Reviews (page 9 of 15)
Kind of a meme at this point
I wasn't sure going in but the more I listened the more I grooved with it. I can see myself returning to this album on the future and I think I'll grow to appreciate it more with each listen.
Creative , catchy, lyrically dense. Like watching a slice of life documentary but in the form of a rap album.
Good album, not my favorite style of hip hop but worth more listens
I usually find gangster rap albums heavy going, but this one is a little easier than most. It has an engaging sense of humour with all of the kung fu movie samples and the music has a raw edge to it. Apparently it was recorded in a studio so small that only 8 out of the 9 band members could fit in at any one time, so they would organise impromptu rap battles to decide who was going to appear on each track!
Classic. The production is top notch (even with limited equipment) and the sound so distinctive (and even though I like the early Public Enemy records, I far prefer the production RZA pushed here), strong lyrics and flows. The interludes are a bit much but that's unfortunately pretty classic.
not for me +
Great flows and great samples. These guys were cool when no one knew what cool was. A true testament to creativity and smart ideas. 9.5/10
I almost gave up on this one before even getting to the halfway mark. Lyrically it had nothing to offer except the usual "I'm the greatest, I'm going to kill everyone" type shit. The beats were uninspired and boring. Truly terrible skits. I got to "Can It Be All So Simple" which offered a bit of variety so I stuck with it. So after listening to the whole album I'm still not really impressed. I do like the raw sound and the samurai movie thing is interesting even if not used well. There's some moments of brilliance, but most of it just repeats the same ideas.
Yeah… very much of its time. Good for when you want to rage a bit
Had dit eerder moeten luisteren. Had het misschien ook wat zwaarder verwacht, waardoor ik dacht dat het niet echt mijn ding zou zijn. Topplaat!
Very nice, even if it's not my genre of choice. i recently started to listen to uk grime, this hits a similar nerve
A classic. One of the best hip hop albums of all time.
It was alright 1001 album worthy: No - 31/55
Wu-Tang clan ain't nuthin to fuck with. You wanna talk about a masterpiece of an album look no further than this one. Banger after banger the clan does not disappoint.
Not for me. His voice was a bit odd but not terrible music.
What a classic record. Love the grimey sound, how they trade of each others verses. Everything i love about 90s hip hop in one album
A mixed bag. I liked a lot of the music, but I'll never understand why 90s hip hop albums had so many intermissions, skits etc. They always spoil the flow of the album and are rarely enjoyable to listen to, even once.
This was fun!
Amazing, have listen a million times.
Influential but got very samey
Solid
Le gen da ry.
Great production and great rhymes. One of the most influential hip hop records ever.
I have pretty much nothing to add, no unique angle to take. Enter the Wu-Tang is one of the most discussed albums of all time, and it's not hard to see why. this Clan really did signal a new era of New York hip hop! the RZA's use of not just jazz samples, but soul samples, was a landmark innovation which created a seismic shift in the sound of the genre which we can still feel to this day. I'm honestly surprised this album became such a major success given its incredibly lo-fi production quality, but it was the starting point in a long line of grimy hip hop acts from the East Coast and, eventually, all over the country. that's not to even mention the larger-than-life personas created by the half-dozen rappers that handle the bulk of this record's material; Method Man, GZA (A.K.A. The Genius), Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and especially Ol' Dirty Bastard. (I don't want to take anything away from U-God and Masta Killa; they're just hardly featured here!) what would otherwise be your average violent, sexual rap braggadocio gets elevated to an almost cartoonish extent by the veneer of martial arts references applied to the whole thing. you get a really full spectrum of rapping styles that combine to create a powerful sense of momentum. I do wish the skits were their own separate tracks, though, so they could be skipped easier. decent 9/10.
this was interesting. i already liked c.r.e.a.m and most of the songs are actually a vibe, but i can’t get with all the violence, i just can’t do it lol - but it is a good and smart and funny album. Some of the backing vocals and beats are so so so good and unexpected, i really quite liked it, but just don’t care for explicit shit.
meh dont like gangsta hop plus all the intermission were annoying af important for the genre tho YNN
3/5. I remember listening to this a while ago and enjoying it but on another listen, some of the songs last a little too long and it loses focus. The skits are also sometimes out of place. I enjoy the multiple rappers, creates a diverse energy, while still keeping that anger needed for this influential style of rap. I appreciate and respect the album but the beats leave much wanting. The samples are fun so that's a plus. It might just be my experience with rap already, but this doesn't stand out to me compared to other rap albums that came after or around the same time. Influential but not aged imo. Best Song: Bring Da Ruckus, Clan In Da Front, Protect Ya Neck
Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is an album I'm pretty divided on. I generally like it as a whole but there are just small things about it that hold this album back for me. The songs here are pretty good with some good instrumentals and some rapping that really shows what these rappers can do. None of the songs here are really bad as a whole either but the main issue is just small parts of songs that manage to be bad enough to hold it back. The main offenders of this are the build-ups to the songs not sounding great and just being something i can do without. This is still a good album, just one i think could be better if some things were changed. Best Song: Da Mystery Of Chessboxin' Worst Song: Method Man
Probably one of the easiest 5's for me. RIP ODB.
-holy sshit this is probably one of my favorite hip hop albums ive ever listened to. so consistently good. the lyricism and sampling are amazing -I don’t know why this one in particular stood out to me so much but I’ll def need to relisten, it’s a 4 right now but could probably go higher -Favorites are Shame On A Nigga, Da Mystery of Chessboxin’, and Method Man
Almost all of my favorite Wu-Tang Clan songs were on this, absolutely will return to this.
Not for me but I’ve heard worse.
An absolute milestone in hip hop. Wu-Tang Clan revolutionized the scene and what hip hop was capable of at a time when it all kind of sounded the same. Wu really set a bar and are obviously timeless now, having branched out and expanded their network over the decades to include a multitude of different affiliate artists. This record truly set them apart on their own with an uncanny sound that still resonates to this day. Forever classic.
I still listen to this one regularly, glad it's on the list. Only getting a 4 because like most 90's rap, too many stupid skits.
Good album. My first listen. They are certainly nuthing to F'ck with.
Okay hip hop.
