"Protect Ya Neck" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Wu-Tang Clan | ||||
from the album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | ||||
B-side | "After the Laughter Comes Tears" "Method Man" (reissue) | |||
Released | December 14, 1992 [1] | |||
Recorded | 1992 | |||
Genre | Hardcore hip hop | |||
Length | 4:37 5:01 (Original, uncensored aka the Bloody Version) | |||
Label |
| |||
Songwriter(s) | Wu-Tang Clan | |||
Producer(s) | RZA | |||
Wu-Tang Clan singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Audio sample | ||||
Protect Ya Neck | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Protect Ya Neck" on YouTube |
"Protect Ya Neck" is the debut single by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan,originally released on December 14,1992,through Wu-Tang Records and later re-released May 3,1993 through Loud Records. The song appears on the group's debut studio album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) . It was produced by RZA and features eight of the original nine Wu-Tang members.
"Protect Ya Neck",along with "Tearz",were the first tracks recorded by the Wu-Tang Clan,released independently by the group as a 12-inch single in 1992. [2] "Protect Ya Neck" is a free-associative and braggadocious battle rap and was the first Wu-Tang song bringing together the original four members and four others (excluding Masta Killa,who had not yet joined). The single was originally released by Wu-Tang Records backed with the B-side "After the Laughter Comes Tears". After it created an underground buzz,Wu-Tang Clan signed with Loud Records and re-released it in 1993,with "Method Man" as the B-side,which sold 10,000 copies. [2]
The album version of the song (even explicit versions of the album) is edited to scratch out all profanity,save for use of the word "nigga". The song was originally recorded over a different beat and the verses in a different order before producer RZA decided to rearrange them and change the beat. The person who calls into a radio station at the start of the song was from an interview Wu-Tang Clan did on Washington,D.C. radio station WPGC. Different segments of the same interview are placed at different parts of their first album,Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). [3]
Rapper Grand Daddy I.U. noted the swipe that GZA took at him on the song. Prior to the formation of the Wu-Tang Clan,GZA was originally known as The Genius –who,along with Grand Daddy I.U. –was signed to Cold Chillin' Records. GZA's verse was directed at his former label for lack of promotion over his debut Words from the Genius in favor of the former's debut album Smooth Assassin . Aside from the swipes at his former label,GZA also took a few swipes at I.U.,to which I.U. discussed in 2006:
I was wearing the suit and tie shit back then on some old time gangster shit. He had that other shit like,‘Girl come do me.’I guess they wasn’t feeling that shit so they chose to push me harder than they pushed him. That ain’t my fault what the fuck are you mad at me for? So you know how that shit is. He ain’t gonna come to my face and say nothing so later on he put that shit in his little rhyme or whatever throwing a subliminal jab. That shit is neither here nor there. [4]
"Protect Ya Neck" is featured on greatest hits compilations such as The RZA Hits , Disciples of the 36 Chambers and Legend of the Wu-Tang Clan ,which contains the original,uncensored version known as the "Bloody Version". In 2000,Wu-Tang Clan would release a sequel on their third album The W ,called "Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)",which also features Cappadonna and Masta Killa in place of the then-incarcerated Ol' Dirty Bastard.
"Protect Ya Neck" has been featured in video games True Crime:New York City , Skate 2 ,and WWE 2K22 . The chime that opens the song is from the kung-fu movie Executioners from Shaolin .
The "Protect Ya Neck / Method Man" single made The Source's 100 Best Singles list. [5] In September 2010 Pitchfork Media included the song at number 5 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s. [6]
It has also been featured in the final episode of superhero web television series The Defenders during a fight scene between all four Defenders and The Hand.
The music video features each Wu-Tang member in black and white rapping individually with their entourage in the background. As each rapper starts his verse,their rap aliases are shown on the screen. Many of these aliases are spelled incorrectly or never used on official releases such as GZA being shown as "The Jizah" or Inspectah Deck as "Inspektah Deck". In the video,occasionally clips of Wu-Tang as a full group in color are flashed for a couple seconds. It features a cameo appearance from a then-unknown Cappadonna during Raekwon and Method Man's scenes and Masta Killa is seen being chased by the rest of the whole clan during ODB and Gza scenes.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Protect Ya Neck" (Radio Edit) | 4:37 |
2. | "Protect Ya Neck" (Bloody Version) | 5:01 |
3. | "Protect Ya Neck" (Instrumental) | 2:00 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "After the Laughter Comes Tears" (Vocal) | 3:17 |
2. | "After the Laughter Comes Tears" (Instrumental) | 3:17 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Protect Ya Neck" (Radio Edit) | 4:30 |
2. | "Protect Ya Neck" (Shao Lin Version) | 4:36 |
3. | "Protect Ya Neck" (Bloody Version) | 5:03 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Method Man" (Radio Edit) | 4:15 |
2. | "Method Man" (Smoked Out Version) | 5:02 |
3. | "Method Man" (Home Grown Version) | 5:08 |
4. | "Method Man" (Bonus Beats) | 0:57 |
Credits adapted from single's label. [7]
Production
Additional personnel
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop collective formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its members include RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and, until his death in 2004, Ol' Dirty Bastard. Close affiliate Cappadonna later became an official member. They are credited for revitalizing East Coast hip hop and are considered one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time.
