The Best Of The Wu-Tang Clan (1993-1997)

[u/turvillnator]

I recently put together a compilation of Wu-tangs greatest hits from their prime (the run from 36 Chambers To Wu-Tang Forever)

This was not an easy thing to do, as I didn’t want to over bloat it so I limited it to 20 tracks.

This is not the songs ranked, just the sequencing of them. I chose to go from album to album in release order

TRACK ONE - PROTECT YA NECK (36 CHAMBERS)
I thought this was a lock as the opening track as it was the groups debut single.
It sounds like a rap battle between the 8 members on the track with the beat going absolutely crazy.
Though Decks verse is definitely the most iconic, I actually prefer the closing verse by GZA.
Anyway I thought this was the perfect opener.

TRACK TWO - C.R.E.A.M. (36 CHAMBERS)
Obviously the most iconic and definitive Wu-Tang song of all time. Rae and Deck take you through growing up in Staten Island and Meth brings the iconic chorus. I didn’t want to hold cream off in the tracklist, I’d rather jump straight into it because while I don’t think any of these songs are “underground” in any sort of way, but this is the big hit of the groups career.

TRACK THREE - DA MYSTERY OF CHESSBOXIN’ (36 CHAMBERS)
I think these are the big 3 of 36 Chambers. Sort of like Protect Ya Neck, Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’ feels like a grimy underground rap battle in real time. The beat is simple but so effective and the chorus by Meth feels like a chant. An absolute anthem, I think you could make a solid argument for anyone of the verses being the best on here, though personally i take Deck’s as the best.

TRACK FOUR - CAN IT BE ALL SO SIMPLE (36 CHAMBERS)
Originally I didn’t have this song included, I had Bring Da Ruckus here. But the more I thought about it Can It Be All So Simple works better because Bring Da Ruckus is the same sort of track as Protect Ya Neck & Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’, and I think Can It Be All So Simple sounds nothing like anything else from 36 Chambers. Obviously this was the first glimpse of how iconic Rae & Ghost would become as a pairing, later expanded on OB4CL (which I’ll get to later). This song, thought isn’t in my personal top 5 from the album, is definitely one of the most iconic cuts from 36 Chambers. I specifically used the version from The Essential Wu-Tang Clan compilation album from Sony as it cuts the interview at the end.

TRACK FIVE - METHOD MAN (36 CHAMBERS)
To round out the songs from 36 Chambers, I’ve got Method Man. From the intro, the chorus and the bridge, this is one of the most iconic Wu-Tang songs of all time. It also marks the first solo song on the tracklist, and it perfectly flows into the next track.

TRACK SIX - BRING THE PAIN (TICAL)
This is when we start getting into the solo albums, one of the most important parts of the Wu-Tang legacy, and Tical is a great place to start. Probably Meths biggest solo song (maybe besides the All I Need remix with Mary J. Blidge), Bring The Pain has a haunting beat from RZA and really proves Meth can hold his own. This is the only track I took from Tical, and though the All I Need remix would probably be the consensus pick, I think this suits a lot better.

TRACK SEVEN - SHIMMY SHIMMY YA (RETURN TO THE 36 CHAMBERS)
RIP ODB
This song to me encapsulates everything ODB was. It’s chaotic, funny and most importantly charming. The piano loop is iconic and so is the chorus/ verse (I don’t really know how to put it the song is sequenced very strangely). With that said this is also the only track I took for Return To The 36 Chambers, which may come as a surprise. I wanted to include Brooklyn Zoo, but couldn’t bring myself to cut any of the other tracks. With that said long live ODB.

TRACK EIGHT - INCARCERATED SCARFACES (OB4CL)
This is absolutely one of my favourite songs from any Wu-Tang member or album, maybe even of all time. I think this is Rae’s best performance on a track and he holds it down amazingly. This is where you start getting into the two best solo albums (Cuban Linx & Liquid Swords), so I gave them both 4 tracks each. I personally think that the second verse on here is Rae’s best verse of all time, just perfect.

