The greatest hip-hop debuts in history present their artists as absolute forces to be reckoned with. It’s not just about a particularly tight flow, multilayered lyrics, and a proper selection of beats. It’s about all that and more. It’s a case of musical kismet and a reality that changes forever because those artists lent their talents to the mic at that time and place.Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) has become such a standard — not only in hip-hop but in music, period — that imagining a world without it is nigh impossible.

• Wu Tang The Swarm

It’d be one where you don’t have and as immediate points of comparison for Danny Brown and Action Bronson. It’s one where rap collectives have no golden standard to aspire to. It’s one where cream is relegated to being associated with Eric Clapton and dairy. It’s one without. It’s one where we’re deprived of one of the most important works of the 20th century, one which, even as it turns 25 years old, shows nary a wrinkle. Knowing of 36 Chambers and ’s legacy can make it easy to forget how unlikely its success was.

Nine New York MCs, only a couple with any actual recorded material to their name, crammed into a studio to just spit absolute fire in all types of ways over beats with a cinematic quality unlike any other, with or without the kung fu film samples. And the rest of the Clan weren’t matinee idols appearing in 70mm. They were the second part of the double feature, and if you found it unappealing or distasteful, the exit was thataway.It could’ve ended up as a hugely influential album that launched the careers of some of the most important names in hip-hop (most notably RZA, Ghostface Killah, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and ) and contained a few classic singles while not being quite formed as an album that you want to hear all the way through very often. Finding cohesion with three MCs on a single track can be difficult enough, let alone nine on a single album. Not only does everyone in Wu-Tang earn their place on the album (Yes, even. What would 36 Chambers be without “We have an APB on an MC killer”?) but so does every single track.In a genre that’s no stranger to bloat, even before streaming inflation, 36 Chambers moves like every track is a piece on a Grandmaster’s chessboard. It’s meticulous at every turn, not least of all on centerpiece “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’” with its introductory dialogue sample, comparing chess to a sword fight.

From the moment Ghostface changes the course of hip-hop forever with the very first verse on “Bring Da Ruckus” (“I come rough, tough like an elephant tusk/ Your head rush, fly like Egyptian musk”) to when it cools down (in a sense) with “Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber—Part II”, Wu-Tang Clan make it clear that they “ain’t nuthing ta fuck wit,” whether in a battle of fists or a battle of wits.Even when it shouldn’t work, it does. Following the iconic and somber “C.R.E.A.M.”, in which asserts himself as arguably the most underrated member (and the sting of the fact that he’s never had a RZA-produced solo classic album of his own only grows sharper) is the equally iconic but decidedly less somber “Method Man”, which gives us several important spelling lessons and forces us to consider which method of torture would be the least desirable, and the smoky tone and hilarious rhymes of the M-E-T-H-O-D Man himself show why he got a track to himself, named for himself. Save for both featuring Raekwon and Meth, they have nothing to do with each other, and yet the juxtaposition works perfectly. This is an album where you can go from reflecting on systematic oppression and inequality to Dr. Seuss and Fat Albert references, and it’s never at odds with itself.Who puts in the best overall performance on 36 Chambers and what’s the best song? If you asked me at one point, I might have responded Ghostface and “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’”; at another, I might’ve said GZA and “Protect Ya Neck”.

At this point, I’ll just say it ultimately doesn’t matter because Wu-Tang Clan, for all their boasting, are all about support and this album is a work of impeccable camaraderie, from MC to MC and from track to track. In the outro to “Can It All Be So Simple”, Method Man explains to an interviewer the roles and methodology of his fellow Clan members, from Raekwon (“the Chef”) to RZA (“Always on point, razor sharp”), and the support hits your heart like so many ballads try and fail to do. In that same segment, Raekwon takes the mic and, speaking on behalf of the group, declares: “When we get a little props and really, really get the way we gotta go. That’s when you know it’s on.” They got the way they needed to go from the start and the props rightfully followed.Wu-Tang forever.

CD 101 - Wu-Revolution (feat. Poppa Wu & Uncle Pete)02 - Reunited03 - For Heavens Sake (feat. Cappadonna)04 - Cash Still Rulez- Scary Hours (Still Don't Nothing Move But The Money)05 - Visionz06 - As High As Wu-Tang Get07 - Severe Punishment08 - Older Gods09 - Maria (feat. Cappadonna)10 - A Better Tomorrow11 - It's YourzCD 201 - Intro02 - Triumph feat. Cappadonna03 - Impossible feat. Tekitha04 - Little Ghetto Boys feat.

