THE POLL IS COMIN THROUGH, THE OUTCOME IS CRITICAL — WU-TANG CLAN — Artist Poll — Results

i do! only cos masta killa releases some pretty decent solo stuff

http://i66.tinypic.com/15rxnox.jpg

I remember No Said Date being good but points off for having the worst verses on actual Wu albums

fair

http://i67.tinypic.com/2zqas0z.jpg

feels kinda low for INS cos he has some of the most memorable wu verses, but his solo stuff is badddd

The group is so stacked, it's gonna be a whole parade of TOO LOWs until we get to number 1

Deck is an easy person to overlook considering his lack of solo standouts

http://i68.tinypic.com/2laxyh.jpg

RIP

http://i68.tinypic.com/2gtq4g9.jpg

was actually a tie with this next one but this one had more 2nd place votes, neither had any 1st place votes

http://i63.tinypic.com/wgub8k.jpg

Meth was my number 2, though I will admit a lot of the reason why is extramusical stuff.

what's his best acting job?

i remember him in the wire and the wackness

definitely the wire, but he killed it in the deuce this year as well

everyone except U-God TOO LOW lol

i don't even remember how i voted. my ranking might be worse rofl

http://i68.tinypic.com/2eav2x1.jpg

Meth is SO good in the Deuce

Xp

im gonna have to check that out.

http://i67.tinypic.com/2la4pbn.jpg
http://i66.tinypic.com/11gmujn.jpg

^ Nice. I've been quietly looking forward to this. Had to concede that my listening has been too Ghostface-centric to submit a fair ballot, but I'll certainly be reading with interest...

great graphics Spottie! Surprised ODB was so low, he was my #1

amen. graphics more than worth the wait. so stoked for this rollout

great graphics idd and woohoo poll is on!

Lol @ ghostface eagle pic

Yeah the graphics are great, nice work. GZA seems low but otherwise no real surprises here. I voted RZA #1, kind of biased as I'd been re-reading the Wu-Tang Manual just before voting and was swayed by how much he'd put into creating the mythology as well as the sound and feel of the records.

Thanks everyone. Album countdown coming up next. I'll be doing the top 18.

RZA - Bobby Digital in Stereo
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51JvJVMaBgL.jpg
3 votes 9 points

thats #18 btw.

Def my least favorite first wave wu release. i had such high expectations for it.

#17 Ol' Dirty Bastard — Ni**a Please
https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0001/765/MI0001765836.jpg
4 votes 11 points

hadnt listened to this in a long time and had a hard time getting through it. lots of vile stuff on there. production is all over the place.

#16 Ghostface Killah — Bulletproof Wallets
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61UJAJ%2Bu6hL.jpg
3 votes 13 points

Wallets is p slapdash, feels like a collection of outtakes, but there are some really good tracks on it

yeah it ended up climbing my rankings a bit.

It's a lot of fun, but feels lightweight compared to a lot of other Ghost releases

#15 Wu-Tang Clan — Iron Flag
https://images.genius.com/aa7a18c2a99cfab6093f5c73cc358aab.500x500x1.png
3 votes 17 points

Iron Flag has aged really well imo.

their "pop" record, I guess, but I love it.

when i bought the cd i got the clean version on accident, so that's what i know, got all the little record scratches and sound fx memorized. was kinda weird hearing it with all the swears for the first time recently.

haha the first copy I got of 36 Chambers was also a clean version purchased by accident. Shame on a NUH!

the beginning of Rules on my copy just starts with the horns straight to the drop, no rza intro. much better that way.

iron flag has definitely aged well!

btw sorry i couldn't get a vote in but i'm trying to pop in here a lil

Surprised ODB was so low, he was my #1

yea he'd be higher up for me too

odb possibly has my favorite verse on any wu album "here i go / deep type flow..."

yeah his delivery is so great on that.

#14 Raekwon — Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61YJrYppPDL.jpg
5 votes 19 points

My number 2 at number 1

what I've learned here is that RZA was right about cocker spaniel dogs

shimmy shimmy ya and shame on a n** are of a piece in my mind, crazy to see them place right next to each other and so high.

