The classic first album with The RZA, The GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspektah Deck, U-God, Ghostface... you know the rest. The start of a generation, and of the hip hop enterprise that overshadowed a lot of the mid 90s! 12 tracks, including "Can It All Be So Simple", "Method Man", "Da Mystery Of Chessboxin", "CREAM", "Tearz", "Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin Ta F' Wit", "Protect Ya Neck", "Shame On A Nigga" and "Bring Da Ruckus". CD

The classic first LP with Method Man, Ghost Face Killer, Raekwon, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and The Genius. The start of a generation, and of the hip hop enterprise that overshadowed a lot of the mid 90s! 12 tracks, including "Can It All Be So Simple", "Method Man", "Da Mystery Of Chessboxin", "CREAM", "Tearz", "Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin Ta F' Wit", "Protect Ya Neck", "Shame On A Ni**a" and "Bring Da Ruckus". LP, Vinyl record album

An underrated later Wu Tang effort from '01 – a lean 12 track set that lacks little to our ears, except for the then incarcerated ODB. RZA keeps the production solid, tight and simple – rugged, grimy foil for the rhymes, which sound pretty damn nice all these years later – as always the case with prime Wu material. That said it's not without some topical commentary, such as Ghost's unrivaled and unbridled brio in calling out George W. Bush on a record that came out just 3 months after 9/11. Definitely one of the last great Wu Tang Clan albums from the full ensemble. Includes "In The Hood", "Chrome Wheels", "Soul Power (Black Jungle)", the great single "Uzi (Pinky Ring)", "Babies", "Back In The Game" and "Dashing". CD

In many ways, a step up from Wu Tang Forever, certainly with far fewer sleepers on this one, though we do miss the presence of ODB, his brief appearance with Snoop on "Conditioner" not withstanding. The RZA debuted his new style with clattering tracks like "Careful (Click, Click)" and "Let My N***** Live", while other tracks have the classic spooky Wu feel. Also includes "Chamber Music", "Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)", 'Do You Really (Thang Thang)" and "Gravel Pit". CD

... CD

One of the standouts on Wu-Tang Forever, with some fantastic lead work from CappaDonna – and a subtle-but striking beat that really leaves the vocals foregrounded in the mix, yet still gives the whole thing a vintage Wu-Tang edge! Heaterz is a great showcase for CappaDonna as well – stepping out with the rest of the group over some nicely sinister beats that are peppered with these off-kilter strings that are mighty nice! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of the most unique books we've ever read on the subject of hip hop – a volume that takes the Wu-Tang as its main touchstone, but which moves past any simple history or biography – and instead paints a very complex picture of music and culture in America through 36 different "chambers" – all interlocked essays that deal with urban space, technology, family, film, and other diverse topics that work together surprisingly well! Rather than attempt to take on the monolith that is the Wu-Tang Clan, author Will Ashon instead illuminates their universe – both the one that lead to their musical creations, and their reception – putting that legacy in great perspective with some wonderfully written prose! Hardcover edition is 374 pages, with some black and white images. Book

The story of the Wu-Tang Clan has been told often over the years – but this time around, it's told by one of the group's founding members – Lamont "U-God" Hawkins, who blends his own personal journey from the streets of Brooklyn with the rise of one of the most important hip hop groups of all time! The story is told from a very personal perspective, in a style that's nicely rough around the edges – like some of the less-edited autobiographies of older jazz musicians, which we've always enjoyed. 292 pages, hardcover. Book

Action-packed post millennium hip hop from Czarface – the increasingly impressive team of Wu veteran Inspectah Deck with 7L & Esoteric! Czarface's style is fresh take on some the wilder underground/grindhouse cinema, comic books and otherwise fantastically-inspired hip hop of Wu Tang Clan, MF Doom, Dr. Octagon, etc. – heavy on the distinctive, though classic rap inspired craft of Deck & Esoteric, though – feeling real, raw and of their own strong devices. DJ 7L's production is big sound and raw at the same time, a rock solid foil for the rhymes of the primary MCs and their guests. Includes "Electrical Level 1", "Two In The Chest", "Czar Wars", "Dust" with Psycho Les, "Revenge On Lizard City", "Dare Iz A Darkseid", "Tarantulas" feat Blackastan, "Sabers", "Talk That Talk", "All In Togehter Now", "Level Electric 1" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

