Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Wu-Tang Y'all.

Wu-Tang is for the children!

Really phenomenal album. Such an influential group with a great sound and lyricism. Had never really listened to much of their stuff besides the mainstream songs, but the whole way through really solid. They laid the foundation for a lot of great albums later on.

You mentioned the other day that Blackstar gets by on vibes, and hip-hop generally works the same way - static harmony, repetitive loops, a grab bag of slang slurs and a rolling present tense that matters more than structure. It’s why rappers are praised for bars: isolated moments that flare up inside what is often a pretty vague haze of beats and borrowed gestures. A less romantic word for vibes is schtick. And I think that Wu-Tang Clan’s goofy kung fu, wonky piano schtick is a lot more interesting than those of their more straightforwardly thuggish contemporaries. Oriental swords have better vibes than glocks and pistols. I can’t pretend I followed much of it, and I’m not sure there’s that much to follow, but the atmosphere is odd enough to keep it from drifting into pure background thud. I found it more unsettling than offputting, which is closer to my wheelhouse. The vibes are bad, but that seems to be the point. 2.5 Most of what was rapped here I couldn’t make out. Most of the rest I had no idea what they were talking about. I recall that Miracle on 34th Street got a mention though - presumably the original rather than the remake which wouldn’t have been out yet, which is great. I think the original is better, although Richard Attenborough is an outstanding Santa Claus. I enjoyed the bit when they were all talking about the band and the specific talents of each member and one guy says something like ‘I think everyone will really like us because I really like us’. That was lovely. It got me on their side. But then a bit later there was a bit on ways to torture people, sewing bums shut and what not. I went back to neutral. Anyway those are spoken word bits and I suppose I should be mainly judging it by the rapping, which as I say, I couldn’t make out. The best rap album I’ve heard in a while. 2/5

J'imagine que c'est un bon disque de rap mais je n'aime pas le rap ! 2 ou 3 titres s'écoutent quand même !

Wu-Tang Clan is indeed, nothing to fuck with

Just an hour long ass kicking where they literally tell you ways they'll torture your ass, rugged and raw is the name of the day and each member gets their chance to shine. Hard to pinpoint individual songs when the whole album is a continuous flow, but big shoutouts to "Bring Da Rukus", "Shame On A Nuh" (censored title) and "Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'" as well as the usual "C.R.E.A.M." and "Protect Ya Neck". I do prefer the more rocking version of "Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta Fuck Wit" featuring Tom Morello of RATM and Chad Smith of RHCP thats on Loud Rocks

One of my favorites

I liked this pretty well.

Wu-Tang Clan ain't nothing to fuck with

Gli avengers del rap

There are people that enjoy it for sure, I believe I could find a song if I kept listening

One of my most listened to albums of all time. A staple that I discovered in my pre-teen years. One of my best memories from my teens was listening to this while drinking and smoking with some buddies on the 20th year anniversary of its release.

It was fine. Sorry.

Not bad. Some excellent beats. Good lyrics and cool rapping. Not anything I would come back to over and over again. Get why people would love it though.

36? That sounds brutal.

I fucking love this again, it never gets old. I could listen again and again and again

Decent East Coast rap album. Easy to listen to but probably only worth listening to the album as a whole.

All time classic

WUTANG CLAN AINT NOTHIN TO FUCK WITH

I can see why they were popular. As a teen that listened to grunge in the 90’s, this album was never listened to till 2025. There were too many great albums coming out of the 1990s.

I like it, but don't love it, but I respect as well

Obviously

bring the ruckus was a high point

𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘶-𝘛𝘢𝘯𝘨 (𝟥𝟨 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴) is raw, chaotic and full of personality. The production has a gritty, unpolished feel that gives the album a tough underground atmosphere, and the group’s rotating lineup keeps the verses constantly shifting in tone and energy. There’s an unpredictable spark to the record — you never quite know what voice or mood will come in next. At the same time, that same looseness can make the album feel uneven. The rough edges are part of the aesthetic, but they can also make it harder to stay consistently immersed. Some tracks hit hard immediately, while others blur together without leaving as strong an impression. There’s clearly a lot of creativity here, but not every moment lands with the same impact.

Perfect. No notes.

Classic! Favorite track: protect ya neck other picks: CREAM, can it be all so simple, wu-tang clan ain't nuthin

Not my thing

Mucho nigger y mucho fucking. Rap.

My Wu-Tang name is Spiritual Mayor. So apparently I ain't nothing to fuck with. It's so damn good, this album, better than Liquid Swords. Bangers pretty endlessly. Enter the mythology and roll down your windows. It'll get loud.

Hasn’t aged well

Never gets old. It feels like you’re there with them in a dingy man cave. Legendary.

Didn't understand a single word but was bumping my head the whole time. Sounds like some guys having some fun with a microfone.

Hardcore rap. Liked it ok.

Clearly this is an incredible album, and I really did enjoy it. For some reason though, it just...doesn't quite do it for me like some other hip-hop records. I don't know. Maybe I'm just not the biggest fan of the flow here, and also musically it feels a bit more repetitive -- probably a by-product of it's positioning near the beginning of hip-hop as an art form, but still. I've tried for a while to really get into Wu-Tang and I just never quite seem to be able to. Fave tracks: - Bring Da Ruckus - Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - Can It Be All So Simple - Da Mystery of Chessboxin' - C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) - Method Man - Protect Ya Neck

One of my favorite albums. RZA is the king of minimalist production. The energy on this album is probably unmatched in any genre. Every MC on every verse is great. Top notch wordplay throughout. I've always gotten a kick out of five percenter rap anyway, but they are in your face about it in a good way. I've always thought the original Wu Tang wave was the pinnacle of rap.

Incroyable parce que c’était exactement (et en même temps pas tout à fait) le type de musique que je recherchais en ce moment, un hip-hop un peu brut, et surtout qui ait une instru sympa (C.R.E.A.M. passe très bien, avec la petite mélodie jouée au piano qui se mêle au dialogue mais un peu comme si on écoutait l’une dans une oreille et l’autre dans la deuxième, ce qui le fait aussi mais dans une moindre mesure avec Method Man). Et j’aime bien l’alternance entre paroles très light (“peanut butter cause I’m not butter”) et plus vulnérables/violentes (“with a drunk driver driving there’s no surviving”). J’avais déjà vu passer cet album (notamment quand j’étais aller voir le contexte de l’album de Raekwon), mais je pensais pas qu’il avait eu autant d’impact sur la scène hip-hop internationale. Et en même temps c’est exactement le type de beat et de formulation (genre vraiment la façon de prononcer les mots, presque en les crachant) à laquelle on se réfère quand on pense hip-hop. Le seul bémol, lié à mon manque d’écoute de “hardcore hip-hop”, c’est que j’ai tendance à faire passer les paroles en arrière-plan et juste à viber sur le beat, ce qui fait qu’au bout de 4-5 sons impossible de distinguer individuellement leur particularité. Pour ça, je vais partir sur un 3,8.

