MUS081106

Return of the Wu-Tang

After losing its status as hip-hop's most revered supergroup, the Clan is on tour again and in the midst of a resurgence.

Tom Horgen, Star Tribune

Last update: August 10, 2006 – 5:55 PM

All dynasties come to an end, even one as colorful and acclaimed as the once-mighty Wu-Tang Clan.

After busting into the rap world as a nine-man group in 1993 and releasing a swarm of well-received solo albums over the next decade, the Clan's profile has faded.

"We hear the stories, we look at the Internet. A lot of people say that Wu-Tang is finished," said Wu member Raekwon last week. "People's opinions is their opinions. So I guess when you get the new music, you should weigh and judge it for yourself."

Raekwon was speaking of a potential Wu resurgence, with a wave of new solo releases expected from the Clan over the next several months. While "comeback" might be too strong, the recent flurry of activity, including a tour that comes to First Avenue tonight, has given Wu fans something to buzz about.

At the center of it all is Raekwon, whose next album is the most anticipated of the bunch. Hip-hop's biggest magazines have already done preview stories on the disc, due early next year, which will be a sequel to his classic 1995 opus, "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx."

Wu-Tang boss and chief producer RZA is back in the fold as well, having stepped away from producing the Clan's solo efforts in the late 1990s and focusing on his own work, which includes the film score for "Kill Bill: Vol. 1."

His pioneering sound -- dusty soul samples mixed with audio from kung-fu flicks -- was central to each member's solo album. That's not to say their songwriting wasn't just as vivid, especially that of Raekwon, whose "Cuban Linx" was hailed as a genre masterpiece for its cinematic street tales of gangsta aliases and high-risk drug trades; sort of like "Miami Vice" but with the dealers as heroes.

"We're taking you back into that world," Raekwon said.

The decline -- and rise

The Clan's lowest point had to be the couple of years that followed the group's disappointing fourth album, 2001's "Iron Flag." By this point, the Ghostface Killah was the only member still receiving wide-ranging fan support. Even once-reliable members such as GZA, Method Man and Raekwon were petering out with albums that received little notice.

Worse, Ol' Dirty Bastard was in prison. Cappadonna, then the Clan's 10th member, was driving a taxi cab. And infighting came into the open when U-God publicly blamed RZA for the group's struggles.

Group members found themselves thrown together again after Ol' Dirty Bastard's fatal drug overdose in 2004. Earlier this year, the Clan embarked on a monthlong tour dedicated to their fallen comrade. It was the first time the entire group had been on the road since 1997. And now they're doing it again.

While he's glad to be back with his Wu brethren, Raekwon admitted that it's not the same.

"We've all grown up as individuals," he said. "Brothers is wanting to do more things for theyselves, and you can't knock that when dudes got families and responsibilities of they own," Raekwon said. "We been in the game for a long time now and at the end of the day, it's always more money, more issues. You know the saying."

He downplayed any serious infighting, however, likening it to misunderstandings among family members. Any negative vibes take a back seat when it's time to tour, he said.

"Once we get out there on stage, all the tensions is gone. We're not letting our personal feelings supersede what we have to do as members of the crew," he said. "Let's go get that work in, let's give these fans what they want from us."

WU-TANG CLAN

Opening act: I-Self Devine.

When: 9 p.m. Fri.

Where: First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., 612-332-1775.

Tickets: $35.

Web: www.wutangcorp.com

Tom Horgen • 612-673-7909

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