Wu-Tang Clan: 25 Years Of '36 Chambers'

Wu-Tang Clan have prevailed as hip hop's most legendary – and influential – group. In 2018, the New York posse have been marking the 25th anniversary of their fabled debut, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), by performing it in full. And now all nine current members – yes, RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Cappadonna – are bringing da ruckus to the Sydney Opera House, its sails weirdly evoking the Wu's infamous 'W' insignia. They've sold out four shows.

"It's an awesome feeling," rhapsodises Masta Killa (aka Elgin Turner), the member consistently amenable to interviews. "It's a great honour to be performing at the Sydney Opera House... that's a great honour and an awesome feeling. That's why we wanna come to give it our all, give it our best, and definitely bless the Opera House with the Wu-Tang spirit!"

"I think the originality of it, mixing the Asian culture with [a] hip hop flavour of music – I don't think it had ever been seen or done to that magnitude."

Wu-Tang Clan formed on the outlying Staten Island as a collective of GOAT MCs – with RZA doubling up as leader, producer and branding genius (and his cousin Ol' Dirty Bastard the resident eccentric). They developed a sonic bricolage of minimalist beats and cerebral lyrics, thematising martial arts flicks, comic books, Five-Percent Nation philosophies, and street life. The canny self-mythologisers broke out independently with the banger Protect Ya Neck. RZA would then strike an extraordinary deal with Loud Records, enabling the Wu to pursue individual careers while building an empire. In 1993 Shaolin's finest unleashed Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), ushering in a fresh wave of East Coast rappers. As GZA's protege, Turner delivered the closing verse on Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'. 

"For me, making it, it was all a learning experience," he recollects of Enter The Wu-Tang. "Being a part of that project, first of all, it's the first thing that I've ever really written, as far as music is concerned. And, to make it on such an iconic project, and something that has blessed the world, in regards of one of hip hop's greatest contributions to the art, I feel incredibly blessed and honoured to be a part of that project." Today, Turner maintains that the album's legacy lies in its layers, down to its (supreme) mathematics. "I think the originality of it, mixing the Asian culture with [a] hip hop flavour of music – I don't think it had ever been seen or done to that magnitude," he ponders. "I think the originality of the album in itself is so educational on so many different levels of culture and just everything. I think that's what attracts everybody, because there's something there for everyone."

Early, Ghostface Killah concealed his face with a stocking cap mask, even at shows, generating rumours that he was a fugitive. But, Turner laughs, Ghost's disguise was derived from his alter ego, the Ghost Faced Killer in the kung fu classic Mystery Of Chessboxing. The Wu enjoyed the "mystery" – though maybe not Ghost. "We did that for a little while until he got tired of that and everything. He comes out and [says], 'Yeah, I'm taking this off!' So that's all it was." Sadly, Ol' Dirty Bastard passed in 2004. Three years later, Cappadonna formally joined the fold.

Wu-Tang Clan last released an official album in 2014 with the Rick Rubin-graced A Better Tomorrow. However, the next year RZA auctioned a unique double-set, Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, as a private collectable. His mission was to restore the status of music as 'art' in the digital era. Alas, the controversial pharmaceutical exec Martin Shkreli purchased the album for some US$2 million – a lotta CREAM. He's since been jailed for securities fraud, with his assets, including Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, reportedly seized by authorities. Turner – who himself never heard the album – still believes that, drama aside, RZA's scheme was game-changing. "I'm not sure if he'll ever do it again. But I thought it was a great idea, once I understood what he was doing. I didn't know that at first – when I first creatively went in to do my verses, I didn't know that at the time. But, when it was introduced to me, his idea of what he did, I loved it. He's actually right because music has been so devalued these days. It doesn't even sell any more, you know what I mean? For as hard as we work as artists, in music and film; to put so much hard work into something and just to see it diminished and no one really appreciates all the hard work that you put into it, to come up with a solution to bring value back to something – I thought it was a great idea."

Wu-Tang Clan – minus an aggrieved U-God – participated in last year's compilation The Saga Continues, curated by DJ Mathematics. In fact, they're progressing on album eight. "There's another Wu-Tang record in the making as we speak right now," Turner confirms. "I'm also working on another solo project [his fifth, following 2017's Loyalty Is Royalty]. Whenever you get any one of us, solo-wise, you're always gonna get that Wu-Tang flavour. But I do understand you just don't want one superhero, you want the super-brand, so we're definitely working on giving you that. I'm looking forward to it as well."

Wu-Tang Clan have ventured into publishing, with RZA initially authoring The Wu-Tang Manual. U-God recently presented an affecting memoir, Raw: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang. "I haven't got the chance to actually read his whole book or get into it," Turner admits bashfully. "There's just so much going on. I heard it was a pretty good book, some people that have checked it out or have read it tell me." Perhaps he'll complete it en route to Australia? "Oh, I plan to kill that time – me and GZA are gonna be playing a lotta chess!" Turner laughs again. "That's how we kill our time – between me, GZA and RZA, we have the chess board and those 15 hours go quick when you're using your mind."