RZA of Wu-Tang Clan performing in San Francisco, CA at The Warfield. March 18, 2017. Photo Credit: Jared Stossel

Wu-Tang Clan
The Warfield
San Francisco, CA
March 18, 2017

Cut to: late Saturday evening. After nearly an hour and a half after the proposed set time, Wu-Tang Clan finally took the stage. But not in the way that you'd think. There was no big grand entrance. The whole even was very...natural. But when all members of the group were finally on stage, you'd think that there was some grand entrance that had just occurred, as the crowd went ballistic. Wu-Tang Clan rarely ever play in the Bay Area, at least to my knowledge, so seeing one of their shows is not only a rare occasion, but a special treat. Even if you're not someone whose a massive hip-hop fan, I highly recommend going to see Wu-Tang Clan, because you'll see the genre at its finest.

Before the real festivities kicked off, two openers, Hue Hefner and Killah Priest, came out on stage to perform a song and freestyle for a bit. They each went one at a time, never playing more than one song and one freestyle verse. This was followed by the group's DJ showing off his mixing prowess and skills behind the turntable, before leaving the stage to let a reel of music videos from fellow acts that Wu-Tang support play to the packed house. Their DJ returned to the stage, and the show finally began.

Just before 11:30, Ghostface Killah, one of the members of the group, stepped out on stage. "I'm just out here to get you warmed up," he remarked into the microphone as he headed straight into the next track. And then another member. And another. And another, until the entire crew was out on stage. "I just want you guys to know one thing, whether you're from the East, West, South, China, Africa, wherever you are in the world, just remember one thing," RZA remarked, a bottle of champagne clutched in his hand. "WU-TANG CLAN AIN'T NOTHIN' TO FUCK WITH!" The crowd cheers and gets showered with liquor. This is only a taste of the party that fans in attendance got to experience for the rest of their night.

In a world full of manufactured pop-stars that are secretly posing as rappers, the same world filled with rappers that define their art solely by the clothing they wear when they walk onstage, ignoring the "talent" portion of their art and music almost completely, Wu-Tang Clan demonstrate what hip-hop is really about, musically and theatrically. They are a massive forced to be reckoned with, and a sight to behold should you ever get the chance to see them perform.