Review By James Magill, OOTB Publications
Photos By Rob O’Brien, OOTB Publications
The Final Chamber: Wu‑Tang Clan’s retirement tour. It’s a privilege to be here for this—Wednesday, July 9 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
The most prolific rap group of all time. All individual stars. The Greatest Of All Time.
I was in middle school when their first album was released in 1993.
Enter The Wu‑Tang (36 Chambers) wasn’t on my radar; not a style of music I paid attention to. Then, randomly one night, I saw the video for “C.R.E.A.M.” It was raw, emotional, different, aggressive. It made me check out the album, which in those days meant shelling out fifteen bucks and hoping for more than one good song—and there absolutely was.
Wu-Tang’s debut album is brilliant. A masterpiece. Hell, in 2020 it was ranked 27th on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums of All Time. Six more Wu-Tang Clan studio albums followed, along with five compilation albums as Wu-Tang, including this year’s release Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman.
The band members made solo projects. They starred in, wrote and directed movies, TV shows, composed scores. Some collaborated with artists across all genres, including: Limp Bizkit, System Of A Down, ICP, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss. Hell, they even jammed with some of the Beatles.
And this is it—their last tour together.
Run The Jewels, a hip-hop duo (Killer Mike, El-P) I had never listened to before, opened the show—and they were incredible. Loud, aggressive, lyrical, excited. They worked the crowd into a frenzy, infecting them with energy. The set was phenomenal.
But the main event—the reason the arena was filled—was about to take the stage. Indeed, it was time to bring da ruckus. What followed was two hours of almost nonstop hip-hop, with an introduction by Dave Chapelle.
The Wu blasted through a set of songs, playing everything you wanted to hear: some solo songs, a cover or two, and all their hits. They did so with a frenzied, kinetic energy that intoxicated an already rabid crowd.
The group rotated on stage, bringing members on and off stage—RZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, U-God, GZA, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, Masta Killa, Cappadonna—which kept them fresh and energized.
Playing anthems like “Protect Ya Neck” and “Bring Da Ruckus,” the crowd sang along, danced, and basked in the presence of greatness.
The Final Chamber Tour is a fitting farewell for one of the most influential acts of all time.
Wu‑Tang is for the children.
Wu‑Tang is for forever.
Wu‑Tang Clan ain’t Nuthin’ ta F’wit.
Tour Dates
https://www.thewutangclan.com/pages/tour
WU-TANG CLAN (click to enlarge)
RUN THE JEWELS (click to enlarge)
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