Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

There should be like 10 times as many guys in Wu-Tang and everyone should only get one line on the album.

M E T H O D MAN

if you hate this album, go fuck yourself YOU BEST PROTECT YA NECK

Loved it

Such a phenomenal record, honestly. Every song is a banger. Not only is it all really fun and dancey, but there's some amount of conceptual worldbuilding here too. It's totally obvious how these guys captured so much attention and stayed in everyone's head even until now. Just an unmatched project.

Definitely not my style but good to get cultured

No es lo mío

Man, I love the Wu-Tang Clan! Here they are, from left to right... and so on. Their debut album is considered a hip-hop classic for good reason — its dark sound, built on a wild concoction of rap, soul samples, snippets from martial arts films, references to chess manuals, and much more, stood in sharp contrast to both the politically charged messages of groups like Public Enemy and the braggadocious G-funk of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. The rapping is sharp, the sound is great — it’s a solid record, a four star one. So why do I only give it a three? Because the interludes — conversations between the group members that take up a total of ten to fifteen minutes of the runtime — drive me crazy. There’s no music, no beats; they’re just talking. And if I wanted to listen to a bunch of black guys talking, I’d probably just put on a compilation of the best cutscenes from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas instead.

To be fair knowing my taste I'm surprised I like it this much

Wu tang forever is my favorite hip-hop/rap album of all time. I heard that before listening to this album and I think the greatness of Forever tainted my opinion on this album. This album just doesn't hit the same highs but it is still a very very solid album.

I get that it's important, a seminal influence on hip-hop. I get that it's inventive and creative. What I don't get is a need to ever listen to it again. As they say, "Not for me:

RZA was making quality boom-bap from the beginning. This album might be my favorite under the genre so far, and I mean in general, not just on this generator. It's not overpowered with standout tracks, but even the more 'average' songs carry enough weight to take on the urban mood head-on. It feels like that moment right after sundown on one of these big cities that smell like piss, a quick stride because you're not sure you're being followed, but otherwise the weather is perfect and you're living in the moment. It's very particular, but I find it agreeable. I guess the only way to fix it is the same thing that could ruin it, so no, don't polish the production, don't focus on catchy hooks. Thanks for the great album, I guess it could be better but I wouldn't do anything different if I could intervene in its history. Even still, there's too many skits, the album's a little too long, extending it is unnecessary. The current available stream ends with the a capella bits for CREAM. I'm a nerd for this shit and I found it unnecessary. I won't let it stress my rating too much, though. Each member's cadence is this beautiful structuring of words that changed rap forever. Hearing them all blend here is a positive, repeat worthy experience. 4.4/5

Nope, just nope. The songs are not enhanced by the random conversations between them.

Nope

I knew a few songs. Didn't know Sweetest Girl by Wyclef Jean was referencing C.R.E.A.M.. There were moments where I was in awe at the technical verses. Fun but didn't blow me away

In my top 10 On a relisten for th first time in a while this held up as a raw powerful early rap album. Wu have a special sound.

Great album. Wu tang clan ain’t nuthin to f wit

Very solid, but no standouts for me

Wu-Tang is for the children

You simply can’t mess with the Wu-Tang - classic and solid throughout. Favourite track: Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber

Next.

legendary stone cold classic album, ft. some intentionally barebones grimy production, a bunch of lyrical zingers, and the genesis of at least a dozen references in the hiphop canon. TIL that that elephant tusk line was _not_ a dick reference, oops

Ok

I tried, really I did, because I know this album is often regarded as a hip hop classic, and whilst I can recognise that, I just don't like it or indeed the genre.

This was fun! Haven’t listened to much of them but my girlfriend just saw them live a week or so ago, so this was good timing. Listened with her while we did work.

I can admire the creativity when if this isn't for me.

Big fan. 🪭

Wu-Tang is legend, no doubt about that. As is their debut album. While I'm no fan of the genre, I recognize the genius in this record.

Fun

Reminds me of Wes!