C.R.E.A.M. is undeniably great, though it's rarely the wu banga I return to the most, prob cause i memorized both verses when i was 15

same

aww i guess wu revolution won't place after all

Good job, everyone, great poll!

I didn't vote because I felt insufficiently familiar with post-90s Wu-tang, but now kind of wish I had. Would've been really tough for me to rank all my favorite Cuban Linx tracks.

There's almost no post-90s tracks on this list!

things I ranked (in some cases in my top 10) that didn't place at all:
For Heaven's Sake (really surprised at this one)
Hollow Bones
Saturday Nite
10 Bricks
What the Blood Clot
The Sun
Save Me Dear
Motherless Child
Guest House
It's Over
Be This Way
Fire
Tical

those are all good

xxp

True. For some reason, I thought ILM was way more into some of the more recent albums.

Ghost's peak is arguably post-90s. but you can't really say the same for any of the other acts.

def not. OBFCL2 was good but there's not many (if any) songs I'd rank higher than the highlights of the first one.

not to harp on the point, but was I the only voter for For Heaven's Sake? That sped-up vocal sample - which actually changes key! - blew my mind when I first heard it, and seems like a really influential production (at the very least just on Kanye). I know he wasn't the first to do it (there's a similar sped-up vocal loop on one of UMCs' tracks, which were a tangential precursor to Wu) but that always really stood out to me as pretty outside-the-box production. Plus the low end distorted bass, the whole thing is banging.

Just have to say I saw ODB at a V*ce Party right after he got out of jail and he was like 2 hours late and Brooklyn Zoo was opening for him and mugging and being really panicky at the same time and then Dirty shows up after multiple rumors of him not showing up and he goes

“Sorry y’all I know you know I ain’t been around for a minute so let’s do this...

ONE

TWO

THREE

OHHHH BABY I LIKE IT RAAAAAAAAAAAW”

And the place went as insane as I’ve ever seen a crowd go

Also remember someone on ILM saying that the beginning of CREAM sounds like an old steam engine getting up to speed, which is a lovely image imo

oh man "for heaven's sake" didn't place? shakey otm

the calm bomb keep your arms distant

afaik this is the first song to use the sped up vocal sample trick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTSFsxRLiZM

This isn't a coincidence, since UMCs producer loaned RZA a bunch of gear (including his Ensoniq sampler) when they were recording 36 Chambers. There's also a couple wu-tang references in UMCs' lyrics (incl in the above link), which is interesting cuz they predate any proper Wu releases by a few years. Staten Island reprazent, I guess.

not to harp on the point, but was I the only voter for For Heaven's Sake? That sped-up vocal sample - which actually changes key! - blew my mind when I first heard it, and seems like a really influential production (at the very least just on Kanye).

The T.A. for some "intro to American music" or some such course played this in class as an example of call-and-response (iirc) shortly after Forever came out. Thought that was so cool, mainly cause I did not expect that coming from her at all. She was German! And seemingly sorta preppy.

not to harp on the point, but was I the only voter for For Heaven's Sake?

― Οὖτις, Tuesday, December 5, 2017

I can confirm that you were not

OBFCL2 was good but there's not many (if any) songs I'd rank higher than the highlights of the first one.

idk, some days this is my favorite Ghost verse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhnzXGLIRRU

Would have voted for "For Heaven's Sake" if I'd participated. I didn't vote because outside of the main group albums I mostly just knew Ghost's oeuvre (though I guess that was the case for several of the small number who did vote!). I also had no idea what order to put my favorites in. I really only got into Wu in the early 2000s so other than "C.R.E.A.M." I have no sentimental attachment to the debut or the first run of solo albums. I like OB4CL2 as much as any of those records, except maybe Ironman. Other songs I would've voted for that didn't place:

Malcolm
One Blood Under W
Babies (still think this is a classic track and nobody fucking ever mentions it)
Iron Flag
House of Flying Daggers
Hollow Bones
Rushing Elephants
The Heart Gently Weeps
Sonny's Missing
Gihad

Results in the tracks poll mostly OTM though. Pleasantly surprised by how much love The W ended up getting. Thanks for the countdown, Spottie!

i can't go to sleep is my fave

but the miami connection image for bring the ruckus is my fave image

that movie rules, you guys

Babies is great

Full list up through 125

#1 Points: 496 Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.
#2 Points: 426 Ol' Dirty Bastard - Shimmy Shimmy Ya
#3 Points: 383 Wu-Tang Clan - Shame on a Nigga
#4 Points: 379 Wu-Tang Clan - Bring Da Ruckus
#5 Points: 369 GZA - Liquid Swords
#6 Points: 359 Raekwon - Incarcerated Scarfaces
#7 Points: 326 GZA - Shadowboxin’
#8 Points: 304 Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck
#9 Points: 301 Wu-Tang Clan - Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’
#10 Points: 301 GZA - 4th Chamber
#11 Points: 269 Wu-Tang Clan - Triumph
#12 Points: 242 Wu-Tang Clan - I Can't Go to Sleep (f. Isaac Hayes)
#13 Points: 241 Ghostface Killah - Nutmeg
#14 Points: 241 Ol' Dirty Bastard - Got Your Money (f. Kelis)
#15 Points: 239 Method Man - Bring The Pain
#16 Points: 209 Wu-Tang Clan - Can It Be All So Simple
#17 Points: 206 Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit
#18 Points: 199 Raekwon - Glaciers Of Ice
#19 Points: 189 Ghostface Killah - One
#20 Points: 186 Method Man & Redman - Da Rockwilder
#21 Points: 183 Wu-Tang Clan - Gravel Pit
#22 Points: 177 Raekwon - Criminology
#23 Points: 174 Raekwon - Knowledge God
#24 Points: 171 Wu-Tang Clan - Method Man
#25 Points: 165 Ol' Dirty Bastard - Brooklyn Zoo
#26 Points: 153 GZA - Duel of the Iron Mic
#27 Points: 153 Ghostface Killah - Winter Warz
#28 Points: 145 Ghostface Killah - Run
#29 Points: 144 Ghostface Killah - All That I Got Is You
#30 Points: 143 Raekwon - Verbal Intercourse (f. Nas & Ghostface Killah)
#31 Points: 141 Ghostface Killah - Daytona 500
#32 Points: 138 Wu-Tang Clan - Reunited
#33 Points: 137 Ghostface Killah - Apollo Kids
#34 Points: 137 Ghostface Killah - Buck 50
#35 Points: 131 Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck (The Jump off)
#36 Points: 130 Method Man - Release Yo' Delf
#37 Points: 126 Gravediggaz - 1-800 Suicide
#38 Points: 125 Wu-Tang Clan - Careful (Click Click)
#39 Points: 125 Wu-Tang Clan - It's Yourz
#40 Points: 118 Ghostface Killah - Shakey Dog (Fishscale track)
#41 Points: 113 Raekwon - Ice Cream (f. Method Man)
#42 Points: 111 Ghostface Killah - Whip You With a Strap
#43 Points: 105 Ghostface Killah - Walking Through the Darkness
#44 Points: 103 Wu-Tang Clan - Tearz
#45 Points: 102 Ghostface Killah - Iron Maiden
#46 Points: 97 GZA - Cold World (f. Inspectah Deck)
#47 Points: 97 Method Man - All I Need
#48 Points: 92 Ghostface Killah - Be Easy
#49 Points: 92 Raekwon - Guillotine (Swordz)
#50 Points: 87 Raekwon - Rainy Dayz
#51 Points: 84 GZA - Swordsmen
#52 Points: 82 Ghostface Killah - Kilo
#53 Points: 81 Ghostface Killah - Tooken Back (f. Jackie-O)
#54 Points: 80 Wu-Tang Clan - Cash Still Rules/Scary Hours
#55 Points: 80 Ghostface Killah - Assassination Day
#56 Points: 78 Wu-Tang Clan - Uzi (pinky ring)
#57 Points: 77 GZA - Living in the world today
#58 Points: 75 Ghostface Killah - Maxine
#59 Points: 74 Wu-Tang Clan - As High As Wu-Tang Get
#60 Points: 70 Ghostface Killah - Mighty Healthy
#61 Points: 70 Wu-Tang Clan - Clan in Da Front
#62 Points: 69 Killah Priest - B.I.B.L.E.
#63 Points: 66 Wu-Tang Clan - Let My Ni**as Live (f. Nas)
#64 Points: 63 Wu-Tang Clan - The M.G.M.
#65 Points: 62 Ghostface Killah - Cherchez La Ghost
#66 Points: 62 Wu-Tang Clan - Rules
#67 Points: 59 Ghostface Killah - R.A.G.U.
#68 Points: 58 Ghostface Killah - 260
#69 Points: 58 Ghostface Killah - The Forest
#70 Points: 57 Wu-Tang Clan - Impossible
#71 Points: 56 Ghostface Killah - Fish (f. Raekwon & Cappadonna)
#72 Points: 55 Wu-Tang Clan - Visionz