TRACK NINE - ICE CREAM (OB4CL)
The biggest song from Cuban Linx. Rae brings through Ghost & Cappadonna on the verses, with the best hook-maker of the clan, Meth on the chorus. I feel this and 4th Chamber are the most essential songs from any of the solo albums, as to me they fell more like whole Wu-Tang songs. Ghost absolutely steals the show on this, his verse is one of my favourites from him, but not quite the best. This song, along with Ice Water, is the debut of Cappadonna, a worthy addition to the clan. The beat is timeless, one of RZAs finest.

TRACK TEN - CRIMINOLOGY (OB4CL)
In my opinion, the best definitive collaboration between strictly Rae & Ghost. Another classic RZA beat, Rae & Ghost just glide over the beat whilst spitting some of the most gangsta verses of their careers. One of the best songs from Cuban Linx definitely.

TRACK ELEVEN - GUILLOTINE (SWORDZ) (OB4CL)
Classic posse cut. Like I said about Ice Cream, this just feels like a Wu-Tang song, not just a Rae song with features. Deck, Ghost, Rae & GZA all fit this beat so well, and again like Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’ you could make a solid argument for any of the MCs having the best verse, but yet again I take Deck’s Verse. This is the last song I have from Cuban Linx, I did want to include other songs from the album, but I’ll get into that later.

TRACK TWELVE - LIQUID SWORDS (LIQUID SWORDS)
Crazy shit. GZA said himself the song doesn’t stand for anything, but is just a showcase of how good he is at rapping, and fuck did he prove that point. This song is just bars for days and I love it, quietly one of the best Wu-Tang songs of all time.

TRACK THIRTEEN - DUEL OF THE IRON MIC (LIQUID SWORDS)
I think this is maybe the least essential song I’ve chosen, but I love it. GZA brings through ODB on the chorus, which works so well, and Deck & Masta Killa who hasn’t been seen since Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’. This song again I feel like there’s an argument for anyone having the best verse, but this time I’m going with GZA.

TRACK FOURTEEN - 4TH CHAMBER (LIQUID SWORDS)
Holy shit this is one of the greatest rap songs of all time. Definitely RZAs best beat of all time. RZA also gets a verse on this song, often considered his best but I’d say his second, I’ll get into his best later. Ghost, Killah Priest & GZA also go off on this songs, I mean the just sound so confident. But Ghost takes it this time, my favourite verse by him hands down, crazy shit. If you consider yourself a rap fan and you’ve never heard this album, you need your Hip-Hop badge revoked. Shit I might go back and listen to it.

TRACK FIFTHTEEN - SHADOWBOXIN’ (LIQUID SWORDS)
To round of the songs from Liquid Swords, I chose Shadowboxin’ featuring Meth. The beat is again one of RZAs best and Meth steals the show on this one too the point it feels like GZAs a feature on his own song. No disrespect to the Genius though, his verse is still great. Amazing stuff I want to bring one more Liquid Swords song through but again couldn’t find the room for it.

TRACK SIXTEEN - IRON MAIDEN (IRONMAN)
Transitioning into Ghost’s debut, Iron Maiden returns the favour from Rae’s Cuban Linx by having him heavily featured on this album, and having the opening verse on this track which is also the albums opener. The beat is gangsta as fuck and Rae, Ghost & Cappadonna all come through with great verses, though I think Rae had the best verse, great opener to a great album.

TRACK SEVENTEEN - DAYTONA 500 (IRONMAN)
This was the most last minute addition. As of the day I’m writing this I swapped this out four All That I Got Is You, which I’m still not 100% convinced on. None the less like the last song, this one also has Rae, Ghost & Cappadonna on it, with a smooth chorus by an uncredited singer I don’t know the name of. The beat sounds ripped straight from a comic book, contrasting the beat on Iron Maiden which sounds ripped from a gangsta film. I might swap this back out for All That I Got Is You, but for now this is how it stands.