DIY production quality is pretty fun. Vibe of just 12 guys hanging out and talking shit

Seminal ‘90s hip-hop. It’s low budget, gritty, and incredibly creative.

Much better than other hip hop albums I have listened to. Appreciate the chance to listen to it after all the hype but is not a game changer for me. 3/5

36 Chambers was a whole experience. This album has always been on my bucket list to listen to because I have heard so many great things about this album. I loved the groups humorous, yet socially aware topics with unique metaphors, word play, and instrumentals. My favorite songs were probably “can it all be so simple” “da mystery of chessboxin’” and “tearz”. I am most likely going to listen to this album again.

Absolute classic hip hop record. I love this one. 5/5

I see why all the unc’s love these guys

Gritty and real, a real body thumping album that punches through any kind feeling.

Mysterious layers of beats, found sounds, film quotes, and swaggering self-mythology. A 5 star classic

The big Kirk could’ve learned something here.

I expected better. The vibe is a bit too try-hard for my taste. The lyrics are overly confrontational at times, the skits offer very little and it feels a bit repetitive at times. Some of the beats are fun though and the rap flow is often good. Maybe, I’ll try it again in the future.

Top 3 rap album for me

This one slaps so hard, even 30+ years later. The sound is so distinctive, and it grooves so well. Play it for the children!

Fand ich richtig gut, und das sag ich als jemand der nie Rap hört

9.6(really 9,683)

Хороший альбом, очень качественно сделан 8/10

Honestly, I really liked this album. I don't have a particular reason (maybe I just want to seem cool or appropriately commemorate Staten Island) but I'd bump this.

Нормально ниггеры раздают Терь хоть шарю Сэмплы мощные, даже продижжи оценили

I find the interludes pointless and sometimes unnecessarily violent, although I know for fans the interactions are part of the personality of the group. I greatly prefer the songs.

Okay.

DURO

It was hard to listen to this album without already feeling favorable towards it. I watched a Wu-Tang documentary last year and having so much context left me predisposed to appreciate and love this album. The number of different voices, mix of humor and dark lyrics, and the simplicity of the beats really make for a cool hip hop album that’s easy to listen to and get pumped up about. At moments, I felt like I was listening to A Tribe Called Quest, but I think it was just that effect of voices trading off different sections of the songs. That style almost makes it seem like voices are being literally thrown around a room and I like it.

7.1/10. Easily their most popular album, it set the standard for what modern rap is and how artists are connected to labels by giving all emcees the freedom to do solo stuff with other labels while part of the group. I thought it was decent-sounding, if not a bit old-school, but I get the appeal and would listen to individual songs again.

CREAM is a masterpiece, most of the rest of it is just alright. The beats are kind of bleh, the delivery is very new york and aggressive (as it's meant to be I'm sure, but I don't care for it).

Boring asf

First album so mostly placeholder, interesting and creative.