Raw as hell. The best boy bad, showing us how it can be done in the 90s. Not timeless, but stands proud.

It's 58 minutes long and the de facto poster child for why parental advisory labels are on albums. It's also a must know if you're into the genesis if east coast rap.

Já são 10 anos de admiração dedicada ao hip hop e até hoje um dos maiores clássicos do gênero continua não me soando tudo aquilo. Escutando dessa vez até gostei muito mais que nas anteriores, mas depende muito dos destaques – que não são tantos assim.

I understand the cultural impact this group has had on music and the scene. I did find myself skipping through many of the numbers (probably because I was playing catch up from previous days!) The sound reminds me of playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater on PS2. Great, gritty sound. Some of the tracks I had a hard time sitting a listening to-too repetitive or the spoken interlude.

One of the illest ever.

I think what makes me love this album so much is how electric and hungry every MC sounds on it, even U-God who is the most underutilized member on this album has one of the most memorable moments on the record with his moment on "Protect ya neck". Another aspect is Rza's production it sounds like nothing coming out in 93 (that I am aware of) and the way he uses sampling is so fascinating to the ears "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" is the first thing that comes to mind and how he introduces the different elements of the production in that song. Fav Tracks: Protect ya neck, Da mystery of chessboxin, C.R.E.A.M, Method man, Cant it all be so simple, and Shame on a N*****

bra men ikke perfekt

Wu-Tang is for the children and it is also a group that no one should fuck with. Based on this, I am awarding them 5 bags of popcorn.

VERY GOOD I completly understand why its such a universally acclamated album

Not a WTC fan. Did not listen.

One of the best hip hop albums of all time

Wu-Tang is forever! I really like this record. I've listened to it many times. What always stands out to me is the attitude and aggression behind a lot of songs. Its super punk rock in that way. Its heavy, its brash, its also quite crass. Its certainly not for everyone. I think Wu-Tang is one where the sum of all parts is actually greater than the whole, I tend to like the subsequent records by Ghostface or RZA more than this record. However, this is kind of the source code for what came next and I respect that.

Rap classic

Aw shit, it’s the Wu-Tang Clan

Classic

It's alright but not for me

a few bright spots, but couldn't get into it

A hip hop classic from which I like a few tracks but in general, not an all time great album for me

9 rappers rhyming in turn was an innovation itself right? Instead of heavy production,this East Coast gem is focused in exceptional back to back rhyming without leaving time for you to get bored.I really liked their whole kung-fu philosophy anyway so that's a treat for me.I also always loved that they used to cover their face(like hip-hop ninjas kinda thing),an underground attitude i really enjoyed in dance scene as well.Sampling is here alright (Can It Be All So Simple)(Protect Ya Neck and the song before it),but mostly monotonous,common thing back then. I really loved 90's hip-hop and i still do,and i always remember myself leaning more to the East Coast side back then. Wu Tang:The Shaolin Masters of Rhyming. The Ninja Clan of hardcore boom bap and East Coast Renaissance. 4/5

carino l'album, hip hop fondamentale. ma poco musicale sotto, essenziale. mi piace più "layered", la base.

I don't really understand the cult status of this one. Musically, there's not much that's interesting here. And when something is interesting it's not really developed upon. Almost every beat is a 1-4 bar loop on repeat. Sometimes the beat drops but the arrangements almost never change. I can see how it was influential and important, but like most early 90s hip-hop I feel it doesn't hold up well today. A few song do, but as an album there were a lot of skips for me. Everything also sounds way too similar. Barely a 3

Not my vibe. Lots of speaking between tracks

3.6

Hip hop definitely isn't my usual wheelhouse. That said I did thoroughly enjoy this album. It skipped the worst part of 80s and 90s hip hop, the stupid skits between songs. There's a reason that this album blew up.

I remember reading an article about “unique words used in rap lyrics” and ranking rappers on this metric (https://pudding.cool/projects/vocabulary/index.html). Back in 2014 when it was first published, method ma was number 1. But what I find more impressive is that there is a dedicated “Wu-Tang Clan” filter and they are all pretty high up on that list. Felt the urge to workout or drive in a convertible while blasting this music. Good vibes, enjoyed my time.

I get this album's cultural significance but I just don't care for rap/hip-hop Tracks to Track: C.R.E.A.M.

WU TANG

Better than Coldplay

Didn't age as well as some other hip hop from this era.

Only 1 of a few hip hop albums I know and listened to from when they came out, as by no means an aficionados of the genre.

Not sure why I couldn’t get in rhythm with it

An unarguable classic.

A personal favourite. Not a big fan of the interspersed skits, but they do help paint a picture to how conditions were for them. Love the grittiness throughout.

Pretty good

The good: I like the beats. I like some of their rhythms. I like the skits to a point. I like the humor as well. The bad: Overall, I'm not impressed. I see why they are considered one of the best of that era, and I find them more tolerable than others in this genre, but it's just not for me. The lyrics are not for me.

As expected: terrible

One of the greatest albums of all time. It's aged well, it was well produced, and it's culturally relevant. It demonstrates exactly what make WTC so special. Their collaboration makes them a super group.

It is of course good but not my exact style of rap. Yeah I’ve added songs before but I think the cringe irl gangster rap fans I’ve met have ruined it for me. Good songs on it

Good but I don't like violent lyrics

3.5

Beginning to realize that I am in a post hip hop phase - cannot listen at home due to the kids and feel a bit ridiculous listening to it in the car in rural Somerset. Not listened to this album in c 20 years and enjoyed the beats and the ensemble rapping but too many skits / swears means I doubt will listen much in future.

