Wu-Tang Clan Ready Greatest Hits Collection

The Wu-Tang Clan: Legends in the eyes of many music lovers, critics, and-- more than anyone else-- themselves, the hip-hop samurais revolutionized the world of hip-hop with the release of 1993's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Hoping to prove themselves as deadly separately as they were en masse, RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, and Method Man then began to strike out on solo ventures to varying degrees of success-- the most notable of these early releases were Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, GZA's Liquid Swords, and Ghostface Killah's Ironman.

After four long years, the group finally got its shit together once again, and reconvened to create the boisterously titled Wu-Tang Forever. First single "Triumph" was truly nothing to fuck with, and the LP contained many more memorable though less radio-friendly tracks ("Dogshit", anyone?). But then, things turned for the worse. Resident crazy-man Ol' Dirty Bastard (aka Big Baby Jesus, aka Dirt McGirt) had been in and out of (but mostly in) jail, solo efforts start dropping more often than not below par, and 2000's The W and 2001's Iron Flag seemed to fly beneath many listeners' radar. Added to all this, the Wu began sponsoring mediocre releases from groups such as Killarmy, Sunz of Man, and the Wu-Tang Killa Bees.

Why all the history? Well, in order to understand tracklist of the upcoming Legend of the Wu-Tang: Wu-Tang Clan's Greatest Hits, set for an October 26th release by BMG Strategic Marketing Group, you need to understand the history of the group. Why? Because it's chronologically disproportionate, that's why. Here's a rundown: one song from Iron Flag, two songs from The W, three songs from Wu-Tang Forever, seven songs (some of them in alternate mixes) from Enter the Wu-Tang, and three hard-to-find songs for extra flava. See the trend? There are more hits as the clock ticks backwards. To issue a "Greatest Hits" collection that not only overtly points out this fact but also fails to include any of the group's often marvelous solo work seems fishy, but we'll let you be the judge of that. Traxxx:

01 C.R.E.A.M.
02 Method Man
03 Protect Ya Neck (Bloody Version)
04 Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F’ Wit
05 Can It Be All So Simple
06 Shame on a *****
07 Da Mystery of Chessboxin'
08 Reunited
09 It's Yourz
10 Triumph
11 Gravel Pit
12 Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)
13 Sucker M.C.*
14 Uzi (Pinky Ring)
15 Shaolin Worldwide*
16 Diesel*

* previously hard to find

.: Pitchfork Review: Wu-Tang Clan: Iron Flag
.: Pitchfork Review: Ghostface: The Pretty Toney Album
.: Pitchfork Review: Masta Killa: No Said Date
.: Pitchfork Review: RZA: Birth of a Prince
.: Pitchfork Review: Raekwon: The Lex Diamond Story
.: Pitchfork News: Wu-Tang Clan Call it Quits
.: Wu-Tang Clan: http://www.wutangcorp.com