El Michels return again to the Wu-Tang chambers – and the results this time might even be better than before! Wu-Tang forged their initial sound out of a love of offbeat samples and unusual funk – so it's only fitting that one of the hippest funk groups around strip the music right down to its roots – performing new live interpretations with their wickedly sinister groove – all at a level that makes the whole thing a slow funk masterpiece from start to finish! El Michels has always been one of the few real standouts in the deep funk scene – and it's records like this that keep us loving them so much. And even though the set features vocals from Lee Fields on two tracks, and Lady Wray on one more – the instrumental groove is what dominates and draws our ears, on tracks that include "Tears", "Sipped Up", "Shadow Boxing", "Iron Man", "4th Chamber", "Shaolin Brew", "Drums For Sale", "Verbal Intercourse", "Tearz", and "Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin Ta F Wit". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic meeting of the minds – as director Jim Jarmusch makes a film that's a nod to the old martial arts films of the 70s that inspired the Wu-Tang Clan in their music – and RZA gets a chance to contribute to the soundtrack, with help from the Clan as well! The music is maybe the strongest realization of the Wu aesthetic at work – and RZA also shows that he's got a great flair for the right sort of sound for an action scene too – on titles that include vocal and instrumental versions of "Raise Your Sword" – plus "Fast Shadow", "Ghost Dog Theme", "Funky Theme", "RZA's Theme", "Gangsters Theme", and "Dead Birds". And note that this is the "good" version of the soundtrack – without the spoken bits, and with a lot more of the beats and music that RZA brought to the film! CD

A fantastic meeting of the minds – as director Jim Jarmusch makes a film that's a nod to the old martial arts films of the 70s that inspired the Wu-Tang Clan in their music – and RZA gets a chance to contribute to the soundtrack, with help from the Clan as well! The music is maybe the strongest realization of the Wu aesthetic at work – and RZA also shows that he's got a great flair for the right sort of sound for an action scene too – on titles that include vocal and instrumental versions of "Raise Your Sword" – plus "Fast Shadow", "Ghost Dog Theme", "Funky Theme", "RZA's Theme", "Gangsters Theme", and "Dead Birds". And note that this is the "good" version of the soundtrack – without the spoken bits, and with a lot more of the beats and music that RZA brought to the film! CD

With Havoc and Prodigy of Mobb Deep and Inspectah Deck and U-God from Wu Tang Clan. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Chef Raekwon cooks up one of finest hip hop albums in history – a standout moment in the Wu Tang canon and the 90s in general! Given Ghostface's presence throughout, the prime RZA production and other top shelf guests, you could almost call this one a Wu Tang Clan album, if not for Raekwon's incredible leadership behind the mic. Guests include Nas, Method Man, Inspektah Deck and more from the Wu Tang family. An absolute standard-bearer! Titles include "Knuckleheadz", "Knowledge God", "Criminology", "Incarcerated Scarfaces", "Guillotine (Swords)", "Glaciers Of Ice", "Ice Cream", and more! CD

A set that goes much farther back than the others in this series, and which has a much wider range of music, too – not just drumbreaks and basslines, but a mix of many different elements that have been sampled in recent years! Given that the package includes cuts samples by artists who include Chance The Rapper, Jay Z, Wu Tang Clan, Amy Winehouse, Prodigy, and Damian Marley, you can bet there's a good sense of variety going on – and the 2LP set features 28 tracks in all – with titles that include "Black & Tan Fantasy" by Thelonious Monk, "Walk On By" by Cal Tjader, "Angel Eyes" by Ahmad Jamal, "Rags & Old Iron" by Nina Simone, "Russian Lullaby" by Ella Fitzgerald, "Sign Of The Times" by Bob James, "Yesterdays" by Clifford Brown & Max Roach, "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" by Dinah Washington, "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" by Gil Scott Heron, "All Through The Night" by Ella Fitzgerald, "Exodus" by Ferrante & Teicher, "Soul Bossa Nova" by Quincy Jones, "I'm Shakin" by Little Willie John, "Lonely Bull" by Herb Alpert, "God Bless The Child" by Billie Holiday, and "Time Out For Tears" by Chris Connor. LP, Vinyl record album