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) This is undoubtedly a superb album, and an excellent contrast to the smooth edged and polished sound of The Chronic. On here the sound is gritty with deliberate rough edges and distortion in the sampling and production, suiting the whole group's harsh and jagged delivery, as well as the overall foreboding tone to it, the whole feeling like an unsettling, eerie film. Although it covers some of the same street violence as many early 90s hip hop albums, their imaginative eye for humour, absurdity and crassness means they seem to come at it from a completely different angle, their jokes and nightmarish observations all being filtered through comics, cartoons and kung fu movies to make something that sounds and feels unique. And there are just a lot of great songs on the album; Bring da Ruckus, Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber, Can It All Be So Simple (that bass sound), Da Mystery of Chessboxin’, Wu-Tang Ain’ Nothing ta F’ Wit, C.R.E.A.M. Method Man, Protect ya Neck and Tearz. That’s a great hit rate. Of the group, Method Man, with his smoky, instantly recognisable tone really stands out, his knack for interpolating melody into his rapping is superb, exemplified by the song Method Man, with its references to Hall and Oates, Come Together and the Stones making a brilliantly hooky track, even with the amusingly OTT and tongue in cheek torture intro. ODB of course stands out too with his unique voice, I love his verses on Shame on a N**** and Da Mystery of Chessboxin’ but they are all distinctive in their own way. I’ve always enjoyed GZA’s focus on non standard hip hop themes, and the combination of Ghostface Killah’s forcefulness and Raekwon’s stories. But if Method Man’s rapping stands out then, of course, so does The RZA’s production. Sparse, harsh, heavy, but with a light touch, particularly with the judicious use of mainly jazz and soul samples, particularly piano and strings as hooks and embellishments. You can hear the influence of his sound on Illmatic the following year, often using the same hook of repeating loops of 2 or 3 notes. I like how he also brings in some of the piano sample from C.R.E.A.M. in and out throughout and also uses samples of two different versions of The Way We Were on Tearz and Can It All Be So Simple. And he gives the whole thing a strain eerie cinematic weirdness, running just beneath the surface. It's right up there with Illmatic as my favourite hip hop album, a stone cold 5. 🥋🥋🥋🥋🥋 Playlist submission: Method Man

Piano, danceable beats, trading juvenile lines like they're having a jolly good time, and all at under 40 minutes. An absolute hip-hop revelation. They are like the gaming and film nerds of hip hop, heavily influenced by kung-fu movies. They bring all that nerd energy to their rap style but with humourous undertones that keep it apart from self-promoting gangsta rap. Overall it's a focused album, devoid of filler, not taking itself seriously, but creating a whole new sound. It's undoubtedly an excellent album. And Method Man is the best.

this is maybe the 3rd time im listening to this album and maybe finally starting to see its appeal. for whatever reason keep zoning out and cant seem to focus on the lines (which im assuming might be part of the allure, because musically not much going on). might keep giving this a shot becuase its so highly regarded though i feel bad.

Ok

This is one of my favourite albums of all time.

I get why this is important, I just don’t really dig it

Now this is some top shelf hip-hop right here. Now, I bet I'd appreciate it more if I was into hip-hop, but even so, this is some good shit.

Hard af. I loved all the samples and adlibs. It felt really down to earth and for the people, by the people.

so good, laid the groundwork for so many great albums. you can mark a pre-wu-tang hip hop and post-wu-tang hip hop with this release. its worth noting that midnight marauders by a tribe called quest released the exact same day as this one

Thought this one was enjoyable but not one of my favourite hip hop records I have heard on this list

Not my favourite but a good album

So F*&$ing good! Apart from all the skits, but that was every hip hop album in the 90's

Always gonna be a 5 star review!

5/5

Pretty good hip hip

Driving round music for sure

Good for about 1 song. Too vulgar and annoyingly uninspired. .

Absolute classic, and laid the blueprint for underground hip hop. Top Tracks - Bring Da Ruckus, Protect Ya Neck, Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber

Wow. Okay this is just great. Every track, every voice, every beat...definitely goes to 11.

I didn’t realise how many straight bangers came from this album. There are a few forgettable tracks on here but none of which are hard to listen to. Enter the Wu-Tang is a SOLID collection of tracks. I will say this album doesn’t have the strongest opening song but is quickly made up for with the second track. 4 stars may seem a little generous given the low points on this album but there are more than enough bangers to make up for it.

Aw yeah, again & again

Yet another way too long hiphop album that just sounds the same as all the rest. I’ll never understand how people can praise music like this

My favorite so far and honestly a group I have not checked out enough. Ive heard about this for years here and there and Im glad this was what finally got me to check them out.

Astounding. Showstopping. In my humble opinion, one of the most essential ingredients to hip hop is the theatrical aspect. I love how dirty the sound feels, like it was produced with drums in a garage in the Bronx. I love the comic book references, the Black experience, the samples. This is definitely an iconic album that launched hip hop into the stratosphere…wish it stayed at this peak.

Great album and one of the biggest influences in hip-hop. I love the sample-heavy, harder rap that Wu-Tang spawned, but their sound is a little more old school than I would typically listen to. I loved the storytelling, the humor, and the rawness of this album. I hadn't heard the track "Tearz" before, and I really enjoyed it. I think I'm moving away from hip-hop, but it was fun to listen to this album for the first time.

Beginning to realize that I am in a post hip hop phase - cannot listen at home due to the kids and feel a bit ridiculous listening to it in the car in rural Somerset. Generally enjoyed the beats and the variety of the rapping - although struggled with the lyrical content at times.

If this is one of the greatest hip hop albums ever, then I don't like hip hop. Congrats on the influence, but don't want to listen to it again.

One of the best around, if not THE best, no notes, could listen to this on repeat all day and I just might. 10.0/5.0 Best Song: C.R.E.A.M

If not the best hip hop album ever, it is definitely the most interesting, it so so weird and scary and dark, it doesn't sound like anything else. Its such an instant classic, ODB is one of the greatest of all time. Da Mystery of Chessboxin will always be my personal fav, but i think CREAM is one of the best songs ever.

love method man but 70% of this album is for me unlistenable for a variety of reasons

I love how sometimes it feels like a song is deconstructed and put together slightly uneven. Every song has a unique sound but its all cohesive.

Oscar Meyer Weiner Award for rhyming "ghonorea" with "diarrhea". Some cool beats and they're having a great time but it's all just beyond my grasp.

“Dollar, dollar bill, y'all!”

