ruckus gaht dumm, chli aggroioooooo hee ja bö vill hani demit nöd chönne ahfange weg de beats gits es 3 aber wird das album glaub nümme gross lose
Not my kind of music so probably deserved another listen before I pass judgment. I can’t say I’ve immediately warmed to it, however I understand the appeal and appreciate their impact and importance.
4/10
Found this 4 years too late
Rating: 3.5/5 | Favorite Track: Bring Da Ruckus --- Admittedly, I am not well-versed in hip-hop, and I know I will reevaluate this album eventually. However, for now, it really isn't my thing.
I really appreciate their sense of humour.
Trop bien !
Easy listening but too much repetitive, seems to be an 1 hour audio loop
I was excited to listen to this one because I don't think I've ever heard a single Wu-Tang song. I'm also excited to see a hip-hop group on this list because it can lead so Brit pop heavy. I know how important Wu-Tang is culturally and their contributions to music and the culture can't be undermined. All that being said, it's not quite my style. I understand why it is on this list, and I appreciate that it is, I just wouldn't listen to it again. They also seem to say their group's name in every song which makes me laugh. It's not bad though, and I wouldn't turn it off if I heard it It's a solid 3.
Not a huge fan but understand why it's so revered by lovers of the genre.
I enjoyed this…somewhat. Most of the songs are great, but I tend to really dislike albums with a lot of talking bits inbetween, you know? So if I’m rating the album as a whole, I’m gonna have to go lower than I would if I was just rating the songs themselves. 3/5
Unclear if giving this 2 stars would qualify as fucking with them, so I'll stay in the safe side
certainly ain't nothing to fuck with
It's alright. Not for me so much.
Well, I can tell I quit listening to hiphop around this time. Not bad, just not my jam. Kind of messy.
Iconic in a lot of ways, showcases the groups wide talent, big impact on the direction of hip hop in nyc, but largely underwhelming for me… it was ok. Look it was their debut album, they still had lots to grow on but it is culturally important.
Overall an understandably classic project. It's a collection that serves as a platform to show off each of the clans members, highlighting their different styles of flow and proficiency. While the lyricism flows well, the lyrics themselves don't tend to be very interesting aside from an entertaining usage of language. While there are a few standout tracks that I come back to, overall the track list doesn't lend itself to repeat listens on individual songs. Some tracks like CREAM and Wu Tang ain't Nothin Ta F With offer more variety in the instrumental but most involve very repetitive beats with the variations in vocal performance offering the most momentum. A solid and important album in the genres history that blends comedy and showboating with a display of prowess but lacking progression in instrumentals that would keep me replaying songs more often.
I always want to like them. Maybe I need to sit and listen to the lyrics more? It's not bad at all, catchy at times, I just want to more than I do....
I really enjoyed a couple of tracks in here - cream, can it all be so simple.
First? 3,5/5 Again? 2/5
I like the early 90s feeling of this album. it has a lot of the emotion from early rap with the beats of 90s rap which is really fun. i enjoyed this album quite a lot even if i wouldnt to download all of it. Bring da ruckus is good, so is da mystery of chessboxin and c.r.e.a.m. 3.5/5 stars.
A few iconic songs. Mostly just sounds the same throughout
I went and opened my RYM and I had previously rated 36 Chambers a very controversial 2.5 stars. I think its the skits, they really feel like they interrupt the flow for me. There is clearly some great music here, 2.5 stars was harsh, however I do still think this is an overrated album. Maybe I should stick to the 9 track version on Apple Music which I'm guessing is clear of skits. Fave Tracks: Can It All Be So Simple, C.R.E.A.M., Tearz 3.4/5
it was a fun listen; i really enjoyed the last song and the beats were good across the album. not my preferred or go-to genre but it was an easy listen for someone who is unfamiliar with the style and the features were cool
As some others have indicated, I know that this is a record of historical significance, etc., but it's still not that nice to listen to.
So this is not my thing but it’s cool to finally listen to such a landmark. 7th Chamber is so far my fav.
Here’s another one that suffers for me because I didn’t listen to it at the time. Insanely influential with a sound that became a template, listening to it 32 years later sounds familiar and a bit simplistic to me. Most tracks just don’t command my interest. Several of the rappers sound great and there are some clever parts, production, and wordplay. I’m sorry I missed this in its time.
