I think I told myself that I didn't want to go see the Wu Tang Clan perform (2/12/06 @ Sonar) partly because I couldn't see myself paying $50 for a ticket (ego) and partly because while I loved the New York thug imagery (mysterious articulate tough guy)...I wasn't caught up in the pandamonium that can only be described as Wu Mania. Naaaaaaaaaaaah, Lemme stop lying! Wu Tang! Wu Tang! Before I forget.....Many thanks Top of the Hill Records. Yall are my peoples for real! Don't get me wrong....I liked quite a few songs by them - together, but always thought their sound prolly resonated most with young rambunctious men. It wasn't until "Cuban Linx" that they made an obvious song for the women. Ice Cream was that heat! I always thought they were trendsetters -- long before people were willing to fuse hip hop with other mediums-they were doin it. Their unique lingo & slang (the Wu were some very conscious dudes when you break down the content)....that sexy accent.....the gritty, complex tales turned timeless anthems [that can still turn a party out--to this day!] combined with the RZA's unique take on sampling and beat construction...made them a red dress at a black tie affair (think about the times). There was nothing jiggly pop or flashy about them. I think it was during this era [the 90's] that hip hop became the new punk. The Wu [then later MOP] were hip hop rockers and really cultivated the need for their brand of music. While it is not commercial in the classic sense, their music resonates with a wide spectrum of people. Their hooks and diverse personas are what stand out in my mind when considering what makes them easy to digest. I am not sure what came first -- my appreciation for anime and kung fu flicks or Wu Tang really emphazing it with their names and titles- but the whole culture/artform is intriguing me. I would be lying if I said what they "said" had no impact on which movie I picked up and in many cases, became my favorite. Best Kung Fu Flick, "Born Invincible"....OMG! you have got to see it...if you've seen it, you owe me some dap. Its amazing how that many super stars joined forces to take their message global. Also, too...I noticed an absense of egos on their first album (after watching their set). Method Man who later went on to be the break out artist of the group (IMO)...mainly contributed his flavor to hooks only. That is amazing in retrospect.

Method Man

Method Man is still the sexiest Wu. His energy and willingness to put it all on the line at a LIVE show is remarkable. He seemed to be going for the reaction everytime--whether it was balance beaming the edge of the stage (early on) ...crowd diving backwards (as the night progressed). And to think...I think he had on a thermal top & I still found him utterly irresistable. When he performed M-E-T-H-O-D MAN....I thought I was gonna fall out, but I was quickly snapped back into reality by several grown ass men thrashing into one another and me in the process of them showing their excitement. I realized last night that for many, The Wu were their first introduction to the "black subcultural" and under belly known as "poverty with pride". We all know pride can lead to some very distructive behavior. I remember the first time I heard Raekwon utter those now famous words (from C.R.E.A.M).......... I was hooked from the jump: (LOL! I know you can already hear ODB humming or chanting - whatever it is he was doing in the background)