WU-TANG CLAN是一支成名比较长时间的HIP-HOP乐队组合。在黑人HIP-HOP界享有盛名。 这支来自纽约长岛的hip-hop乐队的原始成员包括Genius aka GZA，RZA aka Prince Rakeem，Ol' Dirty Bastard，Raekwon，Method Man，Ghostface Killah，Inspectah Deck aka Rebel INS和U-God。Wu-Tang Clan乐队的历史可以追溯到由Rakeem堂兄弟，the Genius和Ol' Dirty Bastard组成。在Rakeem和the Genius组成Wu-Tang Clan之前就各自在Tommy Boy唱片公司和Cold Chillin'唱片公司出版了自己的唱片，如今这些唱片公司都辽无踪影。乐队的每个成员都以自己的功夫知识自豪，在他们的首张专辑里，划成两派，武当和少林，象征他们在说唱时的两个对立面。他们独立制作的单曲Protect Ya Neck在地下广为流传，这引起了主流唱片公司的注意。当他们作为一个乐队整体和Loud/ RCA唱片公司签约的时候，在合同上他们也注明了乐队成员可以在乐队之外作个人的发展。The Genius和Geffen公司，Method Man和Def Jam公司，Ol' Dirty Bastard和Elektra公司都签有个人发展的合同，而Raekwon留在Loud/RCA作个人发展。RZA也与Prince Paul和Fruitkwan组成了Gravediggaz，同时兼顾Wu-Tang Clan和自己个人发展。Wu-Tang Clan的音乐素材里包含了学院化的韵律，这对于他们那种在音乐中分为对立两派，相互争论的风格很有用。音乐的背景节奏采样于功夫影片。这些富有攻击性的功夫文化色彩的音乐和以前的说唱很不一样，他们的首张专辑Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)在他们自己的录音室录制，36 Chambers暗指少林派功夫里常常提到的人体的36个要穴。RZA在作品中的所有的节奏和采样方式很快在地下hip-hop界时髦起来。专辑最后在美国达到了金唱片，但是1993年11月刚出版的时候只达到专辑榜41位。而单曲"C.R.E.A.M."迟到的成功使得乐队成为炙手可热的说唱明星。而在1994年，乐队出了件糟糕的事儿，3月13日U-God的2岁儿子Dante Hawkins在户外玩耍的时候被街头枪战流弹击中，被打伤了双手和肾。 就在一天后，他们一个圈内的朋友在一次突然以外中被杀死。 Wu-Tang Clan现在的官方成员又增加了两位Masta Killa和Cappadonna，这个长长的名单上还包括一些合作者Shyheim, Killah Priest, Shabazz The Disciple, Killarmy以及the Sunz Of Man，他们也都出版了口碑不错的个人专辑。乐队在1997年重新集结，但是新专辑明显不如他们的处女专辑，甚至不如GZA的个人专辑Liquid Swords。不过专辑仍然是hip-hop历史上期待值最高的专辑，并且在6月登上了美国专辑榜的第一位。除此之外还有一些与Wu-Tang Clan相关的专辑，包括Killah Priest出色的个人专辑Heavy Mental，Cappadonna的畅销专辑The Pillage，这都使得Wu-Tang Clan及其旁支成为一个庞大的产业王国，现在他们又在出卖自己的服装和电视游戏。乐队的成员现在准备录制一张the W作为一次精彩的回归，制作人员还包括了一些从未合作过的客座音乐人。The Genius, aka the GZA, was the most cerebral MC in the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as perhaps the most acclaimed. His cool, precise flow and intricate, literate rhymes werent as theatrical as Method Man or Ol Dirty Bastard, the two biggest commercial stars to spring from the collective. But among hip-hop aficionados, the Genius was revered for his flawless technique and lyrical dexterity, and was considered by many to be the best pure rapper in the entire Clan. The Genius was born Gary Grice on August 22, 1966, in Staten Island, NY, and shuttled between several other New York boroughs with various relatives during his childhood. He started learning rhymes by the earliest hip-hop MCs while spending time in the Bronx, and returned to Staten Island to share them with his cousins, who later became Ol Dirty Bastard and the RZA. In fact, the three of them first teamed up in the early 80s as part of an obscure group called All in Together Now.Time passed, and the Genius landed a recording contract with Cold Chillin, which, unfortunately, was nearing the end of its brilliant run. In 1991, he became the only future Wu-Tang member to release a solo album prior to the Clans formation, with Words From the Genius. Produced mostly by Easy Mo Bee, the album flopped badly and, creatively, did little to hint at the Genius future standing. Conflicts with the label sent the Genius packing, and he reteamed with a similarly disenchanted RZA (fresh off a failed stint with Tommy Boy) and Ol Dirty Bastard to co-found the Wu-Tang Clan. Adding six other friends and associates, the group became an underground sensation and took the rap world by storm with its 1993 debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Their innovative contract allowed each member to sign a solo deal with whatever label they chose, and the Genius wound up on Geffen. In 1994, his first post-Wu solo track, I Gotcha Back, appeared on the soundtrack of the film Fresh. His second solo album, Liquid Swords, followed in 1995 and was hailed as a hip-hop classic thanks to its coolly understated menace. While it didnt make him a star on the level of Method Man, the album did sell well, reaching the pop Top Ten and falling one spot short of the top of the R&B charts. There were no big mainstream hits, but the title cut, Cold World, and Shadowboxin all did well on the rap charts.Following the Clans 1997 sophomore set, Wu-Tang Forever, the Genius returned to the solo arena with 1999s Beneath the Surface. While critics didnt praise it quite as lavishly as Liquid Swords, it was another well-received effort (especially compared to some of the lackluster follow-ups elsewhere in the Wu-Tang camp), and it topped the R&B album charts. After reconvening with the Wu for 2000s The W and 2001s Iron Flag, the Genius dropped his fourth solo effort, Legend of the Liquid Sword, in late 2002, consolidating his reputation as one of the most skillful rappers around.