Wu-Tang Clan [The 9 Generals + 1]

[Questions/Comments/Contact: info@wu-international.com]

All In Together Now Status: Inactive Members: The Genius a/k/a GZA The Scientist a/k/a Prince Rakeem [The RZA] The Specialist a/k/a Ason Unique [Ol' Dirty Bastard] Albums: N/A The Foundation of the Wu-tang Clan, All 3 members are cousins and while in their teens were preoccupied with rap music and kung-fu flicks - interests and came together around 1992 to form the rap trio All In Together Now. Within a year the trio had expanded into the Wu-Tang Clan, a collective project created in order to provide a means to promote the efforts of its individual members outside of the established system of label exploitation.

Wu-Tang Clan Other Names: Deep Space 9, Voltron Status: Active Members: Cappadonna Ghostface Killah, GZA/Genius, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard [R.I.P], Raekwon, The RZA, U-God Albums: Enter The Wu-Tang [36 Chambers [1993]; Wu-Tang Forever [1997]; The W [2000]; Iron Flag [2001]; 8 Diagrams [2008];   Album Compilation/Side Projects: Unreleased Demo Tape [n/a]; The Disciples Of The 36 Chambers: Chapter 1 [2004]; Legends Of The Wu-Tang [2004]; Wu - The Story Of Wu-Tang [2008]; Wu-Tang: Chambermusic [2009]; Playlist: The Best Of Wu-Tang Clan [2009] DVDs: The W: Vol. 1 [2000]; Disciples Of The 36 Chambers 2 [2004]; Legend Of The Wu-Tang: The Videos [2006]; Enter The 8 Diagrams [2008] The Wu-Tang Clan is a pioneering hardcore rap group, originally from Staten Island, New York. Wu-Tang music represent manic energy, pouring out hallucinatory imagery and highly intelligent poetry with substantial lyric content and value. The 9 members of the Wu-Tang Clan have each released solo albums, as well as performing under several subprojects with other Wu-Tang members, and others outside the Clan. This was the plan from the group's inception; the group would make them each famous enough to launch multiple side projects, and take over the hip-hop community through saturation of like-minded rappers. Though there was some difficulty in finding a record label that would sign the Wu-Tang Clan while still allowing each member to record solo albums with other labels, Loud/RCA finally agreed and the debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers was a popular and critically-acclaimed album, though it took some time to gain momentum. Initially only 9 core members, Cappadonna became an official member in 2008 even though he has been a member since the beginning to make it 10 but with the passing of Ol' Dirty Bastard it still 9 living members.  Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers did indeed establish the group as a creative and influential rap group in the early nineties [it was released in 1993], allowing GZA, RZA, Raekwon, Method Man and Ol' Dirty Bastard to negotiate solo contracts. The name comes from a mythical sword of Chinese folklore, supposedly wielded by a group of legendary warriors, RZA broke it down to mean  W.isdom of the U.niverse and the T.ruth of A.llah for the N.ations of the G.ods, and Prodigal Sunn from Sunz Of Man once said it stood for Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game, Guess it could mean so many things to so many people.

Meth, Rae, Ghost Other Names: 3 The Hard Way Status: Active Members: Ghostface Killah Method Man, Raekwon Albums: Wu-Massacre [2010] Probably the three most well known members of the group teaming up  together as a group and for an album. The union has been in talks for years but only started being taken seriously in 2009 after the release of Reakwon's OB4CL 2. The group publicly started talking about an album and end of 2009 the album was rumoured to be in works and bound to come out via Def Jam for 2010 release.

GZA/Genius

Other Names: Jizah, Justice, Allah Just, The Head, Maximillion, The Scientist

Real Name: Gary Grice
Born Day: August 22nd
Star Sign: Leo
Groups: Wu-Tang Clan / All In Together Now

Albums:
Words From The Genius [1991];
Liquid Swords [1995];
Beneath The Surface [1999];
Legend Of The Liquid Sword [2002];
GZA/Genius Vs DJ Muggs: Grandmasters [2005];
Pro Tools [2008]

DVDs: N/A

The GZA is the de facto leader of the group, as well as being widely regarded as the one of the best lyricist in the group. The first Wu MC to record an album. His "Words From The Genius" came out a few years before the Clan's official release. GZA was one of the founding members of the Wu-Tang Clan, and aside from RZA, is considered the group's main figurehead. Before the wu, he was in a group with he's cousin's RZA & ODB as All In Together Now. Future projects is probably the release of he's son Young Justice's album and developing Liquid Swords Entertainment artists.

