#71 Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan

The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

2025 Album Rank

71

Total Points

864

Year Released

1993

Billboard 200 Chart Peak

41

Weeks at #1

N/A

RIAA Sales Certification

3,000,000 (Multi Platinum)

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Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) Album Details

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is the groundbreaking debut album by Wu-Tang Clan, released on November 9, 1993. Recorded on a shoestring budget in New York City, the album's raw production, gritty lyricism, and inventive group dynamic redefined East Coast hip-hop in the 1990s. RZA's dusty, sample-heavy beats, built from kung fu movie dialogue, soul loops, and hard-hitting drums, created a unique sonic world. Each member brought a distinct voice and style, from Method Man's charisma to Ghostface Killah's vivid storytelling to GZA's cerebral wordplay. The record's blend of martial arts mystique, street narratives, and unfiltered energy became a template for hardcore rap crews for decades to come.

Beyond its music, the album revolutionized the business model of hip-hop groups. Wu-Tang Clan signed a deal allowing individual members to pursue solo contracts with different labels, spreading their influence far beyond this debut. With tracks like Protect Ya Neck, C.R.E.A.M., and Method Man, the album delivered both underground grit and crossover potential, cementing Wu-Tang as one of the most important collectives in rap history.

Interesting Facts About Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

• The album's title references both the 1978 kung fu film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and the group's Staten Island roots, with "36 Chambers" representing different aspects of the mind and style.
• Protect Ya Neck was the group's first single, self-financed and independently distributed before they signed to Loud Records. Its buzz in the underground scene led to the record deal.
• RZA intentionally kept the production lo-fi to capture the raw energy of their early recordings, often using cheap equipment and minimal overdubs.
• The group often recorded verses separately, sometimes without hearing what other members had laid down, adding to the album's unpredictable and chaotic energy.
• C.R.E.A.M. ("Cash Rules Everything Around Me") became the album's biggest commercial success and is now one of the most quoted phrases in hip-hop history.
• Method Man was the only member to get a dedicated solo track on the album, which served as both a fan favorite and a preview of his successful solo career.
• The skits and kung fu samples throughout the record were drawn from VHS tapes in RZA's collection, reflecting the group's obsession with martial arts cinema.
• The success of Enter the Wu-Tang led to a wave of classic solo albums from the members, including GZA's Liquid Swords, Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., and Method Man's Tical.
• Despite its modest chart performance upon release, the album's influence grew steadily, and it is now regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) Tracklist

1. Bring da Ruckus
2. Shame on a Nigga
3. Clan in da Front
4. Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber
5. Can It Be All So Simple
6. Da Mystery of Chessboxin'
7. Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit
8. C.R.E.A.M.
9. Method Man
10. Protect Ya Neck
11. Tearz
12. Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - Part II (Conclusion)

C.R.E.A.M. Music Video

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