by Bradford Allison
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Top 10 Wu-Tang Albums Killa Beez all over your planet
Top 10 Wu-Tang Albums Killa Beez all over your planet
by Bradford Allison
by Bradford Allison
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Wu Tang management
***Wu Tang management***
Oli "Power" Grant and RZA's brother Mitchell "Divine" Diggs are the controversial executives who haveMitchell "Divine" Diggs has been mentioned in several songs by Wu-Tang members, such as by RZA in his song "Brooklyn Babies" with "My big brother Divine he push the [[Mercedes-Benz|Benz]] well", and Raekwon in the song "The Turn" with "Divine got me, nigga, the boss, he pop me".
Method Man however has voiced his displeasure with Mitchell "Divine" Diggs of the Wu-Tang management, "Number 1 on my shit list right now is Divine from Wu-Tang management. He took something major from me that he had no intention of giving back.been handling the business side of the Wu Tang empire since 1997, and are responsible for large amounts of products such as [[Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style]] and Wu Wear which were released in the late 90's and early 2000s. The two stay behind the scenes for the most part but do occasionally step into the public eye. Oli "Power" Grant is a childhood friend of several clan members.
Oliver "Power" Grant has also acted in numerous films including ''[[Belly (film)|Belly]]'', ''[[Black and White (1999 film)|Black and White]]'', ''[[When Will I Be Loved]]'' and others. He also won the 24th Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in Long Beach, beating out seventeen other celebrity and professional drivers. "Power" was mentioned in [[Raekwon]]'s lyrics in the street anthem "Incarcerated Scarfaces", saying "Peace to Power and the whole unit."
Oli "Power" Grant and RZA's brother Mitchell "Divine" Diggs are the controversial executives who haveMitchell "Divine" Diggs has been mentioned in several songs by Wu-Tang members, such as by RZA in his song "Brooklyn Babies" with "My big brother Divine he push the [[Mercedes-Benz|Benz]] well", and Raekwon in the song "The Turn" with "Divine got me, nigga, the boss, he pop me".
Method Man however has voiced his displeasure with Mitchell "Divine" Diggs of the Wu-Tang management, "Number 1 on my shit list right now is Divine from Wu-Tang management. He took something major from me that he had no intention of giving back.been handling the business side of the Wu Tang empire since 1997, and are responsible for large amounts of products such as [[Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style]] and Wu Wear which were released in the late 90's and early 2000s. The two stay behind the scenes for the most part but do occasionally step into the public eye. Oli "Power" Grant is a childhood friend of several clan members.
Oliver "Power" Grant has also acted in numerous films including ''[[Belly (film)|Belly]]'', ''[[Black and White (1999 film)|Black and White]]'', ''[[When Will I Be Loved]]'' and others. He also won the 24th Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in Long Beach, beating out seventeen other celebrity and professional drivers. "Power" was mentioned in [[Raekwon]]'s lyrics in the street anthem "Incarcerated Scarfaces", saying "Peace to Power and the whole unit."
Friday, May 9, 2008
Image
Image
Before the Wu-Tang Clan's debut in 1993, few popular rap music acts operated in groups, and at nine main members with several affiliates, the Wu was the largest around at that point; the only popular groups coming close to that size at the time were [[Public Enemy (band)|Public Enemy]] and the [[Death Row Records]] roster. Since that time, several collective-sized groups have gained popular status, including [[The Diplomats|Dipset]], the [[Dungeon Family]], [[D12]], and [[No Limit Records]]; though the Wu-Tang Clan may not have been directly responsible for the formation of these groups, they helped encourage popular acceptance of the idea. They were also among the first to start the trend in hip-hop of diversification; specifically, the hip-hop clothing line with [[Wu-Wear]], which was later picked up by [[Busta Rhymes]], [[Jay-Z]] and [[Puff Daddy]], among others.
