The eight remaining members of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan performed last Sundasy at the Sonar Lounge on the Baltimore leg of their "Return to the 36 Chambers O.D.B. Tribute Reunion Tour." The group pioneered their own style of hip-hop through common interest in Wu-Tang Kung Fu movies, from which many of their names, song and album titles, and concepts derive. Their 1993 debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) has long been heralded as a hip-hop classic. Since then, the group has released numerous group and solo albums. Their huge following has generated many side groups or "Wu-Affiliates", who have also released projects.
As their first group tour in over ten years, it was surprising that the concert was not sold out like its follow-up in D.C. Bad weather did not inhibit the event, since listeners still attended in great numbers. By 11 pm, as a wall of fans booed off the opening acts and chanted, "Wu-Tang! Wu-Tang!" in unison, the group slowly entered the stage. Entering individually, each member was welcomed by one of their solo hits. While the stage began to fill, fans were ecstatic upon the later arrival of members, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, RZA and Method Man. The performance started with RZA's disappointing single from his Birth of a Prince album, "We Pop We Roll." The song differs from the typical gritty, martial arts-influenced Wu style as more of a bland, mainstream club banger, a true anomaly in RZA's expansive catalogue.
Next up, Raekwon performed the hit from his classic album Only Built for Cuban Linx, "Incarcerated Scarfaces," followed by "Criminology" alongside frequent collaborator Ghostface. Even though it was early in the show, the Clan proved they could easily influence the crowd, as plenty of energy was exchanged between the stage and the floor. Following Raekwon's classics, the Wu performed the hard hitting "Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin Ta F* Wit," one of many hits off their debut album. Method Man, definitely the most popular and energetic on stage performed the single "Method Man," his first solo track, also off the Clan's debut album. Other songs in this part of the concert included "One Blood Under W," the reggae influenced hit off 2000's The W album and "Shadowboxing," a collaboration effort off of GZA's 1995 hit debut album, Liquid Swords.
As the Wu took a short break from their energetic performances, member Ghostface Killah took an opportunity to speak on the current state of hip-hop. He claimed that today's mainstream hip-hop is bland and lacks originality. He argued that it was in a low position because of the overflow of generic and uniform songs. To provide an example, he played D4L's hit club banger, "Laffy Taffy" and asked the crowd, "What is this? You call this music? What's sad is that you all might be here now, but as soon as you leave you'll go back listening to this crap." Ghostface said that the only way hip-hop will get any better is if the masses stop falling for these wack club bangers that lack musicianship and pay homage to more original artists. I couldn't agree more.
The Clan performed perhaps one of the most respected songs in hip hop, the hit single off their 1993 debut album, "C.R.E.A.M." After the collaboration "4th Chamber" another track off of GZA's 1995 debut album, the crew began their tribute to the late O.D.B. Wearing a t-shirt around his waist reading "R.I.P. O.D.B.," RZA held it up to the crowd. Surprisingly, he said that he did not bring the shirt, but that some fans made it for him. The Clan continued their tribute to fallen member O.D.B. by performing two of his classic hits, "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" and "Brooklyn Zoo."
Although claiming that their time on stage was done, the group continued to perform continuous hits including Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers) hits "Tears (After the Laughter)," "Da Mystery of Chessboxing" and "Shame on a Nigga," in addition to "Bring the Pain" off of Method Man's 1994 debut album Tical.
To conclude the show, the Wu performed their most anticipated single, off of 1997's Wu-Tang Forever double disc album, "Triumph." With the audience jumping and waving their hands in rhythm, and Method Man crowd surfing the sea of fans, the Clan successfully closed out their memorable show.