Wu-Tang ain’t no one to fuck with
super awesome album, wu tang speaks in proverbs with an awesome beat. good listen for any mood ever, chill listen or serious listen or hype or maybe even sad. tearz is a favorite fs.
Крутой олдскульный альбом. Музыка не устарела, очень кайфово и атмосферно звучит. Нравится читка.
2-3 låtar som jag gillade och la till i spellistan
Kryptonite for super me
For this review, I will not include the bonus version tracks tacked onto the expanded edition. Today, I listened to Wu-Tang Clan proper after hearing the various members show up for their brother Raekwon's debut. It took me multiple listens, but I can accept that the hype for their debut Enter the Wu-Tang is real. This album is already highly regarded as a classic for its impact in bringing the focus of hip-hop back to the East Coast in the 1990s. The success of Enter the Wu-Tang paved the way for the likes of Nas's Illmatic and The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die, both of which I've already covered. Of the three though, I'd say the Wu did it best. The first props I'm going to give here is RZA's production. I know his early production style didn't click for me on Raekwon's Only 4 Cuban Linx. But then I checked this out and heard how well-integrated the various soul-jazz samples and quotes from martial arts films were here, creating a thematic vibe that elicits power and intellectual thought. This leads me to my next prop going to the lyrics. I already knew these guys spat fire from Raekwon's debut, but all of them having roughly equal time to complement one another and share in their kinetic energy just popped off so well. A lot of the wordplay and cultural references meshed neatly into the dark comedy vibes they had stemming from the harsh streets of New York City adapted into their Shaolin theming from the film quotes they pulled. Finally, I've come to appreciate the skits across various songs, which add to the violent comedic nature of this album. It's possible that some of what they talked about is loosely based on past experience, but for the most part, I just went along with it because the overall vibe makes it feel like it's for entertainment and shock value. I could buy into the idea of Method Man and Raekwon coming up with various torture methods near the start of the top bearing the former's name, or the crew going out to avenge their fallen brother near the start of "Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber". Plus, they do take the time to hype each other out and show their support for one another such as during the intermission after "Can It Be All So Simple" and the "Conclusion". All these elements coalesce into a debut album that is such a strong showcase for the Wu-Tang Clan, where every track was a banger and the landscape of hip-hop was changed in part because of this.
I love this album, I have a copy of it at home and listen to it regularly. It's classic hip hop and I'm sure that I will listen to it many more times. Wu Tang, to me, is a hip hop super group and there has never been anything like it since.
One of the best of the 90's and in contention for the top Hip Hop album ever
Easiest 5 stars on here
Somehow I made it through.
I know this is a classic hip-hop album that I'm "supposed" to find incredibly groundbreaking but I've just never loved it. It's got a couple tracks I really like but the rest are pretty meh for me.
It Could Be So Simple was rad, protect ya neck was sick, dug cream, and wu tang ain’t nothing to fuck with was cool
Classic
This is still debatably the hardest rap album of all time.
Cash Rules Everything Around Me
J - 2 S - 2
Undeniable influence silky goodness let's gooo
This is a classic!
Basically Method Man is like Roll that shit, light that shit, smoke it And then Baby U, he a psychopathic He a psychopathic thinker And and, then we got, then we got the Ol' Dirty Bastard 'Cause there ain't no father to his style That's why he the Ol' Dirty Bastard Ghostface Killah, you know what I'm sayin'? He on some "now you see me, now you don't" Know what I'm sayin'? And and, the RZA He the sharpest motherfucka in the whole Clan He always on point, razor sharp With the beats, with the rhymes, whatever, any DJ [Raekwon] And the GZA, the G is just the Genius He, he's the backbone of the whole shit [RZA] It's self-explanatory, Genius, word [Method Man] He the head, let's put it that way We form like Voltron, and GZA happen to be the head You know what I'm sayin'? I'll fuckin', I'll fuckin', sew ya asshole closed, and keep feedin' ya, and feedin' ya, and feedin' ya, and feedin' ya.
“You become so Pat as my style increases What's that in your pants? Ahh, human feces! Throw your shitty drawers in the hamper Next time, come strapped with a fuckin' Pamper” God damn legend of an album and deserves to be
I have never queued up WuTang. So I have only heard a random song here and there. But after listening - I now know why I see all the T-shirt.
Grim, grimy, grindhouse—raw, muddy, and menacing, born from RZA’s Staten Island apartment studio. My upbringing couldn’t be further from these fellas, but somehow they still speak to me, lol.
Classic rap. Hard to get better.
"First of all, who's your A&R?/A mountain climber who plays an electric guitar?
Nah bruh
Was honestly a bit disappointed with this album. Having never listened to Wu-Tang Clan previously and only knowing about the whole shaolin/supergroup bit culturally, I expected to like this a bit more than I did. Maybe I can't appreciate it as much because I didn't grow up around it, but a lot of the beats and flow of the songs come off as kind of corny and dated. The second half of the album is notably stronger, but never goes beyond decent. Top tracks: Method Man, Protect Ya Neck, Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber Part II (Conclusion)
Amazing that they're a 9-man crew and every voice distinct. Not enough variation in the beats, though.
Absolute shite
Think very good but need more listens Good for gym
One of the seminal east coast rap albums. It is raw, gritty and was one of my introductions to hip hop. Wu-tang for life!
There are two types of people in the world. People who like Wu-Tang and people without taste. After all, they are for children. Seriously though this is top 5 hip hop of all time (I think this is the third time I've said this and I'm like 100 albums into this project so... maybe I have more than 5 favorites?) 10/10
Nuthing Ta F’ Wit
Wu-Rang is forever.
Wu-Tang is for the children.
"Bring Da Ruckus" has to be the best opening track in 90s rap. The production is always brilliant, as it's Wu-Tang. I also really like RZA's verses, which are probably my favourite parts. The super-long interludes prevent "36 Chambers" from being a complete classic. But there aren't too many of those. 4 stars for "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)"
Enjoyed. 4/5
Watched the Hulu series not long ago and gave me some added insight to this group. While not everything resonates with me, the creativeness and the beats are far beyond their time. Would revisit in the future.
Silky smooth beats matched with flowing lyrics. No wonder it sparked the East Coast rapping scene.