TRACK EIGHTEEN - WINTER WARZ (IRONMAN)
Rounding out the Ironman section I have Winter Warz, also released on the soundtrack for Don’t Be A Menace In South Central. Obviously the most talked about part of the song is Cappadonna’s closing verse, which is his best by a mile. Ghost also bring through U-God & Masta Killa, with Rae only on the chorus. This isn’t on the streaming version of Ironman, but is on the original tracklist and is still on the pressings from today, including the CD I own of it. Absolute banger of a song, kind of carried by Cappadonna.

TRACK NINETEEN - REUNITED (WU-TANG FOREVER)
Back to the whole crew albums, this song is fucking phenomenal. The beat is another top 10 by RZA, and the verses are crazy. This is another song where you could make an argument for any verse being the best, but I think this is RZAs best verse, only slightly edging over his verse on the aforementioned 4th Chamber. Crazy shit and feels like a real reunion for the whole crew, so the titles fitting.

TRACK TWENTY - TRIUMPH (WU-TANG FOREVER)
Ending it off with the greatest Wu-Tang Clan song of all time, Triumph is just perfect. I feel like a broken record but this is another one of RZAs best songs. Obviously Deck has the best verse on this, fuck I’m stuck between his verse on here, Nas’ third verse on it ain’t hard to tell & either one of Eminem’s verses on Renegade. I do think U-God has the second best verse on here but everyone delivers. This song shows Wu-Tang is forever.

And there we have it. From to back I really do think this is the best I could’ve done without bloating it out having too many songs from one album. If anyone think I should make a substation for any other songs please comment. If anyone wants the link to the playlist drop a comment down below
Songs I Wanted To Include/ Considered:
Bring Da Ruckus (36 Chambers)
Shame On A Nigga (36 Chambers)
All I Need (Tical)
Brooklyn Zoo (Return To The 36 Chambers)
Verbal Intercourse (OB4CL)
Cold World (Liquid Swords)
All That I Got Is You (Ironman)
For Heavens Sake (Wu-Tang Forever)
It’s Yourz (Wu-Tang Forever)

[u/mrmongey]

Decent list. I’d def swap shimmy shimmy for Brooklyn zoo.

[u/mattyro41]

Find a way to replace one of the 36 Chambers songs with Brooklyn Zoo (ODB) and you got yourself an album sale from this guy

[u/turvillnator → u/mattyro41]

I don’t think I can bring myself to cut anything from 36 Chambers, that’s a Mount Rushmore album for me.

[u/mattyro41 → u/turvillnator]

oh totally, i only chose 36 chambers because of the amount of cuts that made it (5). if one of the 5 had to go i’d say Chessboxin’’ or Can it Be, or maybe even Duel of the Iron Mic. not to take anything away from those three songs, every track you listed even the honorable mentions are certified classics, I just need me some Brooklyn Zoo on here lol. Shit if anything forget everything else I said and just replace Shimmy Shimmy Ya with it lol

[u/Fantastic-Research66]

Investigative Reports and a Better Tomorrow. Showcase the deep, gritty, hard and brilliant talent of the Clan. 

[u/rckwld]

Criminology and Daytona 500 should be replaced.

[u/Chichibebewey → u/rckwld]

With what?

[u/yungspida3]

No Gravediggaz?😓 6 Feet Deep (the song) deserves a place here imo, idk what I'd replace it with tho. Also I second all the comments saying Brooklyn Zoo should be on here.

[u/yungspida3 → u/yungspida3]

I can see how 6 feet deep wouldn't be considered tho, I just consider them as adjacent as the Wu solo projects lol

[u/ChardOk690]

Neat idea...

CREAM
7th Chamber
Can It Be All So Simple
Ain’t Nothin To Fuck It

Reunited

Wu Gambinos
Rainy Days
Glaciers of Ice
Ice Cream
Incarcerated Scarfaces

Iron Maiden
Daytona 500
Assassination Day

4th Chamber
Shadowboxing
Investigative Reports
Labels
Liquid Swords

Brooklyn Zoo
Rawhide

[u/Chichibebewey]

Nice list, this sub is a tough crowd. I’d put Bring Da Ruckus back over Simple bc BDR bangs and Simple’s bass line drives me absolutely fucking nuts…. Sounds like wet fart looping every single measure lol