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Wu-Tang Clan is an influential American hip hop and rap group currently consisting of eight MCs: RZA, GZA, Method Man, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, Raekwon and Inspectah Deck.

Founded in 1992 on Staten Island, New York by cousins Robert Diggs, Gary Grice and Russell Jones (RZA, GZA, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard respectively), the group’s name comes from the film Shaolin and the Wu Tang. In fact, Staten Island is often referred to by members of the Clan as ‘Shaolin’.

The group first gained recognition in 1993 with the single Project Ya Neck. It was initially difficult to find a label that would sign the group while allowing each member to release solo albums with their other labels, but eventually Loud/RCA agreed to release Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in November 1993. It was an instant critical and commercial hit, creating a blueprint for hardcore hip hop during the next decade, and is now considered one of the most significant and influential albums of the 1990s.

Immediately after the success of their first group album, the individual members released a string of solo material, which has since been described as “the greatest winning streak in rap history”. This includes Method Man’s album Tical, RZA’s 6 Feet Deep (with side project Gravediggaz), Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, GZA’s Liquid Swords, Ghostface Killah’s Ironman and Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version.

In 1997, the Clan got back together to record the Grammy-nominated multiplatinum double album Wu-Tang Forever, which went straight to number one in the Billboard charts. To date, the album has sold over 8.3 million copies worldwide. Then, after a second round of solo releases, the group released The W in 2000, which went on to reach double platinum status, followed by the less well-received Iron Flag in 2001.

In December 2004, Ol’ Dirty Bastard collapsed and died aged 35 while recording at the Clan’s recording studio in New York. The band released no new material for a couple of years, but returned in December 2007 with 8 Diagrams. The album received generally positive reviews, although Ghostface Killah and Raekwon have since claimed to be unhappy with the album as they do not consider it to contain the signature “Wu-tang sound”.