Customer Reviews

The Wu-Tang Manual

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3 star:		(1)
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All I can say is, why'd it take so long?

Oh yeah, that's right. They were too busy releasing albums, touring, doing shows (and drugs), getting locked up, getting released, appearing on Chapelle's Show, making comic books, scoring movies, and growing the legend of the nine generals, to finish writing a book.

Wow. This is an astonishingly exhaustive work explicating fully the reasoning behind all the insane lyrics behind the Wu, plus the culture with which they were inculcated in their youth. I've been a Wu fan since around Killa Bees/Gravel Pit days, and my collection now includes nearly every group and solo album (less Deck's The Movement, some Cappadonna, U-God's stuff, and Immobilarity). As such a thorough fan, I'm highly impressed. Lyrics in their songs that I'd just skipped over before or barely acknowledged take on added depth and meaning with the Abbot's commentary.

And it's not just Wu-devotees that will find material in here to their liking. The book begins very simply, with biographies of each of the original nine swordsmen. Containing exhaustive lists of aliases (some of which I had -no- idea belonged to the emcee that they do), birthdates, anecdotes, and releases, these serve perfectly to introduce the reader to the individual rappers. From there, however, the book progresses into a deeper analysis of the underpinnings of Wu tradition, including looks at -all- their obvious influences (kung fu movies, mob movies, comic books, drug culture, etc.) and some less obvious ones (did you know that the famous Shaolin Sifu Shi Yanming is personal friends with RZA and Iron Man?). During a time when rap is seen as mere gangsterism and cliched thug-talk, RZA shows a blinding level of intellectualism and scholarship, drawing quotes from Nietzsche, the Hagakure, Lao Tze, and Charles Mingus (among others). He also explains the particular religion of the Five Percent Nation, and the Gods and the Earths.

Personally, as a producer and emcee in training, RZA's section on technical details and equipment was also very valuable - he discusses working with equipment very specifically, and details how he built the characteristic Wu style.

Coming as it does during a renaissance of Wu music (Pretty Tony Album, No Said Date, and the Wu live CD all having been well-received in the last year), The Manual both reassures the Wu-fanboy within me while also relighting the fire for the Shaolin Style.

Suuuuue!

This brilliant book, written by the RZA (aka the Abbot), goes into detail about pretty much everything about the Wu Tang including their musical/movie influences, their neighborhoods, the mythology of the 36 chambers (it's not just the name of their first album), and the philosophies regarding the 5 percent Nation and the tenents of the Nation of Gods and Earths. The RZA also breaks down the Shaolin fighting style and how Wu has incorporated this unique fighting style into their raps. He also gives an in-depth analysis of how the game of chess plays a crucial role in not only lyrical battles but also in terms of defeating enemies in real life. This guide/book also comes with a handy translation of some of the Wu's lexicon and slang. But the true gem of this book is the RZA's breaking down some of the lyrics of the Wu's most famous songs so that when the Rza spits "Connectin' Brooklyn/Shaol like the Verazanno -Narrows", you will know what he is talking about. I highly recommend this book to any true Wu fan!

The Wu-Tang Manual is akin to all the EU (Expanded Universe) novels, comic books, and publications related to the Star Wars franchise for a hip hop fan of one of the culture's biggest phenomenons ever. The Manual is chock full of EVERYTHING an intellectual listener and avid fan of the Wu would want to know: biographies, lyrics explanations, philosophy, music equipment, and spirituality.

The Wu-Tang started a new sound in hip hop in early '93: gritty, minimalistic, atonal, and lo-fi, all exemplified in the classic debut 'Enter: The Wu-Tang'. From then on, a legend was born: numerous solo albums from all nine members, even including the honorary tenth member Cappadonna, movies, television, touring, guest appearances on other artists' projects, RZA even composed music for the original soundtrack to the Tarantino's two-parter 'Kill Bill'. The Wu-Tang even have their own "Expanded Universe" of branch-off emcees and groups that rivals the amount of material in that of the Star Wars EU (e.g. Cilvaringz, Killah Priest, Sunz of Man, Black Knights, Killarmy, etc.). And they're STILL going strong with a slew of new albums already dropping (Ghost's awesome 'Fishscale', Sunz' 'Old Testament', etc.). The Wu-Tang Clan are HIP HOP LEGENDS, and this Manual chronicles the beginning of the movement all the way to the present, even chronicling the events that shaped the life of Robert Diggs (RZA), which would eventually also shape his movement.

