Wu-Tang Clan

Formed in Staten Island in 1992, Wu-Tang Clan assembled a sprawling collective of distinct voices: RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and, until his death in 2004, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, with close affiliate Cappadonna later becoming an official member. Credit for revitalizing East Coast hip hop has been widely assigned to the group, and their impact on the genre has rarely been contested. After signing with Loud Records in 1992, they released their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), in 1993 — a record that has since gained widespread critical acclaim and is often regarded as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.

Between 1994 and 1996, the members branched into solo careers, an unusual and strategic move that expanded their reach. The Clan reconvened for Wu-Tang Forever in 1997, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. Later records The W (2000) and Iron Flag (2001) followed, while subsequent releases — 8 Diagrams (2007) and A Better Tomorrow (2014) — were met with less mainstream popularity. In 2015, the one-of-a-kind album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin was purchased outright for $2 million. In 2026, the group’s legacy will be formally recognized with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Discography

• Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
• Wu-Tang Forever (1997)
• The W (2000)
• Iron Flag (2001)
• 8 Diagrams (2007)
• A Better Tomorrow (2014)