Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

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.

When this came out, I only heard of it much later. And I never actually heard anything from the album until the early 00s. I’ve never been huge into rap, but this has the elements that I like best: Good beats, cool samples, and clever lines. I like it.

Timeless

Decent old school album, thought I'd like it more.

A vulgar lo-fi kung-fu album with moments of brilliance.

This is the stuff of legends.

Launched an empire. The most unique sound of its time.

Groundbreaking hip hop. This record has ENERGY. The skits drag on a bit and focus a little too much on intimidation/braggadocio. But that is completely forgivable due to the sheer amount of hits. Bring Da Ruckus, C.R.E.A.M., Method Man, and Protect Ya Neck will regularly appear on your best of the 90s hop hop playlists. Great rhymes and great lines. This album doesn't let up. Fire front to back. Wu-Tang Clan ain't nothin to fuck with.

I dig it.

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

The energy and the characters of the group are super fun and entertaining. But they're also interested in shit that I ain't.

Really liked it, and it is not my typical musical genre.

WU

High quality classic album. Love the kung fu skits. Near perfect.

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.

Some cool lyrics, but not so melodic

10/10 (even the skits are decent!) Fave song: "Da Mystery of Chessboxin" production, vocals, lyrics, all come together in a perfectly unified front that is almost impossible to imagine 9 different people sustaining for an entire album

Fill in soon. 8/10

Maybe it’s just too crude or rudimentary, but it just feels choppy and sloppy. RZA saved it.

If you listen to hip hop, you absolutely need to listen to this album. Every contributor has the talent to succeed singularly. As a group, this material is historical.

A little rough around the edges but I think that is on par with this genre at this time in history.

Amazing hip-hop record. Goes extremely hard. The founding records of Hip-hop as we know it today. 5/5

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

Iconic. Some songs are still great. Others less so. The beats definitely feel dated.

Great overall album from the 90’s. Anyone who knows even a little rap has heard bout the wu tang clan. The best songs are C.R.E.A.M (so famous), wtc ain’t nuthin to f’ wit, and protect ya neck 👌

sooo fireeee

Summary: Uninteresting. Lyrics weren't relatable and I ended up subconsciously tuning them out. It didn't help that very few tracks had any kind of melody for my mind to hook onto. Rare, scattered moments of interest, mostly in the track C.R.E.A.M. (the only track that caught my attention for being slightly good). Nice underground-y production but incredibly monotonous. Bring Da Ruckus: Out of the gate, not a sound I enjoy. Thick, bassy percussion is some of the crunchiest I've heard in hip-hop. I would almost describe the backing as hard lo-fi. Still, there's something about this style and arrangement that makes me feel empty. Absolutely nothing. It's not bad, just doesn't evoke anything in me. Lack of melody plays a big part. Hopefully later tracks are more interesting. Shame On a: Just uninteresting. Lyrics are stupid and recited with an aggressively monotonous constant yell. Piano is nice when it shows up, which isn't often. Clan In Da Front: Beginning to get exhausting, and we're less than 8 minutes into the album. Cool three-note bass riff, but they don't vary it in the slightest. Reintroduction of the piano, except this isn't varied either, making the only saving grace of this track another flop. (I'm trying to think of anything good to write about these songs. Seriously.) Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber: Good transition. Non-music conversation was a welcome break at first, but a little too long. Can It Be All So Simple / Intermission: Nothing good until 3:30 when singing starts. Jumps up from a 1-star to a 3-4 star performance during this section. Groovy. Da Mystery of Chessboxin': no new comments. Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit: no new comments. C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me): Piano lick (dorian mode?) is really strong, but nothing else interesting. Oop, never mind, we got the "dollar dollar bill yall" vocal. Best track so far, but there wasn't much competition. Method Man: This one's pretty catchy at the beginning, but nothing lasts forever. Protect Ya Neck: nothing. Tearz: fuzzied backing vocals at 1:50 were a welcome breath of fresh air, but otherwise nothing. Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - Part II: nothing.

Very good, kicking myself for not listening to it before.

Best Song: Shame On A Nigga. I just love the rhythm of Method Man's part on this track. Worst Song: Clan In Da Front. It kind of felt like an intro to a song that never came. Overall: Iconic, this album is absolutely jam-packed. It feels crowded in the best way, where no matter who is on the mic it seems like everyone else is waiting just to the side, eager to jump on.

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.

Bright and tight. Still not the kind of album I’d just put on for fun.

Charged by the system for murdering the rhythm. 1993 exoticness. Jacques Cousteau could never get this low. Super cool and very 30 years ago. What always confused me about Gangsta Rap is that all the songs are about how cool and dangerous the author is, and how he can tell you the sickest story ever, but he never does. And then we get Lo-Fi Hip-Hop Beats to Study and Relax to. But indeed, Wu-Tang Clan ain't nothing to fuck with.

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.

Spittin straight fire bars. Wu-Tang Forever 👐🏻

Poetic

So good!

Wu tang rules everything around me

Sick af

Might be the best hip hop album ive listened to. All killer no filler. Incredible how much it holds up. Everyone is on their best game and the beats are groovy asf while not distracting from the lyrical complexity.

Good enough, idk. Not my style of music, lots of swearing etc.