This one is a hip hop classic. You can really hear the influence this album had on other hip hop stuff. Very cool.
I feel like I should have a stronger reaction to what is apparently a seminal record...but I'm afraid I don't. I didn't dislike it. I didn't love it.
Difficult to rate if you are not a hip-hop fan. But otherwise, I have to say that 90's r & b, hip hop and most of the black music were fantastic, not as nowadays
Had this album on in the background whilst working so did not really listen to it. Most of the songs just drifted by. Did recognise a few from back in the day and can appreciate why it is so important in the evolution of hip hop. 3 from me.
I can't really get excited about this genre of hip-hop (god i'm such a hater 😭), though I appreciate how light-hearted it is and how it doesn't take itself super seriously my favourite song was probably Method Man, I feel like it's the most unique and creative overall while it's not really my thing you can clearly see the influence for later hiphop which i enjoy more, particularly with the "random" samples which artists like MF DOOM would develop more heavily in the future
I can see why these guys made such a big splash and became so influential. This is some powerful music with a whole lot to say.
First 6 songs bad. Not my style but it was okay
Some good old school rap. I’m sure that album has lots of stories to tell and of its significance but it’s not my main thing.
Is it hip hop or rap? I don’t know but I like the beat.
Creative , catchy, lyrically dense. Like watching a slice of life documentary but in the form of a rap album.
Yeah… very much of its time. Good for when you want to rage a bit
Not for me. His voice was a bit odd but not terrible music.
A mixed bag. I liked a lot of the music, but I'll never understand why 90s hip hop albums had so many intermissions, skits etc. They always spoil the flow of the album and are rarely enjoyable to listen to, even once.
Influential but got very samey
this was interesting. i already liked c.r.e.a.m and most of the songs are actually a vibe, but i can’t get with all the violence, i just can’t do it lol - but it is a good and smart and funny album. Some of the backing vocals and beats are so so so good and unexpected, i really quite liked it, but just don’t care for explicit shit.
meh dont like gangsta hop plus all the intermission were annoying af important for the genre tho YNN
3/5. I remember listening to this a while ago and enjoying it but on another listen, some of the songs last a little too long and it loses focus. The skits are also sometimes out of place. I enjoy the multiple rappers, creates a diverse energy, while still keeping that anger needed for this influential style of rap. I appreciate and respect the album but the beats leave much wanting. The samples are fun so that's a plus. It might just be my experience with rap already, but this doesn't stand out to me compared to other rap albums that came after or around the same time. Influential but not aged imo. Best Song: Bring Da Ruckus, Clan In Da Front, Protect Ya Neck
Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is an album I'm pretty divided on. I generally like it as a whole but there are just small things about it that hold this album back for me. The songs here are pretty good with some good instrumentals and some rapping that really shows what these rappers can do. None of the songs here are really bad as a whole either but the main issue is just small parts of songs that manage to be bad enough to hold it back. The main offenders of this are the build-ups to the songs not sounding great and just being something i can do without. This is still a good album, just one i think could be better if some things were changed. Best Song: Da Mystery Of Chessboxin' Worst Song: Method Man
Good album. My first listen. They are certainly nuthing to F'ck with.
Okay hip hop.
I know this is a classic hip-hop album that I'm "supposed" to find incredibly groundbreaking but I've just never loved it. It's got a couple tracks I really like but the rest are pretty meh for me.
It Could Be So Simple was rad, protect ya neck was sick, dug cream, and wu tang ain’t nothing to fuck with was cool
Cash Rules Everything Around Me
Was honestly a bit disappointed with this album. Having never listened to Wu-Tang Clan previously and only knowing about the whole shaolin/supergroup bit culturally, I expected to like this a bit more than I did. Maybe I can't appreciate it as much because I didn't grow up around it, but a lot of the beats and flow of the songs come off as kind of corny and dated. The second half of the album is notably stronger, but never goes beyond decent. Top tracks: Method Man, Protect Ya Neck, Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber Part II (Conclusion)
Amazing that they're a 9-man crew and every voice distinct. Not enough variation in the beats, though.