#73 Points: 55 Ghostface Killah - Wildflower
#74 Points: 53 Gravediggaz - 2 Cups Of Blood
#75 Points: 53 Mobb Deep - Right Back at You (f. Ghostface Killah, Raekwon & Big Noyd)
#76 Points: 53 Raekwon - Knuckleheadz
#77 Points: 52 Raekwon - Heaven & Hell (f. Ghostface Killah)
#78 Points: 52 Raekwon - New Wu (f. Ghostface Killah, Method Man)
#79 Points: 51 Ghostface Killah - Save me dear
#80 Points: 51 GZA - Gold
#81 Points: 50 Ghostface Killah - Guest House
#82 Points: 49 Ghostface Killah - Wu Banga 101 (f. GZA, Raekwon, Cappadonna and Masta Killa)
#83 Points: 47 Method Man & Redman - Y.O.U.
#84 Points: 46 RZA - Mantis (featuring Masta Killa & Tekitha)
#85 Points: 45 Ghostface Killah - Motherless Child
#86 Points: 45 Ghostface Killah - Saturday Nite
#87 Points: 43 Ghostface Killah - Ghost Deini
#88 Points: 43 Wu-Tang Clan - For Heaven's Sake
#89 Points: 42 Wu-Tang Clan - Hollow Bones
#90 Points: 40 Ghostface Killah - The Sun (f. Raekwon, RZA, & Slick Rick)
#91 Points: 40 Raekwon - Ice Water
#92 Points: 39 Shyheim - On and On 
#93 Points: 38 Masta Killa - Iron God Chamber (f. U-God, Method Man and RZA)
#94 Points: 38 Ol' Dirty Bastard - Nigga Please
#95 Points: 37 Ghostface Killah - Biscuits (f. Trife da God)
#96 Points: 36 Ghostface Killah - You Know I'm No Good
#97 Points: 35 RZA - Black Widow Pt. 2 (f. Ol' Dirty Bastard)
#98 Points: 35 Wu-Tang Clan - Heaterz
#99 Points: 34 Raekwon - Wisdom Body
#100 Points: 34 Wu-Tang Clan - Radioactive (Four Assasins)
#101 Points: 33 Raekwon - House of Flying Daggers
#102 Points: 33 Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Revolution
#103 Points: 32 Ghostface Killah - Big Girl
#104 Points: 32 Ol' Dirty Bastard - Snakes
#105 Points: 32 Raekwon - 10 Bricks
#106 Points: 31 Cappadonna - Slang Editorial
#107 Points: 31 Ghostface Killah - The Watch (f. Raekwon)
#108 Points: 31 Raekwon - Spot Rusherz
#109 Points: 31 Texas Featuring Wu-Tang Clan ‎– Say What You Want (All Day Everyday)
#110 Points: 30 Ghostface Killah - The Champ
#111 Points: 30 Pras - Ghetto Superstar
#112 Points: 30 Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber
#113 Points: 30 GZA - Amplified Sample
#114 Points: 29 GZA - Killah Hills 10304
#115 Points: 28 Ghostface Killah - Camay
#116 Points: 28 Method Man - Tical
#117 Points: 28 Ol' Dirty Bastard - I Can't Wait
#118 Points: 28 RZA – Sunshower
#119 Points: 27 Method Man & Redman - City Lights (f. Bun B)
#120 Points: 27 Wu-Tang Clan - One of These Days
#121 Points: 25 Ghostface Killah - Black Jesus
#122 Points: 25 Ghostface Killah - Do Over
#123 Points: 25 Masta Killa - Old Man (f. Ol Dirty Bastard)
#124 Points: 25 Wu-Tang Clan - Severe Punishment
#125 Points: 24 GZA - Breaker, Breaker

