RZA and I are thrilled to partner with them on these songs and continue our long standing relationship with Merck.”Įarlier this month, Hipgnosis Songs Fund snapped up the music royalty catalogue of US hip-hop and R&B producer, Ernest ‘Dion’ Wilson, better known as No ID. RZA was represented in the transaction by long-time manager Tyler Childs at Forward Artist Management and attorney Tim Mandelbaum at Fox Rothschild.Ĭhilds added: “Merck and Hipgnosis are true music people through and through. Since that album, they havent missed in my opinion. Wu-Tang Clan is the best thing that ever happened to hip-hop. Thats 20+ years, over 2 decades of legacy. And last time I looked, its now 2014 and you still hear Wu-Tang somewhere almost every day. When combined, RZA’s works – comprising the Wu-Tang Clan and its various affiliated solo projects (RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killer et al), as well as production for other artists including Kanye West – have more than three billion streams worldwide. Wu-Tang brought a new brand to the hip-hop revolution with 36 Chambers. I’m honoured to partner up with Merck and the Hipgnosis team to usher my songs into an exciting future.” Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released on November 9, 1993, by Loud Records.Recording sessions took place during late 1992 to early 1993 at Firehouse Studio in New York City, and the album was produced by the group's de facto leader RZA. Before the message even has a chance to sink in, Raekwon the Chef comes in with a story about the extreme ri. But is the song just a simple justification for ruthless capitalism Hardly. RZA added: “I wear various hats in my artistic expressions but the one that has been so deeply reflective of my life’s journey is my songwriting. Answer (1 of 3): Cash Rules Everything Around Me, says the Method Man. He is now globally recognized as a true renaissance man of Hip Hop and most would argue that he is the goat.” They were and are the most authentic band and brand in Hip Hop and it all starts with RZA’s vision, his songs and his struggle, manifested in music, that could show the entire world what was really going on. Speaking about the deal, Merck Mercuriadis, founder of Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited and The Family (Music) Limited, said: “RZA and the Wu Tang Clan did not invent hip-hop but they took it from being fun to something that represented a true reflection of what the streets, and being black in America was really like. Still, the Clan were steering cultural conversations two decades after their formation, but it shouldn't come as a surprise-Wu-Tang is forever.Hipgnosis has today (August 24) announced it has acquired 50% of the copyright interest and writers share in the song catalogue of Wu-Tang Clan legend Robert ‘RZA’ Diggs.Īn official press release stated: “Hipgnosis has acquired 50% of RZA’s worldwide copyrights, including publishing and writer share, in his catalogue comprising 814 songs.” I recently sat down with Sophia Chang to talk about the making of the book, her relationship with Chris Lighty, and imagining Wu-Tang Clans C.R.E.A.M. During an era when the industry struggled to decide music’s monetary value, Wu-Tang Clan created 2015’s secretly recorded Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, a single-copy album that was auctioned off for $2 million.
The group continued to release albums through the 2000s, but internal turmoil and the death of ODB in 2004 spaced their collective efforts further apart. From there, Wu-Tang Clan added various affiliate members and were among the first hip-hop acts to have their own clothing company and video game. That freedom set the stage for 1997’s sprawling double-disc Wu-Tang Forever. Their 1993 debut album, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), made them instant luminaries, with electrifying lo-fi singles like “C.R.E.A.M.” and “Protect Ya Neck.” Under a unique contract deal with Loud Records, the Clan recorded as a group while unleashing solo projects like Method Man’s Tical, GZA’s Liquid Swords, Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, and Ghostface Killah’s Ironman. Wu-Tang Clan Song list A Better Tomorrow (2014) C.R.E.A.M. Despite each rapper’s distinct personality, tone, and skill set, they melded under RZA’s leadership and ominous production. In 1992, nine MCs-RZA, GZA, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa-assembled in Staten Island, bonding over street life, Five-Percent Nation teachings, and foreign martial arts films.
Wu-Tang Clan aren’t just one of the most influential rap groups of all time-they’re a belief system: Their unconventional blend of Ginsu-sharp lyricism, Asian culture, and undying brotherhood attracted a worldwide following that worships at their feet.