Wu-Tang Clan Archives - RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture

The Family of Ol’ Dirty Bastard & The Hip Hop Foundation Team Up for ODB’s 50th Birthday

Robbie Lee — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 15:16:15 +0000

Russell Tyrone Jones — better known as Ol’ Dirty Bastard — left this earth in 2004, but his legacy lives on with family, friends and anyone who loves the Wu-Tang Clan. The Hip-Hop Foundation and the family of Ol’ Dirty Bastard came together to celebrate the late rapper’s legacy within Hip-Hop, and through hail, sleet, and snow, New Yorkers packed the The Roulette to be apart of this special celebration.

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Painting of Ol’Dirty Bastard at the ODB Birthday event in Brooklyn with children @metaphysics91 @taniquajones404 @youngdirtybastardofficial Photo: @freshpixxphotography

A post shared by OL’ DIRTY BASTARD (@oldirtybastardlegacy) on Nov 17, 2018 at 4:29pm PST

Fort Greene, Brooklyn is the birthplace of ODB, so it only felt right that this special 50th birthday celebration would be held in the rapper’s home borough. The Roulette art space entertained a sold-out crowd of people that loved ODB for his artsy and — most of all — his aura that continues to live on.

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A post shared by youngdirtybastardofficial (@youngdirtybastardofficial) on Oct 15, 2018 at 8:47am PDT

The son of ODB, Young Dirty Bastard, quickly became a true standout throughout the night as he was joined by various members of Wu-Tang, DJ Evil Dee, Mathematics, Busta Rhymes, Hakim Green and many other talented artists throughout the night. Some of the most powerful moments during this celebration would have to be seeing YDB as the pure embodiment of his father, carrying on the legacy through his performing. In addition, heartfelt speeches from the family of the late rapper touched everyone in attendance; the Shinnecock native tribal dance performance was amazing.

Father, brother, uncle and friend ODB filled the room, and it was obvious that his legacy is here and alive.

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ICYMI: Wu-Tang Clan Perform on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’

Jon Powell — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 15:23:44 +0000

Pretty amazing. Over the weekend, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was in Brooklyn and — in lieu of Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) — brought on the legendary Wu-Tang Clan (including ODB‘s son Young Dirty Bastard) for a rousing performance of “Protect Ya Neck” and “C.R.E.A.M.” Check out what went down below.

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Redman and Inspectah Deck Join Forces for “Lesson Learn’d” Visual

Jon Powell — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 16:59:52 +0000

Wu-Tang Clan‘s latest “album” The Saga Continues (done with Mathematics) lives up to its name with a new visual for 2018. Above lies their latest clip for “Lesson Learn’d,” which sees Redman and Inspectah Deck (with Method Man tagging along) in the middle of a lighthearted robbery…and then things get better from there.

If you haven’t already, stream/download The Saga Continues here.

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Method Man Represents Wu-Tang in “If Time Is Money/Hood Go Bang!” Visual

Jon Powell — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 16:59:49 +0000

The legendary Wu-Tang Clan continue their rollout following the release of the Mathematics-assisted album The Saga Continues. Following the visual for “People Say,” standout member Method Man takes center stage in the (double) visual for “If Time Is Money (Fly Navigation)/The Hood Go Bang” (the latter of which features longtime Meth compadre Redman). The clip sees the Tical emcee performing in his own environment while other Wu members makes cameos.

Check out the full clip above and pick up The Saga Continues. In related news, Method Man recently traded some fire bars with The Roots‘ Black Thought on Sway In The Morning…if you missed that, you can enjoy it here.

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The Wu-Tang Clan Deliver New Visual for “People Say” [WATCH]

Jon Powell — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 01:03:48 +0000

The legendary Wu-Tang Clan are preparing to release their eighth studio album (counting the multi-million dollar Once Upon A Time In Shaolin) The Saga Continues, which is set to see all the living members alongside the likes of Chris Rivers, Killa Priest, Sean Price (RIP), R-Mean and more. First, the collective delivers the Navegante-directed visual for “People Say,” which also features Redman. The clip seems to refer to Shaolin and it’s journey — the goal is to keep a Wu-encrusted box and the valuable product contained within out of the wrong hands.

You can enjoy “People Say” (produced by Mathematics) above and check out the full tracklisting for The Saga Continues below. Respect to the late, great ODB.

WU-TANG CLAN – WU-TANG: THE SAGA CONTINUES (TRACKLISTING):
1. “Wu-Tang the Saga Continues Intro” feat. RZA
2. “Lesson Learn’d” Feat. Inspektah Deck and Redman
3. “Fast and Furious” Feat. Hue Hef and Raekwon
4. “Famous Fighters” (Skit)
5. “If Time is Money (Fly Navigation)” Feat. Method Man
6. “Frozen” Feat. Method Man, Killa Priest, and Chris Rivers
7. “Berto and the Fiend” (Skit) Feat. Ghostface Killah
8. “Pearl Harbor” Feat. Ghostface Killah, Method Man, RZA, and Sean Price
9. “People Say” Feat. Wu-Tang Clan and Redman
10. “Family” (Skit)
11. “Why Why Why” Feat. RZA and Swnkah
12. “G’d Up” Feat. Method Man, R-Mean, and Mzee Jones
13. “If What You Say is True” Feat. Wu-Tang Clan and Streetlife
14. “Saga” (Skit) feat. RZA
15. “Hood Go Bang!” Feat. Redman, Method Man
16. “My Only One” Feat. Ghostface Killah, RZA, Cappadonna, and Steven Latorre
17. “Message”
18. “The Saga Continues Outro” Feat. RZA

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Scoop B Selects: Former Wu-Tang Clan Booking Agent, Chris McKee To Release Book Chronicling Life On The Road

Brandon Robinson — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 19:27:10 +0000

Wu-Tang Clan. Photo Credit: Hip Hop Golden Age

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Wu-Tang Clan. Photo Credit: Hip Hop Golden Age

Being aroung RZA, GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, UGod, Masta Killa and Cappadonna has its perks and life lessons. Just ask Chris McKee.

