Wu-Tang Clan hits the road

By John Benson

From their meager beginnings in the early ’90s, the Wu-Tang Clan has always been about business.

While at first this group of New York City emcees — RZA, GZA, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Masta Killa and Ol’ Dirty Bastard (deceased) — focused on presenting the world its hard-core rhymes, today the star-studded outfit is now all about playing the music industry game.

This idea was confirmed recently while talking to group member Raekwon about the Wu-Tang Clan’s current tour, which comes to Cleveland on Wednesday at the House of Blues (Method Man is not on the bill). Most acts would be centering a tour around their latest album, such as Wu-Tang’s 2007 CD “8 Diagrams.” Apparently, this isn’t the case with this Big Apple outfit.

“This is not a tour based on ‘8 Diagrams,’” said Raekwon, calling from Los Angeles. “‘8 Diagrams’ is an already-done project. This project is more or less about, you know, just letting all of the fans know we have love for them and get back on the road and wine and dine with them, you know.

“Basically, we’re out here working on promoting. So guys are promoting theirs as well as just getting back in front of the people and letting them know what’s going on. It’s the guys promoting some of the various situations they’re involved in. For me, I’m promoting ‘Cuban Linx II,’ which is one of our most important albums.”

Doing it solo — doing something on your own – is what Raekwon calls the Wu-Tang set. The list of tracks included in the act’s show are many of its popular tunes, as well as unreleased Raekwon songs “Sunny’s Missing” and “State of Grace” from his highly anticipated “Cuban Linx II” album, which is due out next year.

The project is a follow-up to Raekwon’s influential 1995 solo debut, “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx .…” The album set the archetype for the mafioso hip-hop style with its drug-lord storyline and hard-core street credibility. So why do a follow-up?

“It’s a strong, prolific album,” Raekwon said. “It’s straight hard-core and back to the basics with eerie sounds and a lot of storytelling and gangster [expletive]. And it’s going to be fire. I look at it as me just going back into that zone and basically giving the people what they want. They’ve been asking for this album for a long time and it’s like it’s time to get it in and time to let them know your favorite movie is coming back to the theaters.”

He added, “It stands out on its own because it’s basically me just going back into the tales of a street peddler and really just trying to get my weight up with different things I’ve seen and been through. But for the most part, it’s just a scary grown man’s album. I wouldn’t recommend the album to any kids under 20.”

Whether the act is looking back at its own catalog or shamelessly promoting the members’ own personal projects, what remains true is the Wu-Tang Clan provides an entertaining evening of hip-hop unlike anyone else.

“I think people need to come out and see what real hip-hop is and pay respect to the brothers in the gang that changed the lives of a lot of people in this game,” Raekwon said. “We want to give you what solidifies hip-hop, so just come out to see a real rap show. That’s what it is.”