Track By Track Shame on a Nuh (feat. Raekwon, Ol’ Dirty Bastard & Method Man) - This was … great. I loved the groove and the kind of nasty, grimy but also clean production and delivery. The rhymes are pretty brilliant too. The jazzy piano breaks I was a big fan of as well. Clan In Da Front (feat. RZA & GZA) - Here I can hear the early ‘90s vibe more. The instrumentation is really great. I like the samples of movie quotes here. Woven very seamlessly into the track. Can It Be All So Simple (Radio Edit) - This has a lovely Gladys Knight sample and groove. Some straight up braggy sex lyrics but also brilliant commentary and rhymes. Method Man (feat. Method Man, Raekwon, GZA, RZA & Ghostface Killah) - This album’s flowing so well, each track into the next. Can tell they’ve thought about it and crafted it well. Method Man’s bars are really great here. The intros are great. Beat and piano riff works very well. I’m into it! There’s smart rhymes and funny ones (referencing ‘Green eggs and ham’). I think I could listen back time and again and glean new stuff from the lyrics. Probably with most of these songs. Da Mystery of Chessboxin’ (feat. Method Man, U-God, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Ghostface Killah & Masta Killa) [Radio Edit] - Again nice use of movie sample. This was even grimier. Less liked but great bars & rhymes from people nonetheless. Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit (feat. RZA, Inspectah Deck & Method Man) - Got a real hype to this one. Quite cool. Not as much of a stand out for me. C.R.E.A.M. (feat. Method Man, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck & Buddha Monk) - Aort of recognise this. I think it’s quite famous. Good rhythms and stuff. Didn’t love. Protect Ya Neck (feat. RZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, U-God, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Ghostface Killah & GZA) - They’re spitting bars with political weight and then also flipping between superhero references and humour & it all flows so well. Also other references that I can’t quite place but they seem clever! Showing my ill-educatedness here. Tearz (feat. RZA & Ghostface Killah) - Great sample and then organ (?) riff. Good groove on this one. Title is smart, emphasising the grief and turmoil after death or a big event. It feels very personal and also like a narrator observing and commenting on the lives of others in a poetic and direct way. Overall Review: Really liked this. Found myself head-nodding to almost every track. The rhymes and lyricism is second to none in this genre, I must say. It sounds like a blueprint. Can tell these are high quality rappers. I also enjoyed the movie references/clips and other cultural and political quips. I will say that some of the beats were very similar and felt a touch samey after a few songs. Whilst I didn’t love all of it, this was a really strong one. 4.1/5 Favourite Songs: Clan In Da Front (feat. RZA & GZA), Method Man (feat. Method Man, Raekwon, GZA, RZA & Ghostface Killah)

Essential 90's Hip Hop. Grimy, Lo-Fi boom bap with Kung-Fu movie samples.

Дебют ву танга, конечно, был силён. Странный мир где соседствует некая кунг-фу эстетика, лоу-фай, причудливая и разнообразная читка от разных участников, интересные семплы, обилие клавишных, вырезки из старых фильмов и т.д. Ну и да, обложка идеально репрезентует этот странный и интересный мир. Знакомство со всем этим было крайне занимательным времяпрепровождением.

Not my style of music, was skipping through the last songs, because I had no interest in listening to them. There were like 2 songs I could somewhat enjoy, but I won't be getting back to this album. It's too violent and aggressive and sometimes the songs even made me feel uncomfortable.

Really enjoyed - very gritty, very cool. Felt like a gangster whilst listening. Will no doubt return whilst driving through white bread suburbia.

Well made, I like the king fu movie snippets. Just not my thing overall. 2.5 out of 5.

Was bopping my head all the way through. True. True.

One of the most ignorant albums I've ever had to listen to. I got a few seconds into each song, and that was more than I wanted to hear. The language, subject matter... HOW can people like this crap? Disrespectful. The music is great but the lyrics ruins the album. 1/5

Very good, gentlemen. I could do without the spoken interludes (especially the one about torturing people), but overall this record slaps. 7/10

5/5. I mean this is widely regarded as one of the best hip-hop albums for a reason, it’s just that good. Each member of the Wu-tang clan brings their all here in terms of flow and delivery. I’m also just a sucker for that 90’s east-coast style of production, and RZA’s production on this thing is fantastic. You of course have that iconic piano loop of “C.R.E.A.M.” But so many other tracks like “Method Man” or “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’” also have a great punch to them. Only downside to this album is that it’s so good that every future Wu tang album felt lesser in comparison (though some of the members solo albums at least get close.)

Some listens. Fire. A pillar of the golden age of hip hop. The skits don’t age well.

it was a future proof album back then, even now still sound raw and with a lot of thought behind.

Obviously well know for being one of the best hip hop groups and albums out there. Work probably wasn’t the ight place to listen to this but it was fun

I was surprised by how easy and fast this album flew by. With some exemptions when they just straight up had conversations in songs I really liked the album throughout. Easy and catchy beats with good flow. The intermission was a really fun unexpected part that I enjoyed a lot. I don't know if its something I will come back to in the future but for today I had a great time with the album as a whole.

didn’t finish, found it derivitave.