This was pretty good, especially for its time, but not one I'll be going back to
- At first I thought I would put 1/5, but the random talking is fun and I like the random snippets from the martial arts teacher. Makes me actually look forward to listening through the album when I am partway through
# Album Name: Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) # Artist: Wu-Tang Clan # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Not my style of music but it wasnt bad. Ive heard a lot worse if im honest. C.R.E.A.M was the er.....cream of the crop. Good tune. # Top Tunes: CREAM. # Would I listen to it again? I might come back to this one.
3-4
Respect, but not really my thing. 3/5
Not a huge fan. Listened ask the way through and liked some more than others but nothing stood out.
Kung Fu…explains everything? No idea.
Other than biggie and maybe nas strongest music from east coast Favourite songs: CREAM, Tearz Nice flow between tracks that makes the album feel like one long song Can get boring in parts
I've never benn big on rap so am not familiar with a lot of rap artists. I had heard of Wu Tang Clan but never actually listened to any of their music. This album had me bobbing my head to the beats and some of the lyrics and references were quite entertaining.
I get the influence, which made me want to like this more than I did. They were better in my mind before I listened to this, which is a bummer. 3/5
Not their best work. It was fine but never made me stop and go 'OOOOH'
Great folk american music
I just don't listen to much hip-hop so I don't really know what I should be listening for when it comes up here. I like the genre fine when I hear it, but i don't tend to seek it out. This wasn't bad, I was familiar with a few of the songs but definitely not all of them. The overall "Wu-Tang" schtick was funny.
Bring da Ruckas 3.3 Shame on a Nigga 3 Clan in da Front 3.3 Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber 3.2 Can It Be All So Simple "Intermission" 3.2 Da Mystery of Chessboxin' 3 Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing to F Wit 3.3 C.R.E.A.M. 3.6 Method Man 3 Protect Ya Neck 3.4 Tearz 3.4 Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - Part II "Conclusion" 3.2 Score: 3.241666667
Not my usual listening but it wasn't top bad.
It seems odd to me that this is the lone Wu-Tang Clan album in this collection, given their legendary reputation and status over the years. But apparently this is it, and I'll admit that I'm perfectly fine with just one album for a band (if only the book's editors could have followed this as a rule...). Listening to it in 2024, this album isn't all that compelling (even allowing for the endless f- and n-bombs), but I also suspect they set the foundation for East Coast rap/hip-hop for decades. I *did* enjoy the whole epic-rap-battle format of most of the tracks, with the various clan personalities taking turns trying to impress us all (and sometimes successfully); "Da mystery of chessboxin'" and "Protect ya neck" are probably the highlights of this style on the album (and a fun video for chessboxing). However, I just couldn't really get into the whole martial-arts rap-battle theme, but hey, wu wu wu!
enjoyed but didn't blow me away--musicality seemed to take a back seat to a lot of dialogue.
If I was rating based on influence or cultural significance this album would be an easy 5. But this is a personal journal for me, so I’m ranking based on enjoyment. That being said this album was LONG, every song was 5 minutes plus and it was draining, I think that’s a problem with hip hop groups, every member has a verse so it makes for long songs. It was also very same-y throughout, so I was kind of bored by it. There are some good songs that stand the test of time, but a lot is forgettable. C.R.E.A.M is a banger.
Not my thing, not bad for rap but I couldn't finish the album, it just dragged on
The Wu Tang is nothing to fuck with. Takes me back to my youth.
Klang böse, im positiven Sinne. Richtiger Old School Hip Hop, aber nicht alle Songs gefielen mir. C.R.E.A.M mit Abstand der Beste
nicht ganz mein Ding. aber nicht schlecht. after laughter beat ist lit.
Some good tracks
I’m honestly not that into this, and I once saw a RZA concert and it was sick
I really thought I'd be more into this album, but it just didn't do it for me. Not sure what it was lacking, but I couldn't get into it.
An interesting album, with a few funky riffs and chilling piano throughout.
Not really my style, but there were some really good beats.
неочень, нигеры
When I saw my next album I admit I was tempted to just skip it, because rap to me is usually poop, but I didn’t. And my bravery paid off, because this album was actually ok. I felt like a super cool mom driving my Honda with the Wu-Tang Clan on. There’s only one catch. I inadvertently listened to the clean version of the album. Oops. I didn’t mind though. Who needs profanity? I certainly don’t. I rolled right up to the mall to spend my dolla dolla bills ya’lllll with a clean conscience and a pep in my step.