My brother and his friends love Wu-Tang. For context, we are white, middle class and live in rural England. My brother enjoys craft ale and cider, and his friends are both PhD doctors in Chemistry and Cyber Security respectively. Perhaps it because I don’t tick all those boxes that I don’t quite get the Clan.

Simply one of the greatest rap albums ever made. From production to lyrics, very few albums top this one

Absolute classic. Gave us CREAM, Method man, Protect Ya Neck, Tearz, and so many more. Definitely changed the game

Arguably the definitive 90s rap album. A true classic that never gets old. 5 Stars

Not bad but not great, the album felt messy, but a couple of songs were ok, just not my style

Decent. 93, guess it was good for when it came out

Great Album,so Many good Tracks.It got a Raw Sounds that not completely my thing but the energy is infectious and the beats are great.Not a Bad Song on it.with like four complete bangers.

Fun old time rap

Their sound is so distinct within the world of rap music. Really enjoyed the beats and the lyrical delivery, just not a huge fan of the skit type talking in the beginning of songs. 4/5 Would listen again

One of the best album of all time.

Masterpiece

One of the best

I'm a sucker for the kung fu rap fusion stuff that Wu-Tang absolutely pioneered. I've had Liquid Swords on heavy rotation over the last 6 years or so. This was new to me, but I enjoyed every minute of it.

Favorite song: Bring Da Ruckus Least favorite: Wu Tang: 7th Chamber One word: cream

A classic, one of the best and most influential hip hop albums ever.

WU TANG WU TANG WU TANG WU TANG

Shmeep shmoop

Kinda corny ngl

I’ve heard this before. It’s in the same category as Soeaker Boxx. Good rap.

I hated every moment of it, but I can't rate it low because clearly there is a quality level there that is excellent. I just hated it. Like I hate milk. It's not milk's fault, milk is fine, I just hate it. and I'm more likely to come back and listen to this album one day than many other albums that I think are okay. Because it at least has quality, uniqueness, and interest. So here you go, 4 stars. But I really really hated every minute of it. It took me days to finish.

classico

Incredible album but really only listenable in small doses. The songs start to blend together quite a bit.

I really do not like hip-hop. I REALLY don’t like it. There is almost no hip-hop that I’ve heard that I’ve liked. And sadly, this album is no different. It was a struggle for me to get through. But at the same time, I can’t bring myself to hate it as much as some other albums I’ve heard so far. I’m sure that in terms of hip-hop, this is really good, maybe even revolutionary. But I just don’t enjoy this kind of music. I don’t see myself ever revisiting this album. 3/10 Top 3: 1. Da Mystery of Chessboxin’ 2. Protect Ya Neck 3. Shame on a N****

C’est ça le Wu-Tang Clan? Une gang de dudes qui se parle les uns par dessus les autres sur une loop instrumental de 2 seconde c’est assez décevant

Lots of classics and hits from wutang on this album. Easy to see why it's one of the greats and why it's so revered today. Love it.

It’s wu-tang so it’s an experience but not quite my thing.

Great flow, aweful recording quality

One of the best hip hop albums ever.

i like this album, im not a huge fan of the big stretches of conversation and no music. amazing samples and beats and instrumentals, the older style of rap isn't my favorite but it's good music and a good album even if im not coming back to it very often. first time sitting down and listening to wu-tang extensively and im not incredibly impressed but im also not disappointed. i see why this is popular, especially if you grew up listening to them. looooooove the vibe

Disco Classic. Long songs. Sounds like if Rappers delight was the original song

Bring the mofo ruckus

Would listen again. Dolla Dolla bill y’all

Classic hip hop.

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.

Got me into rap. No bad tracks in here, excellent lyrics and talent from the Wu-Tang. The confluence of styles and voices only makes the whole thing better. Amazing beats as well.

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

Enjoyed it more than I expected. Loved the interlude and kung fu noises

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.

True Classic

Interesting to look back at the building blocks for the genres today. Not my thing but I get the vibe. I actually didn’t mind Method Man. It was when Ol’ Dirty Bastard would start going was the funniest shit

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

euh 2/5

2nd best rap album of all time right behind Illmatic.

Un álbum de rap clásico sólido, mejor de lo que esperaba, y con creces, al principio no me gustaba, pero poco a poco me acostumbré al sónido y mi gusto se desarrolló rápido, no todas las canciones son buenas, de hecho una gran mayoría son olvidables para mi, pero cuando aciertan, lo hacen de una manera excepcional

Don't even need to listen to it because I listen to this masterpiece every week or so. An instant classic, legendary style and flow, Bobby Digital with some grimy innovative production. Something that had never been seen before.

True classic. Not much of my style, but fun to listen sometimes

Hip hop classic

Pretty good, but unfortunately sounds to me like a much worse, more archaic "Illmatic." 6/10.

0 trash not even music

Respect, but a bit too hardcore for me.

So good

cel mai bun album de până acum

10/10

Not as bad as expected

wu wu

m e t h o d, man m e t h o d, man m e t h o d, man m e t h o d, man m e t h o d, man

fun but mid

Classic NYC grit, laced with venomous bars!!

Classic. Awesome.

Album exists outside of rates & opinion.

Hip hop and rap is not something I listen to (willingly) often, but this was actually really cool! I loved the energy it had, I will definitely come back to this

These guys came out fully-formed. A gritty right-of-passage for any music lover.

