Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its original members include RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. Close affiliate Cappadonna later became an official member. Wu-Tang Clan are regarded as a highly influential group in hip hop, helping to popularize and develop the East Coast hip hop and hardcore hip hop styles.
Corey Woods, better known by his stage name Raekwon The Chef, or simply Raekwon, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which achieved mainstream success following the release of their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang , in 1993. Raekwon would subsequently pursue a solo career, releasing his first solo album, entitled Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., in 1995. The album received critical acclaim, and is regarded by many critics as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, as well as a staple of 1990s rap.
Dennis Coles, better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success. Ghostface Killah debuted his solo career with Ironman, which was well received by music critics, in 1996. He has enjoyed continued success in the years that have followed, releasing critically acclaimed albums such as Supreme Clientele (2000) and Fishscale (2006). His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film Mystery of Chessboxing. He is the founder of his own record label, Starks Enterprises.
Enter the Wu-Tang is the debut studio album by American rap 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. Its title originates from the martial arts films Enter the Dragon (1973) and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978).
Jason Richard Hunter, better known by his stage name Inspectah Deck, is an American rapper, producer, and actor. He is a member of the groups Wu-Tang Clan and Czarface.
Iron Flag is the fourth studio album by American East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, released on December 18, 2001 on Loud Records. It was certified gold in sales by the RIAA. Iron Flag served as the group's second lowest-selling album, as their record label, Loud, was on the verge of shutting down at the time. The album debuted at No. 32 on the Billboard 200 with 153,000 copies sold in its first week of release. It has sold 500,000 copies in the United States, and certified Gold by the RIAA on January 29, 2002. Rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard is completely absent from the album.
Terrance Hamlin, better known as 9th Prince, is an American rapper and one of the founding members of rap group Killarmy. He was initially responsible for bringing the various members together, under the guide of his brother. He released his solo debut album Granddaddy Flow in 2003. He is the younger brother of RZA. He went by the alias Madman & Iron Fingers, especially in his early recordings. 9th Prince gets his name from the kung-fu movie Shaolin Prince. He has pushed hard for a reunion album with his group, and helped to release a 'greatest hits' album.
Ronald Maurice Bean, better known professionally as Mathematics, is a hip hop producer and DJ for the Wu-Tang Clan and its solo and affiliate projects. He designed the Wu-Tang Clan logo.
Islord is a rapper and a member of the hip hop group Killarmy. Islord was named Rodney Stevenson at birth, but he, as all members of Killarmy, is a Five Percenter, and, thus, changed his name to Islord. The first three letters of his name: I, S, L, are also the first three letters of "Islam"; in the Five Percent way of life, "Islam" does not represent the religion but "I.S.L.A.M." which is often represented as "I Self Lord And Master." The name Islord is a reiteration of the rapper's assertion of his divinity: "I Self Lord," and a fusion of the terms "Islam" and "lord." Islord is also known as the "Thief of Baghdad." In addition to appearing on Killarmy's albums, Islord appears on two tracks from Bobby Digital in Stereo and the song "Holy Water" from Dom Pachino's Unreleased solo album.
Royal Fam is an American hardcore hip hop group affiliated with Wu-Tang Clan. Timbo King is the leader and founding member of the group and Y-Kim The Ill Figure is their main producer. Other group members are Mighty Jarrett, Dark Denim, Dreddy Kruger and Sharecka (Stoneface).
Bronze Nazareth is a hip hop music producer and emcee associated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He has a solo career as an emcee and is also a part of the hip-hop group Wisemen along with his brother Kevlaar 7.
Dirty Weaponry is the second studio album by American hip hop group Killarmy. It was released on August 11, 1998 through Wu-Tang/Priority Records. Production was mainly handled by member 4th Disciple, except for two tracks that were produced by Allah Mathematics and a track produced by Russ Prez, with the RZA serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Black Knights member the Holocaust. The album peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200 and number 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.
Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Killarmy. It was released on August 5, 1997 through Wu-Tang/Priority Records. Recording sessions took place at 36 Chambers Studio in Manhattan and 4th Chamber Studio in Stuebenville. Production was mainly handled by member 4th Disciple, except for two tracks that were produced by the RZA, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Hell Razah, Masta Killa, Prodigal Sunn and Streetlife. The album peaked at number 34 on the Billboard 200 and number 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. The album features the singles "Camouflage Ninjas" b/w "Wake Up" and "Wu-Renegades" b/w "Clash of the Titans".
Oliver "Power" Grant is an American entrepreneur, producer, streetwear clothing mogul and actor. As a close associate of the hip-hop group, Wu-Tang Clan, Grant executive produced all of the Wu-Tang Clan albums. He is the original founder and CEO of the Wu Wear clothing line and stores.
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name the RZA, is an American rapper, actor, filmmaker, and record producer. He is the de facto leader of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, having produced most albums for the group and its respective members. He is a cousin of two other original Wu-Tang Clan members: GZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard. He has also released solo albums under the alter-ego Bobby Digital, along with executive producing credits for side projects. After forming the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA was a founding member of the horrorcore group Gravediggaz, where he went by the name The RZArector.
Once Upon a Time in Shaolin is the seventh studio album by the American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. It was limited to a single copy sold in 2015, and is the most expensive work of music ever sold.
Gary Eldridge Grice, better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American rapper and songwriter. A founding member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, GZA is the group's "spiritual head", being both the first member in the group to receive a record deal and being the oldest member. He has appeared on his fellow Wu-Tang members' solo projects, and has maintained a successful solo career starting with Liquid Swords (1995).
Digi Snacks is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper and producer RZA; the third album under his Bobby Digital alias. Continuing the story from Digital Bullet, the album was released on June 24, 2008 on Koch Records. The album was originally titled Digi Snax, but it was changed before release.
The Stapleton Houses are a housing project in the Stapleton neighborhood of Staten Island, New York City. The project consists of six 8-story buildings with 693 apartment units. It covers 16.87 acres (6.83 ha) and is bordered by Tompkins Avenue, and Broad, Hill, Warren and Gordon Streets. It is owned and managed by New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and is the largest NYCHA development in Staten Island.