Cappadonna05 - Deadly Melody feat. Street Life06 - The City07 - The Projects08 - Bells Of War09 - The M.G.M.10 - Dog Shit11 - Duck Seazon12 - Hellz Wind Staff feat. Street Life13 - Heartz feat. Cappadonna14 - Black Shampoo15 - Second Coming feat.Tekitha16 - The Closing17 - Sunshower18 - Projects International RemixDescarga. 01 - Intro02 - The Legacy - A.I.G.03 - Concrete Jungle - Sunz Of Man04 - Co-Defendant - Shyheim Ft.

Hell Razah05 - S.O.S. Inspectah Deck Ft. Street Life06 - Execute Them - Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Street Life & Masta Killa07 - Bronx War Stories - A.I.G.08 - And Justice For All - Bobby Digital Ft.

Killarmy And Method Man09 - Punishment - Black Knights Of The North Star10 - Bastards - Ruthless Bastards11 - On The Strength - The Beggaz12 - Cobra Clutch - Ghostface Killah13 - Never Again - Remedy14 - Where Was Heaven - Wu Syndicates15 - '97 Mentality - Cappadonna Ft. Ghostface Killah16 - Fatal Sting - Black Knights Of The North StarDescarga.

01 - Above The Clouds (Performed By Gang Starr feat. Inspectah Deck)02 - Re-Up (Performed By Two Da Road feat.

Shyheim)03 - Hip Hop Fury (Performed By Gza feat. Rza, Hell Raizah, Royal Fam & Dreddy Kruger)04 - Got's Like Come On Thru (Performed By Buddha Monk feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard & Drunken Dragon)05 - In Trouble (Performed By Shyheim)06 - Three Amigos (If It's On) (Performed By King Just feat. Method Man & Sic)07 - N.Y.C Everything (Performed By Rza As Bobby Digital & Method Man)08 - Rumble (Performed By U-God)09 - Dangerous Mindz (Performed By Gravediggaz)10 - To The Rescue (Performed By U-God feat.

Leatha Face)11 - Greyhound Part 2 (Gza Remix) (Performed By The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion feat. Killah Priest)12 - Catechism (Performed By Dj Spooky feat. Killah Priest)13 - Left & Right (Performed By D'angelo feat. Method Man & Redman)14 - Eyes A Bleed (Rza Remix) (Performed By Bounty Killer feat.

Masta Killa)15 - Hard To Kill (Performed By Spice 1 feat. Method Man)16 - Wu-Tang Clan Live Freestyle (Performed By Gza & Master Killa)17 - Only 4 My Niggas (Performed By Black Knights)Descarga. CD 101 - Intro02 - Killa Beez (feat. Bobby Digital, U-God, Inspectah Deck, Suga Bang Bang)03 - Out Think Me Now (Introducing Solomon Childs)04 - Bar Mitzvah (Introducing Black Knights)05 - Doe Rae Wu (feat.Bobby Digital, Odb, Kinetic)06 - Bluntz, Martinez, Girlz & Gunz (Introducing Warcloud)07 - Dancing With Wolves (feat. Killarmy)08 - Spend Money (Introducing Lord Superb) (feat.

Intrigue)09 - Take Up Space (Introducing Lord Superb, Solomon Childs)10 - Rollin (feat. Bobby Digital, Black Knights)11 - Get At Me (feat. Black Knights, Shyheim, Two On The Road)12 - Spit That G (feat. Cappadonna, Solomon Childs, Prodical, Timbo King, Suga Ban.13 - Woodchuck (feat.

North Star, Royal Fam, Cilivaringz, Warcloud, Black Knights)14 - G.A.T. Black Knights, North Star, Solomon Childs, 12' Clock, Shyheim.15 - Hatin' Don't Pay (Introducing Free Murder, Pc, Shacronz)16 - When You Come Home (feat.

