Protect Ya Neck
Encyclopedia
"Protect Ya Neck" is the debut single by hip hop
group Wu-Tang Clan
. The song is from the group's critically acclaimed first album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
and is one of the group's most popular singles. It is produced by RZA
(then known as Prince Rakeem) and features eight of the nine original Wu-Tang members.
, who was at the time incarcerated). It was originally released in 1992 as part of the "Protect Ya Neck"/"After The Laughter Comes Tears" single by Wu-Tang Records. When it created an underground buzz, Wu-Tang signed with Loud Records
and released it with "Method Man
" on its b-side. That single sold 10,000 copies.
On the original recording version of the song, Inspektah Deck's verse came second, but RZA changed it to first in the order. The original beat was totally different, and all Wu-members were in a different order. RZA just said "I just need y'all voices" and Wu entered the studio the next morning and RZA arranged everything, including the karate chops. The person who rings into a radio station at the start of the song was from a interview Wu did. Wu did the interview on a radio station ("Virginia or Maryland, WPGC, I think" Inspektah Deck says), different segments of the same interview are placed at different parts of the album.
"Protect Ya Neck" is featured on greatest hits compilations such as The RZA Hits
, Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1 and Legend of the Wu-Tang Clan
. On Wu-Tang Clan's third album, The W
, an alternate version named "Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)" can be found. It features new Wu-Tang member Cappadonna
and Masta Killa
in place of the then-incarcerated Ol' Dirty Bastard
.
"Protect Ya Neck" has been featured in video games True Crime: New York City
and Skate 2
. The chime that opens the song is from the kung fu movie Executioners from Shaolin.
The "Protect Ya Neck/Method Man" single made The Source's
100 Best Singles list. In September 2010 Pitchfork Media
included the song at number 5 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.
being shown as "Ghost Face Killer" and GZA
as the Jizah. In the video, occasionally clips of Wu-Tang as a full group in color are flashed for a couple seconds. It features a cameo appearance from a then-unknown Cappadonna
during Raekwon
& Ghostface Killah's respective scenes.
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
. The song is from the group's critically acclaimed first album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Enter the Wu-Tang is the debut album of American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released November 9, 1993, on Loud Records and distributed through RCA Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during 1992 to 1993 at Firehouse Studio in New York City, and it was mastered at The Hit Factory...
and is one of the group's most popular singles. It is produced by RZA
RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
(then known as Prince Rakeem) and features eight of the nine original Wu-Tang members.
Song information
"Protect Ya Neck" was the first Wu-Tang song bringing together the original four members and four others (excluding Masta KillaMasta Killa
Jamel Arief , better known as Masta Killa, is an American rapper and member of the Wu-Tang Clan...
, who was at the time incarcerated). It was originally released in 1992 as part of the "Protect Ya Neck"/"After The Laughter Comes Tears" single by Wu-Tang Records. When it created an underground buzz, Wu-Tang signed with Loud Records
Loud Records
Loud Records is a subsidiary of SRC Records founded by Steve Rifkind in 1992.Loud was a hip hop label which has released material by acts such as Wu-Tang Clan, Big Punisher, Mobb Deep, Krayzie Bone, The Beatnuts, M.O.P., Tha Alkaholiks, Pete Rock, Lil' Flip, Three 6 Mafia, Project Pat, Xzibit,...
and released it with "Method Man
Method Man (song)
"Method Man" is the B-side to the single "Protect Ya Neck" from critically acclaimed debut album by the Wu-Tang Clan titled Enter the Wu-Tang . It was a solo track for the first successful solo star of the Wu-Tang Clan, Method Man. The song was chosen for The Source magazine 100 best rap singles...
" on its b-side. That single sold 10,000 copies.
On the original recording version of the song, Inspektah Deck's verse came second, but RZA changed it to first in the order. The original beat was totally different, and all Wu-members were in a different order. RZA just said "I just need y'all voices" and Wu entered the studio the next morning and RZA arranged everything, including the karate chops. The person who rings into a radio station at the start of the song was from a interview Wu did. Wu did the interview on a radio station ("Virginia or Maryland, WPGC, I think" Inspektah Deck says), different segments of the same interview are placed at different parts of the album.
"Protect Ya Neck" is featured on greatest hits compilations such as The RZA Hits
The RZA Hits
The RZA Hits is a compilation produced by The RZA. It contains songs featured on the first Wu-Tang Clan album and its first round of solo albums...
, Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1 and Legend of the Wu-Tang Clan
Legend of the Wu-Tang Clan
Legend of the Wu-Tang is a compilation album released by the Wu-Tang Clan in 2004. It is notable for including the rare unedited version of "Protect Ya Neck", a remix of the song "Method Man" with alternate verses, as well as "Shaolin Worldwide", "Sucker MCs" and "Diesel", 3 tracks the Wu-Tang...