Was expecting bad things after hating Method Man's Tical when that came up last month, but honestly...fair play. Hard not to bop along to. Not as good or polished as Illmatic or Shook Ones which seem to have jumped on the success of this and propelled the genre onward. Not a rap fan but credit is due where it's due. How Jay Z/Kanye's brand of rap ended up ten times more popular than this I'll never know
I'm sure that this is a good album, it's just a good album in a genre that I do not enjoy.
No lo escuche ahora, pero recordaba un solido 3 estrellas
Not as good as I remember. CREAM and other songs are fun but the interludes are straight up obnoxious and the ratio of good lyrics to lyrics that are about how good the lyrics are leaves much to be desired
Yeah whatever, perfectly okay but not my thing.
1. ruckuz - 1.5 2. nigga - 1.5 3. clan - 1.5 4. chamber - 1.5 5. zimple - 1 6. chezz - 2.5 7. nuthing - 1.5 8. cream - 2.5 9. method - 2.5 10. neck - 2.5 11. tearz - 1 12. concluzion - 2 13. zhao lin - 2.5 14. home grouun - 2.5 15. capella - 2
rap
Not for me.
Not usually a genre I listen to but definitely a good album. The rapping/lyrics are the focus here, with most songs featuring prominent rap and a simpler backing track/loop. 6/10 (3/5)
6/10 could tell it influenced a lot of future albums but most songs were okay however might be better on a relisten and paying closer attention to lyrics rather than having it on as I worked
Better than I thought it would be. They do like guns don’t they!
Good listen, prefer W that they did later on
could hear a lot of things they probably influenced in it - if i sat with it longer it would grow on me
Not a lot of melody, but plenty of vocals. Not bad
I am NOT their audience, but even someone like me can recognize greatness. Killer grooves, entertaining rhymes, stuff to think about. How is this triple-platinum and I've never heard it? Moody and dark.
3 Stars (8/15)
its okay
Good rap album, if repetitive at times. Maybe should relisten at some point.
Ik snap niet helemaal waarom deze zo legendarisch is. Op zich prima naar te luisteren, maar zo bijzonder vind ik het niet. Het zal de tijd wel zijn geweest.
This genre isn’t my usual cup of tea, but I am well aware this album has achieved cult status and is regarded as one of the greatest hip hop/ rap albums of all time. I very much enjoyed most of the tracks and skits. What I really appreciated was the rhythmic rapping, it was among some of the best I’ve heard. I’m less keen on lyrics that reference gang stuff and didn’t enjoy some of the darker beats on first listen, but I envision I’ll revisit this album several times and think these elements could grow on me.
not great, not terrible
it was good - good flow, enjoyable beats. a little long. i was weary of it by the end.
i know wu-tang is a cultural force to be reckoned with but i was an infant when this album came out, so we were like ships in the night. some of the beats and lyrical flows are quite good on this album, but it also (in my opinion) contains a lot of braggadocious rap filler that keeps arbitrarily cycling through different rappers. the end result to me is unfocused and overwhelming. i get that wu-tang ain't nothin' to fuck wit', but WHY is that the case? this is like a 3.5 for me but I'm gonna have to round down. favorites: wu-tang clan ain't nothing ta f' wit, C.R.E.A.M., protect ya neck, tearz
good but wouldn’t listen to it again
Never listened to Wu-Tang, I know they have a hug presence in the industry, but just found myself getting distracted.
Wu tang
Incredibly conflicted on this one. Definitely enjoyed it, though not sure I would put it above dime of the other rap albums that have been on the list. I like the production on these; they have a homemade, crunchy mix to them, giving them a feel that most other genres couldn’t get away with. Obviously, the subject matter is personal as well and adds to the experience. This is probably an album that has to grow a little bit more with me.
Good intro to east coast hip-hop. A few stand out tracks, e.g. C.R.E.A.M. All the talking skits felt a bit hammed up though.
This didn’t work for me. Not bad just kinda boring at first listen and I won’t come back. It’s a shame cause I was excited to listen to this one.