Before the Wu-Tang Clan's debut in 1993, few popular rap music acts operated in groups, and at nine main members with several affiliates, the Wu was the largest around at that point; the only popular groups coming close to that size at the time were [[Public Enemy (band)|Public Enemy]] and the [[Death Row Records]] roster. Since that time, several collective-sized groups have gained popular status, including [[The Diplomats|Dipset]], the [[Dungeon Family]], [[D12]], and [[No Limit Records]]; though the Wu-Tang Clan may not have been directly responsible for the formation of these groups, they helped encourage popular acceptance of the idea. They were also among the first to start the trend in hip-hop of diversification; specifically, the hip-hop clothing line with [[Wu-Wear]], which was later picked up by [[Busta Rhymes]], [[Jay-Z]] and [[Puff Daddy]], among others.
Lyrics
Lyrics
[[Raekwon]]'s ''[[Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...]]'' helped (with the likes of [[Kool G Rap]]) popularize the [[mafioso rap|Mafia theme in rap music]] that remained widespread for more than half a decade. The landmark album touted a lifestyle patterned on drug dealing, regrets of living in harsh conditions, and partying (including popularizing the [[Cristal (champagne)| Cristal]] brand of champagne) which [[Nas]], [[Mobb Deep]], [[Notorious B.I.G.]], [[Jay-Z]], [[No Limit Records]], and other popular artists all borrowed and/or expanded upon these themes at points in their respective careers.
The Wu-Tang Clan's slang has long been a staple of their music, wherein members would blend [[The Nation of Gods and Earths|Five Percenter]] terms, [[Kung Fu]]/oriental words, and comic book and street terms to create their own nicknames for actions, people, places and things (such as the christening of Staten Island as "Shaolin" and money as "C.R.E.A.M."). Though all the members indulge in this, Raekwon and Ghostface have been the most notorious for it.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
[[Raekwon]]'s ''[[Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...]]'' helped (with the likes of [[Kool G Rap]]) popularize the [[mafioso rap|Mafia theme in rap music]] that remained widespread for more than half a decade. The landmark album touted a lifestyle patterned on drug dealing, regrets of living in harsh conditions, and partying (including popularizing the [[Cristal (champagne)| Cristal]] brand of champagne) which [[Nas]], [[Mobb Deep]], [[Notorious B.I.G.]], [[Jay-Z]], [[No Limit Records]], and other popular artists all borrowed and/or expanded upon these themes at points in their respective careers.
The Wu-Tang Clan's slang has long been a staple of their music, wherein members would blend [[The Nation of Gods and Earths|Five Percenter]] terms, [[Kung Fu]]/oriental words, and comic book and street terms to create their own nicknames for actions, people, places and things (such as the christening of Staten Island as "Shaolin" and money as "C.R.E.A.M."). Though all the members indulge in this, Raekwon and Ghostface have been the most notorious for it.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Production
Production
According to himself, RZA tries to have no more than 20-25% sampling on any given record, something starkly different from many other major hip hop groups. He uses "the sampler more like a painter's palette than a [[Xerox]]. Then again, I might use it as a Xerox if I find rare beats that nobody had in their crates yet." He played much of the piano himself, with [[Bill Evans]] and [[Thelonious Monk]] as major influences; for instance, he created the piano part to "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" after watching the Thelonious Monk documentary, ''Straight, No Chaser''.The RZA; Chris Norris (January 2005). The Wu-Tang Manual. New York: Riverhead Freestyle, 243 pages. ISBN 1-59448-018-4
RZA's production technique, specifically the manner of chopping up and/or speeding or slowing soul samples to fit his beats, has been picked up by currently popular producers, most notably [[Kanye West]] and [[Just Blaze]], the two main producers behind [[Roc-A-Fella Records]]. West's own take on RZA's style. Why You Can't Ignore Kanye - TIME] briefly flooded the rap market with what was dubbed "chipmunk soul," the speeding of a vocal sample to where it sounded as though the singer had inhaled helium. Several producers at the time copied the style, creating other offshoots. West has admitted that his style was distinctly influenced by the RZA's production, RZA has acknowledged his influence in an issue of [[Scratch (magazine)|''Scratch'' magazine]], saying he wished he had produced "Jesus Walks" and "Breathe", two 2004 hits produced by Kanye West and Just Blaze, respectively.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Said by Kanye West:
{{quote|Wu-Tang? Me and my friends talk about this all the time... We think Wu-Tang had one of the biggest impacts as far as a movement. From slang to style of dress, skits, the samples. Similar to the [production] style I use, RZA has been doing that.
