But when you have 10 artists in one collective, egos get in the way.
With success comes money, then comes resentment, then the people you called brothers become strangers.
Theyve gone through heaven and hell, enduring racism and poverty to reach the highest peak of cultural fame.
The Wu-Tang Clan.Credit: Kyle Christy/SHOWTIME
Theyve also seen their music lose steam, their record sales dip, and their popularity diminish.
I just like to keep working, Wu member Masta Killa says with a laugh.
From so many different aspects, its definitely a resurgence and its truly a blessing.
RCA/Photofest
If there was pressure, you couldnt tell backstage.
Ghost is somewhere off eating a wrap sandwich in a tiny dressing room.
Masta Killa strolls up the hallway toward the elevators for another press appearance in the building.
Sue Kwon/Courtesy of SHOWTIME
U-God eventually meets him, plopping into a chair across from The Roots rehearsal space.
Soon after, a guy in a black Wu-Tang logo t-shirt appears.
Sometimes, the RZA says about trying to keep track of the group, its like wrangling cats.
The year prior, Compton native Dr. Dre put outThe Chronic.
There was an overt sadness to the music he crafted.
They didnt filter themselves for the sake of commercial appeal either.
They made listeners come around tothem.
Ghostface and Raekwon have found new life as solo artists.
The RZA also made his way to Hollywood, appearing in films likeAmerican GangsterandFunny People.
Now theres an appetite once again for incredibly black, sonically challenging music to thrive in the mainstream marketplace.
Everything has its time, Ghostface says.
So nows the time for that.
Now its time to start putting out conscious rap, or whatever you want to call it.
The crews influence waned.
In recent years, theyve been mired in questionable drama.
Then Raekwon openly criticized the RZAs beats, saying that he hadnt done enough to update his sound.
They eventually reconciled in time for a new album,A Better Tomorrow, which was released in 2014.
It got mixed reviews from critics.
The Wu-Tang story is an important one, particularly for folks of color.
Until the next album, they continue to build on their 26 years in the limelight.
My theory is just Keep creating, says RZA.
People didnt understand Tesla; were just figuring them out.
I dont mind not being figured out by the generation Im living in.
The legacy is still being created, but the foundation is there.