Album 515 of 1001 Wu-Tang Clan & Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) Rating : 2.5 / 5 meh. Kind of a clown show.
Écouté il y a très longtemps mais plus aucun souvenir, album qui s’améliore à chaque écoute. Les paroles semblent grossières d’après les autres critiques mais difficile de se faire un avis sans maîtriser l’anglais et se pencher avec détails sur les paroles. Quelques classiques instantanés.
Another good sounding album spoiled by unnecessary expletives
more partial to Tribe than Wu-Tang. But a solid album overall.
Not my jam. I think I’m the wrong generation.
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.
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.
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.
A few classics but not my thing
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.}
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.
Building block for the genre, not a ton of replay value - illmatic and liquid swords are better
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.
The ex-champions of hip-hop with their album I really didn't get that impressed.
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
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
meh. its okay.
CREAM is almost 5 stars on its own. But the rest of this is pretty average.
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!
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
The do like a ruckus
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.
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.
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
i don't know shit about rap/hip hop, but i didn't hate it sooo
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.
yeah
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.
3.5/5
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
High 3, enjoyed it more than I expected to
Classic rap!
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.
Fun but not my thing. Oh well. I tried anyway.
Not a big Wu-Tang fan, but once every 20 years it’s enjoyable.
I hadn't played this record for years. It's good, but not as good as I remembered. Favorite song: Da Mystery of Chessboxin'
#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
Classic
Fine I guess but not my thing
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.
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.
Pretty good stuff
It was fine
Solid hip-hop
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
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.
I liked protect yer neck
Not my favorite collection of Wu songs, but I definitely respect some of these tracks
I enjoyed this album, specially the first song, Protect Ya Neck, and Tearz, I just don’t know enough about the genre.
Not my favourite genre, but appreciate the beats Best song: C.R.E.A.M
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.
So many bad words!! It made me wonder if Eric can still rap Break Ya Neck. I wish he'd play with us. <sigh>
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.
3.5
Never been my thing, but it does have some pleasing beats, and there is a talent I can't deny. Still not at the top of my listen list.
cool! silly at times but nice beats and samples
Made me feel gangsta. Really liked most of this album except for the talking during the long silly intros. 3.4
RIP ODB
can it be all so simple, c.r.e.a.m
Repetitive flows, so much, it made me doze
I can respect the genre but at the same time it's cringeworthy
Compelling album with its own universe!
Recognized a few songs. Pretty fun album but it all kind of blended together a bit.
Heard of the Wu-Tang clan but thought they were more recent. Not usually into rap but it’s alright so far. 3.
Good album, but no repeat value for me
01) Bring Da Ruckus - 6,0 02) Shame On A Nigga - 8,5 03) Clan in da Front - 6,5 04) Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - 6,0 05) Can It Be All So Simple - 8,0 06) Da Mystery of Chessboxin - 6,5 07) Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit - 7,0 08) C.R.E.A.M. - 7,5 09) Method Man - 5,0 10) Protect Ya Neck - 7,0 11) Tearz - 7,5 12) Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - Part II - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,79 (68/100) English is not my first language (as you can probably see :-P) so the lyrics don't mean much to me. Maybe that's the reason I'm not really a big fan of rap. I can not follow them that fast... But I can appreciate the beats and the flow... In that light, "Shame On A Nigga" and "Can It Be All So Simple" (without "Intermission") are my favorites. P.S. Maybe I don't understand all the lyrics but the beginning of the "Method Man" is vile! The f**k?
i've already listened to this album before and i only like 2 tracks from it. i know its an iconic album but personally, a lot of the tracks don't stand out to me other than C.R.E.A.M, shame on a nigga.
Some good beats and samples, but that was it for me.