Listens: Many (~17 times since 2016, according to Last.fm) Standout Tracks: C.R.E.A.M., Method Man, Protect Ya Neck This album, along with The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready To Die and Nas's Illmatic, are, in my opinion, the pinnacle of early 90s east coast gangsta rap and hip-hop. The whole album is so raw. The beats are stripped to the bone and the lyrics are so cutting, and even today still largely relevant. The skits still make me smile every time I hear them: The kung fu/samurai movies, the Method Man skit about torture, "Shameek just got bust in his head two times". Worth mentioning that I listened to the expanded edition, for two reasons: The link from here to YouTube music doesn't work, and, the non-expanded edition, containing only 9 songs, doesn't have an uncensored version, for some reason. Given how many expletives the group drops, the censored album is basically ruined and a completely bastardized take on an otherwise masterpiece.

legend. but not my style

This is a cut above every other hip hop album I’ve had

7.5, classic album

not bad, a couple of good songs but not my jam

Not really my vibe. Enjoyed a couple of songs briefly but just not amazing.

I can respect the art but I couldn’t get into any one song. I did enjoy the theme of the samplings throughout the album.

What a banger. Some of the behind the scenes style recording could have been cut, but their chemistry is unreal. ODB and Method Man go nuts

Euhm, een gemiddelde van een krachtterm per seconde, dat is toch wel een prestatie. Maar dan gaan 3507 seconden wel erg, erg lang duren. Wat is er gebeurd sinds Run-DMC hun aanstekelijke beats uit de speakers lieten knallen? Boosheid en grofheid, met een toon van 'Luister hier naar of snij je de strot af.' En een boel gewauwel in de ruimte. Kom nou. Precies op de helft (29 minuten 13,5 seconden) afgezet.

De inspiratie voor het album kwam van de films Enter the Dragon en The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, wat we vooral merken aan de veelvoorkomende zwaard-geluiden. Beide films staan in de 1001 movies. Ik dacht nog even eerst die films eens te pakken, want het album is mij al wel bekend en wellicht doen die films iets aan de beleving. Ik vond echter zo snel geen legale versie van de films in een taal die ik versta. Dat haal ik dan later maar in. Dus hop, naar het album. Hier twijfel ik nogal over het aantal sterren. Er zijn elementen die ik verschrikkelijk vind en er zijn elementen die ik waardeer. Het laat zich natuurlijk wel raden wat ik dan verschrikkelijk vind. Het meest exemplarisch zijn puberale tips over onder andere een praktische manier om noten te kraken. Als we intro's en de samples uit de films weglaten blijft een vrij kale begeleiding van de raps over. Toch komt het veelal vrij creatief over. Dat geldt ook voor de verschillende eigenzinnige rap-stijlen. Eigenlijk is de stijl van een Ol' Dirty Bastard vaak niet om aan te horen. Maar de afwisseling die zoiets brengt doet wonderen. Als eigenzinnige rapper komt Method Man het sterkst naar voren. Ik zou zelf zeggen dat hij op dit album meer tot zijn recht komt, dan op zijn eigen album Tical. Dat laatste album heeft weinig in deze lijst te zoeken, evenals de albums van solo-leden Ghostface Killah en Raekwon. Door deze albums wel op te nemen komt het album van vandaag minder tot zijn recht. Inmiddels ben ik bij het einde beland en stuit ik op de conclusie. Ik pik hem er even uit, omdat de dubstep-achtige beat wel heel fijn en modern klinkt. Het steekt wat af tegen de rest van het album, en tegelijk is het weldegelijk een soort samenvatting van het album, met én de verschillende rapstijlen én de verbinding in woord van de andere titels. Al met al heeft Wu-Tang op een toegankelijke manier een geheel eigen geluid weten te brengen. Iets wat altijd mijn extra waardering krijgt.

Van de week had ik het bij Run-DMC al over kale beats. Nu is dit album bijna 10 jaar later gemaakt, maar het is bijna nog kaler. Soms is er amper een beat of een baslijn, samples worden nog zuiniger ingezet. De stijl is wel echt early 90s. Eigenlijk gaat het om de teksten, maar die luister ik zoals iedereen weet nooit. Ik hoor af en toe wel wat geinige dingetjes, maar ook genoeg N en F-woorden. Oftewel, het zal wel weer een uur kinderachtigheid zijn. Gelukkig zit er wel een redelijke flow in de tracks meestal, breakbeatjes blijven het daarbij wel goed doen. De rappers wisselen elkaar natuurlijk vaak af, dus we krijgen ook elke keer een net andere rapstijl te horen. Dat maakt dat het op de achtergrond nog enigszins redelijk doorkabbelt terwijl ik aan het werk ben. Het uur was nog door te komen geweest als ze het daarbij hadden gelaten, maar met name halverwege moeten ze er er per se tussendoor gaan raaskallen. Ronduit ergerniswekkend, dat zijn de momenten dat je de boel uit wil zetten. Gelukkig komt in het resterende deel de flow weer enigszins terug. Het zit grotendeels op een 3, al had ik soms ook de neiging om een 1 of een 2 te geven.

I couldn't get past the first three 'songs' Not for me

One has long gone back and forth on the proper question posed by the editors: is this "genius or just exceptionally well-done nonsense." On most recent listening, one landed firmly in the former camp. Certainly, it's wholly original and unique, the lean, muscular beats, muddy-ominous sound, gruff and growling vocals. "So Simple" and "Method Man" are absolute prime, hip-hop classics, and the middle cuts are for sure the strength of the record, generally. On the nonsense side of the equation, the Kung Fu bits, however representatively metaphorical for the art of hip-hop (need for bravery, precision, etc.), are also fairly silly. Genius or nonsense – one is increasingly inclined to accept both things as simultaneously true.

Committed to the bit!!! It's iconic, sure, but there aren't a lot of hooks to bite onto. The symbolism is deep but obtuse. The centering on that symbolism makes it difficult for outsiders to grab onto.

Listened Before? Y An absolute scorcher. One of the best rap albums of all time by one of the best ensembles of all time. Amazing. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: CREAM

solid gold

Bring Da Ruckus - 8/10 Shame on a Nigga -9/10 Clan in da Front - 9/10 Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - 10/10 Can It Be So Simple -10/10 Da Mystery of Chessboxin' - 9/10 Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit -9/10 C.R.E.A.M. -100/10 Method Man - without the skit, it's 9/10, but now it's either a 15/10 or a 6.5/10, depending on how I feel. Protect Ya Neck - 9/10 Tearz - 8/10 Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber Part II - 9/10 If I were to rate on how much I think its replayable on the regular for me i would say its 8/10 but if im reviewing based on the actual albums technical and revolutionary aspect then its a 10/10 the use of ninja themed samples and lyrics is crazy though I find some indepedent Wu projects to be more intresting and fun to listen to this album still is a classic for a reason.