This was pretty good, especially for its time, but not one I'll be going back to
I absolutely love the aesthetic of Wu-Tang Clan, mixing the East Coast hip-hop/rap of early/mid 90s with the backdrops of Martial Art movies and Motown grooves and samples. I have always appreciated that aspect of it without really listening to it before recently. And this is a banger. This album is a landmark, watershed moment for the band that absolutely enshrined them into the Music and Pop Culture Landscape. Wu-Tang is for the Children.
What is there to say? An iconic album that lives up to the hype in every way. Greatness across the album.
Not a fan
I'll leave the 5 for the Wu-gazy mix.
- At first I thought I would put 1/5, but the random talking is fun and I like the random snippets from the martial arts teacher. Makes me actually look forward to listening through the album when I am partway through
# Album Name: Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) # Artist: Wu-Tang Clan # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Not my style of music but it wasnt bad. Ive heard a lot worse if im honest. C.R.E.A.M was the er.....cream of the crop. Good tune. # Top Tunes: CREAM. # Would I listen to it again? I might come back to this one.
3-4
Respect, but not really my thing. 3/5
wenn gerade mal nicht geplaudert wird ist das niveau der musik toll, mit 30 jahren abstand schon ein wenig „old school“ aber präziser rap mit coolen beats und samples.
Grossartiger Hip Hop!
EASY 5 STARS GTF OUTTA HEEAAHHHHH
Finally listened to Wu Tang after all these years. Their flows are slick, must've been mind blowing back when it came out. Especially for all the violence they talk about. Holds up, but not my favorite version of rap
Classic. 7th grade me bopping down the street to Bring the Ruckus. Smooth transitions and lots of strong standalone tracks. GZA the GENIUS.
Classic.
Not a huge fan. Listened ask the way through and liked some more than others but nothing stood out.
Wu-Tang forever
An incredible 10/10 project, The Wu-Tang Clan's 'Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)' stands as a singular moment in Hip-Hop history. I could honestly write full essays about the carousel of voices, how it moved old school boom bap groups away from seeming like they're just colleague's making to capital in booths to a vivid visualisation of a team each engaging in a playful Dozens, but since this is 1001Albums, I'm just going to advise those who weren't gripped to listen to this end to end reading along to the lyrics, knowing exactly who is saying what. The depths you'll discover from each member of the group will astound you.
Kung Fu…explains everything? No idea.
1/5 hate talking albums hate rap hate hip hop
never really listened to them before but a good aggressive hiphop album to come back to
Other than biggie and maybe nas strongest music from east coast Favourite songs: CREAM, Tearz Nice flow between tracks that makes the album feel like one long song Can get boring in parts
I've never benn big on rap so am not familiar with a lot of rap artists. I had heard of Wu Tang Clan but never actually listened to any of their music. This album had me bobbing my head to the beats and some of the lyrics and references were quite entertaining.
Not an album that I would choose to listen to but can see how this genre of music might appeal to some people.
30 years on I still hear new things in every listen
I get the influence, which made me want to like this more than I did. They were better in my mind before I listened to this, which is a bummer. 3/5
Not their best work. It was fine but never made me stop and go 'OOOOH'
A big rap fan anyway, but great to hear some of the earlier examples of where I would hear eastern rap influences from the 90s. Very enjoyable
Listened to the expanded edition, as the only version of the recommended nine track (original?) I could find on streaming was the censored version. Honestly what is there to say about this? Game changing, genre defining, pure heat from beginning to end. Easy 5/5
I just couldn’t get into it
Wutang is for the children
Okay, so I know how influential the Wu-Tang Clan was back in the day but I enjoyed the more melodic kind of rap from several years later because it was more of a song and this was more of a recording of people talking. Yes, this had music in the background but it wasn't really my type of rap.
Very much enjoyed….
Classic trend setting album. Love it and I am not a hip hop guy.
I'm not super into rap but this was charming in how much of a throwback it was. I do like that 90's-mid 2000's style a lot more than what is popular now. even when the sound was relatively stripped back, the rap was holding a rhythm you could groove to - not so much the case with today. Obviously this was hugely influential - I could hear Salt N Pepa, Lauryn Hill, Dr Dre's "The Next Episode". Maybe I should check out some more Wu-Tang.
Great folk american music
Pass
Reviewing the reviews of everyone who less than 3 starred. Unimpressed. Ironically, these people are probably children. WU-TANG killa bees
This ain't for me but I understand why it is regarded as a masterpiece. 5 objective stars and 3 subjective stars makes 4 stars!
I just don't listen to much hip-hop so I don't really know what I should be listening for when it comes up here. I like the genre fine when I hear it, but i don't tend to seek it out. This wasn't bad, I was familiar with a few of the songs but definitely not all of them. The overall "Wu-Tang" schtick was funny.
One of the best rap albums of all time.
It's another rap album for me today. I can't say I was looking forward to it, but I was at the very least intrigued to hear what it sounded like after briefly reading up on it. Apparently there's 9 different rappers featured. Some I like, some I don't. I'm not sure who's who but one sounded like he was struggling to get words out because he's cheeks were too puffy or he'd been sat in a dentist's chair having work done. One of them who raps first on the opener 'Bring Da Ruckus' I liked a lot though. He rapped with anger and venom in his words and I kind of wish the whole album featured him more. Whoever did the first verse on 'Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'' was also very enjoyable. I'd enjoy the tracks separately I think. Like if I chose a few to listen to and then moved on to something else. But as it is, it's nearly an hour and it's too much of the same for me. Also please stop with the overly long skits.
I can appreciate a good rap album, with good lyrics and good beats such as this one. Not a fan of the torture dialogue they had. Otherwise pretty good rap album.
Bring da Ruckas 3.3 Shame on a Nigga 3 Clan in da Front 3.3 Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber 3.2 Can It Be All So Simple "Intermission" 3.2 Da Mystery of Chessboxin' 3 Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing to F Wit 3.3 C.R.E.A.M. 3.6 Method Man 3 Protect Ya Neck 3.4 Tearz 3.4 Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - Part II "Conclusion" 3.2 Score: 3.241666667
Tie for best 90s rap album with illmatic. Terrific album. It's holds up so much better than it should.