II'm told this is a classic, this kind of was the end of the end for me. I was at a fork in the road just before this was released and I chose another path. Chambers came about the time I scooted off to university, started listening to local music and a bunch of lesser-known bands like Bitch Magnet, Unwound, Jawbox, a tiny band named Radiohead (ever heard of them?). If I was listening to any rap it was Gang Star / Guru's Jazzmatazz or NorCal Heirogliphics crew stuff. Del, Souls of Mischief, Casual and really anything else that was inspired by skateboarding videos. About this time, it became clear I was on the outer fringe of the Wu-Tang phenomenon. And though all of this is recognizable, it wasn't something that I was seeking out, more like phasing out. Reflecting on the music today it has some of the cache of west coast gangsta rap (which I'm not a fan of), but with a communal and even playful vibe missing from the west coast scene. Being an east coast kid, and growing up surrounded in diversity, I'm more easily able to relate to this than the streets of segregated Los Angeles. The characters that came out of Wu-Tang, Method Man, ODB the other *ZA's became kinda like a replacement or an alternative to the Native Tongues in the mid-90's. Each moving on to be successful in their own rite. Considerable talent all wrapped up into one package.
Meh. It’s still love Cheese Wagstaff though, unknown father to Randy.
Classic case of liking a lot of it, but only being able to get so high because of my feelings on the album experience with this genre. 3.5/5
Need to relisten
Very rap
ставлю середнячок, потому что несмотря на то, что очень любопытно и интересно слушать, мне не хватает культурного контекста все понять, а уровня аудирования - чтобы с первого раза снимать и понимать текст а упорства столько нет)
I'm the wrong person to ask about this. As rap albums go, not doubt this is very good, or maybe better. Just not my musical taste.
Disclaimer: Ive admitted multiple times that I am not an expert in 90s rap and thus I don’t know what I’m talking about. That being said, this feels like a seminal album in the rap game. Coming out in ‘93 this clearly sounds like Biggie and Jay z. When that first snare drum hits, you immediately know what you’re getting and takes u back to a specific time and place. I also love the production value of this, like it sounds kinda garage band-y, like the mic is kinda off and the beats are relatively simple but that also elevates it. The fact that I didn’t know any wu tang songs off the top of my head but then discovered that C.R.E.A.M is on here is super cool, a phrase that is just so engrained in modern vernacular that I didn’t even know it came from this album. I want to give this album more than a three, I really do but I’m not gonna lie I probs won’t be listening to this on the reg. The song Method Man really creeped me the fuck out. The nickname “dirty old bastard” is such a great name and I think someone in our group needs to be take this on, lookin at u Spence ;)
Do you know when someone introduces themselves to you and you forget their name immediately? That's how I felt at the beginning of every song. They intro who's rapping every song and I forgot who's who by the end of it. I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would. I think this would be a fun show to see in person. The biggest surprise to me was finding out that my wife listened to Wu-Tang Clan!
Eh
Way too long, wasn’t bad though
Liked the lyrics delivery, flows and beats
Eh... it's music
It doesn't land as hard as Liquid Swords did for me, but I did start to enjoy the latter half of the album. I started making a couple of connections between the two albums, but the lyrics didn't spark a lot of thought; it was mostly just vibes.
Really wasnt in the mood for it. I know Wu-Tang Clan is widely respected, but I liked the Wu-Tang vs. Beatles mashup more. Hip Hop lacks melody in general, and I'm too much attached to melodies and riffs.
The good stuff is really good. 3.
This album ain't nothin to fuck with.
Very good. Not a genre I gravitate to, so on my scale it gets a 3.
I know I should like this more than I do ... but it was fine.
Pleasantly surprised. I'm not much of a rap fan but this was... catchy? Could listen again
I understand the amount of albums and musicians that were inspired by the Wu-Tang Clan, and this album was good, but that's it. Everything about it was good, and they have a unique style that's rather charming.
Way too much explicit language for me personally - I’ve aged. I liked a few tracks, my hubby is a huge Bruce Lee fan, and I recall the early 90s rap battles. Favorite is “Can it all be so simple”. Smooth.
Wutang clan ain’t nuthin to fuck with Best song: Wutang clan ain’t nothing to fuck with Worst song: N/A
Good.
Well - it's high-energy rap and i was listening when i wasn't in the mood for that, so i just muscled thru it.
Revolutionary at the time - still tasty today!
Fijne beats. De tussen stukjes met de stemmen zijn leuk. De flow is soms iets minder. De rap is een beetje onverstaambaar soms. Overall wel leuk. Maar niet het beste rap album wat ik ken
Classic, but not my all-time hip hop favorite.
Heb hier zeker wel van genoten, maar was vergeten te raten. Toch niet fantastisch, gewoon oke.
