Wu-Elements
Encyclopedia
Conception
The Wu-Elements are a production teamHip hop production
Hip hop production is the creation of hip hop music. Though the term encompasses all aspects of hip hop music, it's most commonly used to refer to the instrumental, non-lyrical aspects of hip hop. This means that hip hop producers are the instrumentalists involved in a work...
closely affiliated with the 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...
. A loosely-knit group, it consists of five producers who typically support main producer 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...
in handling production duties for Wu-Tang group, solo and affiliate releases. In 1994, producer 4th Disciple
4th Disciple
Selwin Bougard, now known as El-Divine Amir Bey, better known by his stage name 4th Disciple, is a hip hop producer and engineer who was one of the founding members of Killarmy and one of the best-known Wu-Tang-affiliated producers.- Biography :...
became the first producer outside of RZA to produce on a Wu-Tang Clan release; he co-produced "Sub Crazy" for Method Man
Method Man
Clifford 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...
's debut, Tical
Tical (album)
Tical is the debut solo album of American rapper, and Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man, released November 15, 1994, on Def Jam Records. It was the first Wu-Tang solo album released after the group's debut, Enter the Wu-Tang ...
, then co-produced the song "Damage" for 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...
's solo debut, Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version is the solo debut album of American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ol' Dirty Bastard, released March 28, 1995 on Elektra Records in the United States. It was the second solo album to be released from the nine-member Wu-Tang camp, following the release of...
. True Master
True Master
True Master is an American hip-hop producer and very occasional rapper. He is closely affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan and an original member of its production team, sometimes referred to as Wu-Elements. He derives his rap nom de plume from the martial arts movie of the same name...
also co-produced a song on The Dirty Version, the single "Brooklyn Zoo" with ODB. Also in 1995, 4th Disciple produced the track "B.I.B.L.E.", a Killah Priest
Killah Priest
Walter Reed, better known as Killah Priest, Iron Sheik from the Middle East, or Masada, is an American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate who was raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant & Brownsville neighbourhoods in Brooklyn. He is known for intensely spiritual lyrics loaded with metaphors and religious...
solo song at the end of 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...
's 2nd album, Liquid Swords
Liquid Swords
Liquid Swords is the second solo studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, released November 7, 1995, on Geffen Records. Recording sessions for the album began mid-way through 1995 at producer RZA's basement studio in Staten Island New York...
; he also produced singles for Wu-Tang affiliates Sunz of Man
Sunz of Man
Sunz of Man is a Wu-Tang Clan affiliated group that currently consists of Prodigal Sunn, Hell Razah, 60 Second Assassin, Shabazz the Disciple and Killah Priest. The group's first incarnation also included 7th Ambassador and Supreme...
, "Five Arch Angels" and "Soldiers of Darkness." In 1996, True Master produced "Fish," the only non-RZA produced song on Ghostface Killah
Ghostface 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...
's debut album Ironman
Ironman (album)
Ironman is the solo debut album by American hip hop artist and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released October 29, 1996, on Epic Records...
. After both of them contributed to The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel
The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel
The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel, released October 14, 1997, is the second album by the Gravediggaz, an influential horrorcore hip hop supergroup...
, a release by RZA's sidegroup The Gravediggaz, they were given production spots on Wu-Tang Clan's second solo album, Wu-Tang Forever
Wu-Tang Forever
Wu-Tang Forever is the second studio album of American hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released June 3, 1997 on Loud/RCA Records in the United States. Pressed as a double album, it was released after a long run of successful solo projects from various members of the group, and serves as the follow-up...
, in 1997.