R.I.P

Ol' Dirty Bastard

Other Names: O.D.B., Dirty, Ol' Dirt Dawg, Osirus, Big Baby Jesus, Ason Unique, Unique Ason, The Specialist, Dirt McGirt, The Professor, The Bebop Specialist, Cyrus, Prince Delight, Dirt Schultz, Joe Bananas, Freeloading Rusty

Real Name: Russell Jones
Born Day: November 5th
Star Sign: Scorpio
Groups: Wu-Tang Clan / Brooklyn Zu / All In Together Now / D.R.U.G.S

Album:
Return To The 36 Chambers [1995];
O.D.B.E.P. [1997]; Nigga Please [1999];
The Dirty Story: The Best Of ODB [2001];
The Trials And Tribulations Of Russell Jones [2002];
Osirus Mix Tape [2005]
The Definitive Ol' Dirty Bastard Story  [2005]
Free To Be Dirty: Live [2005]

DVDs:
Free To Be Dirty Live [2005]

ODB is considered to be the most eccentric member of the Wu. A founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan with his childhood friends, RZA and GZA. Dirty's hard life began to catch up with him after 36 Chambers, he was shot in the stomach following an argument with another rapper in 1994. He'd fathered at least thirteen children, During a Grammy Awards show,
ODB rushed onstage during Shawn Colvin's acceptance speech & dominated most of the talk. 
Further problems with Icelene Jones in 1998, resulted in several court dates and he was shot in an attempted robbery. He was also arrested for shoplifting in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in spite of clear means to pay for the $50 shoes
he attempted to steal. He was arrested for making terrorist threats after a series of drunken confrontations in Los Angeles a few weeks later, and was then re-arrested for similar charges not longer after that.

With multiple cases in the past and present, ODB was arrested with marijuana and 20 vials of crack. His conflicting cases adding to his problems, ODB soon entered rehab, in spite of being wanted by several police forces; he was technically on the run from the law. He found time to release 1999's Nigga Please, a critical masterwork and mild sensation. Strange behaviour during a subsequent court case sent him to jail for a brief period, but he finally ran away from his by-now-court mandated rehab and spent one month as a fugitive. He appeared at a record release party for The W, a Wu-Tang Clan album.
He was arrested in a McDonald's parking lot and received two to four years in prison; mental problems resulted in a suicide attempt not long after his sentencing.

2003 brought a turn in the life of the dirtiest member of the Wu-Tang Clan, however. The day he was released from prison, with Mariah Carey and Damon Dash by his side, Dirty signed a contract with Roc-a-Fella Records, and
began a new chapter in his life. Living at his mother's home under house arrest and with a court-ordered probation hanging over his hea. The God passed away late 2004. R.I.P.

Ghostface Killah

Other Names: Ghost, Ironman, Sun God, Tony Starks, Ghostface, Wally Champ, General Tony starks, Starkey Love, Pretty Toney

Real Name: Dennis Coles
Born Day: May 9th
Star Sign: Taurus
Groups: Wu-Tang Clan / Theodore Unit

Album:
Ironman [1996];
Supreme Clientele [2000];
Bulletproof Wallets [2001];
Shaolin's Finest [2003];
The Pretty Toney Album [2004];
Fishscale [2006];
Live In New York [2006];
More Fish [2006];
Hidden Darts: Special Edition [2007];
The Big Doe Rehab [2007];
GhostDeini The Great [2008];
GhostDini: Wizard Of Poetry [2009]

Album Duets:
Put It On The Line {With Trife Da God} [2005]

DVDs:
A Day In The Life Of Ghostface Killah [2004];
Fishscale DVD [2006];
Ghostface Live [2006];
Live In New York [2006]

The first MC to open on "Enter The 36 Chambers". Ghostface is also the first artist to release an album for "Razor Sharp" Records.
Shares a special affinity with fellow MC, Raekwon - the two are considered one of hip hop's best duos. Formed a new group Theodore Unit that hosts a number of Wu affiliates together.

Raekwon

Other Names: The Chef, Rae, Shallah Raekwon, Lex Diamonds, Louis Diamonds, Rick Diamonds

Real Name: Corey Todd Woods
Born Day:  January 12th
Star Sign: Capricorn
Groups: Wu-Tang Clan / American Cream Team / Ice Water Inc

Albums:
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... [1995];
Immobilarity [1999];
The Lex Diamond Story [2004];
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II... [2009]

DVDs: N/a

The man responsible for sending the entire East Coast [and to a degree "every other coast"] into a mafioso frenzy. His debut album is quite possibly the most copied hip hop album of all time and debated to be the best wu-tang solo project to date, especially now that Masta Killa's has recently released an equally consistent album.

