The Wu-Tang Clan were the most influential and groundbreaking hip-hop act to emerge in the '90s. With their debut album, 1993's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the group introduced a distinctive sound and style, with dark, atmospheric backing tracks (often punctuated by samples from vintage martial arts movies) and streetwise raps from a nine-man team of gifted MCs whose diverse styles complemented one another while maintaining strongly individual personalities (most of the Wu-Tang crew would pursue successful solo careers while still working with the group, including Method Man, Ghostface Killer, GZA, RZA, and Ol' Dirty Bastard). The Essential Wu-Tang Clan is a collection that includes 29 standout tracks from the albums Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Wu-Tang Forever, The W, and Iron Flag, as well as rare soundtrack selections and compilation cuts. ~ Mark Deming