The Wu-Tang Clan were a profoundly impactful crew and sent a shockwave through East Coast hip-hop. The nine-piece collective was the first group to come out of Staten Island, and from the sonic of their beats to their aesthetic, the group cut through the noise immediately.
RZA (real name Robert Diggs) handled the group’s production and was one of the executive producers of their 1993 debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Following the project’s release, RZA shot up the ranks of 1990 East Coast production and was seen to be on a level with beatmakers such as Pete Rock and DJ Premier.
With hits such as ‘C.R.E.A.M.’, ‘Protect Ya Neck’ and ‘Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’ the crew’s lo-fi sound was instantly recognisable. Moreover had a unique look that made them incomparable to any other act at the time.
The collective integrated the discipline and mentality of martial arts into their productions. Moreover, they drew parallels between the perseverance and mental strength needed in martial arts to the mentality necessary to survive in the “hood.”
With such a serious mindset, it is unsurprising that their debut project included a track called ‘Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F’ Wit’. The song’s title reflected what members of the crew believed, and in a 1993 interview, RZA told MTV, “The most important thing that people need to know about us? That Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nuthin’ to f*ck wit! Lyrically, no one can f*ck with us. It’s gonna take another generation to match our rhymes.”
Diggs produced the track and, inspired by martial arts, sampled ‘Tiger Style,’ a 1977 song from the Kung-fu movie Executioners from Shaolin. The beat was also co-produced by Method Man.
RZA was insistent that, in 1993, the most important fact people needed to know was that the collective was untouchable in every capacity. Hype Williams directed the music video for the track, you can watch the visuals below.
