Rza	Method Man	U-god
Inspecta Deck	Raekwon	Ghostface
ODB	Gza	Masta Killa

Of New York's five boroughs, "Gaten" Staten Island has hardly made a peep in the world of beats. But the Wu-Tang Clan changed that with their debut on Loud/RCA Records, "ENTER THE WU-TANG (36 Chambers)." It's written that "what's first is last and what's last shall be first," says group producer, Rakeem "aka" RZA, "Staten Island is the last of the five boroughs to be recognized. We're the forgotten borough, but that's alright because now it's our turn to burn."

The sizzling, hardcore single "Protect Ya Neck", first released on the Clan's own Wu Tang label, blazed a trail through the club, college radio, and New York subterranean hip-hop scenes. Loud Records picked up on these underground vibes, and immediately signed the group (1993). Wu-Tang Clan followed-up with "Method Man", which was on Billboard's Rap Singles Chart for over 25 weeks, and "C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)," which took the Billboard charts by storm and reached #3 on the Rap Singles Chart, #1 on the Maxi-Single Sales Chart, Top 30 on the R&B Singles Chart and Top 60 on the Pop Singles Chart. Wu-Tang Clan also makes a special appearanc on RCA labelmates SWV's Top 10 hit, "Anything." The group's latest single release is "Can It Be All So Simple."

Backed by bone-breaking beats and eerie, horror movie sounds, this family of lyrical masters flings piles of styles and more flavors than Life Savers. "ENTER THE WU-TANG(36 Chambers)" is what hardcore hip-hop is all about. On the eve of "Enter The Wu-Tang 36 (Chambers) " receiving RIAA Gold Certification, WU-Tang Clan won two awards at The First Annual Source Awards--Lyricist Of The year (group or solo) and Single Of The Year for "Method Man." Since its debut in november of 1993, the album has already reached Top 109 on Billboard's R&B Albums Chart and Top 40 on the Pop Albums Chart.

Wu-Tang Clan plans on taking over the industry. Already five members (Genius, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, RZA and Raekwon) have solo deals. Explains Genius, "the Clan came together as a family unit and will only continue to add to the family. Although some members are going to do solo projects, we will all continue to be members of the Clan and will continue to make records together." And 1994 saw the Clan burst out on the "Arsenio Hall Show" twice, as well as their starring in a Boxtalk piece, Uptown Comedy Club, Geraldo Rivera and their own MTV Special.

As students of the mental (or Shaolin) aspect of the martial arts and Islam, as well as fans of kung-fu-flicks, Wu-Tang Clan brings true Asiatic discipline to the art of ryhming. "Wu-Tang represents the sword style of verbal combat in which a sharp tongue is enoughto cut off the heads of all challengers. The Clan stands for the indivisible family-you challenge one, you challenge all." From their studio, 36 Chambers--named for the 36 vital points in the body--science and spirituality combine to make more noise than heavy metal. As Rakeem explains, "there's 36 points on the body and 10 degrees between each point, 10x36=360, and that's complete perfection."

Wu-Tang Clan does not want to be confused for kung-fuclowns. "We are not on no flips and kicks bullshit," states Rakeem, "if anything, we flip flows with lyrics that kick ass." They also stress that it isn't sage for wack rappers to even touch the mic anymore. Wu-Tang Clan is on the loose, so get ready for the headbanger. Be sure to pump it Loud, oh yeah, protect your neck, kid .