This is a classic. RZA is the genius here. If you think that sampling isn't original, listen to this. RZA provides a masterclass on laying down backing tracks. Overall, it's an incredible debut album. Liked Songs Added: Bring Da Ruckus Can't It All Be So Simple Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) Method Man Protect Ya Neck
I like my rap like I like my coffee, with so many extraneous elements l get laughed at for saying I enjoy it. At the very least with some fluffy sweetness in the form of lush beats. This is pure espresso (not the Sabrina Carpenter kind). A very good espresso mind you, but I personally take two sips and I've had enough. A CD 60 minute runtime does not warm me up to it. Score is for my own enjoyment, I completely admit its actual value is much higher.
Man, what a cool theme for a hip-hop project! Always wanted to listen to this one, and it did not disappoint at all.
Not my usual listening but it wasn't top bad.
The best thing to ever come from Staten Island. A little more profanity than I care for but the sounds and rhymes are great.
It seems odd to me that this is the lone Wu-Tang Clan album in this collection, given their legendary reputation and status over the years. But apparently this is it, and I'll admit that I'm perfectly fine with just one album for a band (if only the book's editors could have followed this as a rule...). Listening to it in 2024, this album isn't all that compelling (even allowing for the endless f- and n-bombs), but I also suspect they set the foundation for East Coast rap/hip-hop for decades. I *did* enjoy the whole epic-rap-battle format of most of the tracks, with the various clan personalities taking turns trying to impress us all (and sometimes successfully); "Da mystery of chessboxin'" and "Protect ya neck" are probably the highlights of this style on the album (and a fun video for chessboxing). However, I just couldn't really get into the whole martial-arts rap-battle theme, but hey, wu wu wu!
enjoyed but didn't blow me away--musicality seemed to take a back seat to a lot of dialogue.
Not a huge fan of gangsta rap, but this one is undeniable and a classic.
Classic rap album.
I think this is my favourite hip hop album
Possibly greatest old school hip hop album of all time?
Cream
Not bad but not my favourite
Not m'y style.
If I was rating based on influence or cultural significance this album would be an easy 5. But this is a personal journal for me, so I’m ranking based on enjoyment. That being said this album was LONG, every song was 5 minutes plus and it was draining, I think that’s a problem with hip hop groups, every member has a verse so it makes for long songs. It was also very same-y throughout, so I was kind of bored by it. There are some good songs that stand the test of time, but a lot is forgettable. C.R.E.A.M is a banger.
ABSOLUTE hip-hop classic!
Not my thing, not bad for rap but I couldn't finish the album, it just dragged on
Can't objectively grade it; just not cut for me. 2/10
The Wu Tang is nothing to fuck with. Takes me back to my youth.
One of the most important pieces of sound ever put to recording...historically speaking and also to me...personally. To say my ears weren't ready for this when I first listened to it would be an understatement. My melody-seeking ears weren't primed for anything this rugged, filthy, and unrelenting in its consistency. But it took only a few listens to awaken something in teenage me, and for that, this album will always remain a personal favorite. Not going to dabble into this album's historical context 'cause it'd be redundant at this point, you can read up on it in a billion different places, though I recommend the RZA-authored 'Tao of Wu'. But setting the scene, it's the early '90s in Staten Island and this group of 9-or-so emcees drops this tight little package filled with the dirtiest hip-hop to date. No studio polish and no large production crews, just 9 dudes sounding as unique as 9 different dudes on one album can possibly sound. Oh yeah, and they were taking up this idiosyncratic role of masked samurais if you couldn't pick up on that already from the name of the group being "Wu-tang" and the album cover. I'm sure this thing blew everyone away when it came out, 'cause I know it blew me away 20+ years after it was released. With all that out of the way though, I've decided to structure this review by talking a bit (hopefully) about each of these 9 "dudes". RZA: Alright I'll throw all my production gushing into this section because RZA is the mastermind behind it all. This guy's the greatest producer in hip-hop history, bar none. This album is a testament to that, but so is the rest of the '90s Wu-tang solo run. It comes down to simplicity, it's like the opposite of what makes an album like 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back' by Public Enemy so great. On these songs, you've got one strong, usually off-kilter, and very personable sample looping over and over again. Not uncommon for hip-hop...sure, but the real talent here is with just how good the one-bar loops here are, they're insatiable. The bass on 'Shame' followed by that clunky, cluttered brass section on ODB's chorus portion may be the feistiest thing here. The sinister keys on 'Da Mystery of Chessboxing' leave so much open space to evoke this feeling of being in a large, dark, echoey room...and not knowing where the enemy will strike from. The weird vocal sample on 'Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing to F'Wit', for as cartoony as it is, is quite ominous, and nicely contrasts the generally "cheerful" bass and snap sounds the rest of this beat is composed of. The piano on 'C.R.E.A.M' is iconic and the keys on 'Method Man' make the entire song sound like the theme song for a big bad cartoonish villain. I love the entire beat of 'Protect Ya Neck', it's the weird little clips that fade in and out, like the piano, weird high-pitched theremin thing, and that menacing string sample. While the beats are repetitive, you do still get these cool little clips on top to give them a more dynamic feel. The opener 'Bring Da Ruckus' for example, may be the most dynamic beat here, but the little cartoony horn sample thing that comes in near the beginning of the GZA's verse is such an incredible little touch. And, on the "censored" version of 'Protect Ya Neck', those electric guitar hits on the swear words make me prefer that version to the uncensored version. And those martial-arts movie samples are just as essential to the world-building here as the music and lyrics, whether they're intertwined with the beat itself like on the "Tiger Style" vocal samples of 'Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing to F'with' or whether they're just there to introduce or send off the song like the "Game of Chess" sample on 'Da Mystery of Chessboxin''. So yeah, the RZA is a genius producer, but also I love the guy's rapping voice. It's ahead of its time, and quite unconventional. He's not as present here as on say Gravediggaz '6 Feet Deep', but his yelp-style still allows him to stick out whenever he does appear. My favorite verse of his is the emotive one on 'Tearz' as he details the murder of his little brother. GZA: GZA has always been my favorite Wu-tang member lyrically speaking. I'll talk about 'Liquid Swords' when the time comes (an album I like even more than this one), but god damn the dude can rap. He's lowkey, his delivery isn't bombastic or in-your-face like the many other guys here. He's heady which makes sense