Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Studio album by Wu-Tang Clan
Released	November 9, 1993
Recorded	August 1992 - March 1993
Studio	Firehouse Studio (Brooklyn, New York City)
Genre(s)	Hip hop, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop
Length	61:31
Label	Loud Records
Producer(s)	Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, RZA (also exec.)

Wu-Tang Clan chronology
Next	Wu-Tang Forever (1997)

Wu-Tang Clan solo chronology
Previous	Words from the Genius by GZA (1991)
Next	Tical by Method Man (1994)

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released in November 9, 1993 on Loud Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in August 1992 to March 1993 at Firehouse Studios in New York City, and mastered at The Hit Factory. The album's title originates from the 1978 martial arts film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. The group's de facto leader RZA produced the album entirely, utilizing heavy, eerie beats and a sound largely based on martial-arts movie clips and soul music samples.

The distinctive sound of Enter the Wu-Tang created a blueprint for hardcore hip hop during the mid-1990s and helped return East Coast hip hop to national prominence, after a recent surge of popularity for West Coast hip hop. Its sound also became hugely influential in modern hip hop production, while the groups members' explicit, humorous, and free-associative lyrics have served as a template for many subsequent hip hop records. Serving as a landmark record in the era of hip hop known as the East Coast Renaissance, its influence helped pave way for several other East Coast hip hop artists, such as Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Mobb Deep and Jay-Z.

Despite its raw, underground sound, the album had surprising chart success, peaking at number 41 on the US Billboard 200 chart. By 1995, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of one million copies in the United States. Initially receiving positive reviews from most music critics, Enter the Wu-Tang has been regarded by music writers as one of the most significant albums of the 1990s, as well as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.

Legacy

Rolling Stone ranked Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) at #27 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2020.

Track listing

All songs written by Wu-Tang Clan. All songs produced by RZA, with additional production by Ol' Dirty Bastard on "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" and Method Man on "Wu-Tang Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit'".

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Length
1.	"Bring da Ruckus"	RZA, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, GZA	4:10
2.	"Shame on a N*!%a"	Raekwon, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon	2:57
3.	"Clan in da Front"	RZA, GZA	4:33
4.	"Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber"	Raekwon, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, RZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, GZA	6:05
5.	"Can It Be All So Simple"	RZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah	6:53
6.	"Da Mystery of Chessboxin'"	Method Man, U-God, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa	4:48
7.	"Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit'"	RZA, Inspectah Deck, Method Man	3:36
8.	"C.R.E.A.M."	Method Man, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck	4:12
9.	"Method Man"	GZA, Method Man, RZA, Ghostface Killah	5:50
10.	"Protect Ya Neck"	RZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, U-God, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Ghostface Killah, GZA	4:52
11.	"Tearz"	RZA, Ghostface Killah	4:17
12.	"Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - Part II"	Raekwon, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, RZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, GZA	6:09