They weren’t simply going to be artists, they were going to be entrepreneurs all investing in a new brand called: Wu-Tang. This particular brand came from the rugged streets of Shaolin and was paving its own sound and style and creating a worldwide audience that would stretch from the slums of Shaolin to all corners of the globe. And despite being a massively popular movement in the Hip-Hop world, the sound was decidedly rugged, ruff, creative and original to a tee. All of the marks of their unique style are present on ’36 Chambers’ although they would only continue to develop and mature in all aspects on their subsequent releases.
This album delivers a lyrical showcase of top-tier battle rap, packed with hundreds of sharp, aggressive bars from some of the most creative and skilled MCs to touch the mic. With pop culture nods, humor, and raw intensity, the verses capture the feel of a cipher on the corner. While much of the project thrives on that energy, three standout tracks shift into a more narrative-driven approach. The first, the laid-back and soulful “Can It Be All So Simple,” marks the debut of Raekwon and Ghostface Killah’s dynamic partnership. The second, “C.R.E.A.M.,” blends a haunting piano loop with vivid depictions of life’s struggles, delivered by Raekwon and Inspectah Deck, and anchored by Method Man’s unforgettable hook. Finally, “Tearz” takes a darker, emotional turn as RZA recounts a violent street scene, while Ghostface offers a sobering tale centered on HIV/AIDS. These tracks add depth to an already powerful record.
Observing the Wu-Tang Clan and the solo projects that followed there is one thing that is blatantly apparent, and that’s how the Clan delivered a sound and style that was amazingly original and unorthodox not only lyrically, but certainly on the production side also, where RZA created soundscapes that were catchy, atmospheric, and rugged all while being decidedly non-commercial. That’s a mighty hard combination to pull off but the RZA did it with flying colors by creating a style all his own yet still accessible enough to capture audiences across the globe and inspire an entire planet of upcoming Hip-Hop artists to follow his lead. Most of the tracks on ’36 Chambers’ have a funky and hardcore vibe (something that would be less present on their next album: 1997’s ‘Wu-Tang Forever‘), on this album the strength of the beats is an undeniable catchiness and funky rhythmic quality that suits the high energy rapping perfectly. On the other side of the spectrum the inclusion, ‘Can It All Be So Simple”, ‘C.R.E.A.M.’, ‘Tearz’ add a melodic and relaxed element that rounds out the album’s hardcore street battle atmosphere.
Adding to the charm of the album are the skits, the most famous one being the ‘Torture Skit’ where Raekwon and Method Man try to out-do each other in creating the most excruciating torture scenarios. They do a great job at this and the skit is both horrific and hilarious to listen to, undoubtedly making it one of Hip-Hop’s classic skits. The album actually has several smaller skits scattered throughout the tracklist making this a very good skit album also.
After it’s release late in 1993, the album peaked at 41 on the Billboard charts and wasn’t certified platinum until May 15, 1995. So it was game-changer despite being a slow burner saleswise. Nonetheless, it was the firecracker that set off a stream of rapid releases from ’94-’97, which were all produced by RZA and each with their unique sounds. An amazing start for Hip-Hop’s most exciting, memorable and beloved crew.