Shyheim)17 - Kb Ridin' (feat. Wu-Tang Clan, Shacronz, Suga Bang Bang)CD 201 - Odyssey02 - Thirsty(Skit)03 - Digi-Electronics04 - Billy05 - Rza Beat06 - La Rhumba(Re-Mix)Descarga. 01 - Bring Da Ruckus02 - Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'03 - Clan In Da Front04 - C.R.E.A.M.05 - Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin' Ta F' Wit06 - Shame On A Nigga07 - Ghost Deini08 - Re-United09 - For Heaven's Sake10 - Criminology11 - Incarcerated Scarfaces12 - Brooklyn Zoo13 - Bring The Pain14 - It's Yourz15 - Liquid Swords16 - One Blood Under W17 - Ice Cream18 - Triumph19 - Hood21 - Run22 - Tearz23 - Method Man24 - Dog Shit25 - Shimmy Shimmy Ya26 - Y'all Been Warned27 - Gravel PitDescarga. CD 101 - Intro02 - It Was Written (feat. Sunz Of Man)03 - 5 Arch Angels (feat. Sunz Of Man)04 - Soldiers Of Darkness (feat. Sunz Of Man, 9th Prince & Killa Sin)05 - Bloody Choices (feat.

Sunz Of Man)06 - Ain't No Love Without Hate (feat. Sunz Of Man)07 - Medina 718 (Original Version) (feat. Royal Fam)08 - Mic Ammo (Original Version) (feat.

Royal Fam)09 - Mic Ammo (Bronze Nazareth Remix)10 - Big Moe Interlude R.I.P.11 - Wtc (The Odd Couple) (Original Version)12 - Nice 2 Be Important13 - Bust A Slug (Remix) (feat. Wu Syndicate, Mmo & Superb)14 - Grey Goose (feat. Superb, Beretta 9 & Hell Razah)15 - Nba (feat. Trife)16 - Shattered Armour (feat. Street Life)17 - I Love U So (feat.

Tekitha)18 - Fantasy (feat. Tekitha)19 - I Love U So (Live)20 - Freestyle (Bonus Track) (feat. Gravediggaz, Hell Razah & Prodigal Sunn)CD 201 - 2 The Stage (feat. Dreddy Kruger)02 - Graveyard Chamber (feat. Gravediggaz)03 - Freestyle (feat. Tony Touch)04 - Whatdafuck!05 - Hip Hop Fury06 - $ The Weed - Skit (Kruger & Rza)07 - Worldwide (Switzerland & Usa) (feat.

Chase Infinite)08 - Soul In The Hole (feat. Timbo King, Tekitha, Shyheim & Killa Sin)09 - 1997 Interlude (feat. Tony Touch & Dreddy Kruger)10 - Time (feat.

Killah Priest)11 - La Saga (feat. Iam, Royal Fam & Sunz Of Man)12 - La Saga 2000 (feat. Iam, Faf Larage & Prodigal Sunn)13 - Thought They Knew (feat. Don Rias)14 - Medina 718 (feat. Turbo King)15 - Freestyle In Boise (feat.

Dreddy Kruger)16 - Bonus Cut (Podcasting Show)17 - The 11th Hour (Bonus) (feat. Killah Priest, M-80 & Dreddy Kruger)Descarga. 01 - Intro (Buddah Bless)02 - Maxine (Ghostface Killah & Raekwon)03 - King Toast Queen (U-God, Buddah Bless, Masta Killah & Solomon Childs)04 - Where's Brooklyn At!

01 - Darkness (Intro)02 - Killa Bee Swarm (feat. Bronze Nazareth, Timbo King, 5-Star & Killah Priest )03 - Lyrical Swords (feat. Gza & Ras Kass)04 - More Than Gold (feat. Timbo King)05 - On The Eve Of War (Julio Caesar Chavez Mix) (feat. Gza)06 - Iconclasts (feat.

Wu Tang The Swarm

Killah Priest & Vast Aire Of Cannibal Ox )07 - My Piano (feat. Ghostface Killah, Raekwon & Dion )08 - Biochemical Equation (feat. Rza & Mf Doom )09 - Pencil (feat. Masta Killa & Rza)10 - Josephine (feat. Ghostface Killah, Trife Da God & The Willie Gottrell Band)11 - The Obituary (E.B.G.G.) (feat. Hell Razah & Shabazz The Disciple)12 - Chi (Interlude)13 - Deep Space (feat.

