Pitchfork: Wu-Tang Clan to Call It Quits

Wu-Tang Clan to Call It Quits
Wu-Wear's "Garment Renaissance" comes to a end; RZA now just sporting loincloth, Tec-9

NME.com reported last night that the legendary Staten Island hip-hop supergroup, Wu-Tang Clan, are planning one final ruckus-bringing before calling it quits after a 12-year run that will have produced five full-lengths, one unbridled classic, and perhaps more solo spinoffs than any group in hip-hop's storied history. Fresh off soundtrack work for Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill trilogy (Hollywood reports there will be a third) and production on fellow Clan member Ghostface Killah's new Pretty Toney Album, The RZA told NME, "I don't think the fans have closure on Wu-Tang and I think they deserve it." Although, if it's anything like Iron Flag, maybe it'd be better to just give it a rest already.

In case this new album is the bad retarded, too, RZA adds that yet another full-length-- hell, maybe even two-- could follow it: "If the group itself feels the vibe and wants to continue, then maybe two more albums, but at least one more album that will give closure to the Wu-Tang legacy." Okay. Well, the group is planning to enter the studio in late summer to lay down tracks for this "final" album. Otherwise, we can all rest assured that Raekwon will go back to cooking up some more marvelous shit-- The Lex Diamond Story, friends-- while the others continue copping oversized promotional Wu-Wear from the trunk of RZA's new whip.

The good news is, the Wu have lined up a handful of performances slated to hit the European festival circuit this summer: The group is expected to appear at the London Hammersmith Carling Apollo (show your love!) on July 8th, as well as Scotland's T in the Park Festival on July 10th and Ireland's Oxegen Festival on July 11th. RZA, GZA/Genius, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Ol' Dirty Bastard, U-God and Masta Killa will all unite on the same stage for these shows for the first time in-- no shit-- ten years. Sounds crazy, but remember GZA's prophecy: "When we really get to where we got to go... that's when you know it's on."