Rap crudo yankee del que no me convence.

Dope

Wu-Tang is great, and I totally understand why this album is on this list. It's not my favorite of theirs, but it's still really good.

the piano in the background was so creepy at times. reminded me of those free scary flash games

Reminded me a lot of IAM

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

All day a 5. One of the best hip hop albums ever

The 90's were such a gold mine for absolutely spectacular rap music. It is really hard to pick just one rap album for the best of that decade. But 36 Chambers is undeniably a contender. Immediately from track one, the Wu-Tang Clan comes at you with an energy unlike what other groups were providing at the time. Which is why their impact is still felt today, and also why they are one of, if not the most, acclaimed and recognizable hip-hop collectives of all time. The only way I can describe the experience of listening to this album all the way through is like being circled by a group of 9 men, and having them pass you around and take turns beating the shit out of you while some guy is making beats out of it in the background. One member of the group goes, and then the next one picks up immediately where the other left off to continue the beating. It's intense, and oftentimes they speak about extreme violence, like on "Method Man", where they just list off a bunch of different torture methods in the intro skit. And this lyrical content mixes perfectly with RZA's style of beats. I find that the melodic sampled bits of the songs often sit back in the mix and create a type of ambiance, while the drums are pushed to the front. The drums also sound as if all of the high-end was cut out. Sometimes the kicks are hard to hear because of this choice. RZA and Wu-Tang in general are known for their martial arts movie influences and samples, and I like that sometimes the sample is just clicking and clacking of swords colliding as a percussive element, or the yells of people getting killed. Really, the most appealing aspect of the group was their chemistry in the music. They bounced off of each other so effortlessly. Songs like "Protect Ya Neck" or "Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber" work so well because they feature nearly every member, and they are just all taking turns speaking their mind. This album is just another one of those quintessential rap albums every person exploring the genre needs to hear at some point. Similarly to its east-coast brother Illmatic, 36 Chambers put you right on the streets of New York in the 90's.

I would not call myself a hip-hop fan but I really like this album a lot amd it really doesn't sound as dated as the similar albums from that era. It's a 3.5 all day.

Wu Tang! Wu Tang! I’m not a big rap/hip hop fan, but for some reason I really like this record. Maybe it’s the king fu movie stuff. Sure, I’ll go with that.

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 my kind of music

stone cold classic

Listened out of order by accident but couldn't get myself to listen again

Cash Rules Everything Around Me.

Not a fan of the language used.

Easily the best example of a hip hop collective to date. You can tell that each of the members try to one-up each other, which results in each member having witty, memorable bars & top tier lyricism. RZA’s beats ties it all together creating a rough gritty vibe. Masterpiece.

Classic.

Not for me ( and I was involved in signing them to LOUD!)

This album is incredible and still just as fresh and vital today as it did when it was released 30 years ago. Truly a masterpiece.

This album is puffery at its worst. I liked C.R.E.A.M., but it's one of the few songs where Wu-Tang Clan aren't referring to themselves in the third person. "Tearz" is about the sad reality of children living in a world where gun violence prevails ("Your little brother got shot!"). But the tracks that follow are again all about Wu-Tang Clan, as the rappers fall back on the same tired cliches and overt misogyny I have come to expect, having listened to the whole album.

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.

Not my favorite style. Of all the songs though, I did like Protect Ya Neck best. But mostly it was all meh.

I enjoyed it, am I a massive Wu Tang convert, not yet.

The brilliance is in the simple production that lets all the various rapping styles and flows drive the songs forward and give them energy. It’s great.

Hiphop is not really my thing, but the albim started really good. Sadly it continued very boring after several songs

Meh

Not for me. No review.

this album aged well. excellent samples, good entourage, whimsical delivery. new york as fuck. creammmmmmm yall.

classic, favorites include 7th chamber, CREAM, and Shame on a Friend

not really my vibe because the sound mixing is kind of ... quiet? i don't know, it's kind of like a never-ending song for each song. album highlight: tearz. otherwise it's like definitely good music but each song blends into the next and i don't think i have the excitement or attention span to pay attention to it. 2/5 due to personal taste and low attention span.

A stone cold classic. I love the production on here, especially the sampling. Those old school kung fu samples go so hard. Solid bars from everyone on this record. A very important hip hop record.

classic what

I've not really been a big fan of the rap albums on this list, but this is a solid one. Wu-Tang Clan are well respected for a reason. This still sounds good 30 years later. Not too many bad lyrics either which is something a lot of the 90s rap albums have.

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

This is one I've been meaning to listen to for a while, as a hip-hop fan Wu-Tang Clan is constantly brought up and I can see why through this album. I think it could just be a perfect album, I gotta listen to it more though. Favorite Tracks: Bring Da Ruckus, Shame On a Buddy, Method Man

“En garde, I'll let you try my Wu-Tang style“

Eh

Absolute, stonewall, non-debatable, generational, everlasting, jaw dropping, hip hopping banger of an album. Truly one of the greats.

I've tried to see Wu three times in my life. Two were cancellations and one was a no-show. Classic Wu...

The legendary.