Rza)14 - Alphabets15 - Original Man (feat. Raekwon & Kasim Allah)16 - The Bronzeman (feat. Killa Sin)17 - God's Creatures (Interlude)18 - Animal19 - Still Crimey (feat.

Sean Price, U-God, C-Rayz Walz & Prodigal Sunn)20 - The Ocean (feat. The Holocaust)21 - Street Corners (Fam Members Only Rmx) (feat. Masta Killa, Gza, Inspectah Deck & Solomon Childs)Descarga. 01 - Watch Your Mouth02 - Amsterdam (feat. Trife & The Wigs)03 - Return Of Theodore Unit (feat. J-Love, Trife & The Wigs)04 - Hidden Darts05 - Shakey Dog Rmx06 - Chunky07 - Murda Goons08 - Fly Poetry09 - I'll Kill You10 - Heroin Only11 - My Corner12 - Blu Eagle13 - Legal Coke14 - Cuban Chronicles15 - All I Want Is Mine16 - Make A Move17 - Dirty Mef (feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard)18 - New York New York19 - F-ck You Man (feat.

Street Life)20 - Its Like That (feat. Havoc)21 - All In Together Now (feat. Rza)22 - Cameo Afro (feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard & Big Daddy Kane)23 - Coochie (feat.

Ludacris)24 - Skrilla25 - Pass The Bone Rmx26 - Ringin Bells27 - Take Sword Pt. 128 - King Toast Queen (feat. Masta Killa)Descarga. CD 101 - Deep Space (feat. Lord Jamar & Rza) (Jay Da Flex & Yoof Remix)02 - New Year Banga (feat. Bronze Nazareth, Kevlaar 7 & Phillie) (Rogue Star Remix)03 - Street Corners (feat.

Bronze Nazareth, Solomon Childs & Byata) (Scuba Scythe Remix)04 - Love Don't Cost-Still Grimey (feat. Ice, Mef, U-God, Prodigal Sunn) (Nebulla & Dore Remix)05 - Knuckle Up (feat. Raekwon, Pimp C & Icewater) (Matt U Remix)06 - Biochemical Equation (feat. Rza & Mf Doom) (Datsik & Excision Remix)07 - Keep Hustlin (feat. Killah Priest, M-80, Doe Boy & Son One) (Trillbass Remix)08 - Now Or Never (feat. Son One) (Parson Remix)09 - Cinema (feat. Gza & Justice Kareem) (Chimpo Remix)10 - Coke (feat.

U-God, Raekwon) (Dz Remix)CD 201 - Iconoclasts (feat. Bronze Nazareth, Killah Priest & Vast Aire) (Syndaesia And Aks Remix)02 - Handle The Heights (feat.

Canibus, M-80, Bronze Nazareth) (Stenchman Remix)03 - Do It Big (feat. Busta Rhymes, Icewater & Raekwon) (Baobinga & I'd Remix)04 - Wu-Tang (feat.

U-God & Method Man) (Dz Remix)05 - Let's Get It (feat. Raekwon, Dj Paul & Icewater) (Evol Intent Remix)06 - Lyrical Swords (feat. Gza & Ras Kass) (Pawn Remix)07 - Think Differently (feat. Casual) (Hellfire Machina Remix)08 - Pencil (feat. Gza, Masta Killa, Rza, Ghostface Killah & Ka) (Soroka Remix)09 - Alphabets (Dakimh Instrumental Remix)Descarga. 01 - Start The Show (feat.

Raekwon & Rza)02 - Laced Cheeba (feat. Ghostface Killah, Sean Price & Trife Diesel)03 - Diesel Fluid (feat. Method Man, Ghostface Killah & Cappadonna)04 - The Black Diamonds (feat. Ghostface Killah, Roc Marciano & Killa Sin)05 - Played By The Game (Interlude)06 - Legendary Weapons (feat. Ghostface Killah, Az & M.O.P.)07 - Never Feel This Pain (feat.

Inspectah Deck, U-God & Tre Williams)08 - Drunk Tongue (feat. Killah Sin)09 - The Business (Interlude)10 - 225 Rounds (feat. U-God, Cappadonna, Bronze Nazareth & Rza)11 - Meteor Hammer (feat. Ghostface Killah, Action Bronson & Termanology)12 - Live Through Death (Interlude)13 - Only The Rugged Survive (feat.

Rza)14 - OutroDescarga.