Enter the Wu‐Tang (36 Chambers)

Good, but for me, not as amazing as many put it out to be. That's mostly due to how uneven it sounds. The first half is blurry, with only the opener and maaaybe Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber that go hard, and then you have the second half from 6-11 which are a collection of songs that put to shame most rappers careers. Because of that disparity of quality, I find it hard to love the album, but easy to like it.

"I got fat bags of skunk; I got White Owl blunts. And I'm about to go get lifted. Yes, I'm about to go get lifted. I got myself a forty; I got myself a shorty. And I'm about to go and stick it. Yes, I'm about to go and stick it..."

Shakespeare couldn't have said it better

I get that it's important, a seminal influence on hip-hop. I get that it's inventive and creative.

What I don't get is a need to ever listen to it again. As they say, "Not for me:

I tried, really I did, because I know this album is often regarded as a hip hop classic, and whilst I can recognise that, I just don't like it or indeed the genre.

5/5. I mean this is widely regarded as one of the best hip-hop albums for a reason, it’s just that good. Each member of the Wu-tang clan brings their all here in terms of flow and delivery. I’m also just a sucker for that 90’s east-coast style of production, and RZA’s production on this thing is fantastic. You of course have that iconic piano loop of “C.R.E.A.M.” But so many other tracks like “Method Man” or “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’” also have a great punch to them. Only downside to this album is that it’s so good that every future Wu tang album felt lesser in comparison (though some of the members solo albums at least get close.)

Some listens. Fire. A pillar of the golden age of hip hop. The skits don’t age well.

So glad to have finally listened to them after hearing about them, even references in movies and such, for a long time.

5
If somebody says "best hip hop album ever" its this and Illmatic that come straight to mind. Protect Ya Neck is one of the best rap songs ever

Meh, it was clearly skillful, but it didn't do much for me.

It's funny how slang evolves over the years. Now that "fuck with" can mean "enjoy", Wu-Tang Clan is definitely something to fuck with.

'However, I master the trick just like Nixon.' I firmly believe that Illmatic is the perfection of the hip-hop idiom. W/ this said, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is the greatest hip-hop record of all time b/c it's somehow so hip-hop that it's virtually something else entirely. In other words, the clan penetrates so deep into the mythos of rap music that it comes out on the other side, & things look hazy, bizarre, dirty, & delectably hardcore. I love, LOVE, the rapping on this thing - every member, including U-God, delivers a classic verse - but what takes it to the next level, a level that hasn't been reached since, is RZA's impossibly virtuosic production, an amalgam of the oldest school of hip-hop wisdom & futuristic flavors that defy all definition.

Really interesting. The best hip hop beats of all time for me. Love it.

Close to a 10. Just such as consistent cool style throughout the record. Not to mention how influential it is on rap in general

I liked the start of this album, but then that torture skit was absolutely horrible. I should really give this a 1.

I had not listened to Wu-Tang Clan before starting this project, and I don't think I missed much. Maybe the reason why they have so much skits and other unnecessary bullshit is because the music itself isn't that good.

Not really my jam

Probably a peak in terms of early 90s rap. RZAs production and samples usage is unique and still stands up. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.

I really love the atmosphere, production, and theme of this album. Really fun to listen to and shows you what rap music can be. These guys were all so young it’s crazy. I like ODB’s funny voice

Bombastic and loud. This shit goes so fucking hard. No one did it like the clan.

A masterpiece.