This is really good, isn't it? Never listened to it start to finish before, but plenty of the individual tracks are familiar. I disagree to an extent on the skits - whilst I can't think of any album where the skits in the main are truly additive, they're a lot less jarring in the most part on this album than they are on almost any other (apart from the one at the beginning of the Method Man track where they're threatening each other). We've had a few of the (sort of) solo albums from some of the members, but this is a level up from any of them - all of their styles grate a bit in their own way eventually, but when you're skipping between them it keeps it feeling fresh in a way that a whole album from one of them doesn't. 4/5.

Enjoyed this classic album.

*Track 8: C.R.E.A.M. (Cash rules everything around me)* I like the spoken word and samples. the beats and piano are also rly nice. method man threats were kinda gay, like why you wanna touch my penis?

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

1. not my cuppa.

Não chegou a me incomodar e serviu pra lembrar das parcerias com bandas de rock.

Man I wanted this album to be higher but it really wasn't for me. Some much better rap albums are out there.

I can appreciate this, but rap just isn't my thing glad that's over

this might have been the first 90s rap album on here that i liked more than just it being good! a couple really good songs and overall enjoyable album

Bring da Ruckus, Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthin ya F Wit, C.R.E.A.M. and Protect Ya Neck. One of the best 90’s rap albums. Method Man and Inspector Deck are my favorites. A few dumb random skits in the earlier songs. 9/10

mostly terrible Favorite Song: After Laughter by Wendy Rene

The Pu-Wang Clan

First time listening all the way through, though I've heard tracks here and there. Revolutionary, of course, and formative, but also really enjoyable even in 2023. Clever, funny, emotional, smart. Good shit.

Fun, Iconic, fucking rad

Some of the most iconic hip hop ever made, still holds up today.

"Shaolin shadowboxing...and the Wu-Tang sword style. If what you say is true, the Shaolin and the Wu-Tang could be dangerous. Do you think your Wu-Tang sword can defeat me?" There are few albums on this list that I have a history with like this one. I bought it when I was 15 or so, and I couldn't even guess how many times I've listened to it since then. It's so rich in every way. When I was younger I was focused on the incredible rhymes, with so many different voices taking turns on the mic to spit out brutal lyrics with an incredible lexicon. As I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate just how insane the music is, with Rza's samples that never seem to quite fit the beat, but always work perfectly as he brings them in and out and overlays them. It's exquisite. A true revolution in hip-hop and in music in general. It feels almost unfair to debate whether or not this is the greatest hip-hop album of all time. It's like if the 90s Bulls also had Hakeem, Barkley, and Malone playing for them. There are other hip-hop albums that achieve the level of craftsmanship of this album, but none of those albums had to be made in a world where this album didn't exist 5/5

I remember this at the time as being shockingly raw and real. I was more of an NWA fan but RZA and the crew brought something immediate and street-ugly to the game.

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.

An incredibly influential album, and one that still hits as hard today as it did back when it was first released. The gritty, rough-around-the-edges production only adds to its charm, all topped off with bucket loads of charisma from all 9 members of the Wu-Tang Clan.

4.5

Great beats and samples, some of the best voices for hip-hop, and super entertaining writing and references. So, so, so good. I generally favor the West Coast sound but Wu-Tang is special and typesetting for the East Coast that I do listen to.

Ik vind rap sowieso een beetje saai en eentonig. Soms zijn de beats nog wel leuk, maar ook dat is op dit album niet het geval. Voor mij is dit album van Wu-Tang niets anders dan een dieptepunt voor muziek.

YES! OK, love the more socially conscious hip hop from the same era (maybe a little bit earlier). But this is just hip hop at its finest

Eternal classic

👍

Love ODB. This is a fun album that is more of the direction early 90's rap should have gone. Pokemon was even inspired by the line "Your whole damn posse be catchin' 'em all, cause you vic'd.

About two-thirds of the way through this debut that changed the whole game, there's a skit which sees the Wu-Tang Clan try to one-up each other with methods of torture, involving bedposts, spiked bats, hot pokers, rusty screwdrivers, and more. On a first listen, it's crass, shocking, horrific. By the tenth listen, I was laughing along, shouting "Go on, Method Man! Sew his mother-fucking ass closed!" Such is the immersive world of "36 Chambers": the repartee of the Wu-Tang Clan, the "don't-look-away" sense of vitality and urgency pumping through this record. Thirty years after its release, "Enter the Wu-Tang" is an undisputed classic of its genre, its tense and gritty sound embodying 90's East Coast hip-hop. It's unpolished, rough around the edges, like a live open mic session in a basement as the Clan spar off each other. On first listen I was underwhelmed, but I've come to really appreciate the "liveness" of it. The Wu-Tang world is a harsh, brutal place bristling with violence, injustice and brotherhood. I had to get used to the lyrical content: there's not really any narrative or journey here, but a cycle of braggadocios and grim landscapes of inner-city New York. The songs focus on what the Wu-Tang Clan know about life: hustling, looting and shooting to survive in an endless cycle. This is partly expressed in hard-edged, aggressive tracks and partly through more lush, introspective numbers ("C.R.E.A.M" ought to give a lot of pause to any white listener bemoaning violence in hip-hop). Even the skits, distracting and annoying in most hip-hop albums, only serve to bind the group together and give us context on who they are. One of the main joys of getting to know "Enter the Wu-Tang" has been gradually piecing together who is contributing what, how the group fit together and where each member excels. The Clan trade verses on the mic throughout each song, their features being won against each other through a series of rap battles in a small cramped studio. To my ears, the most distinctive voices are Ol' Dirty Bastard (whose gravelly, gritty intonation carries tracks like "Shame on a N*gga") and Ghostface (theatrical, higher-pitched, yelping urgency- his best verses for me come at the very start of the album, and then in "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'"). And RZA is the mastermind, producing the majority of tracks and splicing together the kung-fu samples which give the record such a distinct flavour. (Other production stand-outs include the sample of "After Laughter" in "Tearz"; bringing in superhero theme "Underdog" to provide the "woo's" in "Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin to F' Wit"; the snare being hit at the bottom of a stairwell in opener "Bring da Ruckus". That's some Led Zeppelin shit.) But it's Method Man I'd reserve the biggest praise for on this record: he's the only member to carry a whole track (fittingly enough, named "Method Man") and it's packed with razor-sharp wordplay and dense allusions. His vocals are smooth and measured throughout, effortlessly spitting out humour and horror in equal measure. His solo track is the high point of the record.

