History Music / WuTangClan

* The '''[[TheHero RZA]]''', AKA The Razor, Prince Rakeem, Rzarector, The Abbott, Chief Abbott, Bobby Steeles, the Scientist, Prince Delight, Prince Dynamite, Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah (Real name: Robert Diggs Jr.)

* The '''[[TheSmartGuy GZA]]''', AKA the Genius, Justice, Maximillion (Real name: Gary Grice)

* '''[[LivingLieDetector Inspectah Deck]]''', AKA Rebel INS, Fifth Brother, Rollie Fingers (Real name: Jason Hunter)

* '''[[TagalongKid Masta Killa]]''', AKA High Chief, [[Film/OnceUponATimeInAmerica Noodles]] (Real name: Elgin Turner)

* '''[[TeamChef Raekwon]]''', AKA Chef, Rae, Shallah Raekwon, Lex Diamond, Lou Diamonds (Real name: Cory Woods)

* BadassBaritone: U-God.

* ChessMotifs: All over the place, but most noticeably on "Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'".

* DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster: A lot of Wu stuff, but especially Raekwon and Ghost's work. GZA's solo album ''Liquid Swords'', on the other hand, delivers some {{Deconstruction}} of the romantic image of the gangster lifestyle: snippets of [[Manga/LoneWolfAndCub Shogun Assassin]] interweave with a stark image of life in a bloody, soulcrushing {{Gangsterland}}. His ''Killa Hills 10304'' is definitely playing this trope straight.

* DownerEnding: Ol' Dirty Bastard. He died following an overdose of cocaine and painkillers in 2004.

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Masta Killa, Ghostface Killah, 4-Bar Killer, Ill Irving the Murderer, The Razor, 60 Second Assassin, etc.

* ThePerfectionist: The RZA, by most indications.

* {{Sampling}}

-->'''Inspectah Deck:''' "Swinging through the streets like your neighborhood Franchise/SpiderMan!"

* JustForFun/OneOfUs: All the members were big fans of Creator/MarvelComics and named their group after the kung fu movie, Film/ShaolinAndWuTang.

* OneOfUs: All the members were big fans of Creator/MarvelComics and named their group after the kung fu movie, Film/ShaoulinAndWuTang.

A HardcoreHipHop group from Staten Island, [[BigApplesauce New York City]] that has been active musically since 1992, Wu Tang stopped being something to fuck with around the time you heard 'em for the first time, son. Their fame is largely derived from their SignatureStyle, highly conceptual lyrics with frequent name-dropping of [[JustForFun/OneOfUs comic books]], an obsession with UsefulNotes/HongKong martial arts films [[note]]their name comes from the martial arts movie ''Film/ShaolinAndWuTang''[[/note]] and their {{Crazy Awesome}}ness.

* ''Once Upon a Time in Shaolin'' (2015, limited release) [[note]]The album was treated as an "art piece" and sold off to the highest bidder with the full release planned in ''2103''. The album is currently in federal custody following current owner Martin Shkreli being sent to jail for fraud.[[/note]]

--> ''Cash Rules Everything Around Me. CREAM, get the money. Dollar dollar bill, y'all!''

* ''Once Upon a Time in Shaolin'' (2015, limited release)

* MakeAnExampleOfThem: Ghostface to several members of the De Lucas family in ''12 Reasons To Die''.

---> ''Cash Rules Everything Around Me. CREAM, get the money. Dollar dollar bill, y'all!''

* CatchPhrase: Too many to be counted.

* ConceptAlbum: From the ''very'' small information given about ''Once Upon a Time...'', it seems to be the case, with the Clan members (even Ol' Dirty Bastard playing a role despite being dead) being within the story.

* TookALevelInJerkass: Fans have accused The RZA as this, due to his enforcement of the "88 year ban" for ''Once Upon a Time in Shaolin'' and flat out having no regrets over selling it to controversial figure Martin Shkreli. Even '''more''' so when the other members began to state how RZA kept the information about the album behind their backs.

A HardcoreHipHop group from Staten Island, [[BigApplesauce New York City]] that has been active musically since 1992, Wu Tang stopped being something to fuck with around the time you heard 'em for the first time, son. Their fame is largely derived from their SignatureStyle, highly conceptual lyrics with frequent name-dropping of [[JustForFun/OneOfUs comic books]], an obsession with UsefulNotes/HongKong martial arts films [[note]]their name comes from the martial arts movie ''Shaolin & Wu Tang''[[/note]] and their {{Crazy Awesome}}ness.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wutangclan.jpg]]

A HardcoreHipHop group from Staten Island, [[BigApplesauce New York City]] that has been active musically since 1992, Wu Tang stopped being something to fuck with around the time you heard 'em for the first time, son. Their fame is largely derived from their SignatureStyle, highly conceptual lyrics with frequent name-dropping of [[OneOfUs comic books]], an obsession with UsefulNotes/HongKong martial arts films [[note]]their name comes from the martial arts movie ''Shaolin & Wu Tang''[[/note]] and their {{Crazy Awesome}}ness.

** SampledUp: ''Enter the Wu-Tang'' will render you unable to listen to the ''WesternAnimation/{{Underdog}}'' theme without hearing "the Wu-Tang Clan ain't nu-thin' ta fuck wit!"

* DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster: A lot of Wu stuff, but especially Raekwon and Ghost's work. GZA's solo album ''Liquid Swords'', on the other hand, delivers some brutal {{Deconstruction}} of the romantic image of the gangster lifestyle: snippets of [[Manga/LoneWolfAndCub Shogun Assassin]] interweave with a stark image of life in a bloody, soulcrushing {{Gangsterland}}. His ''Killa Hills 10304'' is definitely playing this trope straight.

