Near the end of what’s purported to be Wu-Tang Clan’s final Madison Square Garden set, Raekwon gave the crowd an affirmation about the legendary group: “One of one!” The most derivative rappers in the world will tell you they are too; the Clan embodies the term. At times, mainstream rap these days feels like a gentrified city where the spaces that once harbored unforgettable memories have been converted into yet another Starbucks. Lyricism as the default measure of talent feels like a distant memory. But even those cities have indelible, immovable monuments. In this metaphorical megapolis, the Wu-Tang Clan is a bronze “W” at the town square, sculpted with forever in mind.
The nine-man crew wasn’t just lightning in a bottle; RZA captured it all in an Ace Trumpet-size container. No other act in music boasted nine inimitable personalities, with disparate styles and sharp lyricism, who all called a single New York borough, Staten Island, home. Last night, they celebrated their legacy a ferry ride from where it all began, with a cadre of fellow rap legends at “the World’s Most Famous Arena.”
Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber is the group’s farewell tour. There may be more residencies and tours featuring three or four members at a time, but this has been billed as the last time that all eight living members will be on the road. The magnitude was evident as soon as I got near Seventh Avenue, as a swarm of fans were clad in Wu-Tang Nike Dunks and black and yellow Wu Shirts. The crowd ranged from what appeared to be late twenties to middle age, with a few children attending alongside their parents. It was undoubtedly a grown and grimey crowd that descended upon MSG for the show.
The night began with a set from openers Run the Jewels, who delivered a spirited set featuring El-P “river dancing” and Killer Mike saluting his partner after a spirited rendition of “Early.” Though they gave a solid set, the then-80-percent-filled room was saving its energy for the main event. The closing set started soon after, with RZA coming from below the stage with a freestyle that embodies the essence of the Wu: He acknowledged the plight of Latinos at the hands of ICE but also referenced “babies born with microchips behind their ear.”
The music commenced with “Bring Da Ruckus,” featuring Raekwon clad in a red Gucci chef apron. The other members gradually came out, with Method Man noticeably absent before coming onstage around the fourth song, delivering his verse on “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthin ta F’ Wit” and then performing “M.E.T.H.O.D. Man.” Unfortunately, their next song, “Shame On A …” exemplified one of the night’s few flaws: the audio levels. I couldn’t hear the song’s buoyant horns. And later, a violinist was muffled while he played the main melody of “Reunited.” There were also times when the guys’ vocals were a little too muffled; the locked-in crowd knew every word, but it would have been nice to hear them clearly from the performers.
RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, and Method Man were the night’s strongest consistent performers, though no one was an outright liability. The Wu left the stage when they finished the first act, and after a trailer for RZA’s satirical thriller One Spoon of Chocolate, the following act began with Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. The duo is revered for symbolizing the group’s street element, which explained their star-studded set alongside some of New York’s grimiest. After a prolonged, powerful rendition of the “Rainy Dayz” intro by singer Blue Raspberry (who opened up several of the acts), Ghostface and Raekwon delved into “Criminology” and “Incarcerated Scarfaces.” They were joined by Cappadonna, the group’s 10th member, who performed his “97 Mentality” single.
Afterward, Technician the DJ came onstage to hand the duo two green championship belts, certifying them as rap’s tag-team champions. Technician is Ghost and Rae’s tour DJ, but he’s also the Lox’s DJ (who spearheaded their Verzuz victory). Soon after, Sheek Louch, Styles P, and Jadakiss came onstage, performing “We Gon Make It,” and “Niggas Done Started Something” with Ghost rapping his “Ice Water” verse over the latter song. Mobb Deep’s Havoc then came out, joining Rae and Ghost for “Eye for an Eye,” before performing all of “Shook Ones Pt. 2,” taking over for his late partner, Prodigy. Their part of the set was the most invigorating of the night, with fans rapping every word to bona fide classics while eagerly awaiting the next guest. (One other guest worth noting, though he didn’t come onstage: Democratic nominee for mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani, who was in attendance.)
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There were plenty more cameos during the group’s hometown set: Redman came out to perform with Method Man after he previously lied to the crowd that his New Jersey brethren was “overseas.” The Clan then paid homage to some of rap’s fallen acts, bringing out artists who affiliated with them. While saluting Biz Markie, RZA brought out his Juice Crew comrade Big Daddy Kane, impeccably dressed in a white-and-pink ensemble. Lil Cease and Lil Kim came out in tribute to Biggie. And Slick Rick also performed (most of) “Children’s Story.” The rash of guest appearances made the night feel like a throwback concert in a good way, though a look at Phoenix’s Final Chamber set list shows that the Wu omitted some of their solo classics to accommodate them.
It made sense that Rae and Ghost, Method Man, then RZA, GZA, and Inspectah Deck would be the anchors of separate acts. At the end of the night, the whole Clan returned to the stage, offering a tribute to the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, helmed by his son, Young Dirty Bastard. While YDB did a solid job of mimicking his father’s madcap energy, and various Wu members encouraged their “nephew” during his two-song moment, there were some kinks in his performance. During his rendition of “Shimmy Shimmy Ya,” the set’s triumvirate of giant screens showed him standing silent for a bit too long during the song. And after finishing “Got Your Money” he chided the crowd, letting them know that he wouldn’t be going anywhere. Perhaps he was responding to social media feedback, but it felt like he was on the verge of derailing the set and making the moment about him.
Things got reeled back to the source with “Triumph,” the Wu’s majestic five-minute single where every Wu member has a signature moment. After their set-closing song, PAs came onstage and gave each member a plaque to commemorate the tour. RZA then began a speech about what New York meant to the group, though he didn’t explicitly reference the possibility that this would be their final time performing in New York together. (Maybe he was overwhelmed by the moment, but it felt like a missed opportunity.)
During his speech, RZA brought Havoc back out and suggested a joint tour between him and Raekwon, but then Ghostface urged the crowd to chant for the Lox to be added. And toward the end of RZA’s monologue, after bringing out industry legend Steve Rifkind, who signed them to Loud Records, Method Man told RZA to wrap it up soon because he was “tired.” These were funny moments, but they also suggested just how difficult it can be to keep nine men on one accord. The Wu has gotten in a good amount of road time over the past several years after a prolonged absence from Clan endeavors, but this might be their last collective saga. If that is the case, they went out in New York with a spectacular showcase worthy of their legacy.
From Rolling Stone US
