Few releases have had as lasting an impact on the course of hip-hop as Wu-Tang Clan. The iconic Staten Island group not only set the raw, unapologetic visual and lyrical aesthetic for 1990s New York rap but also transformed the economics of the genre itself. Their complex lyricism, hard-gangsta sound, and untraditional attitude towards artistry rendered them both cultural visionaries and pioneers.
But observing a full Wu-Tang Clan do a full show live has been a rarity for all but the most hardcore fans. Even in their prime, the group were never a blue chip touring concern. Their smaller shows balanced on the edge of anarchy, and with their mythology growing, intra-group bickering and spotty attendance made big shows a gamble. Add in the industry’s usual reluctance to embrace raw, unapologetic rap crews during the ’90s and early 2000s, and their live legacy was as unpredictable as it was mythical.
“There are so many places we never really touched,” reflected RZA, the Clan’s de facto mastermind, on Popcast, The New York Times music podcast. “Yeah, we’ve had successful tours, but never on the scale that the brand actually deserves.”
As penance for that, RZA is leading Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber, a behemoth of a tour that is both goodbye and announcement—a first-ever roadshow that will be the group’s largest-ever headlining endeavor. Launching in June, the tour will feature all remaining original members—RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa—plus longtime collaborator Cappadonna and Young Dirty Bastard, who will fill in for his father, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who died in 2004.
The tour is the culmination of a five-year, strategic campaign to cement the Clan’s legacy. “It’s all part of a plan,” RZA said to hosts Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli. The Wu-Tang saga has been faithfully chronicled over the last five years in a multipart docuseries, a dramatized mini-series, a series of autobiographies, and a historic Las Vegas residency—the first such string for a hip-hop act.
On Popcast, RZA described the intricate process of putting together the Clan’s many moving pieces. He spoke of opportunities missed, the paths they shattered, and the trailblazing steps they made that ultimately led hip-hop to today’s industry benchmarks. “Jay-Z told me straight up, ‘Yo, I got the blueprint from you
RZA knew Wu-Tang had to stand up for itself in the annals of hip-hop when he watched mainstream retrospectives passing over important facets of their heritage. “I was watching Hip-Hop Evolution on Netflix, and I was like, hold up—they’re omitting major layers of the foundation,” he explained. “If you take away key pillars, the whole structure falls apart.” Ensuring the Wu-Tang story came out correctly was a mission.
As the nostalgia grew around the crew, RZA strategized each move of their return. “This wasn’t random,” he explained. “First, the documentary. Then, the mini-series. Then, we tour with Nas for New York State of Mind, building up to the Vegas residency—a trial run. All that building up to this final tour.”
But nostalgia only went so far. There was always the question of how to put together a crew notorious for its individualistic attitudes and adversarial agendas. “Everybody’s agreed to be on every date,” RZA promised. “That’s not a small thing.”
The Balancing Act of Business and Brotherhood
For an act as self-willed as Wu-Tang, getting people to appear was going to take more than a couple of dollars. “Sure, money’s at stake—it’s business,” RZA admitted. “But with us, the vibe has to be there. You can’t write a check and get GZA to appear. You can’t pay me to appear if it ain’t right.”
It was taking an agreement to know what every member required. “You never know who’s going to be the holdout,” he chuckled. “You think you’ve got everybody signed up, then—bam!—somebody’s out.” It wasn’t just contracts that were negotiated; it was negotiating comfort zones, boundaries, and respect for each other. “Some guys have certain stipulations—like, ‘Yo, I don’t want more than two people in my dressing room.’ Okay, we figure that out.”
The absent link was GZA, the Clan’s older statesman. “He did not do the Vegas dates,” RZA acknowledged. “I did not ask him why—it’s my teacher, I give him respect. But when I called him up, I outlined it for him: the timing, the vision, the business potential. And he said, ‘Yeah, I’m ready.’ That was a blessing.”
A Legacy Based on Ingenuity
Wu-Tang’s trailblazing template has been followed across hip-hop. Their mark is on all, from their business model to group dynamics. But their path wasn’t easy—some of which they created for themselves, and some that were inherent.
Their swift rise was derailed in 1997 by a scandalous rift with New York’s Hot 97 radio, which they later got banned from after the group publicly disrespected the station at one of its own concerts. “People forget how much power radio had back then,” RZA explained. “That situation? That cost us. Wu-Tang Forever could’ve gone diamond.”
Still, Wu-Tang’s influence persisted. Their vision led them to unconventional partnerships, including a groundbreaking tour with Rage Against the Machine—a move some within the group had resisted. “I was walking down Times Square, and I heard this white kid tell his mom, the coolest thing he saw in New York was this huge Wu-Tang billboard. And I was there, but he didn’t even know,” RZA recalled. “That’s when I knew—our scope was bigger than we knew.”
The Final Chapter
The path to The Final Chamber has been a long, tumultuous, and historic one. With this tour, Wu-Tang Clan is not just closing a book—they’re sealing their legacy.
“This will probably be the last time you’ll all see us all in one setting in person,” RZA acknowledged. “We’ll be on TV, yeah. But if we’re on tour in your city, this is your moment. Break bread with us.”
And as the tour prepares to launch, RZA has one last trick up his sleeve—a gesture of respect for the music that was lost along the way. “In ’93, I lost everything in a flood—floppy disks full of beats, whole albums I had to redo from scratch,” he said. I’m putting them in a time capsule. Maybe someday someone will figure out how to read them.”
Because in the world of Wu-Tang, even lost history finds a way to live on.
This Article was originally Published on nytimes. Read the Original Article.
FAQs
Will Wu-Tang Clan tour again after this upcoming tour?
Although it’s billed as their final one, you never know in hip-hop. Never say never!
Which member was the toughest to convince to go on the final tour?
There are suggestions that Ghostface Killah and Raekwon required additional encouragement.
What are the songs in the last tour setlist?
Timeless favorites such as C.R.E.A.M., Triumph, and Protect Ya Neck are all in store.
Will Ol’ Dirty Bastard be remembered throughout the tour?
In fact, with tributes and photos honoring his legacy. Where can one buy tickets for the final Wu-Tang tour? Wu-Tang’s official webpage and official ticketing pages.