Wu-Tang Forever

Wu-Tang Forever
Studio album by Wu-Tang Clan
Released	June 3, 1997
Recorded	1996–1997
Genre	Hip hop
Length	118:43 (North America) 130:11 (international)
Label	Loud/RCA/BMG Records 07863-66905 (North America) 74321-45768 (international)
Producer	RZA Inspectah Deck 4th Disciple True Master
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Entertainment Weekly (A) link Melody Maker (favorable) link NME (favorable) link Q link RapReviews.com (8/10) link Rhapsody (favorable) link Rolling Stone Link Spin (7/10) link
Wu-Tang Clan chronology
Enter the Wu-Tang (1993) Wu-Tang Forever (1997) The W (2000)
Wu-Tang Clan chronology
Ghostface Killah: Ironman (1996) Wu-Tang Forever (1997) Method Man: Tical 2000: Judgement Day (1998)

Wu-Tang Forever was the long-awaited follow-up to the Wu-Tang Clan's first album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). It came following a string of successful solo projects from the clan's prominent members (Tical, Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., Liquid Swords & Ironman). Forever was released on June 3, 1997 as a double album at the peak of the group's popularity and to high expectations. Despite limited radio /TV airplay and the lead single that famously clocked at nearly 6 minutes with no chorus, the album debuted at #1 in the U.S. with 650,000 copies sold in its first week. It also debuted at #1 in the UK and Canada as well.

The album was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 1998 Grammy Awards, but lost to Puff Daddy's No Way Out. In an infamous moment, after losing, Wu-Tang Clan member Ol' Dirty Bastard interrupted Shawn Colvin's Song of the Year acceptance speech to protest the loss in the Best Rap Album category, saying that he spent a lot of money on an expensive suit with expectations of winning, and proclaiming "Puffy is good, but Wu-Tang is the best".[1]

Music

Production

While the Clan's last record is known for its minimalistic production style, RZA had been expanding the musical backdrop of each solo Wu album since. Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... in particular was praised for its cinematic feel. RZA earned accolades for his new dense style of production; incorporating strings ("Reunited") heavy synthesizers ("For Heavens Sake", "It's Yourz", "Bells of War", "Duck Seazon" etc.) and the kung-fu samples of old ("Severe Punishment, "Hellz Wind Staff"). The production of the record also pioneered RZA's technique of chopping up and speeding up soul samples to where it is unusually high-pitched. It later flooded the rap market in the 2000s with producers like Kanye West and Just Blaze leading the forefront. The album even had RZA assigning some of the album's production to his protégés True Master and 4th Disciple, as well as Inspectah Deck.

Lyrics

The group's lyrics differed in many ways from those of 36 Chambers, with many verses written in stream-of-consciousness style and heavily influenced by the teachings of the Five Percent Nation. The group showed some mature depth as well, speaking on the pitfalls of life's vices ("A Better Tomorrow") and the harsh realities of the inner city life. "Impossible" even touches on the less glamorized realities of the same violence that the Clan has often paraded.

The Wu-Tang Clan took advantage of the double-disc format, allowing each of the 9 members with a significant number of appearances, including three solo tracks. Several of the members have been recognized for particularly strong performances:

Inspectah Deck raised his stock in the public eye with The Source's Hip-Hop Quotable for his performance on "Triumph". This verse is also considered by many to be one of the greatest hip-hop verses of all time^[1]. Despite being one of the few clan members yet to produce a solo album, his contributions throughout Wu-Tang Forever lead to being a highly sought after guest collaborator; appearing in the near future on tracks for Gang Starr, Pete Rock and Big Punisher.

Ghostface Killah continued his rise to fame with memorable verses in "Impossible" (hailed by RZA himself in the Wu-Tang Manual as the greatest Wu-Tang verse ever) and "Cash Still Rules/Scary Hours" (where his verse is cut-off, first popularizing the feel that he could "go on forever"). He would follow up his work on Forever with Supreme Clientele, which is generally regarded as a classic in the Hip-Hop album canon.

Critical reaction

Due to the success of the group's debut and subsequent solo albums, expectations of both fans and critics were high for this album's release. Stephen Thomas Erlewine - writing for Allmusic - stated:

Track listing

Disc one

Disc two

International release only

Album singles

• Released: August 4, 1997
• B-side: "Projects International Remix" (European Version only)

Chart positions

Album

In the UK, it fell from #1 (in its first week) to #14 (in its second week)- the biggest fall from the summit in that chart's history.

Singles

Personnel

• Ney Pimentel - Artwork, Art Direction, Design, Layout Design
• Sherin Baday - Photography, A&R
• Bob Berg - Photography
• Carlos Bess - Mixing, Mixing Engineer
• Cappadonna - Performer
• Dennis Coles - Executive Producer
• Tom Coyne - Mastering
• Mitchell Diggs - Executive Producer
• Robert Diggs - Executive Producer
• Divine - Production Coordination
• Fourth Disciple - Producer, Engineer, Mixing
• Arlene Godfrey - A&R
• Oli Grant - Executive Producer
• Scott Harding - Mixing, Mixing Engineer
• Che Harris - A&R
• Inspectah Deck - Producer, Mixing
• Laurie Marks - A&R
• Philippe McClelland - Photography
• Shawn Mortenson - Photography
• Eugene Nastasi - Editing
• P.O.W.E.R. - Production Coordination
• Michael "Wolf" Reaves - Mixing
• RZA - Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Assistant Producer
• Troy Staton - Mixing
• True Master - Producer, Engineer, Mixing

References