Wu Tang Clan: Nothing But A Name
Dec 22, 2008
Words by Erin Gillman
Illustration by Sean Duggan
What’s really in a name? A random assortment of elementary syllables strung together into an identifying verbal stamp. For something dismissed as such a casual slip of the lips, sometimes a name is in its nature more stable than the personality behind it. A name can attract, dissuade, retain strength or falter. A mere name is the only meaningful idea that has held true to over a decade of hip hop for nine men. A name is all that remains of the once explosive Wu Tang Clan.
On Saturday, Dec. 13, fans filtered into Urbana’s Canopy Club for what they thought would be an entertaining evening of the all-empowering band of rowdy hip hop all stars. What they got was a lack of enthusiasm and a contact high.
The floor throbbed with local DJ Belly’s spins by 7:30. The early show was supposed to begin at 8 p.m., but Wu Tang doesn’t do early shows. Krukid rippled the crowd with freestyle as they grew more and more anxious for the headliners to commence. After Krukid’s spectacular yet less than appreciated performance, the tedious time lag began.
The icing on an already wilted cake was another opening group named Ice Water. The only audible words to stumble out of their throats were "H2O" and "straight defecating". Their music was unmistakably prerecorded and they were almost booed off the stage after two songs. Wu Tang continued to play their coy, mysterious games with the crowd, so Ice Water was forced to continue their painful set.
The crowd began to methodically twitch, contract and smoke, itching for the headliners to commence. The atmosphere grew hot and thick until around 11 p.m. when Wu Tang finally graced the crowd with their presence.
The clan was greeted by hundreds of hands formed into their trademark "W". I’m not sure Ghostface Killah even touched a microphone as they performed "Bring Da Ruckus" and "Ice Cream." Their lethargic routine showed nothing but a lack of respect for their audience and the venue. "Gravel Pit" wasn’t terrible, but it just didn’t live up to the audience’s expectations. The Hood Internet was forced to start late because of Wu Tang’s tardy entrance, and they spent the last 10 minutes talking about some new album. Their closing remarks about peace were even the exact same as Public Enemy’s at Pitchfork this year.
For a hip hop empire, Wu Tang Clan has certainly forgotten about its minions - the kids who bought their albums in the ‘90s with allowance money and the guys who looked up to them when they first began. While it’s doubtful the entire crowd brimmed with die-hard Wu Tang fans, they didn’t give the audience anything to worship. They came on the stage and left for the night as nothing but a name and a heaping spoonful of apathy.