. On Wu-Tang Clan's third album, The W
The W
The W is the third studio album by the American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released November 21, 2000 on Loud/Columbia Records. It was released several years after their previous album Wu-Tang Forever, to which many group members released solo projects between the two albums...
, an alternate version named "Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)" can be found. It features new Wu-Tang member Cappadonna
Cappadonna
Darryl Hill best known by his stage name Cappadonna, is an American rapper and oftentimes member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He is also a member of rap duo Wu South, along with Ratchet Rush.-Biography:...
and Masta Killa
Masta Killa
Jamel Arief , better known as Masta Killa, is an American rapper and member of the Wu-Tang Clan...
in place of the then-incarcerated Ol' Dirty Bastard
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Russell Tyrone Jones was an American rapper and occasional producer, who went by the stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard or simply ODB...
.
"Protect Ya Neck" has been featured in video games True Crime: New York City
True Crime: New York City
True Crime: New York City is an urban sandbox-style action-adventure videogame published by Activision and developed by Luxoflux for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube consoles and Windows based computers. It is the second game of the True Crime series, released after True Crime: Streets of LA...
and Skate 2
Skate 2
Skate 2 is a sandbox skateboarding video game developed by EA Black Box and distributed by Electronic Arts as a sequel to the 2007 game, Skate. Skate 2 was released in January 2009 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.-Plot:...
. The chime that opens the song is from the kung fu movie Executioners from Shaolin.
The "Protect Ya Neck/Method Man" single made The Source's
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
100 Best Singles list. In September 2010 Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
included the song at number 5 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.
Song order
- Intro
- (sounds of fighting)
- Wu-Intro: RZA and Method Man
- First verse: Inspectah DeckInspectah DeckJason Hunter, better known by his stage name Inspectah Deck, is an American rapper, producer, and member of the Wu-Tang Clan...
- Second verse: RaekwonRaekwonCorey Woods , better known by the stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He released his solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... in 1995, and has since recorded four solo albums, as well as work with Wu-Tang and an extensive amount of guest contributions with...
- Third verse: Method ManMethod ManClifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
- Bridge: U-GodU-GodLamont Hawkins , better known as U-God , is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. He has been with the group since its inception, and is known for having a deep, rhythmic flow that can alternate between being gruff or smooth...
- Interlude: Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard and RZA
- Fourth verse: Ol' Dirty BastardOl' Dirty BastardRussell Tyrone Jones was an American rapper and occasional producer, who went by the stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard or simply ODB...
- Fifth verse: Ghostface KillahGhostface KillahDennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
- Sixth verse: RZARZARobert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
- Seventh verse: GZAGZAGary Grice , better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American hip hop artist and founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also appeared on his fellow clan members' solo projects and has maintained a successful solo career...
- (sounds of fighting)
- Outro: RZA, Method Man
Music video
The music video shows each Wu-Tang rapper in black and white rapping individually with their entourage in the background. As each rapper starts their verse, their rap aliases are shown on the screen. Many of these aliases are spelled incorrectly or never used on official releases such as Ghostface KillahGhostface Killah
Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
being shown as "Ghost Face Killer" and GZA
GZA
Gary Grice , better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American hip hop artist and founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also appeared on his fellow clan members' solo projects and has maintained a successful solo career...
as the Jizah. In the video, occasionally clips of Wu-Tang as a full group in color are flashed for a couple seconds. It features a cameo appearance from a then-unknown Cappadonna
Cappadonna
Darryl Hill best known by his stage name Cappadonna, is an American rapper and oftentimes member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He is also a member of rap duo Wu South, along with Ratchet Rush.-Biography:...
during Raekwon
Raekwon
Corey Woods , better known by the stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He released his solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... in 1995, and has since recorded four solo albums, as well as work with Wu-Tang and an extensive amount of guest contributions with...
& Ghostface Killah's respective scenes.
A-Side
- "Protect Ya Neck" (Radio Edit) (4:30)
- "Protect Ya Neck" (Shao Lin Version) (4:36)
- "Protect Ya Neck" (Bloody Version) (5:03)
B-Side
- "Method ManMethod Man (song)"Method Man" is the B-side to the single "Protect Ya Neck" from critically acclaimed debut album by the Wu-Tang Clan titled Enter the Wu-Tang . It was a solo track for the first successful solo star of the Wu-Tang Clan, Method Man. The song was chosen for The Source magazine 100 best rap singles...
" (Radio Edit) (4:15) - "Method Man" (Smoked Out Version) (5:02)
- "Method Man" (Home Grown Version) (5:08)
- "Method Man" (Bonus Beats) (0:57)