McKee has been a booking agent for 20 years and has represented some of the biggest names in music. His soon to be released book focuses on his time as the booking agent and tour manager for one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all-time; The Wu-Tang Clan.

A Staten Island hip-hop group, since 1992, The Wu-Tang Clan has released seven gold and platinum albums with worldwide sales of more than 40 million. Their 1993 debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), is considered to be one of the greatest albums in hip-hop history.

Rolling Stone Magazine called Wu-Tang Clan “the best rap group ever.”

There are very few outsiders who have been allowed access into the world of the Wu-Tang Clan until now.

McKee worked with various members of the Wu-Tang for over 10 years and is ready to let people see what really goes on behind the curtain while on tour with members of the Wu-Tang Clan.

The book is both a window into the world of the Wu-Tang Clan as well as a teaching tool to understanding the ins and outs of the music business. The book will feature stories about sex, drugs, rock n’ roll (or hip-hop) and murder.

McKee has released excerpts from his book which include the story of how of how a concert promoter (Matt ‘Dutch’ Garner) who was involved with producing a concert for Ghostface Killah in Montreal was murdered a week before the show.

“The thing about Montreal is that the line is blurred between certain parts of the entertainment industry and criminals and gangsters; more so than any other city in Canada. In Montreal you have to tread very carefully when you go about your business if you want to stay out of trouble.

I guess Dutch missed that memo.

Dutch was murdered two weeks before the Ghostface show in Montreal.

According to various news reports, assailants broke into his apartment on St. Henri and taped Dutch and an associate to their chairs and set to the two of them on fire. Dutch was found dead in his apartment on the chair but the second victim had tried to escape and made his way down a flight of stairs onto the street while still ablaze where he eventually succumb to his injuries and died on a neighboring lawn.

Chris McKee. Photo Credit: Herosports

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Chris McKee. Photo Credit: Herosports

They have yet to arrest any suspects in the murder and the case remains open.”

The book also features a window into the absurdity of having to do business with various members of Wu-Tang. McKee tells the story of a breakfast meeting with Ghostface in Montreal the morning after a concert.

“Before our breakfast meeting ended, Ghost had one other interesting request to ask of me.

He said, “Don’t be putting me in any more hotels with French TV channels.”

He continued, “I was trying to watch some TV last night and relax and whatever and every channel was in French.”

Ghostface added, “I can’t have that in any of these other cities, so no more hotels with these French TVs.”

I stared back blank not knowing how to answer.

The thought occurred to me that this was a man who has travelled the world over at least a dozen times. He has performed concerts as Ghostface and as a member of the Wu-Tang Clan on probably every continent on the planet. Yet he hasn’t figured out that when you’re in a city or country that speaks a different language that it is highly likely that the TV channels will probably be in that very same language. “

The yet to be titled book is set to be released in early 2018.

Some of the artists that McKee has produced concerts for include: Rihanna, Black Eyed Peas, The Roots, Akon, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent and G-Unit, Slaughterhouse, Flo-Rida, D12 and hundreds more.

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J Cole Scores Another Win For Hip-Hop

Olga Barker — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 19:39:30 +0000

It’s another win for J. Cole. His fourth album, 4 Your Eyez Only is now certified platinum and Instagram is on fire as users acknowledge the Dreamville emcee’s success. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, the LP went certified platinum on Friday, four months after its release. This just in a week before the debut of the 4 Your Eyez Only film via HBO on April 15th.

This is the second time Cole’s put out an LP with no features, no catchy hooks, or catchy beats, and went platinum. But this is the first time a hip-hop artist has had two consecutive albums go platinum without those things label executives would say is key to selling records.

Now, whether Cole is the best emcee of his new school class is still up for debate given some critics would say, Drake, Joey Bada$$ and Kendrick Lamar are more gifted on the mic.

However, it’s safe to say Cole is a primary leader of his new school class. For one, he’s exercised his ability as an innovative tastemaker. Two, he said he would raise the bar high on 2014 Forest Hills Drive track “January 28th” and did it.

“This is New York’s finest for 11 winters straight I took on New York’s climate/Like show me New York’s ladder I climb it and set the bar so high that you gotta get Obama to force the air force to find it/Never mind it, you’ll never reach that; Cole is the hypnotist control the game whenever he snap”

Now, let’s backtrack a bit. Cole released 2014 Forest Hills Drive on December 9th, 2014. On the LP, you don’t hear any features, catchy beats, or hooks. All you hear is Cole reminiscing about good times and talking about his annoyance with the buffoonery in hip-hop culture. No gimmicks incorporated. He didn’t even promote the album before its release, and it worked.

By October 19, 2016, the album went double platinum making it the first hip-hop album with no features to surpass $1 million in record sales in 20 plus years.

Various reports cited Vanilla Ice‘s 1990 To The Extreme LP as the last hip-hop album with no features to achieve such success. But let’s not forget Wu-Tang Clan did the same thing in 1993 with Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).

For a hip-hop album to have achieved platinum success the way it did for the fifth time in history was a proud moment in hip-hop culture. So for Cole to do that again from a more introspective standpoint and sell a million records marks a phenomenal milestone in hip-hop.

This solidifies Cole as a major player and a true contributor to the game. But what does this mean for hip-hop going forward?

Should more rappers lean more towards innovation instead of riding a wave? Should more rappers use the classic elements of hip-hop as a blueprint for making albums? Or will we have to watch what Kendrick’s album does before we answer that question?

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