given the fact that he is the "head" of the Voltron formation that is the Wu-tang Clan. He doesn't rap on here as often as I'd like, but he is one of two rappers that gets his own song with 'Clan In Da Front', a great spotlight track. But it's his verse on 'Protect Ya Neck' that has him coming at major labels that's my favorite. It may even be my favorite verse on the entire album. Method Man: A deep, kinda lax delivery style in an album this full of viscera can easily end up bogging down the whole thing, but Method Man manages to pull this off spotlessly. He does great on the hooks, with 'C.R.E.A.M' and 'Mystery of Chessboxin' but his standout moment on this album is his spotlight track, the aptly named 'Method Man'. Laugh all you want at the ridiculousness of the rhymes here, but it's just how impeccable his delivery is under that menacing piano line that makes this song one of my favorites. I really like this dude's rapping, makes me sad that he's the punching bag of the group on the opening skit on 'Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber'. Inspectah Deck: The unfortunate story of Deck relating to his solo album being one of the many victims of the studio flooding in the mid-90s has always made him less memorable for me outside of this album. But that's never made his rapping any less incredible, in fact, I'd say he's one of the strongest rappers here. I think the guy's style is no style, he just always comes in guns blazing with his verses like with his opening verse on 'Protect Ya Neck'. And you don't get one of the two verses on the seminal 'C.R.E.A.M' by being a weak rapper. In this song, Deck tragically details his crushed dreams as a child at the hands of incarceration and drugs, as he urges the youth to not make those same mistakes. It's a standout and heartfelt moment on this album that always gave the entire thing this melancholic edge. Ghostface Killah: Maybe the most addicting rapper to listen to on here. The way the guy seamlessly strings together phrases, references, and bars is invigorating. There's a reason he gets the first (and last) verse on this album. His best verse has got to be his one on 'Da Mystery of Chessboxin'', pure rap battle bliss with that one. He's another guy who values delivery above anything else, the guy could be saying practically anything and he'd still make it sound badass. His introspective side comes out too on 'Can It Be All So Simple', a reminiscing track, and on 'Tearz' where he raps about his friend's HIV infection, with his closing lines being almost haunting as he captures that dreadful feeling of imminent death at the hands of the virus. Raekwon: Rae and Ghost have always been very close-knit, yet their styles couldn't be more different. Raekwon, like GZA, is very lowkey, his defining characteristic is his rasp. But he still manages to do the battle rap thing just as well as Ghost, going toe-to-toe with him on 'Da Mystery of Chessboxin''. But it's not a question, his best verse is on 'C.R.E.A.M', where he drops one of the most descriptive story-telling raps of the '90s. Ol' Dirty Bastard: R.I.P. to this man, there is no other rapper, and there never will be another rapper like ODB. Saying he's fun to listen to would be the understatement of the century - the guy's hilarious. I mean what rapper uses the line "Dirty, I keep shit stains in my drawers so I can get fizzy-funky for ya". None, the answer is none, no one, except ODB. He's another rapper who's not on this album enough, but his verse on 'Da Mystery of Chessboxin'' makes up for it, it's the equivalent of a hundred verses. He also has my second favorite verse on 'Protect Ya' Neck', such a badass re-entry after that interlude. U-God: U-God is not super present on this album, but when he does show up, it's a nice change of pace, adding another unique voice to the already colorful Wu-Tang cast. The verse everyone talks about as his best is his opening on 'Da Mystery of Chessboxin'', and I've always been inclined to agree - it's a very strong, hulking intro to this monster of a song. Masta Killah: Literally gets one verse on here but it's one of the best verses on the damn album. Of course, again, it's on 'Da Mystery of Chessboxin'' but the damn thing is so memorable. He comes in with such a complex flow, constantly overstepping the bar line while hitting the listener with non-stop martial arts wordplay. I've always found he's super underrated, his 2004 solo album, 'No Said Date', is great. So that's all nine of the dudes here. They all rule. Wu-Tang Clan's 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)' is, indubitably, one of the most unfuckwithable pieces of art to grace us humans. It's addictive, it seeps into your veins, your mind, and your consciousness and refuses to leave. And it's not just this album, the entire '90s Wu-Tang run (solo and group) is just as strong as this. There really is nothing like the Wu-Tang Clan. (No I'm not overselling this thing)
Classic, a stepping stone into my hip-hop listening.
Had one good part on one mediocre song. Could’ve been worse though
Solid as hell
Great album…classic! Though, I always compared them Tribe called quest…& growing up, I was more of a Tribe fan.
wu tang is sick, cream is in my pants but not an explosive amount. 7/10
I hated this less than I expected to.
Klang böse, im positiven Sinne. Richtiger Old School Hip Hop, aber nicht alle Songs gefielen mir. C.R.E.A.M mit Abstand der Beste
nicht ganz mein Ding. aber nicht schlecht. after laughter beat ist lit.
Wu-Tang Clan aint nothin' to fuck with. Trotzdem gar nicht mal so gut Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: Keine
Fun listen.
I regret not giving this album a chance.
Absolute all-timer.
Sounds exactly how I expected it to. Lived through this period of time, but not in the Bronx. Far reaching influence but not for me.
I've been meaning to checkout this album for the longest time, and I am glad I finally did. I understand why this album is held in such high regard. Great beats, great rapping, and great energy throughout this album. There are a few misses on the album and a few too many skits, but besides that there are a lot of bangers on here. Low 5.
Impressively diverse samples, beats and rhyme styles; minimalist and chaotic at the same time – it’s also harsh and violent, which limits how often I can listen to it.
Some good tracks
I know. I know. The Wu Tang Clan are legendary in the rap world. For me, it’s a slight miss. They have some good moments on this particular album but it’s nothing that lights my musical fire.
Day312 - i was so into grunge and alternative in 1993 to appreciate how good the wu tang clan was and this one has hit after hit
Love it
I guess I can see how people would enjoy it -- not for me, though, which makes it tough to rate this kind of album
Hip-hop perfection. If this isn't in the top 5 for wny "best of all time" hip-hop lists, it's a bad list. Every song on this is a classic. This album has no skips, and every second on this record is utilised to perfection. This record kick started an insane amount of careers, and with good reason. One of my favourite hip-hop albums, and it's always a pleasure to come back and listen to it. I do prefer the expanded edition, the remasters tweaked a bit of the patchy 90's quality, but nevertheless, whichever version you're listening to, it's perfect. Favourite song off here has gotta be Da Mystery of Chessboxin', but every other song I'd have no idea what would be my second favourite, they're all so special and perfect to me.