Loved it, surprisingly as normally this would make me cringe - I think the samples and vibe were the difference maker

Well, surprisingly I enjoyed this more than I thought as I normally don’t gravitate towards this genre of music. Will I listen again? Probably not, did I hate it? No.

Fun but not my style

A classic. Hip Hop from NYC. Wu Tang is for the kids. This is the old school flow I can get behind as opposed to a lot of the West Coast stuff. Cash Rules Everything Around Me!

Easy 5. Raw production and grimey flows over the whole album add up to an amazing experience. Legendary crew and top-tier hip hop album.

Not my thing, but right in line with my belief that 90s music is really bad

Charlie Kirk tried fucking with Wu Tang, but he should have been protecting his neck

I love some of their tracks, especially some live performances, and my gamer handle is even from Wu-Tang. But, for me, the album experience itself isn't peak hip-hop. I can jam to a lot of this, tune out some of it, and think about how inspiration this group was. Especially the sampling! But it's a 3.5/5.

The debut album from the Wu Tang Clan was really something different. Here was an alternative hip hop album that actually achieved chart success and pretty significant name recognition. At the time of its release, the genre was dominated by upbeat jazzy groups like A Tribe Called, West Coast gangsta rap, and politically conscious protests of Public Enemy. Wu Tang came out of nowhere (aka Staten Island) to provide a whole new style. While it has allusions to violence and drug use, and crass humor often found in the genre at this time, what really stands out is the almost joyful escapism. Who else could have imagined a kung fu hip hop concept album? But it's fantastic and different and actually very fun. Beyond that concept is the diverse range of the group's members. The Wu Tang Clan are a loosely knit group who all have the freedom to do their own thing. Each has their own recording contract (from different labels) but it all ties back into, and strengthens, the Wu Tang brand. The members each contribute funds to keep the group going and thriving. Even within individual songs, the artists all contribute in a completely free way, all tied together by RZA's "dusty but digital" production. The Wu Tang Clan are unlikely heros of their genre and this debut really shows where it began.

Não muito minha vibe. Pode ser um clássico do hip hop mas achei que faltou algo para me prender e cativar. Muito barulho algumas músicas.

Atofio hiphop

Interesting listen. Not necessarily my thing.

Ok

More like a 3.5 as I preferred it over oasis but the other 4 stars albums were better

The Wu-Tang Clan is going to be okay without me.

Solid album. Skits were weird at times, but overall really enjoyed it!

Awesome album.

Awesome album - tons of classics. Don't care for some of the skits but that's what you get with 90s rap.

A classic

This is about an hour and 10 minutes too long for me.

Considering it's in the ball park of hip hop that I tend to enjoy the Clan remain an underexplored blind spot. It is more raw than I expected, a little bit patchy, a really enjoyable journey.

4.25

Master class in modern hip-hop. No skips and just about perfect album.

This is a pioneering hip hop album for sure, like some didn’t like others but can see why it helps revitalise east coast hip hop

cabilla

Good, not as good as some peopl say, but a good hip hop album Favorite:chess boxing Least favorite: one of the interludes

already know it real cool love old school hiphop si lalle es bitzli oop cooli element - voice effects/ old movies nice beats flow isch da favs: - C.R.E.A.M - Tearz - Bring da Ruckus - Wu tang clan ain‘t nuthin ta f‘ wit

1 - Mierda de Hip Hop

Not entirely my style but it had me grooving!

Parental discretion is advised. This is beyond my range. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #27 (2023)

Haven't listened to that much Wu-Tang, but enjoyed this album. Recognised some of it, and the beats and rapping is top quality.

Seminal. Masterful.

Wu-Tang Clan is certainly nothin' to fuck wit.

“I’ll sew your asshole shut and keep feeding’ ya, and feeding’ ya.” This is an album that was on constant play at my friend’s house in college. We called money dolla dolla bills back then. We called each other ‘god,’ as in ‘s’up god?’ Around that time, I camped at a music festival, and as the dawn broke, a bunch of crust punks on acid started freaking out, pointed to the sun, and with fear and reverence, called it ‘the wu’ over and over. They then threw a full trash can at someone’s tent. So, coming back to this absolute classic, I feel dirty and exhausted. Still, the Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothin to fuck with.

Really liked the lo-fi ness of the music highlighting the lyrics that were smart, sharp, aggressive, really brought the energy. Great listen

Meticulous and tastefully crafted

Dolla-dolla bills, y'all.

Amazing album. Wu forever 5/5

Clearly skilled in their art. It sounds like there is a lot of pain behind the anger and violence expressed here. I can’t seem to get past the use of explicit lyrics seemingly only for the sake of using explicit lyrics. I guess I’m just not part of the culture.

36 Chambers. This is an exciting, engaging, and disorienting experience brought to life by it's gritty production and often minimal sampling. Its this minimalism which adds more space to accentuate Wu-Tang's unique personalities. I was also surprised by the use of motif within the production which made me realize how this album successfully pulls the listener into the world it was cooked in. Maybe this isn't the most cohesive rap album I've heard, but it might be the most influential and possibly game changing.

You know the project is fire when Old Dirty Bastard is on the mic

More of a tribe guy but this album is still class.

The overall impression is of protest, it isn’t music. Some of the backing tracks could sound good with some music played over the top. The shouting was unintelligible and apart from encouraging aggression makes no discernible political points. It might be that I cannot appreciate the genre but I thought it was just noisy shouty rubbish.

Ahh Classic American hip-hop!

*1993 *I only knew one song going in. *This is fun, energetic, and edgy. *Weird combination of excellent musicianship and just totally nuts and off-the-wall. *Not something I would listen to every day, but I'll revisit. RATING - 7.5/10

One of the best of all time.

It's good, but among the other rap/hip-hop albums on the list I've heard so far, falls below. Could be the simplicity of the beats, but I just wasn't pulled into it as much as NWA, Kendrick Lamar, or De La Soul. 3/5

It was nice to revisit this album. Of course C.R.E.A.M is legendary, however several superior tracks are included: Clan in Da Front, Bring Da Ruckus, and Method Man. This album was/is a great intro to the Wu!

Really? We've been down this road before, the violence, the sexual degradation, etc., etc., etc. I understand the rawness, the life reality for some, but not for me my friends.

the beats and production in the album was (and still is) first class. Holds up well today. classic and nuthing ta F'wit

I'm limited, but hip hop is not my tang

Classic

Interesting - not a big rap fan but liked a couple of tracks

Always surprised when I put on Enter the Wu-Tang to see that it was released in 1993. And it helps explain its significance. The album set the blueprint for hip hop for much of the next decade. Songs like CREAM are timeless and Chessboxin’ is a fav. The sonic palate does feel quite thin compared to later releases clearly inspired by this, but it’s influence can’t be denied.