Flera bra låtar och bra beats men stressande at times

Classic

Fantastic beats, a ton of great flows and memorable lines, and top notch production and there's a reason this is such an influential album. Even to somebody who ain't a huge hip hop guy this was still real fun to listen to. My favorite was 7th Chamber.

Bring the muthafuckin ruckus

биты супер стильные, некоторые перебивки больше бесили. Но стиль знатный Алкоальбом: саке

2, после лоу энд теори конечно плоско

Now you're talking...

I must have listen to this album a million times. It's one of the greatest hip hop albums ever made with a solid production on all levels and wordplay of great lyricists. The best Wu-Tang tracks are those were quality is over quantity (that also goes for the numbers of rappers on those tracks). Here it all comes together. Favourite track: Hard to say but I'd go with 'Wu-Tang Clan Ain't nuthin ta fuck with'.

WU TANGGGG FO LIFEEEE🤟🤟🤟

wu tang clan's first album was very much not for me. i respect it and i know many people today enjoy it still. oh my good gravy, that misogyny! super uncomfy to listen to. this album was a lesson in restraint for me and tested my ideology of listening to entire albums on this project, but i persevered.

This was okay, but ultimately just not for me. It all came across as kind of lo-fi hip-hop. In any case, every song mostly sounded the same to me and I was left rather bored. Plus, I'm already not the biggest hip-hop fan. Wu-Tang Clan absolutely deserves a place on this project, but I'm just not into them myself.

Theres alot of 90s hip hop and rap that I enjoy but I missed the boat with Wu Tang Clan. They get my respect for influencing alot of hip hop but I just don't feel it.

Too much talking

Unpolished.

Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuttin ta Fuck Wit, would be higher If not for all the filler

Is there a more classic rap album than this? It’s amazing how fresh this still sounds. The melding of samurai mythology with eerie minimalist beats and a myriad of talented flows was ahead of its time and sparked a new era in rap. Listening to the intermission at the end of Can It Be All So Simple its also amazing how confident they were in their plan and how well they executed on it, rolling out one fantastic solo album after another following this. This has classic track after classic track, top 10 rap album all time.

Diamond standard NYC 90’s hip hop

Classic

I just don't get Hip-Hop, but some people obviously do and that's fine - each to their own. Just not for me.

This was their DEBUT album. Enter The Wu-Tang brought us: - an original gritty urban sound quite unlike anything else before it, reviving 70s soul records overlaid with Kung Fu movie sounds and samples - one of the most innovative, visionary producers in RZA - nine phenomenal MCs, with Ghostface, Rae and GZA laying claim to GOAT status, plus ODB and Method Man bringing personality and charisma to spare, and fan favourite Inspectah Deck always on point on any track you feature him on - one of the GREATEST verses of all time by GZA on Protect Ya Neck - a whole new fashion, vocabulary and style for hip hop, innovative record deals, radio unfriendly but still flipped the underground to overground. This was their DEBUT album. Five mics. Instant classic. RIP ODB.

Classic one. Sounds well, but boring

fav - tearz

Classic, need I say more? The first time I heard their music was in concert and I’ve been a fan ever since.

Fine for the genre but not really my preferred music.

It is something very special in hip hop history but I don’t like it so much. Very hard to listen this. Only in a gangsta team near to the garbage bin. Something between 2 and 3.

Really good

listened

Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.

Rollo

Been a fan for years

Truly monumental hip hop album. Knock your teeth out aggression at the start, deeper cuts peppering throughout. The huge variety between members' style keeps it energetic, spontaneous and multi-dimensional. RZA's production fuses a silly variety of samples with kung fu movies, spicing up an already gritty boom bap style. The album paints a unique picture and aint nuttin to be fucked with - it created a god damn cult.

Classic hits, fun sampling, a ton of good verses

LP

Classic Hip-Hop which somehow I hadn't listen to by now: it was controversially not my sort of thing. Yeah I get that it's one of the most famous groups with one of the "best" most influential albums but I wouldn't say I loved it. For me I would prefer to listen to the sampled style of hip-hop with more groovy beats but I can respect this album for what it is and the influence it made on the genre as a whole. I can understand why many love and swear by it.