Wu-Tang Clan Affiliate Projects (1998-2002)
After 1997, RZA's five-year business plan was up and the members of the Wu-Tang Clan were given their contracts, and they went separate ways to develop their solo careers, during which time many Wu-Tang-affiliated acts began to come out with their own projects. Disciple and True Master were in higher demand as RZA was increasingly less available to produce. In 1998 alone, 4th Disciple and True Master produced much of Sunz of Mans' debut album The Last Shall Be First, Cappadonna's debut The PillageThe Pillage
The Pillage is the debut album of close affiliate and quasi-member of the Wu-Tang Clan, Cappadonna. It was released on March 24, 1998 by Razor Sharp/Epic Street on Compact disc, vinyl and tape cassette.-Track listing:-See also:...
, Method Man's second album Tical 2000: Judgement Day
Tical 2000: Judgement Day
Tical 2000: Judgement Day is the second studio album by American rapper, and Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man, released November 17, 1998, on Def Jam Records. The album's title and overall theme were heavily influenced by the apocalypse theories surrounding the forthcoming end of the millennium...
, and Killah Priest
Killah Priest
Walter Reed, better known as Killah Priest, Iron Sheik from the Middle East, or Masada, is an American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate who was raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant & Brownsville neighbourhoods in Brooklyn. He is known for intensely spiritual lyrics loaded with metaphors and religious...
's debut Heavy Mental
Heavy Mental
Heavy Mental is the debut album by rapper Killah Priest, an associate of hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan and a member of the group Sunz of Man. It was released on March 10, 1998, on Geffen Records....
. In addition, 4th Disciple produced four songs on LA the Darkman
La the Darkman
As a teenager in New York City, the Crown Heights, Brooklyn-bred emcee born Lason Jackson negotiated his first deal just as he was finishing high school...
's debut Heist of the Century
Heist Of The Century
Heist of the Century is the debut album by Wu-Tang Clan affiliate La the Darkman.It features appearances by many Wu-Tang Clan members and affiliates such as Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and U-God, and also features Havoc of Mobb Deep.-Track listing:...
and nearly all of affiliate group Killarmy
Killarmy
Killarmy is a hip hop group, also known through its affiliation with the Wu-Tang Clan It is one of the earliest and most successful of the many Wu-Tang affiliates along with Sunz of Man....
's debut album, Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars
Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars
Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars is the debut from Wu-Tang affiliate Killarmy. The group consists of six MCs: Killa Sin, Beretta 9, Islord, 9th Prince, P.R. Terrorist , and ShoGun Assasson; and one producer, 4th Disciple, who produced the majority of the album...
. On their next album, Dirty Weaponry
Dirty Weaponry
Dirty Weaponry is the second album by hip-hop group Killarmy, released one year after its debut, Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars. The majority of the album was produced by group member 4th Disciple, with additional production coming from Wu-Elements producer Mathematics...
, the Wu-Tang Clan's DJ Allah Mathematics got major placements for his production, previously having produced only B-sides for Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna.
Several of these albums have become cult classics, but their releases have typically been overshadowed by the fans' steady desire to hear RZA production on Wu-Tang projects. The pure volume of Wu-Tang-affiliated material and side projects began to tire critics, and a lack of focus was commonly attributed to the music. In 1999, Disciple took something of a break, producing only two songs for Inspectah Deck
Inspectah Deck
Jason Hunter, better known by his stage name Inspectah Deck, is an American rapper, producer, and member of the Wu-Tang Clan...
's debut album Uncontrolled Substance
Uncontrolled Substance
Uncontrolled Substance is the solo debut album by rapper, and Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck. Originally slated for release in 1995, the record was indefinitely postponed after a flood destroyed over 100 beats in RZA's basement, including his original productions for the album...
. True Master took on the bulk of Wu-Element production duties for the year, contributing tracks to U-God
U-God
Lamont 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...
's solo debut Golden Arms Redemption
Golden Arms Redemption
Golden Arms Redemption is the solo debut album by Wu-Tang Clan member U-God, an American hip hop musician.-Track listing:-Album chart positions:-Singles chart positions:...
and Ol' Dirty Bastard's sophomore effort, Nigga Please
Nigga Please
Nigga Please is the second studio album by American hip hop artist and member of the Wu-Tang Clan Ol' Dirty Bastard, released on September 14, 1999. This was the last album released during ODB's lifetime. The album debuted at #10 on the Billboard 200 with 93,000 copies sold in the first week...