Apparently this is older hip-hop and feel more like trad jazz compared to Kendrick or Doom who are more free and bebop. First intelligent conversation with Jonny about Hip Hop. Still don't particularly like it and can't tell what they're on about but it has wit and that counts for something.

Strong album from the quintessential 90s hip hop scene. Wu Tang still resonates 30 years later.

not bad

Lets fucking go

It's for the children.

Phenomenal hip-hop album. Not a thing to hate. Wu-Tang 4 Life

Forgot about how much I loved this one

Great and fun and bangin. Only downside too much talking inbetween songs. Hate that

Probably top 100 album all time, it’s just so good. I love when you can tell the musicians on an album were having the time of their lives making it. They’re all committed to it, they all give insane performances, and RZAs beats are so good. I’m glad I’ve never listened to this before, I really enjoyed it. Even the skits weren't obnoxious I really feel like they nailed the ideal rap collective album.

Took me a while to get through the whole album, but I'm glad I did. This is a great record that you can just put on and let spin for the whole time. These guys really did find something special. Light 5/5

Aggressive and direct. Sounds fresh for an album from early 90's

Not my jam

My favourite on this project so far, just goated rap

FIRE

I realize how important this album is to the history of hip-hop and rap... Still doesn't make me want to listen to it though. The concept of them being like a Chinese martial arts monk order is pretty cute at first, it all still just boils down to the usual rap-isms of flexing how much cooler and stronger you are than your "opponents". Eh.

Meh

Wu-Tang is for me AND the children

cash rules everything around me :(

I think it’s ok.

I dont like it, although some songs are chill

This inspired better records. I can see the beginnings of people like Nas and Jay-Z here, and a lot of it works. they build tracks well, which creates a great environment for the raps that they can layer on top. Lyrically, well... Yes, I'm sure you could murder me. Congratulations. I'm sure that you could in fact shoot me with that gun and I would die. Go you. Also, that Asian woman over there will totally want to have sex with you if she thinks you can murder me.

Classic. No notes. First head this on Beats and Pieces on RDU.

Sorry I just can't.... you motherfuckin' bitch!

It’s impressive they invented a whole sound while smoking meth but I’m not too into it

Wu-Tang is for the children

Absolutely sick album. I love it.

It’s impossible to not bob your head along with the beats while listening to this album. The playful sound effects, sporadic samples of old school music, and witty lyrics keep a smile on your face during every song. Track after track is a “who’s who in the Brooklyn zoo” with a revolving door of MCs throwing haymakers at anyone looking to step-up. A common theme of staying ghetto fabulous and protecting the crew run rampant across this album. Wu-Tang is for the children!

Back in the day, me and Tahgs used to go to the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet in the Bristol Center Mall. This album is like that buffet - ridiculous quantities of intense, powerful nuggets that are all really delicious even if they basically taste the same. Everything is hardened and crispy, and covered with spicy sauce that will kill you if you have too much in one sitting. You feel amazing when you’re in there, even though you know you shouldn’t really be here … you don’t belong here - you’re far too delicate and don’t really have the fortitude for what is being done to your body. You’re way too soft to exist in this world for more than a short time. As you get deeper and deeper into the album … err… buffet, it all starts to taste the same and you know you’ve had enough, but you’ve paid the entrance fee and you can’t quit now, so you stick with it. Thank God that you do, because dessert is the best part … the last few tracks bring it all together, like that delicious soft serve machine at the make-your-own sundae bar in the back corner. The Buffet in the Bristol Center Mall is long gone, but Wu-Tang is forever. Protect Ya Neck and check you cholesterol.

Not my go to genre, have to admit this was the first time I listened to the entire album. The singles off this album have always been favorites, of course C.R.E.A.M. and Method Man. Entire album has a great vibe, really draws you in. Again, not my favorite genre. Their influence on music is clear, for me even moreso after listening to this album. Really liked the album, but not something I'll listen to again. Wu-Tang forever....but for me, it's a 3. My apologies to the hip hop universe.

Not really my thing

3.6 for this is an unbelievable racist joke of a score the userbase on this website is insane and the moment any of these albums are made by a minority the score drops notably lower than on all other major music rating platforms its fucking ridiculous LOL anyway this album is crazy good but i am not the first to say this

Like a supergroup, though no one knew how much success individual members would later have. The versatility and chemistry are undeniable, setting the stage for later domination

Classic

There aren’t many albums that shifted the music landscape but in late 1993/early 1994, with just about an hour of music, The RZA, Method Man, U-God, Rebel INS, Raekwon, Ghost Face Killer, Ol' Dirty Bastard and The GZA, did just that.

Thought I would like this more than I did. And don't listen to it around young kids!

Jeg forstår at denne ble så innflytelsesrik som den ble. Et gpdt album.

I think this album has a lot of historical significance. It's not really my genre, but I can see why people like it. I like tearz, the rest not so much and wouldn't listen again.

Pretty decent, but I don't really understand the hype.

A grimy classic with a long tail of influence. One of my favourites.

As the famous review goes, " This record is harsh, but so is the world that we live in. "

No standouts, Wu-Tang may not be for me.

Proper classic hip-hop this, never gets old. I think the album starts and end phenomenally, but a couple of songs in the middle don't live up to the rest. A high, maybe harsh, 4.

3.75

Familiar with this one and like it.

Not my kind of music so this may not be the best review but I could not enjoy this. The movie dialogue was the best part.

Hip-hop is FOR the kids

Hip hop classic. One of the greatest albums of the 90s.

I love the dusty beats and their voices so much

This is damn near a perfect album. It just works on all levels. Listening to it you can tell they had fun making it. It feels like some talented friends got together and had a great vacation making music. It kicked off a small universe of albums! It's one of those albums that 100% belongs on this list. It is foundational for hip-hop and music in general. Great album.

