Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan

In his opening narration, director Gerald “Gee-Bee” Barclay notes that he grew up with members of the Wu-Tang Clan. As the producer behind some of their first videos, Barclay in fact contributed to the collective's initial success, so he isn't exactly a disinterested observer. Fortunately, however, Wu incorporates enough outside voices to stave off any obvious bias. To set the scene, Barclay takes a brief tour of Staten Island (“Shaolin” in Wu-speak), as well as the martial arts movies that inspired the clan's ideology. Formed in 1991, Wu-Tang—one of history's biggest and most successful hip-hop outfits has, at various times, consisted of Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon the Chef, RZA, GZA, Cappadonna, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Ol' Dirty Bastard (ODB). As rapper/actor RZA explains in a 1993 interview, Wu-Tang stands for Wise Universal Truth Allah Now God...though he's open to other interpretations. As one observer notes, it's a “typical Behind the Music story,” with Barclay dutifully tracking Wu-Tang's rise, fall, and rebirth, while interviewing friends, business associates, fellow rappers, label reps, disc jockeys, and others. Sadly, many of the darkest moments revolve around ODB, who went from substance abuse to assault charges to incarceration, dying in 2004 only a few months after his release from prison. DVD extras include the original “Protect Ya Neck” music video and extended interviews with Barclay, Raekwon, RZA, and ODB's widow, Icelene. Recommended. Aud: P. (K. Fennessy)