; Mathematics produced songs for Uncontrolled Substance as well as GZA's second album, Beneath the Surface
Beneath the Surface
Beneath the Surface is the third solo studio album by Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, an American hip hop musician. It was his second album released as a member of the Wu-Tang Clan.-Reception:...
, Method Man's collaboration with fellow Def Jam Records rapper Redman entitled Blackout!
Blackout!
Blackout! is the debut album by hip hop artists Method Man & Redman. It is the first full-length release by Method Man and Redman after many collaborations. The album continued a string of highly successful Def Jam releases in the late 1990s. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and...
, a Wu-Tang Clan contribution to Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
's Friday soundtrack
Friday (soundtrack)
Friday is a soundtrack album for the 1995 comedy film Friday. It was released on April 11, 1995 through Priority Records and consisted of hip hop and R&B music. The soundtrack peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, where it held the position for two weeks, and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for six weeks....
, and an underground RZA-executive-produced project called Wu-Syndicate by duo Mayalanski and Joe Mafia.
The Wu-Elements' responsibilities increased dramatically by 2000; they were mostly limited to Wu-Tang contributions to soundtracks, and tracks for Ghostface Killah's second album Supreme Clientele
Supreme Clientele
Supreme Clientele is the second studio album of American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released January 25, 2000 on Epic Records. The album was recorded at several studios in New York and Florida, with the sessions taking place in 1999...
and Wu-Tang's third group 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...
. Between the three of them, the Wu-Elements mainly produced a small selection of songs for RZA's sophomore solo album Digital Bullet
Digital Bullet
Digital Bullet is the second solo studio album by the American hip hop artist RZA under his pseudonym Bobby Digital, which was released on August 28, 2001...
and Wu-Tang's fourth album Iron Flag
Iron Flag
Iron Flag is the fourth studio album by American East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, released December 18, 2001 on Loud Records. The album was certified gold in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America. Iron Flag served as the group's second lowest-selling album , as their...
in 2001, and in 2002 branched out to one or two outside artists, if that. In 2002, a producer called Moongod Allah was inducted into the Wu-Elements by RZA; however, familial difficulties drew his focus away from the music business.
Bronze Nazareth & Separate Projects (2003-2005)
2003 brought the induction of producer Bronze NazarethBronze Nazareth
Bronze Nazareth is a Hip-Hop music producer and emcee associated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He is, along with Cilvaringz, part of the new generation of producers to carry on the Wu-Tang sound. He has a solo career as an emcee and is also a part of the hip-hop group Wisemen.- Biography :He was born and...
into the Wu-Elements by RZA. Along with True Master, Nazareth produced for Birth of a Prince
Birth of a Prince
Birth of a Prince is the third solo studio album by American hip hop musician RZA, the main producer of the Wu-Tang Clan. It was released on October 7, 2003...
, RZA's first album not released under the name Bobby Digital
Bobby Digital
Bobby Digital may refer to:*Robert Dixon , an influential dancehall producer, also known as "Bobby Digital"*RZA, a rapper and music producer who has performed under the name Bobby Digital...
. Now working on releases independently of each other, the members of the Wu-Elements did beats for different artists, mainly under the Wu umbrella. From 2003 to 2005, 4th Disciple produced for Killarmy's 9th Prince, Sunz of Man, and U-God; True Master for 9th Prince, Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
, Masta Killa
Masta Killa
Jamel Arief , better known as Masta Killa, is an American rapper and member of the Wu-Tang Clan...
's solo debut No Said Date
No Said Date
No Said Date is the solo debut album by Wu-Tang Clan member Masta Killa, an American hip hop musician. With dark and dramatic beats and samples from martial arts films , the album has a sound reminiscent of Enter the Wu-Tang as it features all nine of the original Wu-Tang Clan members,...