To the initiated, [hip hop] heads know the Wu stand for something and they're some pretty deep brothers. RZA quotes everyone from Nietzsche to the Hagakure, a guide of bushido commentaries for the warrior (samurai). Being heavily into philosophy myself, I was really intrigued and exhilerated to read what some of the artist's actually meant behind some of their poetic verses. I saw this book at a mom 'n' pop store (Hasting's) in San Marcos and absolutely fell in love with it.

If you're into hip hop, you're more than likely a fan of the Wu as well, and if you are, YOU NEED THIS BOOK -- become more intimately knowledgeable of the legendary Clan and everything they stand for and how they came to be. "CLAN IN THE FRONT!"

Excellent read!The Rza gives an indepth look inside the minds of the Wu-tang Clan and the lives they live. If you are a fan of the Wu-tang than this book is a must read. There are many good photos of the group and the Rza gets very personal with his words. Pick it up, you will enjoy it.

I could not set this book down once I started reading it.

It is a great book for anyone who is new to the Wu. It startsoff with great little bios about each artist, but it quickly gets into Wu-history and philosophy that rewards any fan of the group and does what any comic/book/speaker does; it makes you want to explore what RZA's philosophy is even more. This book also, amazingly, does all this with no chest beating. RZA comes off proud, but humble. This is something that 95% of all modern musicians could never do.

If you are a fan of hip hop, an artist, a hustler or whatever, you would do well to read this book. RZA expands on the concepts of supreme mathematics, cinema, brotherhood, the music biz and most importantly philosophy. The book was very insightful and really explained the truth the birth of the Wu Tang, its members and its ideals. RZA is a true 21st century renaissance man. I was not the biggest Wu fan ever but I wanted to check this book out none the less and Im glad I did. Its not a especially long read but you will enjoy it if you are a fan of the culture. Pick this book up, it will be well worth it

"The book you hold in your hands is not a complete biography or a total philosophy of the Wu-Tang Clan." This sums the book up in terms of what the book is about. The Wu-Tang Manual outlines the Rap group's history along with other aspects of their life ranging from religion to even the game of chess. The book is split into 4 parts: Their history (Book One), Philosophy (Book Two), Lyrics (Book Three), & Music (Book Four). They all go into deep detail on how they incorporate these types of things into their life along with explanations of the music business. I wouldn't call this a story as there's no conflict, climax, resolution, etc. Rather though this is more of a documentary written on a book. Overall, I'd recommend this book to fans of the Wu-Tang Clan or even anyone who has little interest in Hip-Hop. Although I have to warn you that there is some use of profanity in this book, but not too much to take away from the experience of reading the book.

if you like the wu this is for you. if you like hiphop its a good read. so many little fill ins for missing wu knowledge. the best bits will depend on where you come at hiphop from, as an mc i liked the annotated lyrics section. it is fairly comprehensive overview of the wu and well worth the price. buy it or stay a sucker mc forever.

If you're a Wu-Tang fan, you must buy this book. I think they could go deeper in few subjects, but it is good enough for the first book.

I'm not a hard-core Wu Tang fan -- I love a bunch of hop-hop, but listen to rock, Latin, jazz, classical, whatever. I knew about the Wu Tang Clan, liked some of their albums, but probably like most people, wasn't paying that much attention the last few years. So this book is a pretty big surprise: it's amazing. RZA really is a genius, able to sum up Taoism in three sentences, able to explain producing as a spiritual quest, able to leap tall buildings in a simple bound. It is sort of a superhero book, with RZA as the supreme martial artist who through his mastery of so many arcane fields of knowledge can synthesize everything in a totally unique and compelling way. That makes it hard to classify, but easy to enjoy. It's the best, coolest, most interesting music book I've ever read -- in part because it isn't just a music book, it's a life book, the story of a rise to consciousness of someone who was on the wrong path and found wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Whether the Wu Tang Clan sticks around or not, this book will last. Check it out.