Once you start listening to more Wu, you will see why they are the best rap group of all time. No group can compete bar for bar. Wu Tang are the standard bearers til this day, that all the so called Goats admire and respect the Wu.
That was a "chew stick" that GZA had in his mouth. It's not uncommon to see that in the hood in NY and other cities, especially where the Jamaicans are. I used to chew them. They come in different flavors and you can get them from street vendors, along with incense, shea butter and stuff like that
It hurts my soul when supposed hip hop heads can get this far in life and not be familiar with songs like this, I get you realized you heard it in 2k even tho you didn't realize it till now, but I feel this younger generation mostly ignores the legends while rock heads typically look up the legends that made it possible for their current artists that they are into, please keep pulling up old classics like this and expose them to your generation this hip hop culture is around because of them, and many have lyrical skills rarely seen today.
What GZA was chewing on was a Chew Stick. Chew Sticks were flavored, and they also helped clean your teeth as well. You can use it like a toothbrush once chewed on enough. They're come from places like Africa and Jamaica also.
This isn’t just a song it’s a story of many of us who came up in this era. I love seeing younger generations opening their minds and listening to history told. The Wu catalogue is amazing.
@404 Productions Ent. He had a licorice root (chew stick) in his mouth. Licorice root extract is used to treat a variety of skin conditions, including acne and eczema. They were giving you knowledge without saying anything.
i was a metal head all through the 80's and 90's. my homie gave me this album to listen to in mid '99 and it changed my whole perspective on shit, hip hop wise. RIP D, thanks for changing my music style
This was Wu-Tang at their best with soulful story telling. If the combo of the hook, the story, the realism, the plus the acronm has become the statement for the next 2-3 generations. I know what C.R.E.A.M is , my son and daughter will, her son and daughter will. Even my mother and Grandmother knows what C.R.E.A.M is. ------ Nas, Biggie, Ice Cue, Lil Wayne, and Lil BAby, have used it to describe the Gobal capitalist system. ----- So this song resonates so deep it's felt by generations. -------- HOW MANY SONGS can make that CLAIM? -------- That is why many consider this song one of the greatest songs ever made in hip-hop, because CASH ABSOLUTELY RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME. Dollar, Dollar Bill Yawwwwwwwwwww!
The first song I ever heard from them in 1993, a 12 yr old kid, WOW. I've been a Wu head ever since, they totally changed the game. I had already been a fan of rap about 8 yrs but this was/is something special, different, crazy, mad crazy, big ups to the Wu. I performed this at a country bar in Tennessee in 2020. No hate here guys, it's your opinion, just get on that Public Enemy "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos" it's an 11/11!!
Great Reaction Guys !! i Love the fact that y'all not only review the songs but the visuals as well. Try Wu Tang - Triumph 🔥 Video from 1997 (Concept & Visuals were Next Level) Not to mention that Decks verse "1st" is considered 1 of the Best in History !!!
certain tree barks cleans your teeth when you chew on it - back home we chewed that (west indies) . If you seen rastas chewing it - that's why. All natural. Being Guyanese at times when things was hard you brushed your teeth with salt and or charcoal - not we see companies making toothpaste with charcoal in it. We been doing that for decades.
'Triumph" and 'Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)' have some some of the hardest beats and flows, check those 2 out. BTW 'Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)' is not the same song as 'Protect Ya Neck'
8 is a solid rating for someone who didn’t grow up at that time and maybe missed some of the references or lingo. Like smoking wu’s or cess. And how the acronym CREAM was clever but now it’s old because it’s been used so much. When you take away all of that, it’s held up well to be an 8.
You are right the piece of wood he is chewin on is actually found in Africa, it is used as a tooth brush of sorts. It is said to aid cleaning your teeth as well as it has properties to help in fresh breath.
It's not just African, it's also a Muslim tradition recommended by the prophet Mohammad to clean teeth. Science have found out that it's very effective.
8 is a good rating... I think most OGz at the time of the release was more relative to what was going on at that time of the Crack era and things of such so it would be a 10 to most of us, but 8 is fair compared to other songs in their catalog and individual catalogs.
They werent talking about stealing. They were talking about trying to strive for a better life.....dude this is a fucking masterpiece and you cant see it
This song was dope cuz even tho the hook glorified money the lyrics to the song was about the struggle. They wasn't saying shit about their ice or money. It was real shit about how they had it for real. Inspectah talked about how he was depressed. And how he try to teach the younger kids coming up to not follow in his footsteps but they don't want to listen Idk how u can come harder than that🤷🏽♂️ Spitting truth
chew sticks are dope. Arabs and other cultures use olive branch sticks as a day to day "toothbrush" most holistic tooth paste has chemicals from the chew stick in em
Those chew sticks are common in the south too, especially Ga, I used to have them all the time. Curve craving’s, clean your teeth,helps with that yuck mouth too
Deck pretty much always delivers, such a fuckin shame his solo debut album got lost in the flood in RZA’s basement, would’ve been a classic just like OB4CL or liquid swords
Nah..all opinions are respected.... you not from that time you don't know the feeling we had when it dropped... the way we received and listen to music was different.. It was mostly inside a car. Through a mix tape created by an actual DJ.. Like kid Capri or DJ Clue. And we would be Hotboxing which means the windows rolled up and the car is full of weed cloud. The Audio came before the visual which means you have to wait for the video to come out and you only saw it at your house on television because there were no smartphones so when you hear the music you just imagine what you hear if you wasn't from that environment or just look around you if were because we didn't have that access the anticipation to see and hear hip hop was much more higher this is why those albums go 4 and 5 x Platinum...... absence makes the heart grow fonder.. The demand higher you... There was a Mystique about it that doesn't exist today because you have too much access and no mystery.. Kind of spoiled
10 All day!!! Listen to the message of the song again. Protect ya neck was supposed to come off ruff y’all said it yourself it’s a laid back message song . Y’all really need lyrics up too..
it's crazy how people now people hear cream and have to say pause or no homo - back then we knew what c.r.e.a.m meant and that' it. Nothing about anyone's sexuality - nothing. Why will always love 80s, 90s (hip-hop, soul, r&b) it was pure. Not so sensitive unless you had direct beef with someone and they said it in the songs. Other than that - wasn't all that pause, no homo
You have to RHYME TO THE FEELING AND EMOTION TO THE SONG MUSICALLY THAT YOU RHYME OVER NOW PROTECT YOUR NECK THEY WENT HARDER BECAUSE THE SOUND WAS UPTEMPO AND CHAOTIC SO THE WU MATCHED THE ENEEGY OF SONG
This is in 2k. Lol. Why they hating on Ja Morant? Fml. That piece of wood is a chew stick. It's a twig that cleans your teeth. Dread mon should know that. Jokes. Stay blessed.
AYO!! AND YALL SEND THE YOUNGINS THE SONGS AS THEY CAME ABOUT!! DNT JUST SPLASH DEM FROM HERE AND THERE....SHOW THE TRUE ORDER OF SONG AMD ALBUM RELEASES AS THEY HAPPED IF U CAN....DATS HOW U SEE THE GROWTH