Still goes really hard. While I've always liked the style and mood that their music sets I felt like I was really taken in more by their beats and samples than I have been listening to them in the past. The groups rhymes as a whole are all really good but the way they construct their beats and of course their usage of cheesy old martial arts dubbing gives it a sound that is both indistinguishably Wu Tang, while also giving room for different tempos and feelings. Which can range from more energetic and intense to you can really just lay back and unwind to. Probably the only negative thing I could even suggest is that (at least for the spotify version) the interludes are not segmented into their own parts on the album Highlights: Protect Ya Neck, Bring Da Ruckus, Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' wit
There is not a wasted second on this banger of a record. Every single track and interlude goes hard as fuck and is such a crazy contrast to the west coast sound it was contemporary with. Insane debut.
Lazy review lazy review 9/10 Fav tracks - Bring Da Rukus, Clan In Da Front, Wu-Tang 7th Chamber, Can it All be so Simple / Intermission, Da Mystery of Chess Boxin', C.R.E.A.M, Method Man, Least Fav - none really
As someone who doesn’t know a lot about hip hop I would hazard a guess that the production and musical style here would have been extremely influential. From the little hip hop that this list has given me this one by far has the “worst” production value but it definitely enhances the vibe of the album. The lyricism and flow here are fantastic, and even though I’m normally not a fan of skits and intermissions in music generally the ones here are a welcome break and segue well between songs especially with the clips from Shaw Brothers movies. Having said all of that It’s not something that I can see going in my usual rotation of music, but it’s definitely an enjoyable listen. Highlights: Can It Be All So Simple, C.R.E.A.M., Protect Ya Neck, Tearz
Great album. Little overrated maybe but still amazing
Classic hip hop album. Love all the different flows and clever lyrics. A few stumbles but too many hits to not love this album.
an important album for hip-hop and music in general, but not an album for me
Stone cold classic, every song has something to offer and even the skits are all-timers. I read some other people's reviews and saw their complaints and I want to point out that this album is more than the sum of its many parts: RZA's production is simplistic? Yes, it lets everybody have a chance to shine. Rhymes are simplistic? I mean, in the context of 2024, I guess, but there are some all-timer bars here and the interplay is part of the fun. Kung Fu is corny? Sorry man, you're actually lame as hell.
I feel like I'm in the minority but I only *like* Wu-Tang, but I don't love Wu-Tang.
One of the best rap albums of all time. Every time ODB shows up it's like turning the knob to 11. Each member lays down some insane verses throughout the album, and the production is so interesting. Don't think I even need say more about this album, it's pretty much all been said hundreds of times over
Welcome to my channel Most albums will be listened to on my morning bike ride to school. The following encompasses the conditions of such listens: - A 6x3 inch speaker with no bass which will compete with the sounds of wind and traffic - An idyllic bike path next to the river accompanied by the magnificence of wildlife - Young families and children on their way to school who will be also enjoying the music from my speaker - A mindset shift to prepare myself for a day of teaching 13 and 14 year olds Please accept these conditions as a caveat to any ratings or reviews. Needless to say, I feel ready to bring the ruckus to some middle schoolers today.
I’m honestly not that into this, and I once saw a RZA concert and it was sick
Classic album. It’s crazy how much talent came out of Wu Tang.
I know I said previously that Boston had the greatest debut album but I probably should have specified *rock* debut album. Because this, this is the greatest debut album of all time.
I really thought I'd be more into this album, but it just didn't do it for me. Not sure what it was lacking, but I couldn't get into it.
This one didn't do much for me. Pretty standard....maybe even cliched rapping and beats that only made me sit up and take notice twice I think... 2 stars
Phenomenal album. Holds up so well.
Class
A few good songs...
An interesting album, with a few funky riffs and chilling piano throughout.
Not really my style, but there were some really good beats.
Nice samples, rhymes, lyrics, vocals, and goofy as hell. Nothing to complain about. Fav Songs: CREAM, Method Man, Tearz
неочень, нигеры
When I saw my next album I admit I was tempted to just skip it, because rap to me is usually poop, but I didn’t. And my bravery paid off, because this album was actually ok. I felt like a super cool mom driving my Honda with the Wu-Tang Clan on. There’s only one catch. I inadvertently listened to the clean version of the album. Oops. I didn’t mind though. Who needs profanity? I certainly don’t. I rolled right up to the mall to spend my dolla dolla bills ya’lllll with a clean conscience and a pep in my step.
Was expecting bad things after hating Method Man's Tical when that came up last month, but honestly...fair play. Hard not to bop along to. Not as good or polished as Illmatic or Shook Ones which seem to have jumped on the success of this and propelled the genre onward. Not a rap fan but credit is due where it's due. How Jay Z/Kanye's brand of rap ended up ten times more popular than this I'll never know
7/10…east coast hip hoo
I'm sure that this is a good album, it's just a good album in a genre that I do not enjoy.
Lemppari: Can It Be All So Simple Vähiten lemppari: Method Man
Gross. I don’t need rap about torture.
Easily one of the best hip hop projects of the 90’s. It oozes with confidence, skill, narrative, and humor. What an introduction to this rag tag group of geniuses. Also C.R.E.A.M. is one of the best hip hop songs of all time.
raw power
No lo escuche ahora, pero recordaba un solido 3 estrellas
Not as good as I remember. CREAM and other songs are fun but the interludes are straight up obnoxious and the ratio of good lyrics to lyrics that are about how good the lyrics are leaves much to be desired
I've had every word of this album memorized since the day it came out. It is more or less perfect.
really not my kind of music, didn't enjoy it at all
Bollocks.
The beats are fine. I'm not into the rap. It's quite aggressive at times.
Yeah whatever, perfectly okay but not my thing.
Schrott!
Sampling and production is great, not my favourite genre of music but this is definitely the type of hip-hop I'd go for. Gonna give it 4 stars, more than likely will give it more listens again
Classic
Great album, probably aged a bit now but nostalgia brings me to a 5.