One of my favorite rap albums ever

Enter the Wu Tang is the first album that’s genuinely stumped me the most, to the point where I’ve had to listen and think on it for more than a week to form a proper opinion on it. First impressions weren’t great. It’s not that I hated it, more than acknowledging the lyrical genius that went into the making of this, but I just didn’t think that the album had a lot of standout moments. After making myself relisten to this a couple of times, I still stand by this to a certain degree, but now believe that this album is the culmination of all its parts rather than something I can listen to standalone. The flow throughout the entire runtime is absolutely incredible, it’s tight, non-stop, and head-nodding rapping that kept me coming back for more each time. Songs like Shame On, Da Mystery of Chessboxin’ and Protect Ya Neck especially had me tapping along to the flow. On the other hand, the beats here are something I had to, and still need to, grow to love. Maybe I’m more spoiled by modern beats, or maybe it’s purposefully rugged and harsh to go with the hardcore hip-hop style, but its grittiness wasn’t always my cup of tea. In terms of beats, CREAM is probably my favorite on the album, but it’s a slower pace than the rest as a result. This is for sure a great album, but it’s one I’m gonna need to keep on revisiting in order to properly understand the hype for. Still, I feel comfortable enough now putting this among some of my favorites on this list.

Some good beats but man, there's a lot of it. The chatting bits are especially tedious. I liked when it finished.

Un álbum clásico de la vieja escuela del rap. Hasta ahora el problema que tenía con los álbumes vinculados al Wu-Tang Clan es que eran demasiado largos tomando en consideración que las bases son demasiado simples y repetitivas. En este caso las bases siguen siendo loops básicos, pero la duración del álbum es mucho más corta, por ende no se siente tedioso. Aún así, no puedo decir que conecte mucho con el estilo del material, pero es una mejora.

Listened to the Expanded Version. Despite instructions to the contrary, I fuck with the Wu-Tang Clan. The skit at the beginning of Method Man makes one of the best songs on the album unplayable in polite company.

Politicians may be temporary, but Wu-Tang is forever!

Fave song - Method Man

Sounds like Beastie Boys. I hated Beastie Boys

Never really heard any Wu-tang songs. Makes me really want to play a skateboard game.

One of the most influential and important hip hop albums. Great listen. Themes are very grim, but that’s the environment many of us grow into.

Influential, of course. Some off the lyrics haven’t held up that well. It sounded ‘raw’ 30 years ago. A fun mess but not quite a glorious one from this distance.

Wu-Tang came on the scene when I was in high school. Weirdly, I have more memories of listening to Wu-Tang Forever than I do listening to this one. I knew quite a few songs off 36 Chambers, as most people do. I never loved Wu-Tang as much as many others seemed to and it wasn't because their music was bad, it just did not speak to me as a bigger fan of West Coast rap. It's nearly impossible to overstate the impact 36 Chambers had on East Coast rap and on music in general. 36 Chambers also led to some spinoffs for Wu-Tang, such as Wu-Tang Financial and the yard signs that indicates Wu-Tang will in fact be forever. No argument can be made here. This album absolutely deserves to be in the book. Great songs, even if they are not my favorite rap group from the 90's.

As close to a perfect album as any in the conversation. There’s so much to enjoy here: lyricism, production and performance. Should have listened to this ages ago

Fantastic!

I like the 90s rap selections that this list has. 7/10

2nd best rap album all time

So, I've had albums from two Wu-Tang members - Raekwon and Method Man. I wasn't particularly fond of either album. They seemed meandering and self-indulgent. I went so far as to say about the Method Man album - "If this is what Wu-Tang is, I don't think I like Wu-Tang." Turns out, those albums don't represent Wu-Tang as a whole. That much was clear from this album. While the solo material felt more like offshoots and indulgent side projects, this album (the first in the Wu-Tang discography) feels much more directed and cohesive. This feels like a much more collaborative effort than anything else they might've done solo. And those solo albums weren't even necessarily solo (Raekwon had so many features from other members it was kinda crazy). I think because they had to make room for everyone to get lines in, and with more creative voices in the room, ideas get trimmed down to their core. The fat is removed and what's left is a true collaborative effort, both lyrically and musically. Do I know a lot about what they're rapping about? Not at all. Of course I don't. I rarely do, especially with gangster rap. It's not relatable. I couldn't tell you if anything they said here was profound or not. But I did enjoy listening to it. The 90's hip-hop/rap sound never, ever gets old to me. And they pull it off exceptionally well while also dialing up the intensity higher than what I've heard to this point. Each one of them attacks the songs with an intensity and aggression that really cuts to the emotional core of the record. They're angry, they're intimidating, and they're great at what they do. Four stars. Standout Tracks: Bring Da Ruckus, Can It All Be So Simple/Intermission, Da Mystery of Chessboxin', Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit, C.R.E.A.M, Protect Ya Neck

There's a lot I can say about this album and what it's influenced, and how distinctly American it is, how it couldn't be anything but American. But in the end I can just say it's not for me.

Best rap album ever (as said by mostly white people). Heard this shit so many times, so its always great to relisten to a masterpiece. Method Man da goat.

Some absolutely silly lyrics but great beats that kept my head bopping the whole way through, great old school rap

Already listened to this one 11/10 though

One of the best and important rap albums ever mad 10/10

Not the worst but not the best.

Today was not the day to listen to violence glorifying music. There was some really sick stuff in here, the torture descriptions in "Method Man" come to mind. The music was really nothing special either, but they found their gimmick.

I didn’t grow up watching dubbed kung-fu movies, slanging rocks on the mean streets of Staten Island or listening to hip hop in the early 90s, but hearing the opening lines of ¨36 Chambers¨ thrills me and makes me wistful for a time and place I certainly didn’t live through. What is ¨Shaolin Shadowboxing¨ anyways? Wu Tang continued what NWA had started in the late 80s, being somehow menacing and funny at the same time. Both groups detailed the dark realities of life in the ghettos of LA and NY, and did it in such a way that everyone wanted to listen. Wu Tang are obviously the better MCs, and RZA’s production has aged much better than Dre’s ¨Straight Out of Compton¨ beats. More importantly, they avoided the depths of misogyny being plumbed by some of the more prominent West Coast rappers. Does heat make rappers hate women more? With ¨36 Chambers,¨ the Clan painted a picture of Giuliani’s New York as some sort of hellscape populated by kung-fu warriors and dope fiends and rife with the kind of comic violence that would make Looney Tunes characters blush. What really makes it stand the test the time is the humor- it was never serious (and more importantly, self-serious). If there ever was an Avengers of music it would be the Clan, forever the greatest rap group of all time. Best songs: ¨Bring Da Ruckus,¨ ¨Shame on a Nigga,¨ ¨Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F’Wit¨

Classic hip hop record! Light 9

Peak

Old skool classic

This album did a reverse sneak attack on me - after faffing about trying to find the explicit version, I found the first half to be absolutely awful. Total drivel that I was barely listening to. When I got to “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’”, I suddenly found myself engaged for reasons I can’t really articulate - some of the songs were familiar to me via later samples, but the songs just seemed better, somehow.