Lamont Jody Hawkins, better known by his stage name U-God, meaning Universal-God, is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He has been with the group since its inception, and is known for his deep voice and rhythmic flow that can alternate between gruff and smooth.
Enter the Wu-Tang is the debut studio album by the American hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released on November 9, 1993, by Loud Records and RCA 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).
Walter Reed, better known by his stage name Killah Priest, is an American rapper, member of Sunz of Man and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate who was raised in Brooklyn, New York. He is known for his intensely spiritual lyrics, containing religious references and metaphors. He is connected to the Black Hebrew Israelites through his rhymes, and is known for his controversial and political subject matter. He is also a part of supergroup the HRSMN along with Canibus, Ras Kass, and Kurupt.
Derrick Harris, better known by his stage name True Master, is an American hip-hop record producer and occasional rapper, known for his affiliation with the Wu-Tang Clan.
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.
Made in Brooklyn is the second solo studio album by Wu-Tang Clan member Masta Killa. The album was released on August 8, 2006, by Nature Sounds. Recording sessions took place during 2004 to 2006. Production was handled by Pete Rock, Bronze Nazareth, Whyz Ruler and MF Doom, as well as guest appearances from all the other seven surviving Wu-Tang Clan members. Upon its release, Made in Brooklyn has received generally favorable reviews from music critics. The album peaked at number 176 on the US Billboard 200.
The Wu-Elements are a production team closely affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. A loosely knit group, it consists of five producers who typically support main producer RZA in handling production duties for Wu-Tang group, solo and affiliate releases.
"Triumph" is a song by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, from their 1997 album Wu-Tang Forever. It was released as the lead single from the album in February 1997. The song does not have a chorus, instead, solely consisting of an intro and interlude by Ol' Dirty Bastard and verses from the other eight Wu-Tang members and associate Cappadonna. It is the only Wu-Tang song featuring all members, though the song "9 Milli Bros." from Ghostface Killah's album Fishscale also features all members.
Wu-Tang Chamber Music is a compilation album endorsed by Wu-Tang Clan, which was released through E1 Music/Universal Records on June 30, 2009. The album features performances by several Wu-Tang members and affiliates. The album was released to positive reviews from music critics. This album was followed up with the 2011 compilation album Legendary Weapons.
The Wu-Tang Clan is a New York City–based hip-hop musical group, consisting of nine American rappers: RZA, GZA, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard.
The Wu-Tang Clan is a New York City–based hip-hop musical group, consisting of ten American rappers: RZA, GZA, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Masta Killa, Cappadonna, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. This list chronologically displays the albums of each group member including collaboration and side group albums. This list does not include compilation albums, mixtapes, or extended plays.
A Better Tomorrow is the sixth studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. The album was released on December 2, 2014, by Warner Bros. Records. The album was supported by the singles "Keep Watch", "Ron O'Neal" and "Ruckus in B Minor". A Better Tomorrow received generally mixed reviews from music critics. The album debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 24,386 copies in its first week of release.
The following list is a discography of production by American hip hop record producer and recording artist the RZA. It includes a list of songs produced, co-produced and remixed by year, artist, album and title.
Jamel Irief, better known by his stage name Masta Killa, is an American rapper and member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Though one of the lesser-known members of the group, he has been prolific on Clan group albums and solo projects since the mid-1990s. He released his debut album No Said Date in 2004 to positive reviews, and has since released three additional albums.
"Wu Tang Forever" is a song by American rapper Logic, featured as the sixth track on his 2018 album YSIV. The song is a homage to the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan and features all living members of the group: Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, RZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, U-God, Masta Killa and GZA, as well as Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Jackpot Scotty Wotty; deceased member Ol' Dirty Bastard received a writing credit. The song shares the same title as the group's second studio album.
Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men is a four-episode American documentary television series that premiered on Showtime on May 10, 2019. The documentary was created by Sacha Jenkins and tells a story of the New York–based hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan from their earliest times to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the group.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)