DOPE
- Hab in meiner „Classic Hip-Hop“ Phase auf jeden Fall viel Wu Tang gehört - kannte vieles von dem Album, einige Hits drauf - Finde die haben einfach einen coolen eigenen Style / Sound und auch eine coole Lore um sich gebaut Rating: 3,75-4/5
Unbeatable
Not my cup of tea
mir fehlen da die bekannten Sachen, so lala
1. ruckuz - 1.5 2. nigga - 1.5 3. clan - 1.5 4. chamber - 1.5 5. zimple - 1 6. chezz - 2.5 7. nuthing - 1.5 8. cream - 2.5 9. method - 2.5 10. neck - 2.5 11. tearz - 1 12. concluzion - 2 13. zhao lin - 2.5 14. home grouun - 2.5 15. capella - 2
Hardcore hiphop I had to struggle to listen to as it is filled with unimaginative basic swearing missing lyrical, descriptive or witty art, which I grew to like in hiphop, although it certainly is not my genre.
Another record that is just flawless
Great fun when music and words do gel.
Honestly this was a weaker front half of the album than I remembered. After Mystery of Chessboxing things truly kick off.
Meh
I grew up on the album, it's a top 5 best hip-hop albums of all time. Wu-Tang is forever.
Never heard this before. I recognize it for its historical significance but only a few nice points on this album for me.
a couple of great tracks sprinkled in among some ok tracks
Sadly I didn’t take to this one. It all felt very same-y and a bit drab.
rap
Seven comically oversized treasure chests of gold coins and gemstones were spent on the production for this. Still sounds like it was released yesterday. The most 90s hip hop album to ever exist. Awesome, love it. Could have survived with less skits, but what can you do.
Nothing earth shattering. A lot of songs seemed to blend into each other without setting the world alight.
Very familiar with this one, absolute classic and one of the best ever
Not for me.
One of the greatest rap albums of all time. Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothin to fuck with
Not usually a genre I listen to but definitely a good album. The rapping/lyrics are the focus here, with most songs featuring prominent rap and a simpler backing track/loop. 6/10 (3/5)
Bringing a breath of fresh air to the hip Hop genre. It cuts like a knife, raw and edgy. Bringing the martial arts film samples and creating a cult was a masterpiece
Holy Crap that was amazing
06/10/24 Not a fan.
Hard to listen to. Very limited vocabulary that mostly includes variations of fuck and nigger. Does have a beat.
6/10 could tell it influenced a lot of future albums but most songs were okay however might be better on a relisten and paying closer attention to lyrics rather than having it on as I worked
Better than I thought it would be. They do like guns don’t they!
Good listen, prefer W that they did later on
could hear a lot of things they probably influenced in it - if i sat with it longer it would grow on me
One Classic album that started it all
Not a lot of melody, but plenty of vocals. Not bad
I've listened to a lot of hip-hop albums lately. This one was a great, pleasant listen with excellent beats and good lyrics
I am NOT their audience, but even someone like me can recognize greatness. Killer grooves, entertaining rhymes, stuff to think about. How is this triple-platinum and I've never heard it? Moody and dark.
3 Stars (8/15)
CREAM
its okay
Good rap album, if repetitive at times. Maybe should relisten at some point.
Ik snap niet helemaal waarom deze zo legendarisch is. Op zich prima naar te luisteren, maar zo bijzonder vind ik het niet. Het zal de tijd wel zijn geweest.
Ain't nothing to eff with, forever.
Not a big hip-hop fan, but can’t deny this was good. Smoother than I was expecting, and a lot shorter, too.
Ahead of their time. This holds up incredibly well compared to albums from the same year.
This genre isn’t my usual cup of tea, but I am well aware this album has achieved cult status and is regarded as one of the greatest hip hop/ rap albums of all time. I very much enjoyed most of the tracks and skits. What I really appreciated was the rhythmic rapping, it was among some of the best I’ve heard. I’m less keen on lyrics that reference gang stuff and didn’t enjoy some of the darker beats on first listen, but I envision I’ll revisit this album several times and think these elements could grow on me.
Really good rap album showcasing a lot of different melodies and feels fresh even today. Later stages of the album better than the first half.
Top 10 rap album ever. 😮💨
This is an album I was waiting for, as there was no universe where this wouldn't be in the top ten albums list, never mind 1001 albums. I was a little late to the Wu-Tang party, not having listened to this album until the late 90s. However, it's easily one of the best albums ever produced. The beats are special, as are the lyrics and vocal performances. It's also a rare case where there's so many talented artists coming together to form something greater than any one individual. There's particular verses that are probably the strongest performance ever recorded for some of the members of the clan. For example, Inspectah Deck's verse in C.R.E.A.M. Best of all, it sounds like everyone was having fun making this. Interestingly, I listened to the expanded edition on Spotify for the first time for this listen. I must have heard the original version maybe hundreds of times, so the small and not so small differences stood out.
4/5
This album is fire all the way through. I will definitely visit this one again.
Masterpiece. Wu-Tang Clan ain't nuttin ta f wit. Recommended reading: Chamber Music by Will Ashon
how do you give this anything but 5 stars
Thoughts before listening: Well this is fun. I used to own this album and I like it quite a bit. Like with a lot of rap album I'm sure the lyrics and skits will be more cringey than I remember, but I'm glad to have a reason to revisit this. Review: Yeah this is great. The group dynamic doesn't always work in hip hop, but Wu Tang really pulls it off. Each of these guys has their own distinctive voice and personality that really comes through in these songs. I like that Wu Tang has a laid back style to their beats, and there are some truly iconic tracks on here. My favorites are "Bring Da Ruckus", "Wu-Tang Clan Aint Nothing....", "C.R.E.A.M.", "Method Man", and "Protect Ya Neck". 5-star hip hop album
Hát ezt én adom. Simán bömbiztezném ugrálós autóban. Nyers.
not great, not terrible
id love to give it a five but it would be out of respect... great album nonetheless
this album dropped the science
I don't think a more talented group of individuals have ever made music together. That said, I find that listening to WTC albums demands the same amount of attention as watching a film. As someone who listens to a lot of music passively I struggle with that. This is possibly a 5* album but I feel like it was more like a 4* experience
I knew that I was going to enjoy today’s album because I’ve heard it heaps of times. I even have a Wu Tang style hockey jersey. If anything, I underestimated how much I was going to enjoy this today. There are some absolute bangers on this album. In general, I’d say I’m not usually the biggest hip hop fan but then occasionally something will come into my radar that blows me away. This album was one of those, and it frankly continues to be. I genuinely say that [insert basically anything here] ain’t nothin’ to fuck with almost every day.