Justin On Our Top 10 Hip-Hop Groups - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News]}}
According to himself, RZA tries to have no more than 20-25% sampling on any given record, something starkly different from many other major hip hop groups. He uses "the sampler more like a painter's palette than a [[Xerox]]. Then again, I might use it as a Xerox if I find rare beats that nobody had in their crates yet." He played much of the piano himself, with [[Bill Evans]] and [[Thelonious Monk]] as major influences; for instance, he created the piano part to "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" after watching the Thelonious Monk documentary, ''Straight, No Chaser''.The RZA; Chris Norris (January 2005). The Wu-Tang Manual. New York: Riverhead Freestyle, 243 pages. ISBN 1-59448-018-4
RZA's production technique, specifically the manner of chopping up and/or speeding or slowing soul samples to fit his beats, has been picked up by currently popular producers, most notably [[Kanye West]] and [[Just Blaze]], the two main producers behind [[Roc-A-Fella Records]]. West's own take on RZA's style. Why You Can't Ignore Kanye - TIME] briefly flooded the rap market with what was dubbed "chipmunk soul," the speeding of a vocal sample to where it sounded as though the singer had inhaled helium. Several producers at the time copied the style, creating other offshoots. West has admitted that his style was distinctly influenced by the RZA's production, RZA has acknowledged his influence in an issue of [[Scratch (magazine)|''Scratch'' magazine]], saying he wished he had produced "Jesus Walks" and "Breathe", two 2004 hits produced by Kanye West and Just Blaze, respectively.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Said by Kanye West:
{{quote|Wu-Tang? Me and my friends talk about this all the time... We think Wu-Tang had one of the biggest impacts as far as a movement. From slang to style of dress, skits, the samples. Similar to the [production] style I use, RZA has been doing that.
Justin On Our Top 10 Hip-Hop Groups - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News]}}
VH1 Hip Hop Honors
===VH1 Hip Hop Honors===
Moments before the Clan was set to perform at the 2006 [[Hip Hop Honors]], things turned violent with an altercation involving Oli "Power" Grant and a former associate who was suing the group.
While initial reports stated that Nick Brown was along for the ride and got arrested for possession of cocaine, the group had issues with VH1's security staff, an actual confrontation took place between [[True Master]] and Power in a VIP area of the venue, said Power. "I ain't even gonna glorify that to no type of degree, but the bottom line was, yeah, you know there was a minor little altercation over there," Power said. "I see him and he's in the VIP on the strength of Wu-Tang so I kind of reacted, be it right or wrong...fuck!" The brief altercation between the two men resulted in a tense situation and ended with Power leaving the Hammerstein Ballroom. "I ain't even have to leave. I just stood there and talked for, like five or ten minutes. I made sure the rest of my people was able to stay because I told them, 'look if it was anything then let it be my problem. . Let them go ahead and finish doing what they do.' I walked out the front, girls started taking some snapshots.No charges have been pressed against Oli "Power" Grant or anyone else affiliated with the Clan in relation to this incident.
Moments before the Clan was set to perform at the 2006 [[Hip Hop Honors]], things turned violent with an altercation involving Oli "Power" Grant and a former associate who was suing the group.
While initial reports stated that Nick Brown was along for the ride and got arrested for possession of cocaine, the group had issues with VH1's security staff, an actual confrontation took place between [[True Master]] and Power in a VIP area of the venue, said Power. "I ain't even gonna glorify that to no type of degree, but the bottom line was, yeah, you know there was a minor little altercation over there," Power said. "I see him and he's in the VIP on the strength of Wu-Tang so I kind of reacted, be it right or wrong...fuck!" The brief altercation between the two men resulted in a tense situation and ended with Power leaving the Hammerstein Ballroom. "I ain't even have to leave. I just stood there and talked for, like five or ten minutes. I made sure the rest of my people was able to stay because I told them, 'look if it was anything then let it be my problem. . Let them go ahead and finish doing what they do.' I walked out the front, girls started taking some snapshots.No charges have been pressed against Oli "Power" Grant or anyone else affiliated with the Clan in relation to this incident.
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