4.5/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/wu-tang-clan/enter-the-wu-tang-36-chambers/ Great and well-deserved of its classic status. The skits in between are not always the most enjoyable (sometimes they can be skippable), but the grooves, beats, rhymes, flows, everything else is fantastic. Wu-Tang Forever! (Not the album with that name tho, that one's too indulgent)

meh. not my style. se vuelve muy repetitivo.

WU-TANG IS FOR THE CHILDREN

Reminds me of smoking ditchweed in the back of a shitty minivan.

Wu-Tang Forever 4.5/5

great album

Just not my style

not my type but enjoyed it.

Zero

I was always told if I can't say something nice, say nothing "Nothing"

Cool logo, maar daar stopt het wat voor mij

Топ лучших рифм - диарея/гонорея

Сэмплы голд

Это база

отдельные композиции понравились, общий вайб тоже зашел, больше, чем западное побережье

Another awful one. Listening to this make me wonder if smoking weed contributes to creativity. Perhaps it doesn't.

Rap

El Classico

I wish I was cool enough to like Wu-Tang.

Can we talk about the good old days? When hip hop was about that boom bap beat, and groups had more personalities than a day time talk show. When albums found a balance between the beat and the lyricism with the occasional skit mixed in. This album has all of that and more and that doesn't even include the samples. Man, the samples on this album are clever and play off of each other so well. Ranging from original vocal samples to the widest range of piano samples I have ever heard on one album. I have been meaning to listen to this album for a long time, I originally avoided since gagster rap is not really my thing, however the gagster rap label does not do this album justice. It is rare for an album to have something for almost everyone without losing it's own character. It is simply a great work of art that does not overstay it's welcome, it cannot be fully taken in during one sitting, and will make you find something new on each listen. If you do not like rap or even jazz going into this album you are probably not going to like it. Keep an open mind though, there is real artistry at work here In both the sample instrumentation and the lyricism. During the golden age of hip hop If A Tribe Called Quest were akin to the Beatles (constantly experimenting to varying degrees) Wu-Tang would be the Rolling stones (Get Off of my Cloud even gets a mention). They have this grittiness and the hypnotic beats that make you want to get out of your seat. Not to mention just like the Stones they bring the Motherfucking ruckus. 5/5

So glad to have finally listened to them after hearing about them, even references in movies and such, for a long time.

Truly colossal record. Crazy how much is going on: it's hardcore enough to stay true to the underground, it's gangsta enough to appeal to the daft lads and shift serious units. It's relentlessly sharp and energetic on the bars, it's also reflective at times, grown-up and downright sad. Also manages to somehow be quite silly and funny. Rough and tough like leather, and fits like an old jacket. Oh, and RZA was much better when it felt like he was instinctively making it all up as he went along. Captures an unbelievable creative energy. Must have been a wild crew to hang with at the time: guys on an absolute self-rescue mission to pull themselves out of the NYC projects. Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can. Of course it's flawed and some language will feel unpalatable to many but this is a lasting artefact. Brilliant art.

Love the sampling in this album, I think every member rapped super well, however I don't like it as much as Liquid Swords. I'm not sure why that is, but my view of this album may have been tainted from listening to Liquid Swords first. still not a bad album, far from it, just feels outclassed. 9/10

Not the vibe

(6 estrellas)

Yet another belter I hadn’t explored in full. Top bops: Wu-tang clan ain’t nuthing ta fuck with CREAM Protect ya neck Tearz

Clearly one of the most impactful and influential hip hop albums of all time, personal preference for Liquid Swords as the best Wu-Tang record as it hangs together a bit better as an album taken in one sitting. Loads of great rap tracks here, Bring da Ruckus, Protect Ya Neck, Shame On A..., C.R.E.A.M, all hip hop classics. Can take or leave a couple of tracks and rap album skits always age like milk so it's not perfect IMO. 8/10

Classic. Nice to hear that it aged better than other rap albums of old times.

Good record ... however, too many MCs for my taste, and it has that mid 90s New York sound (both production and rap style) that I don't really vibe with.

I appreciate what Wu-Tang did for music. They brought a new energy that was just infectious.