‘Why Why Why’: The song Wu-Tang Clan used to “let the consciousness in”
Hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan have been a staple of the scene since the early 1990s. Inspiring prominent rap artists like Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the group have released several albums over the decades and penned songs about all kinds of topics. One of the group’s most hard-hitting tracks, titled ‘Why Why Why,‘ was featured on their 2017 compilation album The Saga Continues.
Touching on the topic of racial injustice in America, the song features the lyrics, “If I put my fist through the face of a racist / smack ’em tasteless / would I face three cases in court, licked in places / or shackled to a seat of a bus, a hundred of us / life in America shouldn’t be so tough.”
Speaking to Billboard, group member RZA shared the true meaning behind the song. “You have to bring the consciousness in, even though life has blessed me, I think there’s so many others not getting the blessings of light because it’s being blocked by somebody else,” he revealed.
RZA continued, “Don’t waste these blessings, whether it’s music, knowledge or economics. I wanted to touch on that — and what’s going on socially in America, it’s ridiculous. It’s so much that entertainers and those that play ball are speaking…It shows you how much it’s bothering the average citizen.”
The hook of ‘Why Why Why‘ features Swnkah asking “Oh, why, why, why, why, why, why“ over and over again, fitting in with RZA’s words about bringing in consciousness. The hook could also maybe represent those who RZA mentioned being “blocked” from receiving the “blessings of light” that he himself has received. In the same interview, RZA mentioned fellow rapper Eminem, stating, “When you see an MC like Eminem, coming from the white community, and he even says it (about racial inequality). It’s so serious that it’s even penetrating every community.”
‘Why Why Why‘ wasn’t the first time RZA mentioned his views on racial injustice and the Black Lives Matter movement. In a 2016 interview with Bloomberg UK, the rapper stated, “Of course, Black lives matter. All lives matter. I stopped eating meat because their lives matter to me. I don’t think it’s necessary for us to grow a cow to kill it.”
‘Why Why Why‘ additionally features the lyrics, “We come to unite people / Every color, every race / Every shape, every face / All around the nation / No discrimination / Peace and love we say / From generation to generation.” These lyrics perhaps add context to RZA’s words in the above interview.
Interestingly, “Why Why Why‘ isn’t the only track where the Wu-Tang Clan touch on similar topics. A couple of decades before the Bloomberg UK interview took place, in 1997, the group released a track titled ‘A Better Tomorrow’.
Partially written by RZA, the track features lyrics about modern America which are more in line with the thoughts he expresses on ‘Why Why Why’. However you choose to interpret the song, RZA’s explanation of letting the consciousness in and reflecting on why some people receive blessings more than others makes his thoughts clear.