Method Man

Other Names: Meth, Methtical, Ticallion Stallion, MZA, Panty Raider,
Shakwon, Hott Nikkels, Da Iron Lung, Blazini, Ghost Rider, Johnny Dangerous, Johnny Blaze, Tical, Hot Nixon, John-John Mclane, Ghost Rider, Long John Silver

Real Name: Clifford Smith
Born Day:  April 1st
Star Sign: Aries
Groups: Wu-Tang Clan / *Redman & Method Man

Album:
Tical [1994];
Tical 2000: Judgement Day [1998];
Tical: The Alter Ego Remixes [1999];
Tical 0: The Prequel [2004];
4:21... The Day After [2006]

Album Duets:
Blackout! {With Redman} [1999];
Blackout! 2 {With Redman} [2009]

Album Soundtracks
How High - Soundtrack [2001]

DVDs: N/A

As one of the first to join the Wu-Tang Clan after its formation in the early 1990s, Method Man has always been one of the most visible members of the collective. Meth, was the first member to release a solo album after the success of "Enter The 36 Chambers". He furthered his career by recording with a string of artists inside and outside his Wu family [and continues to do so today].
Has a side project as a group with Redman and recently has spend more time pursing he's acting career.

U-God

Other Names: Golden Arms, Baby-U, 4-Bar Killer, Lucky Hands, Ugodz-illa, Universal God Of Law, Baby U, Baby Huey, 4-Bar Killer,

Name: Lamont Jody Hawkins
Born Day:  November 10
Star Sign: Scorpio
Groups: Wu-Tang Clan / HillSide Scramblers

Album:
Golden Arms Redemption [1999];
Super Nigga EP [2002];
Hill Side Scrambler [2004];
Mr. Xcitement [2005];
Dopium [2009]

DVDs:
Rise Of A Fallen Soldier [2004]

He was the eighth [out of nine] member of the group to record a solo album,  Sat out for most the "36 Chambers" album, reportedly due to a jail term. Formally a beatboxer  before joining Wu-tang clan.

A public fall out with RZA on dvd that was released 2004, U-god is working on a number of projects involving he's new troop The Hillside scramblers.

Inspectah Deck

Other Names: Rebel INS, Deck, Fifth Brother, Rollie Fingers, Ayatollah, Manifesto, Charliehorse

Name: Jason Hunter
Born Day:  July 6th
Star Sign: Cancer
Groups: Wu-Tang Clan / House Gang

Album:
Uncontrolled Substance [1999];
The Movement [2003];
The Resident Patient [2006]

DVDs: N/A

Primarily an MC who also produces beats for many Clan affiliates, was part of the wu-elements. Inspectah Deck's debut album was marred by frequent setbacks and label problems. Often considered the group's underdog [or unsung hero]. Named after Ector Clouseau from the "Pink Panther" cartoons. Was supposed to work on a side project with Muggs from Cypress Hill.

Masta Killa

Other Names: High Chief, Jamel Irief, Noodles

Real Name: Elgin Evander Turner
Born Day: August 18th
Star Sign: Leo
Groups: Wu-Tang Clan

Album:
No Said Date [2004];
Made In Brooklyn [2006]

DVDs:
 

Low-key Clan MC. Was once considered the honorary ninth member of the team. Masta Killa only appeared on one track on the Wu-Tang Clan's first album, which was co-written by GZA, but since then has become a mainstay in the group's recordings and performances. Known within the Clan for his quiet and introspective nature, he was the last member to release a solo album. No Said Date, released in June 2004, was heralded by fans as a return to form, with a sound reminiscent of the early and mid 1990s Wu-Tang and affiliate albums. Known to be a strict vegetarian.

Cappadonna

Other Names: Donna, CappaGoines, Poppy Wardrobe King, Cappa Shogun, Donnamite, Jay Bird, Catalog Don, Cappachino, Cappadon

Real Name: Daryl Robert Hill
Born Day:
Star Sign:
Groups: Wu-Tang Clan / Wu-South / Infamous Qur'an

Album:
The Pillage [1998];
The Yin And The Yang [2001];
Cappadonna Hits [2001];
The Struggle [2003];
The Cappatalize Project [2007];
Slang Prostitution [2008]

Album Soundtrack:
Iron Fist Pillage - Soundtrack [2001]

DVDs:
Iron Fist Pillage
The Struggle [2005]

The "once" and probably "still" honorary "tenth" Clan MC [for Mathematical reasons, there can only be nine numbers/members], He has been listed as a killa bee as well as a member of the Clan. He has been unofficial til 2007 before the 8 Diagram album where he was officially signed as a member of the Wu-Tang Clan.

Cappadonna had major contributions to Ghostface Killah's "Ironman" as well as Raekwon's album before signing on with RZA's "Razor Sharp" label and releasing "The Pillage". A member of a newly formed group he put together called F.O.I., Infamous Quran and Wu-South.