thanks for doing this spottie!

np it was fun, sorry it took me so long...

Some random thoughts from doing this:

– Inspectah Deck is really underrated. it's too bad he didn't get any of Rza's best work from the first wave to do some solo stuff with
– I think Beneath the Surface deserves a spot in the lower-upper ranks of the wu canon. Same with Meth's Tical 2000 (I thought Break Ups 2 Make Ups would place). After this exercise I've decided I prefer Tical 2000 to Tical.
– Neither of the 7th Chamber tracks got much love, seems surprising
– I'm kinda sad I couldnt get a Sunz Of Man song to place, or a Killah Priest song outside of bible.
– Iron Flag is top notch wu i came away from this loving it even more

good poll spottie, nice to bring a little bit of order to an awesomely chaotic catalogue

re: tical 2000, it didn't make my cut for this poll but i will personally stan hard for "torture"

Love the beat on Suspect Chin Music and I listened to Retro Godfather a ton in college. RZA showing his range between those two.

ha yeah suspect chin music is my close #2

How did you assign points for each ballot, Spottie? IOW, how many points would someone's #1, #2, #3 and so forth earn? I'm trying to figure out just for myself what the results would've looked like had I submitted a ballot.

1 50
2 45
3 41
4 38
5 36
6 35
7 34
8 33
9 32
10 31

and so forth down to pick 36 which was worth 5 pts.

thanks for running this poll, Spottie - good stuff! I for one did not mind the tempo at all

surprised Camay didn't place

thanks Spottie, top work!

this is my favourite Killah Priest thing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMHZTauB-uY

Yeah, would have loved to see that one and one of the early Sunz of Man tracks on the list :)

This Method Man feature is so good - about halfway through it becomes less about the songs and more about regrets and anxieties: http://www.complex.com/music/2011/10/method-man-25-essential-songs/

oh yeah lots of good stuff in there thx.

“Dirty took all their shit and made it his own and GZA ain’t say shit. Most of [Dirty’s verses] was GZA’s shit. I remember GZA and ODB got in an argument one night and GZA was like, ‘Nigga most of that shit on your fucking album is mines anyway!’

“ODB wrote ‘Brooklyn Zoo’ though. I could go through the discography I could tell you which ones he wrote. Like ‘Dog Shit’ on Wu-Tang Forever? The fucking, ‘Calling me a dog/But leave a dog alone/Because nothing can stop me from burying my bones,’ I wrote that when I was 15 years old.

yeah it's great

listening to that strange, strange Texas remix I'm reminded of a quote I once heard paraphrased, where RZA describes not knowing the concept of musical keys when starting out as a producer, which, if true, may explain some of the off-ness abt songs like Can It Be All So Simple

Thanks for running this poll, Spottie! Unfortunately work kept me from being on ILX during the final half of the rollout, but it was really great to re-engage with the clan. Even though my ballot was all old favorites, the nomination process introduced me to some great tracks I wasn't familiar with