I really like hiphop beats - the music has a great groove and the skill of putting samples together in a way that creates a whole new sound but simultaneously sounds like it never could have been anything different, is so impressive to me - but I find it so hard to connect with the lyrics, especially in this era. For me, Ol' Dirty Bastard and Method Man are just miles ahead of the rest in terms of being fun to listen to, even it they aren't technically the best rappers. I can't be arsed with skits. It's like every rapper in the late 80s/early 90s was a frustrated action movie actor and this was their only outlet. This would be a 3.5 if I had half marks, but as it is, it's getting a 3. 3/5

Not my cuppa tea.

"i am a nigga" ass album

Not interested

I think East Coast is not my thing. 1.5/5

Wu-Tang, Wu-Tang . . . Wu-Tang Ain't Nuthing ta F'Wit

Yep

A pretty stellar debut album. I didn’t like the intro/skit part of Method man, but an otherwise enjoyable album. It’s got Wu Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing to F With and CREAM on their first (!!) and those songs are so deeply ingrained in my brain.

That was worse than getting a root canal without Novocain.

Listened before, will listen again. Such a classic album.

Classic oldschool hip-hop album that was instrumental in the 90s. Explicit and aggressive, generally. "Clan in Da Front" has sweet piano work. Strange vocal choices to create a wavey sound "C.R.E.A.M. Cash Rules Everything Around me" is surprisingly mellow with a simple beat, piano plucking, and steady rap rhythm.

Good beats, maybe not my first choice but love the blend of dialogues and hip hop (very influential for the French rap group, IAM).

Not for me

I knew this was a "NAH!!!" but listened to it anyway. Yeah, not for me.

With the current ubiquity of vibe and "mumble" rappers, it's especially refreshing to revisit lo-fi underground grime production, just enough of a chunky beat to give MCs something to flow on. This bars-first approach was huge in the 90's, and Wu Tang was a big reason for that. Track after track of verbal combat that somehow makes nine rappers sound like a cohesive crew, while still weaving in enough personality and humor to give each character dimension. And they were the first to treat this identity as a brand, to use their self-created mythology to spin off several solo albums and further enhance the reputation of each as well as the whole, ultimately enabling everyone to rise above the alternative of dealing or hustling in Staten Island. I'll take this raw, lyrics-focused sound that I can actually understand over a vibe rapper any day. When I'm nodding my head to every track, I know we're in a good place.

more hip hop?

Good album. Some good songs, some great songs.

Some great tracks, maybe im just tired but shit’s not matching my mood right now. Too violent (which is wild for me to say ik). THREE

Ehhh? Mmm qué se yo, tanta cosificación ibas a tirar? Nota: 2.7

me gustó bastante, tiene varios bangers pero a la vez, sabiendo de cuando es y como está hecho suena viejo, temas que es el boombap a secas sin nada más atrás de me quedan raros, más halla de los barrones que sueltan

Great work. A classic. Admittedly when I listen to this album, and when I return to it in the future, I’ll probably pick and choose tracks. As a whole listen, it gets just a touch repetitive and long. But the beats are great, all their voices and verses and deliveries are awesome, the style and chemistry that exudes from the album is palpable. Good shit. Must-listen #207.

Boom.

Crazy they made a band entirely on the concept of a Chappelle's show skit

Really? Is it supposed to be one album I should listen before I die? With this list I have listened to many hip-hop albums and, honestly, it's driving me to boredom. I will try every and each album, and listen to the whole thing. But, as I've said many times, I don't like hip-hop. It's tiring, and I don't care if you're a genius combining samples with whatever you want, it doesn't work for me. Listening to this album is like listening to the same song, all the time, over and over. And there's nothing interesting. Do you need to say "fuck" all over the same song just to make you feel "rebel", "young", "tough" or whatever you want to be? Because it feels like a joke. This album is boring. But also irritating. I will repeat myself with a previous review, but it feels like a waste of time. I understand the point is to listen to different genres, but I've listened many mid albums that I'm sure are not on this list that are far better than this one. But, again, I don't like hip-hop, so, to begin with, I wouldn't have liked this album. And that's what has happened.

A couple good songs in an otherwise typical gangsta rap record

The Wu-Tang album.

ну эт ваще разьеб парни

This is probably my favorite hip hop album, easily my favorite from this era. The fact that a whole ass group of people collaborated on this is amazing. The lyricism, the beats, the samples. Wu-Tang Clan ain't nothing to fuck with.

Not a wu-tang fan but can see why some ppl are

It's a 4 from me

3.5

This isn't bad at all but it's not I really enjoy to listen to for 58 minutes in a row. I'd like to hear something like "C.R.E.A.M." in San Andreas radio when I'm driving around with my bike. I don't really vibe with the lyricism.

3.5

I honestly did not like this album one bit. I guess one of my problems with gangster rap in the first place is I can't get behind the message of gang and Thug Life it's something i neither experience for myself so can relate nor something that I aspire for my personal choices. I guess what gets me the most is the anger and rage at herent in the material kind of manifest itself inside my listening experience and I don't like that feeling at all. I definitely can't call this a bad album which means that it's not going to be something I write lower than two stars. But my inherent dislike for this style of rap will put it at the lower ens of two stars 4.1 ★★

Probably the best hiphop album I have ever heard. 5 stars

4.5/5

This is a super cool album. I think it's really groundbreaking for 1993 -- it doesn't really sound like a lot of stuff that was happening at the time. It's neither gangsta rap nor socially conscious jazz rap, but instead occupies it's own space. All eight members bring a unique vibe to the album, but it somehow all works together. The flow is great, and their vocabulary and wordplay is some of the best ever. RZA's production is also fantastic. There's an offbeat, gritty, almost lo-fi quality to it, but at the same time, it's super catchy. Not really a weak song here, but the highlights for me are "Bring Da Ruckus", "Shame on a N***a", "C.R.E.A.M.", "Protect Ya Neck", and "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'". Certainly one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. 5 stars.

Lo-fi shaolin beats to curb stomp mofos and deal drugs to. A true classic for the hip hop genre and such a dangerous, dandy collective at their prime. If Winnie The Pooh was the gang leader and renamed it the Pooh-Tang Clan then that would be the only way to feasibly make this album better.

My mom loves them

A classic? Hard to tell from passive listening while working. Most of the art is the lyrics, and I'd have to listen again.