From the moment they stepped on to the scene, their impact was felt. This crew that "formed like Voltron" changed the shape of Hip-Hop collaboratives and set the precedent for a large variety of trends seen in the industry up to present day. This 3-part series will explore the Shaolin collective's influence on the Music, the Business, and the Culture of Hip-Hop, then and now.

PART 1: The Music

"You Cocker Spaniel Dogs, can't f**k with our catalogues"

With obscure verbal samples from old Kung Fu flicks and Soul music, The RZA architected a production style so unique and original that the Wu-Tang musical dynasty was able to sustain well into the new millennium. With 4 Wu-Tang Clan albums, over 20 solo projects, and numerous Clan affiliates like Cappadonna, Sunz of Man, and Killarmy, the imprint on popular music left by the Wu is undeniable.

Through this extensive catalogue along with an abundance of greatest hits and remix releases (Wu Chronicles, The Swarm, and Disciples of the 36 Chambers, to name a few) these pioneers of the modern rap "Supergroup" introduced a unique sound and style that can still be heard in Hip-Hop to this day. Nowadays, you're likely to hear music with off-speed soul samples from a wide variety of artists and producers such as Kanye West, Just Blaze, or the Dipset, but 10 years ago that was the signature sound of one crew: The Wu-Tang Clan.

La Cosa Nostra

Today, much of popular Hip-Hop music is infatuated with references to the mafia, drug kingpins, and other forms of organized crime. Although the 90's were peppered with rappers referencing the crime life, none had quite the impact as Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. The "purple tape," as it was fondly called, was released in 1995 to much anticipation. The album became an instant classic and in doing so accelerated the adoption of Mafioso monikers and themes in Hip-Hop.

With the use of names like "Lou Diamond" and "Bobby Steels" along with track titles such as "Wu-Gambinos" and "Criminology," the trend for MC's using aliases based on mafia figures and high profile criminals became more popular and frequent than ever before. Even further, the entire theme of the "Cuban Linx" album was based around the life of drug trafficking as told through the commentary of the Wu-Tang's dynamic duo of Raekwon the Chef and the Ghostface Killah. From then up until now there are many artists whose monikers directly reference celebrities of crime, which help to continue the trend that was so well popularized by this Wu release.

Although there were notable stylistic predecessors to organized crime and drug-related narratives, the tag team approach by Rae and Ghost coupled with the universal appeal of the Wu-Tang Clan helped cause a shift in the content matter of Hip-Hop music. The mafia, organized crime syndicates, and criminal operations have become some of the most dominant themes for rappers to personify. Not to say that Raekwon and the Wu addressed only these themes in their music, but when they did, Hip-Hop listened.

"Like Method and Mary… or Marvin and Tammy"

After Method Man released his first solo album Tical in 1994, he teamed up with Mary J. Blige to create a remix for "All I need" using lyrics from the 1968 Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell song "You're All I Need To Get By". The single soon became the summer hit of 1995 and won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Prior to the success of this collaboration, MC's would most commonly appear on the remix of an R&B singer's hit single. Once "All I Need" had proven how potent the R&B/Hip-Hop combination could be, artists from both genres would go on to make original tracks together that could provide a boost in record sales as well as "cross-over" exposure into alternative markets.

This project created a well defined blueprint to follow because it so successfully applied Meth's gritty and hardcore style to a love story that wouldn't only be appealing to the ladies, but was also "street" enough to be overwhelmingly accepted by the guys. At a time when lyrics were commonly geared towards hard living, fast money, and survival, "All I Need" provided something different. And although the song dealt with a more uncommon subject matter, the lyrical stylings and rugged, unpolished production were unequivocally Wu-Tang.

Throughout recent years the industry has seen numerous instances where Hip-Hop and R&B collide to create hit songs, see singers inducted to rap groups, and witness the creation of full-length collaboration albums. Joint projects by Rappers and R&B artists have become an industry staple, and what were once remixes created after an album was released have now become lead singles.

Stay tuned for the next installment of The Wu-Tang Effect, PART 2: The Business.

"The Wu-Tang Effect" 3-part Series written for MajorConnexx, LLC by Will D. Simmons.

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