Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan

Rating NR Formats DVD Genre documentary Starring RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Gano Grills, Bobbito Garcia, Gerald K. Barclay, Mitchell Diggs Directed by Gerald Barclay Publisher Paramount

A rap group as prolific and versatile as the Wu-Tang Clan provides an ideal cast of characters perfect as the subject of a documentary.  The recently released “Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan” offers an in-depth look at the genesis of the Wu-Tang Clan, and provides firsthand accounts of the music, artistry, and experiences of the group, from their inception to their chart-topping success.  Directed by Gerald Barclay, a childhood friend of some of the members, and the director of the group’s first music video, the documentary is not overly sensational, it’s not brimming with tabloid tidbits, or tasteless hidden camera “gotcha” moments.  Definitely not an unauthorized biography, the film offers legitimate commentary from the people who know Wu-Tang Clan best.

Ever wondered what Wu-Tang stands for?  According to the RZA, the de facto leader of the group, Wu-Tang is an acronym with multiple interpretations.  It can stand for Wise Universal Truth Allah Now God.  It can have the more profound interpretation of Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game.  Or the more raw description of We Usually Take All N****s Garments.  However one chooses to describe them, Wu-Tang Clan as a group were trendsetters who left their mark on the industry, and changed the way people thought of how a rap group should operate.

One of the most touching aspects of the film is the retelling of the saga of Ol’ Dirty Bastard.  It’s a wonderful thing to see the filmmakers tell his story in a way that humanized ODB, and makes the viewer sympathize with his struggle with drugs and emotional problems.  Other media accounts of ODB have glossed over his issues, dismissing his actions as just the erratic behavior of a troubled misfit.  But this documentary shows ODB laughing and joking with family members, out on tour with the Wu, hamming it up for the crowds, and kidding around with his fellow group members.  The time devoted to ODB is clearly something that could only have been achieved with a film created by someone close to the group, and someone with a genuine respect for the members and their personal experiences. 

From watching the film, the viewer is left with a greater understanding of the impact the group had on the rap game, with multiple interviewees pointing out that the Wu-Tang Clan accomplished an unprecedented feat in being a group with a record deal, and then having individual members within the group obtain solo record deals that were successful in their own right.  Such a phenomenon was unheard of in the music industry. 

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the film was the firsthand accounts from people who were right there along for the ride, from childhood friends, managers, family members, and esteemed industry personalities.  It shows the respect the Wu-Tang Clan has in the industry, as well as lending credibility to the project, as the story is told by people who know hip-hop, and also know the members of Wu-Tang Clan.  Hopefully a documentary of this nature will encourage other hip-hop personalities to chronicle their road to stardom, and tell their own stories in their own way, as it is clear from watching this film that the mainstream media usually doesn’t fully capture the humanity of hip-hop artists, their struggles, and their triumphs.