Diggs took on the name RZA, Jones Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and Grice GZA. Wu-Tang drove from state to state, selling copies from the trunks of cars and asking local radio stations to play the song. "Protect Ya Neck" eventually became a regional hit, drawing attention from record companies. Every track on Enter the wu tang name generator-Tang (36 Chambers) is laced with dark vibes, and many of them are littered with kung fu flick dialogue or sound effects (or both).

After soaking in the surroundings, I took the stairs down to the top floor of the building to join a small crowd looking for warmth in the hallway. A man and woman were having a conversation from neighboring doorways with me in between. The man had two black eyes and a severely cut up face.

Came in, did that, took meabout ten minutes. That’s when RZA had the studio upon the top of Wagner College. That studio got flooded out.But before that, I was up in there. I went up there with Golden Arms [AKA U-God], and I was just listening to the song. It was Rae and Ghost’s verse on there. Wasn’t no hook or nothing on there.

The album’s success marked the beginning of his evolution as a solo artist. Tical featured production from RZA and guest appearances from fellow Wu-Tang members, yet Method Man’s distinct style was unmistakable. Tracks like "Bring the Pain," "Release Yo’ Delf," and "What the Blood Clot" became instant classics, further solidifying his place in hip hop history. The Clan entered the new millennium with cracks in their armour. The solo records released following second group album wu tang generator-Tang Forever hadn’t resonated. Then came Ghostface Killah’s Supreme Clientele.

I could hear you on there." Idid my little verse right there on the spot. Then Meth came in about ten, 15minutes later and dropped that hook on there. Next thing you know, in twoweeks, we was doing the video for that. To my surprise, they had picked thatas a single. I wasn’t really even really ready for none of that. We shotthe video up in Harlem and some of it in Queens.

For the first five years, everything went according to plan. The first solo albums from Ghost, Rae, Meth, GZA, and ODB — all classics. And then, one day, it ground to a halt.

Always stay with cats that, even to this day, I got 30-yearrelationships with. We always was like brothers from [another mother]. All we had was each other, none of us really hadfathers. Out of maybe 30, 40 cats on the block. Not 30, 40 cats running aroundevery day chilling.

In our first allegorical movie of the season, we see Dirty take on the persona of "Dirt McGirt" in the theme of a 1970s blaxploitation film, as he finds inspiration for his first solo album, Return to the 36 Chambers. In order to secure a deal for their new label, Divine must deliver on the promises he made to music executive Tommy Mottola. But upon returning to Wu mansion, he learns that signing members and getting Dirty to feature on a song is easier said than done. RZA pushes his musicianship to new heights as he creates Wu-Tang Forever with a studio orchestra, but the recording process strains the Clan.

The reason Masta Killa is here, 20 years on, can be traced back to a single verse written on a single night. He wasn’t just the ninth man through the door; he almost never made the team at all. It’s a plucky tale, and as he recounts it now — while we catch some college basketball on a late Saturday afternoon at Barclays Center — he does so with practiced ease, but not without marvel. The last time they came together, in 2007, the result was the sly, simmering, and thoroughly troubled 8 Diagrams. Before the album even dropped, Ghost and Rae were trashing RZA’s more nuanced, live-instrument-based productions. (RZA would miss most of the ensuing tour.) Those fault lines still stand.