Action-packed post millennium hip hop from Czarface – the increasingly impressive team of Wu veteran Inspectah Deck with 7L & Esoteric! Czarface's style is fresh take on some the wilder underground/grindhouse cinema, comic books and otherwise fantastically-inspired hip hop of Wu Tang Clan, MF Doom, Dr. Octagon, etc. – heavy on the distinctive, though classic rap inspired craft of Deck & Esoteric, though – feeling real, raw and of their own strong devices. DJ 7L's production is big sound and raw at the same time, a rock solid foil for the rhymes of the primary MCs and their guests. Includes "Electrical Level 1", "Two In The Chest", "Czar Wars", "Dust" with Psycho Les, "Revenge On Lizard City", "Dare Iz A Darkseid", "Tarantulas" feat Blackastan, "Sabers", "Talk That Talk", "All In Togehter Now", "Level Electric 1" and more. CD

Ghostface brings some real hip hop to latter day Def Jam – his best album since Supreme Clientele – and possibly '06 hip hop album of the year! Fishscale features appearances by the Wu Tang Clan & Theodore Unit, Ne-Yo, Megan Ward and others on the mic – but it's the stable of producers that helps make this one of the best above ground hip hop albums we've heard in a long time. MF Doom puts his Metal Fingerz behind the boards for a bunch of tracks, and the legendary Pete Rock handles a few – with additional work by J Dilla, Just Blaze, Lewis Parker and others. Ghost brings a literal lyrical focus to a number of the tracks – but he's still spraying words all over the damn place – and the best tracks are just as thrilling as his surreal word bombs of yore.Tracks include "Shakey Dog", "Kilo" feat Raekwon, the excellent Just Blaze-produced anthem "The Champ", "9 Milli Bros" feat Wu Tang Clan, "Beauty Jackson", "RAGU" feat Raekwon, "Be Easy" feat Trife, "Dogs of War" feat Raekwon & Theodore Unit, "Barbershop" and more. CD

One of the most triumphant records from the first wave of Wu Tang Clan solo efforts – and an early 90s hip hop masterpiece that's hardly aged a day since! Tical is right up there with Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers) on the quality front. It's got the iconic Wu production aesthetic in peak form, and Meth himself does an incredible job here of not only cementing the Wu Tang's legacy, but setting himself up to be the Clan's breakout solo success story for years to come. Includes "Tical", "Bring The Pain", "All I Need", "What The Blood Clot", "Meth Vs. Chef", "Biscuits", "I Get My Thang In Action", "PLO Style", "Sub Crazy", "Release Yo' Delf", the killer "Method Man (Remix)" and more. CD

Chef Raekwon cooks up one of finest hip hop albums in history – a standout moment in the Wu Tang canon and the 90s in general! Given Ghostface's presence throughout, the prime RZA production and other top shelf guests, you could almost call this one a Wu Tang Clan album, if not for Raekwon's incredible leadership behind the mic. Guests include Nas, Method Man, Inspektah Deck and more from the Wu Tang family. An absolute standard-bearer! Titles include "Knuckleheadz", "Knowledge God", "Criminology", "Incarcerated Scarfaces", "Guillotine (Swords)", "Glaciers Of Ice", "Ice Cream", and more! LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic meeting of the minds – as director Jim Jarmusch makes a film that's a nod to the old martial arts films of the 70s that inspired the Wu-Tang Clan in their music – and RZA gets a chance to contribute to the soundtrack, with help from the Clan as well! The music is maybe the strongest realization of the Wu aesthetic at work – and RZA also shows that he's got a great flair for the right sort of sound for an action scene too – on titles that include vocal and instrumental versions of "Raise Your Sword" – plus "Fast Shadow", "Ghost Dog Theme", "Funky Theme", "RZA's Theme", "Gangsters Theme", and "Dead Birds". CD

In case you passed on this one, unlike some other benefit and soundtrack LP's this one delivers more than a few nice cuts including Common Sense & Sean Lett "I've Been Thinking", Biz Markie, Chubb Rock & Prince Paul "No Rubber, No Back Stage Pass", Organized Konfusion "Decisions", Wu-Tang Clan "America", De La Soul & The Beatminerz "The Hustle", plus OC & Buckwild "What I Represent", Sadat X, Fat Joe & Diamond D "Nasty Hoes", Pete Rock & the Lost Boys "The Yearn" and Goodie Mobb "Blood". CD

