Back in 1993 nine rappers got together

Lots of tension and turf rivalries

Mitchell Diggs

As a rap group – Over 7 Million Copies

As a rap group and solo artists – Over 18 Million

36 Chambers, Iron Flag, Wu Tang Forever, The W, 8 Diagrams and A Better Tomorrow

Formed in Ney York Staten Island and stay associated with it

Voted the number 1 rap group of all time by About.com in 2008

Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game

Breakthrough single was protect ya neck

THE RZA

Real name Robert Diggs he is the brain child behind The Wu Tang ClanThe producer of almost all of The Wu Tang Clans albums

Born in brownsville, Brooklyn on July 5th 1969

Ranked number 4 on the top 50 hip hop producers ever on About.com

Made the elite 8 in the search for the best producer of all time by VibeProduced and stared in a number of films including Funny People and the man with the iron fists

The owner of Wu Tang Records

On the top 20 producers in The Source magazine

Before The Wu Tang he was involved in drug dealing and crime

Charged with attempted murder before bein acquitted of the charge

GZA GENIUS

Born Gary Grice August 1966 - one of the first members of the Wu Tang Clan

Known as the spiritual head amongst the group

The oldest member of the group

His first solo album Liquid Swords in 1995 was critically acclaimed

Ranked number 17 in an About.com list Top 50 mc’s of our time

Started out in a 3 man group called All in Together now with RZA and Ol Dirty Bastard

Began attending block parties which led to rap battles, this is how he got the name Genius

The first member to get a record deal with Cold chillin records

Learned to play chess at age 9http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8RaKTWHOoA

Ol Dirty Bastard

Real name Russell Tyrone Jones born November 15 1968

One of the founding members

Had a successful solo career with albums such as return to the 36 chambers

Producer and a rapper for the fugees

The album Ason Unique is yet to be released

Nominated for the best rap performance in 1999 for ghetto superstar

In 1994 he was shot in the abdomen after an argument with another rapper

Arrested in 1998 for stealing $50 trainers, he was carrying $500 at the time

People were not sure if his behaviour was drugs or mental instability

Collapsed at 4.35pm on November 13 2004 and pronounced dead at 5.04pm

RIP Ol Dirty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c1LhYyVRGA

Method Man

Real name Clifford Smith born March 2nd 1971 in Long Island

He took the name Method Man from the boxing film ‘The Fearless Young Boxer’

Won a grammy for best rap performance by a duo, I’ll be there for you ft Mary J Blige

In 2007, About.com placed them on their ‘Top 50 MC’s of all time’

The only MC to be featured on Notorious B.I.G’s album Ready to Die

Incredibly successful solo career with albums such as Judgement day and the most successful Tical

Appears in the motion picture How High with Redman

Had a recurring role on the hit show ‘The Wire’

In 1999 he was part of the hugely successful Hard knock life tour with Jay Z and others

Still selling records to this day with his new album ‘Crystal Meth’ soon to be released

Raekwon

Real name Corey Woods born January 12th 1970 in New York City

Released a solo album in 1995 called Only Built 4 Cuban Lynx

Signed a solo deal with Loud Records

The founder of his own label ICEH2O records

An extensive number of contributions to other artists work

Cited as one of the pioneers of the of Mafioso rap

Placed on the top 50 best rappers of our time on About.com

Released a solo single Heaven and Hell which was the soundtrack for the film ‘Fresh

Developed 3783 media in Los Angeles, a production, digital and management company

Worked with Justin Beiber

GhostFace Killah

Real name Dennis Coles born May 9th 1970 in Staten Island

Released a debut solo album in 1996 called Ironman

Released two other critically acclaimed albums such as Supreme Clientele and Fishscale

Ghostface Killah taken from a character in the film Mystery of Chessboxing

The founder of his own label Stark Enterprises

Listed on MTV’s greatest MC’s of all time

About.com called him ‘One of the most imaginative storytellers of our time

Contributed to the ‘Don’t be a menace to society whilst drinking your juice in the hood’ soundtrack

Ironman debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 in America

In 2011 he filed a lawsuit against Universal Music for unpaid royalties

Inspectah Deck

Real name Jason Hunter, born July 6th 1970 in The Bronx New York

Grew up in the park hill projects, school with Method man and Raekwon

His verse in Triumph is one of the most critically acclaimed in Hip Hop

Produced the single Visionz on the album Wu Tang Forever

Floods delayed the release of his first solo album, Uncontrollable Substance, 1999

Released ‘The Movement’ in 2003, did not live up to his expectations. Finished 117 places above his first in the U.S charts

Produced the title track for GZA’s Beneath the Surface album

Known as the laid back member, Method Man quotes “Inspectah Deck, he's like that dude that'll sit back and watch you play yourself and all that right? And see you sit there and know you lyin; and he'll take you to court after that, cuz he the Inspectah.” in Can’t it all be so simple”

Still working on projects to this day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoYeT6hJQWU

Masta Killa

Born Elgin Turner on August 16th 1969 in Brooklyn New York

A lesser known member than the others

He and Killah Priest were in competition, Killah fell asleep and Masta stayed up writing

Featured on only one track on the debut 36 Chambers, Da Mystery of Chessboxin

Was unfortunately incarcerated at the time

The last member to join the group, didn’t feature on Protect ya Neck video

Released the debut solo album ‘No Said Date’ in 2004, positive reviews

Got his name from the 1979 kung fu film ‘Shaolin Master Killer’

He is a vegetarian and endorses PETA

Released an album in 2012 that featured the late, great Ol Dirty Bastard

U-GOD

Born Lamont Jody Hawkins on November 11th 1970 in Staten Island

Originally a beatboxer for part member Cappadonna

Childhood friends with Method Man and Raekwon

Used to be known in the group as Golden Arms, after the movie ‘The kid with the golden arm’

Also incarcerated in 1993, missed out on a lot of the first album

His son was accidentally shot, leading to changes in his lyrics and flow

Released a solo album in 1999, Golden arms redemption

The song ‘Rumble’ featured on the game Wu Tang Shaolin Style

His latest album released in 2009 got 4.5/5 stars by crtics

To this day working on new projects with fellow members

JUNE 25th MANCHESTER APOLLO

LIVE!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_-3Bh1VFI8