Known before: Artist Standouts: 09. Method Man Rating: 6.5
Known Before: Artist/Some Songs Standouts: 8. C.R.E.A.M. 9. Method Man 6.5
Bring Da Ruckus - 3 Shame on - 4 Clan in da Front - 3 Wu-Tang - 3 Can't it be All - 2 Da Mystery of - 3 Wu-Tang Clan - 4 CREAM - 4.5 Method Man - 3 Protect Ya Neck - 3 Tearz - 3
Simplistic beat loops with decent lyrics, a 3
12/12/23 9:30 S Tier————————— A Tier————————— Method Man CREAM B Tier————————— Tearz Protect Ya Neck Da Mystery of Chessboxin’ Shame On a Nigga 7th chamber part 2 Ain’t Nothing to F Wit Clan In Da Front Can It Be All So Simple C Tier————————— 7th Chamber Bring Da Ruckus
Tuesday 12/12/2023, 9:30, office S Tier————————— Shame Mystery of chessboxin A Tier————————— Bring Da Ruckus Method Man B Tier————————— Cream Wu tang ain’t nothing Protect ya neck Tearz Can it all be so simple C Tier————————— Clan in da front 7th chamber pt 2 7th chamber
it's fine
Not a big fan of hip hop, but still worth a listen
Moderate energy but overall not my style.
Good
Not a rap fan at all, but this wasn't bad. Listened to the whole thing and it was an okay listen, can't say I loved it, but it was better than I expected. I am now leaving the Wu-Tang...
Nok rigtig godt for sin tid
Its ok
Essential old-school RAP album discussing wide range of topics from zeitgeist and daily reality of some people. Music and melodies that influenced and keep inspiring generations. Incorporated whole idea of Wu-Tang through whole album with all lyrical and musical references. Heavy influence on melodic hip-hop and trip hop. Although I feel like this album speaks mostly to the generations of USA with some pop culture moments and nostalgia caching up around the world but generally speaking this might be less interesting listen to people out of generation/culture of USA in terms of lyrics. Melodies are crossing generations and borders.
Decent old school album, thought I'd like it more.
More East Coast rap that I just can't get into enough. I know how much of a classic this thing is but so many of these Wu-Tang and respective member albums just don't do much for me. It feels like a brutal word salad being thrown at me without much the firmly hold onto in terms of hooks or catchy flows. 6/10
Some tracks are great. A couple of them make me never want to pick up this album again. This is clearly made for an audience that isn't me, and that's fine.
Maybe it’s just too crude or rudimentary, but it just feels choppy and sloppy. RZA saved it.
A little rough around the edges but I think that is on par with this genre at this time in history.
The Wu-Tang Clan created a major blueprint for hip-hop in the 90s with this release. Can never go wrong with C.R.E.A.M. "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" and "Tearz" definitely deserve a second listen. But other than that, there are a lot of songs that just don't do much for me.
not gonna revisit this
Very angry music that doesn't suit my temperament but I can appreciate the skill and artistry. It's a good album, but I wouldn't listen to it again.
До сих пор Ву-Танг Клан это круто, модно, элитно. Но прочувствовать альбом было сложно. Хотя хит альбома C.R.E.A.M. уже давно в плейлисте. Читают энергично, явно чуваки чувствовали, что как-то меняют мир и силы на это у них были. Круто, что альбом сильно экспериментальный, т.е. Клан делал музыку не для того, чтоб было элитно-дорого-богато, а чтоб поделиться именно своим звучанием. Об этом же говорят голоса - часто с дефектами речи. Это музыка настоящих аутсайдеров, звучащая оттуда, куда не ступала нога чопорного белого человека.
Good enough, idk. Not my style of music, lots of swearing etc.
Decent. 93, guess it was good for when it came out
I’ve heard this before. It’s in the same category as Soeaker Boxx. Good rap.
It’s wu-tang so it’s an experience but not quite my thing.
Would listen again. Dolla Dolla bill y’all
Liked CREAM song. Reminds me of the music from the Sims computer game way back when. The rest is fine, I’d listen again if it was playing but probs wouldn’t seek it out.