I have heard so much about Wu-Tang Clan, that it became an incredible sensation from 90s that is beloved by everyone. This is actually the first time I've listened to their album, or any song, in fact. I was trying so hard to be enamored as everyone else, but it just didn't clicked. Nice beats, nice lyrics, nice flow, but nothing that would make me say 'wow'. I really tried, and I will probably try again, just because it's a groundbreaking album, but as for now, average experience, average rating.

The production on this thing is SOOO GOOD. It's rich and smooth, and the rapping melds immaculately with the beats. Perfect integration of humor, just enough so that you have a good time, but not so much that you can't take it seriously.

Great hip hop album. One of the most intense concerts I ever saw was the Wu opening for Rage. The Wu’s impact is everywhere still. 5/5

Not as brilliant as I remembered, but still very fun

5/5

For the children....

honestly only okay cream is so much better than the rest of the album 2.5

Wu-Tang's debut is obviously hugely influential and groundbreaking. Listening 30 years later, and the beats are still extraordinary - the lyrics not as much. Yes there are bangers like 'Bring da Ruckus', 'Da Mystery of Chessboxin' (coincidentally, today Ding Liren just became World Chess Champion... and I guess something happened in boxing as well), 'C.R.E.A.M.' and 'Protect Ya Neck', but it's mainly the production carrying the load. And goddamn intermissions on an hour long record should be banned. D'ya know what I'm sayin'?

For a group named after Wudang there sure is a lot of Shaolin references on this defining hip hop release. Spearheaded by RZA the legendary Wu-Tang Clan are among the most notorious hip hop groups out there - and when listening to their debut album you can understand why. Every single member brings their a-game and deliver punches that reach far wider than the genre itself. A few misses along the way and some dated lyrics here and there (this is 90’s hip hop) but the influence of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is hard to ignore.

"Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)" is the debut album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. Wu-Tang Clan was composed of a collective of rappers (nine on this album). This album was produced by member and de facto leader RZA. Due to a small budget, the studio was small, members had to fight for rap time and the cheap production outcome was a gritty sound all resulting in a landmark album. Harcore hip hop. East Coast hip hop. Alternative hip hop. Yep. The music was a collage of soul samples and clips from martial art films and lyrical themes included urban life, martial arts movies, comic books, drug use, violence and rap battles. The album was a critical and commercial success despite no pop radio or MTV play and was very influential for the renaissance of East Coast hip hop. It was put into the National Recording Registry in 2022 by the Library of Congress for its excellence and importance. The album begins with "Bring da Ruckus" and back and forth and in your face rapping by multiple rappers. A laid back groove. Various kung fu movie samples. An aggressive start. "Can It Be All Simple" samples Gladys Pipp. The hardships of growing up and wanting to live the life. Talking about all the Clan members. "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" is worth the listen if just for its subject matter, chessboxin' which is playing chess, then boxing and back to chess. The competition continues until a knockout or a checkmate. Well, maybe back in the day that would have peaked my interest. "C.R.E.A.M." was the second single and uses great sampling from the Chamels "As Long as I Got You." The struggle of poverty and the desire to earn money. The first single "Protect Ya Neck" highlights their use of free associative rapping in essentially a battle rap. Another great soul sample in The J.B.'s "Grunt." "Tearz" has two stories going on. RZA describes his brother getting shot and Ghost Face Killah tells of a guy getting HIV. The melody is from Wendy Rene's "After Laughter (Comes Tears)." This album was loud, in your face and aggressive. The combination of all the rappers showcases their different personalities and styles. Many of these guys would have very successful solo careers. The sound is definitely gritty and I really liked the use of some pretty obscure soul songs in their sampling. A hip hop classic.

It’s not really for me but honestly not bad 3/5.

Not my vibe

Such a great hip-hop album, this albums is just filled with bangers. The album cover and logo of Wu-Tang is just iconic.

what a boring and repetitive album

Classic hip hop no idea what theyre on about but it is immediate and strong nice sample work as well.

Candidate for one of the best hip hop albums

I get it. A bit strong for my tea at times but

A staple in the East coast hip hop scene. Interesting choice to use soul samples but it paid off in the long run. The lyrics and raw production are a reflection of the hard times experienced by the Wu-Tang members growing up in a harsh urban NYC environment.

Absolutely loved this. Despite it being longer than I usually like i loved every second. Class

This was exactly what I want from old school hip hop and I get the feeling it's what the other gangster rap on this list is trying to emulate (and missing). It hits really hard and the flows are impressive. Recognised loads of lines that have been used by other artists (particularly RTJ as Graeme said). Enjoyed the Kung Fu samples but the excessive skits/talking lose a mark for me.

Flew by, but I can't remember any of it.

This is one hell of a debut album, some of the best hip hop you'll ever listen to. There's some great beats but the lyrics are on another level. The intro to Method Man is pretty funny the first few times but wears on me after a while cause I just want to hear the great song. Highlights: Shame On a Ni**a Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing to Fuck Wit C.R.E.A.M. Method Man

Now we're talking! I've been moaning about not liking "gangsta rap" every time it appears....I don't think this falls in that category, although it definitely shares similarities. To me, this is hip hop and it's distinct from what snoop and Dre do for example.... Maybe I just like the east coast sound better. Anyway, this is great. Great beats and flow. Actually rapping about something while not taking itself too seriously. All the different members have different rap styles and bring something individual. There's the hits that get you going then also the more storied ones. Think chessboxin is where it really gets going Best tracks are: Shame on a nigga Wu tang Clan ain't nothing ta f wit CREAM Method Man Da mystery of chessboxin Protect ya neck

Musik för personer med lägre intelligens.