I love this album so much- so happy I got to listen to this one today! It's so raw, and I can feel their passion in every song. I think listening from start to finish clued me into the variety of each track, even though I've listened to these songs many times individually. Like... Bring The Ruckus and then ending with Tearz?? There's just so much to work with. Anyways this was banging.
Luksus! Sindssygt sindssygt fedt - føler at det ligger på 4.5-5/5
it was good - good flow, enjoyable beats. a little long. i was weary of it by the end.
i know wu-tang is a cultural force to be reckoned with but i was an infant when this album came out, so we were like ships in the night. some of the beats and lyrical flows are quite good on this album, but it also (in my opinion) contains a lot of braggadocious rap filler that keeps arbitrarily cycling through different rappers. the end result to me is unfocused and overwhelming. i get that wu-tang ain't nothin' to fuck wit', but WHY is that the case? this is like a 3.5 for me but I'm gonna have to round down. favorites: wu-tang clan ain't nothing ta f' wit, C.R.E.A.M., protect ya neck, tearz
good but wouldn’t listen to it again
As usual with this project, I'm very uneducated on hip hop and have a hard time finding stuff that's above 3* for me. I recognize the icons that WTC are but still this is 2* for me.
.
Oh no guys I heard them say the n word
As far as composition and style goes, this set a standard.
never liked wu tang, always felt the martial arts samples were carrying this album's notoriety. Variable lyric quality and often awful delivery, occasionally good beats. 1
Supposedly seminal album didn't deliver for me. The Kung Fu film samples were good but I wasn't impressed by the other choice of samples. The subject of the writing was all a bit too aggressive and self centred too. Shame as I expected to like it more x
Never listened to Wu-Tang, I know they have a hug presence in the industry, but just found myself getting distracted.
Interesting album. I was more excited for it before devouring the whole thing. Still really solid.
Wu tang
Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothing to fuck with! Love Method Man, Redman, and the gang.
This was the album that showed me rap could be a more than Kanye and Drake. The musical style is still distinctive, but I find myself no longer drawn to the lyrics (they’re much more grotesque than I remember)
Amazing album. I’d give it a 4.5
Incredibly conflicted on this one. Definitely enjoyed it, though not sure I would put it above dime of the other rap albums that have been on the list. I like the production on these; they have a homemade, crunchy mix to them, giving them a feel that most other genres couldn’t get away with. Obviously, the subject matter is personal as well and adds to the experience. This is probably an album that has to grow a little bit more with me.
Good intro to east coast hip-hop. A few stand out tracks, e.g. C.R.E.A.M. All the talking skits felt a bit hammed up though.
Ok pretty sick almost a 5
I liked this a lot. Hated the beginning of method man though…
Excellent production, terrific lyrics and flow. Each member has his own style, and the album, while a little messy, is a thrill from start to finish. Shadowboxing, martial arts classic!
In a nutshell: a "fuck you, watch me" album. "[Tommy Boy Records] made the decision to sign House of Pain over us. When they dropped me, I was thinking, 'Damn, they chose a bunch of whiteboy shit over me.'" RZA, The Wu-Tang Manual Not completely into it. The skits were distracting; the beats and loops were repetitive. HOWEVER, I can't be too harsh on this album. It's popular, influential and iconic. There will be a legacy with Wu-Tang Clan. C.R.E.A.M. will always be a banger. Overall: 4/10
Wu tang are huge and they have lots of fans, I've just never been one and this album hasn't changed that. Low 2.
The dialogue and lyrics are abysmally, and extremely lame. "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)" shouldn't even be in the top 1001 albums of 1993. I think 1001Albums has had a bad influence on me. If I continue to listen to these rap albums, I'm going to develop a potty-mouth! 🫢🫢🫢
Dreadful
Geloof best dat het het beste hip hop album ooit is etc., maar niet mijn muziek. Opzich wel lachen voor rap, beter dan anderen
This didn’t work for me. Not bad just kinda boring at first listen and I won’t come back. It’s a shame cause I was excited to listen to this one.
Album 515 of 1001 Wu-Tang Clan & Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) Rating : 2.5 / 5 meh. Kind of a clown show.
Écouté il y a très longtemps mais plus aucun souvenir, album qui s’améliore à chaque écoute. Les paroles semblent grossières d’après les autres critiques mais difficile de se faire un avis sans maîtriser l’anglais et se pencher avec détails sur les paroles. Quelques classiques instantanés.
One of my favorite albums ever. It’s fun getting to know the alter-egos of all the rappers on the track. Can it be so simple is my favorite.
I love this album! I've listened to it more times than I can count. It is one of, the best hip-hop albums of all time, and also one of the most influential of all time. The fact that these 9 kids from Staten Island were able to put out this music that sounds so cohesive is incredible. The lyrics, while I admit are a bit misogynistic and vulgar, are still some of the best. They were rapping about what they knew, and what they knew and grew up with was not pretty. I'm dinging it one star because I don't think that the skits all work that well. But other than that, it is a nearly flawless album.
I'll give it 4 stars on trust.
inspired an entire wave of 90s rap. not that radio play, but poetry with at times hyperbolic enthusiam. one of the best to ever do it, ODB. RIP.
This was not a pleasant listen. 0 redeeming qualities.
Another good sounding album spoiled by unnecessary expletives
Some days I'm in an Enter The Wu-Tang kind of mood, and others it's an Ariana Grande's thank u, next kind of day - I knew her song fake smile sounded familiar. Found a short piece on Genius talking about the history of the sample usage (After Laughter by Wendy Rene) in rap and hip-hop. Anyway, Wu-Tang did it first, and it's one of my favorite tracks on this great album. (Listen to the source of the C.R.E.A.M sample too if you haven't - it's awe inspiring when an artist can make a brilliant song with parts from other great music.)
all of it seems the same. a background noise
Classic as hell. More to appreciate with each listen 👍
more partial to Tribe than Wu-Tang. But a solid album overall.