* BadassBoast: Wu Tang Clan ain't nothin' to f*ck with!

A HardcoreHipHop group from Staten Island, [[BigApplesauce New York City]] that has been active musically since 1992, Wu Tang stopped being something to fuck with around the time you heard'em for the first time, son. Their fame is largely derived from their SignatureStyle of music, highly conceptual lyrics with frequent name-dropping of [[OneOfUs comic books]], an obsession with UsefulNotes/HongKong martial arts films [[note]]their name comes from the martial arts movie ''Shaolin & Wu Tang''[[/note]] and their {{Crazy Awesome}}ness.

*** The familial connections expand for more cousins, children, siblings and adopted relatives with the second and third generation Wu members and affiliates.

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Ol' Dirty.

* DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster: A lot of Wu stuff, but especially Raekwon and Ghost's work. GZA's solo album ''Liquid Swords'', on the other hand, delivers some brutal {{Deconstruction}} of the romantic image of the gangster lifestyle: snippets of [[Manga/LoneWolfAndCub Shogun Assassin]] interweave with a stark image of life in a bloody, soulcrushing {{Gangsterland}}.
** Except that The GZA'a ''Killa Hills 10304'' is definitely playing this trope straight.

* GangstaRap: Type 1 plus a fair amount of Type 3.
** Raekwon's ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...'' is considered one of the trope makers for Type 4.
* HiddenDepths: Turns out [[Series/TheWire Method Man can act, too.]]
** Also turns out The RZA is a financial wizard as well as being a hip-hop genius.
* IHaveManyNames: '''''And we mean MANY names'''''.
** For what it's worth, a skit taken from an interview is hidden at the end of "Can It Be All So Simple" explains the meaning of nicknames.
*** A particularly extreme example of this is the Ol' Dirty Bastard who has been called ODB, Dirt [=McGirt=], Black Baby Jesus, BZA and several others.

* LargeHam: Ghostface Killah. Expect him to ''really'' [[ChewingTheScenery Chew the Scenery]] on the more dramatic songs in the group's catalogue.
** Most songs featuring him and Ol' Dirty Bastard usually become HamToHamCombat.
*** Ol' Dirty Bastard is a legendary version of this trope.
** Most of the members have invoked this at some time or another, but special points to, as above, Ghostface, ODB and the RZA.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters

* TakeThat: GZA's "Labels" is a huge bitch slap, aimed at every single label that, [[ExecutiveMeddling treated him poorly.]]
** "Paper Plate" drops the weight on 50 Cent and G-Unit, in response the verbal mudslinging they initiated. Furthermore, [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome GZA does it all without a single profanity,]] save for one semi averted [[PrecisionFStrike Precision S Strike.]]

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Ol' Dirty Bastard.

* EarWorm: The hook from C.R.E.A.M will grab your ears, get inside your brain and never leave. Cash rules everything around me, C.R.E.A.M, get the money. Dolla, dolla bill, y'all!

* LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition: ''Once Upon a Time in Shaolin'', given only ''one'' copy was made: The only copy came in two cases, the second one being a metal designed box, and within it is ''more cases'' containing the two discs. And that's not ''even getting'' to the 100-page book that came with it, detailing what is implied to be the concept of the album, as well as the actual tracklisting which only the buyer must know. As of this, fans ''are not'' happy with this outcome.

* BoastfulRap: "Protect Ya Neck", for starters.

* The '''[[TheHero RZA]]''', AKA The Razor, Prince Rakeem, Rzarector, The Abbott, Chief Abbott, Bobby Steeles, the Scientist, Prince Delight, Prince Dynamite, Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah (real Name: Robert Diggs Jr.)

* The '''[[TheSmartGuy GZA]]''', AKA the Genius, Justice, Maximillion (real name: Gary Grice)

* '''[[KidAppealCharacter Method Man]]''', AKA Meth, Methtical, Shakwon, MZA, Iron Lung, Hott Nikkels, [[Franchise/{{Rocky}} Ticallion Stallion]], [[ComicBook/GhostRider Johnny Blaze]]; Real name: Clifford Smith

* '''[[TheLancer Ghostface Killah]]''', AKA Ghost, Sun-God, [[IronMan Ironman, Tony Starks]], Starky Love, Pretty Toney, P Tone, Ghost Deini, The Wallabee Kingpin (real name: Dennis Coles)

* '''[[BunnyEarsLawyer Ol' Dirty Bastard]]''', AKA ODB, Dirt [=McGirt=], Dirt Dog, Big Baby Jesus, Sweet Baby Jesus, Mudbutt [=McMurder=], Osirus, Osiris the Father, Joe Bananas, King Bong, Rob Dog, Ol' Dirt Schultz, Hasaan, [[Series/ChappellesShow Old Dirty Chinese Restaurant]], Ill Irving the Murderer, The BZA, Ol' Daddy Skidmarkz, The Drunken Master Styles, Ason Jones, Ason Unique, Rain Man, Free Loadin' Rusty, [[OverlyLongGag The Man of All Rainbows]], (real name: Russell Tyrone Jones) - [[AuthorExistenceFailure deceased]]

* '''[[LivingLieDetector Inspectah Deck]]''', AKA Rebel INS, Fifth Brother, Rollie Fingers (real name: Jason Hunter)

* '''[[TagalongKid Masta Killa]]''', AKA High Chief, [[Film/OnceUponATimeInAmerica Noodles]] (real name: Elgin Turner)

* '''[[TeamChef Raekwon]]''', AKA Chef, Rae, Shallah Raekwon, Lex Diamond, Lou Diamonds (real name: Cory Woods)

* '''[[SixthRanger U-God]]''', AKA Baby-U, Golden Arms, 4-Bar Killer, Lucky Hands (real name: Lamont Hawkins)