Classic

I understand why some people like this, but it's not for me.

I mean what else is there to say about this one? It's a classic.

Today's record was created by a stacked group of rappers, better known as Wu-Tang Clan. So many solid solo careers spun out of this group, including: GZA, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and others. I have already had a record on this generator by GZA/Genius (Liquid Swords), and the similarities between that record, and this record (where he got his start) are crazy. Even down to the sampling of old Kung Fu movies. Every member of Wu-Tang Clan have their own phenomenal set of skills that they bring to the table; differing lyrical flows and beats. From GZA's intelligent rhyming style, to Method Man's machine gun rap style, this record is a staple of 90's hip hop, and can be traced back to having influenced the beginning of the hardcore hip hop genre. Overall, this was a phenomenal record, and I really enjoyed listening to it today. I will absolutely listen again in the future. Admittedly, hip hop isn't my favourite music genre, but I can absolutely appreciate what this group of guys did on this record. Favourite songs: Da Mystery of Chessboxin', Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit, C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me), Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - Part II, Clan In Da Front, Bring Da Ruckus, Method Man, Protect Ya Neck, Shame on a Ni**a Least favorite songs: Can It Be All So Simple/Intermission 4/5

Solid grooves under some good rhymes. What more can you ask for out of a classic hip hop album?

Some good old school hip-hop.

Absolute unsurpassable genius

Noise

I feel guilty for not knowing the first thing about Wu-Tang Clan, except their reputation. This was probably my first serious impression of them and it was very solid haha.

Better than expected but ridiculous amount of bad language takes shine off for me

Wu Tang Clan ain't nuthin' to Fuck Wit!

Interesting, a lot of the best parts of this are in the lyrics and I've only touched it at the surface I think

liked all of the songs on this album. but it went on for a bit too long in my opinion

Although interesting, not my cup of tea. The mix sounds odd sometimes but I do like some songs.

Groundbreaking rap album. Positively weird.

Legendary

30 years old! Still incredible, a magical album

Definitely was bopping my head to some of these tracks. Didn't enjoy the skits and some of the lyrics were cringey and violent. I'll concede this album wasn't made for old white guys like me but I can appreciate how important this album was to East Coast Hip Hop and Rap in general.

Wow! I can't say I knew too much about Wu-Tang Clan, but I think I might have to change that after listening to this. If their later albums are even half as good as this, Wu-Tang Clan might be the group that gets me into Hip Hop. Great variety of voices kept it interesting, that gritty Hardcore Hip Hop sound gave it so much energy - It was impossible not to feel badass listening to this on my commute. This was amazing throughout, and I don't think there's a song I can really fault here. Favourite: C.R.E.A.M (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)

3.5

Album super intéressant et qualitatif

PREFS : Bring Da Ruckus, Shame on a Nigga, Clan in da Front, Da Mystery of Chessboxin', Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin' ta F'Wit, C.R.E.A.M., Method Man, Protect Ya Neck, Tearz MOINS PREF : Can It Be All So Simple

WHO HASN’T HEARD THIS ONE??? 10/10

Fucking tooon lad. Weekend in Milan, getting stoned with Theo in his lovely flat

Top 5 rap/hiphop album of all time

My cousin Matt showed me Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) when I was way-too-young, and the opening aggression on Bring Da Ruckus has not left my mind yet. The beats are low key, the martial arts references (literally in sampled movie dialogue and figuratively in lyrical references) are plentiful, and the nine-man assault weapon of rapping and rhyming is some of the best of all time. This album is #27 on the RS Top 500. I enjoyed this paragraph from the Pitchfork review: "36 Chambers directly paved the way for harder-edged New York rap and provided a hardcore hip-hop blueprint that’s been followed by rap purists and collectives for nearly three decades. It began the Tao of Wu, bonding nine Staten Island dreamers (RZA, GZA, U-God, Ghostface Killa, Method Mad, Inspectah Deck, Old Dirty Bastard, Raekwon and Masta Killa) by philosophies of the mind and the scents of the fried food wafting past Brooklyn’s Palmetto Playground. But more than anything, it’s a testament to pop culture’s power to create and forge brotherhood. In 2004’s Wu-Tang Manual, just over 10 years after the album’s release, RZA broke down the significance of its title as only he could: “You have the thirty-six chambers, and there's nine members of the Wu-Tang Clan. Each member of Wu-Tang has four chambers of the heart. And what's nine times four?”

Gives me some Macklemore vibes

Love some songs on this album but still have trouble getting through the whole thing.

Great album

This album is a contender for the greatest hip hop album of all time, and is easily one of the best albums period. Wu Tang Clan grapple with social issues and who they’re trying to be for themselves and the future throughout this album. Their vision is something greater than what they see around them, and this album provides a glimpse into the early thoughts of the greatest rap collective. The music defines east coast rap, and the dynamic flows and free associated lyrics are now hallmarks of hip hop. You simply can’t listen to hip hop today without hearing Wu Tang’s influence.

Wu-Tang forever.