, Ghostface's Pretty Toney Album, and former Bad Boy Entertainment artist Black Rob
Black Rob
Black Rob is a rapper who was formerly signed to Bad Boy Records.-Music career:Black Rob began associating with the label as early as 1996, appearing on the Bad Boy remix to 112's "Come See Me"...
; Mathematics for Masta Killa and for the compilation album Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture
Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture
Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture is an album released October 18, 2005. This album was put together by Bronze Nazareth, who has produced Wu-Tang and others. It includes collaborated tracks by Wu-Tang Clan members, Wu-Tang Clan affiliates, and various other underground hip-hop artists such as...
, among other, low-profile projects; and Bronze Nazareth contributed to Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture as well as the single release of the Killah Priest-inclusive group Black Market Militia
Black Market Militia
Black Market Militia is a rap group composed of Killah Priest, Timbo King, Hell Razah, Tragedy Khadafi and William Cooper. They released their first - Black Market Militia - in 2005, through Performance Records, invisioned and initiated by Mitchell Serbes, Gary Hertzan and Mariel Maffetone. They...
. 2003 also saw Mathematics release his debut album, Love, Hell or Right (Da Come Up)
Love, Hell or Right
Love Hell or Right is an album of the hip hop producer and DJ Mathematics, who is a DJ with Wu-Tang Clan.Completely mixed, arranged and produced by Mathematics himself, Love, Hell or Right was released August 26, 2003, on his own Quewisha Records label in conjunction with High Times Records, and...
, followed in 2005 by The Problem
The Problem (album)
The Problem is an album by Wu-Tang Clan DJ Mathematics. The album was released on 28 June 2005 by the company Nature Sounds. Most tracks feature cameos by members of the Wu-Tang Clan...
, both featuring heavy appearances from affiliates and core Wu-Tang Clan members.
RZA's Return (2006-Present)
Starting in 2005 and 2006, RZA was increasingly involved in Wu-Tang production once again. High-profile releases such as Method Man's 2006 album 4:21... The Day After, Cilvaringz' II (Cilvaringz album)
I is the debut album from Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated Dutch producer Cilvaringz.- Track listing :# "Poison Ring Chamber " [prod by Cilvaringz]# "Wu-Tang Martial Expert" [prod by Moongod Allah]# "The Weeping Tiger" feat Raekwon & Senna [prod by RZA]...
, GZA's sixth album Pro Tools
Pro Tools (album)
Pro Tools is the sixth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan-member GZA, released August 19, 2008 on Babygrande Records. It serves as his first release since his collaboration album with DJ Muggs, Grandmasters , and follows six years after his last solo effort, Legend of the Liquid Sword...
, the fifth Wu-Tang Clan group album 8 Diagrams
8 Diagrams
8 Diagrams is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released December 11, 2007 on SRC/Universal Motown Records. The album was released three years after the passing of Ol' Dirty Bastard, and six years after the group's previous LP Iron Flag, for which many group members...
, and Raekwon's highly-anticipated Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II all sported Wu-Element production, but most were spearheaded sonically by RZA, while the individual Elements produced on the side for affiliates such as Killah Priest, Hell Razah
Hell Razah
Hell Razah is an American rapper, best known as a member of Sunz of Man, an early affiliate of the Wu-Tang Clan...
, and The Wisemen. Of the currently-announced projects coming up from the Wu-Tang camp, RZA has been tapped to produce the entirety of U-God's next album. Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and Method Man's collaboration album Wu-Massacre
Wu-Massacre
Wu-Massacre is a collaboration studio album by American rappers and Wu-Tang Clan members Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, released March 30, 2010 on Def Jam Recordings...
is set to feature production by Mathematics (the lead single, "Meth vs. Chef pt. 2") and RZA (the second single, "Our Dreams"). Recently, 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...
has confirmed he will be handling all the production for 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...
's new albums Liquid Swords Part 2: The Return Of The Shadowboxer.