As
Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Inspectah Deck all prep new solo albums and last year's
A Better Tomorrow marked what could be the end of
Wu-Tang Clan together on wax, we look back to 15 years ago to
The W. In November 2000, Wu released
The W, the last solid Clan record that featured all of the members of the group, including
Ol' Dirty Bastard. Unlike Return to the
36 Chambers and
Wu-Tang Forever, The W was a bit more pop and had a much more commercial appeal thanks to it's lead single, "Gravel Pit," and "Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)"-- which would eventually find it's way as a popular term for a while.
The W, also marked new territory for Wu-Tang, the group had risen from the streets they grew up in to the homes they bought and lived in with fame and money. It was a turning point for them lyrically as they battled to showcase that they could stay on top and ahead of the curve even with all of the MTV rotation, radio play, and franchise of their logo, look, and aesthetic.