I was just given 2Pac and then Little Simz, neither of which I liked very much, and I enjoyed this even less. I haven't disliked all the East Coast hip-hop on this list but Wu-Tang is just too chaotic for me. I don't deny the charm of the various personalities and their wordplay; I can see why the album is so well loved. But I'm definitely not the intended audience and there's no point pretending I am.
Some very nice beats, but absolutely not my style of music
Pretty raw sounding, interesting to listen to the influence it's had on music moving forward. Maybe need to listen to it while high Method Man favorite track so far - "get lifted" Tearz is good, but violent 7th chamber part II has a good beat
Actually made me productive having it play in the background while I worked. No desire to listen again, not my kind of music, but fine.
I liked that album a lot more than I expected too, enjoyed pretty much every song except for method man, even though I probably won’t ever listen to this album again
Pretty good, but unfortunately sounds to me like a much worse, more archaic "Illmatic." 6/10.
Respect, but a bit too hardcore for me.
Not as bad as expected
fun but mid
Brani Preferiti: - "Protect Ya Neck" - "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" - "C.R.E.A.M." Note: Questo album fa capire che i Wu non sono una boy band che canta in coro , ma una band in cui ogni membro ha un momento per esprimersi. Che piaccia o meno, non si può negare il fatto che il loro stile ha creato una nuova onda che negli anni successivi sarà seguita da artisti che entreranno nella storia. La cosa che più rispetto di questo album è come inizia ogni canzone: un po' di dialogo e un sample da diversi film di arti marziali, che aprono la strada al flow dei Wu. Il primo ascolto mi ha fatto intendere che non è il mio genere, ma riascoltando alcune canzoni più volte è difficile non apprezzare questo stile... mi chiedo però se questa opinione è dovuta alla qualità dell'album o alla consapevolezza che questo album ha rivoluzionato la storia della musica americana.
Even though I'm not the biggest fan of the hip hop genre I did enjoy the vibe of this album. Tracks 1 and 5 were the stand out of this album, but didn't enjoy any of the songs enough to want to listen to the album multiple times.
Not really into rap but I kinda enjoyed this.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised after Raekwon's and Ghostface's albums, but it's pretty genuinely disappointing to come to the realization that Wu-Tang is simply not for me. There are fun moments and great tracks obviously, but I found myself unmoved by am unsettling number of songs here. Favorite track: Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nothing ta F' Wit
I understand why this is on the list. I understand it's importance in Hip Hop. I'm just not going to listen to it again.
I've listened to this album a couple of times and I just don't get Wu-Tang. Someone needs to explain to me why they're so groundbreaking/influential/etc. I'm sure that's on me. The second half of the album is better than the first half, or at least I enjoyed it more. But I doubt I listen to this one again anytime soon.
Not for me ( and I was involved in signing them to LOUD!)
Thank you Project Wizards! This is why you undertake these things, to have you taken out of your 'I mostly listen to Sufjan Stevens and 20 something white American female singer-songwriters' comfort zone. I was surprised by the musical invention, although I'm too woke to just skip over the casual sexism and glorification of violence.
I enjoyed it, am I a massive Wu Tang convert, not yet.
Hiphop is not really my thing, but the albim started really good. Sadly it continued very boring after several songs
Meh
There are some really catchy songs on this one, but full rap albums are not for me.
In the 90s, some contemporaries -- sociology grad students, undergrad art students, writing teachers -- liked Wu-Tang. At the time I thought they were appropriating Asian culture (this was before I had those words to express this). While not a fan of the raw language or the impromptu dialogue, as I finally listen to this album for the first time, it's a win, purely as a sonic experience
Eh
not as good as ppl make it to be but tolerable rap
This album could scrape a 5 but unfortunately one thing holds it back are the woeful skits that appear so often. The core of the album is very good, with songs like C.R.E.A.M, Protect ya neck etc, but the skits just drag it down massively. The album is far too long, you could lose 20 mins and improve the album but as it is... THREE
Man I wanted this album to be higher but it really wasn't for me. Some much better rap albums are out there.
Ah Wu-Tang. I liked this so much more 20 years ago. Upon relistening, the production feels shonky and the violence gratuitous but then again, that was the point. I love what Wu-Tang did for hip hop but I’m not going to pick up more than the odd track from this again. Some classics! But it’s not going to get a regular revisit.
👍