Robert Diggs aka The RZA and head of the Wu-Tang Clan developed a strategy that would give launch to the group's rising stardom. The strategy is referred to as "The 5 Year Plan". It included the 1st 5 solo albums and 2 group albums (the 2nd being a double album) the majority of which were produced by the RZA.
"I used the bus as an analogy, I want all of y'all to get on this bus. And be passengers. And I'm the driver. And nobody can ask me where we going. I'm taking us to No. 1. Give me five years, and I promise that I'll get us there." -RZA
This print I created is packed with a number of details too numerous to explain in person and pretty intricate for even the the biggest WU-Nerds, so here is a walk through describing each element in my print and what it means.
1. Ol' Dirty Bastard's debut album "Return To The 36 Chambers- The Dirty Version" was the second solo release from a clan member. This version of ODB is based off of end segment from the video for "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta Fuck Wit", where he performed a snippet of "Shame On A Nigga". I'm not 100% sure about this, but it looks like True Master is the dude standing to left of him in the video. Can any Wu-Nerds confirm this? |
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2. Buddha Monk and Popa Wu were 2 of ODB's closest friends within the Clan family. Buddha Monk performs a verse on "Proteck Ya Neck II the Zoo" along with other members of ODB's group "The Brooklyn Zu" and members of "Sunz of Man". |
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3. Method Man's "Tical" was the first Wu-Tang Clan solo release and "Bring The Pain" was the lead single and video for the album. This version of Meth is based off of that video where he is riding public transit and wearing the 1 white contact lens. |
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4. Raekwon The Chef's "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx" was the third solo release from the Clan. The album is also known as "The Purple Tape" for it's color, a reference to Rae marking his product in the dope game. Raekwon is depicted in the Polo "Snow Beach" jacket he popularized by wearing in the video for "Can It Be So Simple". |
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5. Ghostface Killah's "Ironman" was the 5th solo release from the Clan. Cappadonna who had just rejoined the Clan after returning from prison featured heavily. He's wearing a Montreal Canadiens jersey as seen in the "Ice Cream" video. GFK's eagle bracelet is one of the few elements of this print that goes outside the 5 year plan ("Bulletproof Wallets" era). I decided to include it since ITZ THA GHOST-FACE KILLAH!!! |
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6. Killah Priest from Wu offshoot group "Sunz of Man" sits in a throne inspired by the video for "4th Chamber" Oli "Power" Grant is executive producer of all Clan albums from this time and is the founder of Wu-Wear. He is also the older brother of Killa Sin, stand out MC from Wu offshoot group "Killarmy". |
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7. The GZA's "Liquid Swords" was the 4th solo album released by the Clan.
The yellow line on the chess board represents my favorite GZA line; "The Land of the Lost, notorious henchman from the North. Striking niggas where the Mason-Dixon line cross"
Clan members U-God and Masta Killa (his greatest chess rival within the Clan) both featured on the album. |
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8. Inspektah Deck's original version of "Uncontrolled Substance" was notoriously destroyed by a basement flood at RZA's apartment while the clan was on tour. (See the water coming in under the wall). INS said he tried data recovery services for years and finally had to call it. The piece of paper to his right has some of the original track titles he lost with the album. |
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9. RZA's older brother and CEO of the Wu-Tang Corporation, Mitchell "Divine" Diggs. | |
10. (A) Graffiti on the staircase from "C.R.E.A.M." video. (B) Clark Wallabee; Blue with cream on top. See "Glaciers of Ice" for reference. (C) Honeycomb pattern symbolic of "Wu-Tang Killa Beez". (D) "As Long As I Got You" by the Charmels on 45. Sampled on "C.R.E.A.M." (E) "Blind Alley" by the Emotions. Sampled on "Verbal Intercourse." (F) "Is It Because I'm Black" by Syl Johnson. Sampled on "Hollow Bones." Syl was sampled numerous times by the RZA and calls his Chicago home "The house that Wu built". |
(G) "Black and Tan Fantasy" by Thelonious Monk. Sampled on "Shame On A Nigga." (H) "The Underdog Theme" by W. Watts Biggers. Sampled on "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta Fuck Wit" |
11. (A) Movies sampled by the RZA including; Shaolin and Wutang, The Killer, Shaolin VS. Lama, Shogun Assassin, Holy Robe of the Shaolin Temple, The Education of Sonny Carson, 5 Deadly Venoms.(B) John Woo's "The Killer" sampled extensively on OB4CL. (C) Staten Island Ferry. (D) Stapleton Houses building 218 where a young Ghostface lived.(E) Roland SBX-80 Sync Box | |
12. (A) The RZA (B) Map of Staten Island (C) Ensoniq ASR-10 (D) Park Hill Apartments aka Killah hills 10304, home to a young Raekwon and Method Man (E) "A Time For Love" by Earl Klugh. Sampled on "Ice Cream." (F) The infamous basement flood that destroyed the majority of early Wu-Tang recordings. (G) 5 Deadly Venoms poster. | |
13. (A) 234 Morningstar Road in Staten Island, home of the original Wu-tang Records.
(B) The "Can It Be So Simple" wall in Staten Island. (C) Ice Cream truck from the video. |
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14. (A) Shaolin and Wutang poster. (B) Flyer for "Cultural Vibes" college radio station from Michigan State University hosted by Jason Staton whose interview segments appeared on "Enter The 36 Chambers". (C) Master Killer aka 36th Chamber of Shaolin poster. |
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15. (DELUXE VERSION ONLY) The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is a suspension bridge connecting the New York City boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn. The GZA would famously battle MC's on the Staten Island Ferry when traveling.
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