It's 29 years ago that my brother, who curated the hip-hop part of our teenage years, walked into my room with his new discovery I had to listen to. Re-listening this now, all these years later, I notice that none of the raw, unvarnished grit has worn away from this album. It has fully stood the test of time with its minimalistic samples, spooky piano riffs and most of all the incredible quality of all 9 MC's. A stone cold classic in its genre. And my first 5* for a hiphop album on this list

Classic old school hip hop. Indicative of the time it was released. Important in musical history.

There's definitely some music here I like. The skits and talking though my god

Very good rap album, it's just that I can't bring myself to give 5 stars to a hiphop album

Own it on vinyl

It's Wu. There is nothing I can can add to what has already been written. Wu-Tang is for the children.

not a fan of gangsta rap but i really enjoyed this one

I listened to the extended version, which was a mistake because it really wore me out by the end, and some of those fucked up little skits really helped wear out the welcome. Some good stuff here for sure though. I don't know, I always love hearing Wu-Tang here and there, small doses for me I guess.

This would be my nomination for greatest hip hop album of all time. The one I can always come back to and it still hits me just as hard as it did the first time I listened to it as a teenager. The group dynamics are simply jaw dropping with so many distinct personalities and vocal styles. Despite the rough demeanor, there is a melodic sense that underlies the wordplay. Sometimes the phrasing is just as memorable as the lyrics themselves. And RZA's beats are, to me, THE definitive hip hop sound. He broke away from the cliches to dig deep and create something truly atmospheric and cinematic. Everything flows together perfectly. The album has such a powerful momentum you actually need the skits just so you can catch your breath. I feel like you really get to know them by the end of the album despite the layers of mystique they build around themselves. The Kung Fu movie samples were the icing on the cake for me, especially back then as a teen who was just starting to get high and rent obscure martial arts movies from the video store myself.

I know it's a classic album, but I can't really get into it. Inventive concept in hip-hop at the time, but... meh. It's not bad by any means, but just average for my tastes.

One of the greatest to every do it. I've listen to this before, and was excited to listen to it again. Wu-Tang is for the children.

Wu tang again? Yes again and again!

3/5, not my genre. Sounds like shit.

Enjoyable album which I thought went from strength to strength throughout. Liked the whole persona and clan fighting backdrop

Just hits from start to finish. Incredible samples, lyrics and just everything

Not my thing :(

basically everything i want in a rap album its just so good

A classic, grimey hip hop album that changed my perspective on hip hop. I've listened to this album hundreds of times. Five stars easy.

I already know. I'm bad at rating and I should feel bad

I still don't get it...

A rough album for sure, but I like the style and the music it inspired. I think this album has had a notable influence on BW :)

It was alright. Not really my thing but I can see some of the influence it had

yeah I’d say Wu-Tang is probably in my top three favorite old school hip hop collectives (#1 is definitely A Tribe Called Quest, and I would say #2 is Fugees) 10/10 album, everyone kills it

Was Aight. Defo 90s vibes

Good

I appreciate the cultural importance of this album but musically it was too repetitive and boring to me and all the swearing and bad lyrics were a no. Not my cup of tea overall.

No comment needed

Perfect

Wu-Tang! Wu-Tang!

This. Changed. Everything. Personally, I was a couple of years late to the party. Living in pre-internet suburban western Canada with no other friends who were really into hip-hop meant I wasn't yet ahead of the curve. I'd seen their name around a bit but it was a track on The Jerky Boys soundtrack that served as my introduction to the Clan. As a result of that song I already had Ol' Dirty Bastard's solo album by the time I finally copped a copy of Enter the Wu-Tang in the summer of '95. I loved the wild-out weirdness of ODB, but the clan united was a goddamn force! Nuthing ta f wit, indeed. The lo-fi dark grimy beats were a far cry from the g-funk sound that otherwise dominated my hip-hop CDs at the time. So tasty. And the full Clan spitting unstoppable, untoppable bars over top was just over the top. I don't remember listening to anything else for the first week or two I had this. I just kept playin' it, and playin' it, and playin' it, and playin' it... Absorbing all the voices, figuring out who was who and how their flows all came together so damn well. Hell, the first couple of times I ever went on the internet shortly after copping this, I spent most of my time digging deeper into the Wu and marvelling at their industry takeover that allowed for each solo member to sign with a different label than the group itself, spreading their fingers through most of the major label hip-pie. Now, nearly three decades later, knowing the album backward and forward, skits and all, and having deciphered nearly all of the samples, this still stands as an absolute beast of an album. The hunger of the Clan in its youth is still palpable, and very few debuts since can hold a candle to this. Let your feet stomp.

I've listened to this album before, but it's been years. I'm familiar with the history and the legacy of this album, how Wu-Tang revolutionized the business of hip-hop. This time through, I'm more familiar with the connection between hip-hop and kung-fu, as well as how hip-hop was used to give voice to frustrated black youths. With that understanding in mind, I'm understanding the violent imagery more than I did the first time. The music is empowering the Wu-Tang clan to overpower their enemies, much like Kung-Fu does for the under dog protagonist in so many hong kong kung-fu flicks. Many of the MCs in the collective went on to achieve previously unheard of success while maintaining more creative control over their music than was typical. This album is a snapshot of a moment in history where hip-hop is approaching mainstream, and labels will soon recognize the opportunity it presents.

Finished!