A double-length collection of hip hop classics from the old school onwards – a package that's maybe a bit short on notes, but which more than makes up for that with an all-classic presentation of the music! There's not a cut here that won't delight – and titles include "Ring The Alarm" by Fu Schnickens, "Can I Kick It" by Tribe Called Quest, "La Raza" by Kid Frost, "It's Tricky" by Run DMC, "Go See The Doctor" by Kool Moe Dee, "Strictly Business" by EPMD, "Mama Said Knock You Out" by LL Cool J, "Get On The Dance Floor" by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock, "Woo Hay Got You All In Check" by Busta Rhymes, "Shook Ones (part 2)" by Das Efx, "NY State Of Mind" by Nas, "I Got 5 On It" by Luniz, "Full Clip" by Gang Starr, "Paid In Full (mini madness Coldcut rmx)" by Eric B & Rakim, "6 In The Mornin" by Ice T, "CREAM" by Wu Tang Clan, "Regulate (jamming mix)" by Warren G & Nate Dogg, "Wild Thing" by Tone Loc, "She's On It" by Beastie Boys, and "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash & Furious Five. LP, Vinyl record album

3CD's worth of music from the classic years of the east coast hip hop scene – not the old school cuts right from the start, but material from the second two decades, when the music was really coming into its own! There's loads of classics here, for a very nice price – including some unusual 12" mixes too. Titles include "You Must Learn (Live from Caucus Mountain rmx)" by Boogie Down Productions, "Summertime 98 (Soul Power rmx)" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, "Nappy Heads (rmx)" by Fugees, "I'm Not A Player" by Big Punisher, "Luchini Aka This Is It" by Camp Lo, "Land Of The Lost" by Cella Dwellas, "Down With The King" by Run DMC, "La Schmoove" by Fu Schnickens, "It's Yourz" by Wu Tang Clan, "Mind Sex" by Dead Prez, "Bonita Applebum" by Tribe Called Quest, "Method Man (home grown version)" by Wu Tang Clan, "Give It 2 You (Easy Mo Bee rmx)" by Da Brad, "Street Struck" by Big L, "Genesis" by Prodigy Of Mobb Deep, "High Expectations" by Common, "The World Is Yours (tip mix)" by Nas, "Everything Is Everything" by Cappadonna, "#1 Soul Brother" by Pete Rock, "Ante Up (Robbin Hoodz theory)" by MOP, "It Ain't Hard To Tell" by NAS, "Put It On" by Big L, "Let's Ride" by Q-Tip, "Survival Of The Fittest (rmx ext version)" by Mobb Deep, "Trouble Man" by Inspectah Deck, "Loud Hangover" by Akinyele feat Sadat X, and "Deja Vu (uptown baby)" by Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz. CD

Includes selections by Dru Hill featuring Redman, Jay-Z featuring Amil, Wu Tang Clan, JA Rule, Slick Rick, Montell Jordan featuring Monifah and Flesh N Bone, Jon B, Terror Squad, Too Short, and others; plus the theme by Lalo Schifrin, and skits with Chris Tucker. LP, Vinyl record album

Cinematic funky soul instrumentals from the El Michels Affair – the loose NYC collective's long awaited full length nod to the Wu Tang Clan! The crew brings their tried and true slow rolling and dirty funk to their interpretations of classic Wu Tang tracks, with some straight up beautiful sophisticated soul backdrops, too, and Leon & the crew pull it all off masterfully! The RZA's sonic stamp is too innovative and idiosyncratic for a simple live band rehash, and the group is wise to use the famous crackling sample built soundscapes to craft both an homage to the Wu Tang's best material, as well as the 70s funk, soul, and cinema sounds that informed them in the first place. A few of the tracks first blew our minds as funky 45s, and this fully formed set was worth the wait – from the moody organ funk of "Can It All Be So Simple", the funky drummer rhythms of "Uzi (Pinky Ring)", the string accented moods of "Heaven And Hell", the brass band and children's chorus cover of "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" and lots more! Other tracks include "Glaciers Of Ice", "Incarcerated Scarfaces", "Bring Da Ruckus" and more. The CD version includes an unlisted bonus track. CD

One of the most triumphant records from the first wave of Wu Tang Clan solo efforts – and an early 90s hip hop masterpiece that's hardly aged a day since! Tical is right up there with Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers) on the quality front. It's got the iconic Wu production aesthetic in peak form, and Meth himself does an incredible job here of not only cementing the Wu Tang's legacy, but setting himself up to be the Clan's breakout solo success story for years to come. Includes "Tical", "Bring The Pain", "All I Need", "What The Blood Clot", "Meth Vs. Chef", "Biscuits", "I Get My Thang In Action", "PLO Style", "Sub Crazy", "Release Yo' Delf", the killer "Method Man (Remix)" and more. LP, Vinyl record album