Alongside Dr. Dre's The Chronic, Wu-Tang Clan’s debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was one of the most influential ‘90s rap albums. RZA’s minimalist, atmospheric production set a new hardcore hip-hop blueprint, fuelling the New York rap resurgence and inspiring artists like Biggie, Jay-Z, and Nas. The album introduced a diverse group of MCs, each with unique styles ranging from theatrical to lyrical mastery, delivering inventive rhymes filled with martial arts imagery, pop culture, dark humour, and surreal menace. Its eerie, lo-fi beats and kung fu samples created a haunting, original sound that remains fresh and unmatched, marking the group’s tightest collective work.
