Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is the debut studio album by the American hip-
hop group Wu-Tang Clan, originally released on November 9, 1993.
The gritty, distinctive sound of
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) created a blueprint
for hardcore hip-hop during the 1990s, and helped return New York City hip-hop to
national prominence. Its sound also became greatly influential in modern hip-hop
production, while the group members' explicit, humorous, and free-associative lyrics
have served as a template for many subsequent rap records. Serving as a landmark
release in the era of hip-hop known as the East Coast Renaissance, its influence helped
lead the way for several other East Coast rappers, including Nas, The Notorious B.I.G.,
Mobb Deep, and Jay-Z.
Despite its raw, underground sound, the album received positive reviews from most
music critics.
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) has since been widely regarded as one
of the most significant albums of the 1990s, as well as one of the greatest hip hop
albums of all time. In 2020, the album was ranked 27th on Rolling Stone's updated list
of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2022, the album was selected by the Library
of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally,
historically, or aesthetically significant".
Released on gold marbled vinyl for National Album Day 2023.
Released: October 2023
Cat: 19658819951
Label: Sony
