# The Essential Wu-Tang Clan

The Essential Wu-Tang Clan is a compilation album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which was released October 29, 2013 on Loud and Legacy. It follows 2011's Legendary Weapons. The Essential Wu-Tang Clan serves as a best of. It features performances by all Wu-Tang members and several affiliates.

## Background

The Essential Wu-Tang Clan includes standout tracks from high-profile studio albums, as well as rare soundtrack selections and compilation cuts.

## Critical reception

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
The Essential Wu-Tang Clan was met with positive reviews. It was noted for the influential and groundbreaking sound from the '90s hip-hop collective. With its distinctive style, with dark, atmospheric backing tracks (often punctuated by samples from vintage martial arts movies).

## Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes and Discogs.
Disc One :
| No. | Title | Original Album | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Time |
| 1 | "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | Clifford Smith Gary Grice Dennis Coles Lamont Hawkins Robert Diggs Corey Woods Jason Hunter Russell Jones | The RZA Ol’ Dirty Bastard | 4:48 |
| 2 | "As High as Wu-Tang Get" | Wu-Tang Forever | C. Smith Grice Diggs Jones | The RZA | 2:38 |
| 3 | "C.R.E.A.M." | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | C. Smith Woods Hunter Diggs David Porter Isaac Hayes | The RZA | 4:07 |
| 4 | "Cash Still Rules/Scary Hours (still don't nothing move but the money)" | Wu-Tang Forever | C. Smith Coles Woods Selwyn Bougard | 4th Disciple | 3:02 |
| 5 | "Rules" (featuring Streetlife) | Iron Flag | C. Smith Coles Woods Hunter Elgin Turner Patrick Charles Ronald Bean | Mathematics | 3:52 |
| 6 | "I Can't Go to Sleep" (featuring Isaac Hayes) | The W | Coles Diggs Hayes | The RZA | 3:35 |
| 7 | "Uzi (Pinky Ring)" | Iron Flag | C. Smith Grice Woods Coles Hawkins Diggs Hunter Jones Turner Clarence Reid | The RZA | 5:18 |
| 8 | "America" (featuring Killah Priest) | America Is Dying Slowly | Woods Diggs Hunter Turner Walter Reed | The RZA | 5:34 |
| 9 | "Gravel Pit" (featuring Paulissa Moorman) | The W | C. Smith Woods Diggs Coles Hawkins Paulisa Moorman | The RZA | 4:14 |
| 10 | "The Projects" (featuring Shyheim) | Wu-Tang Forever | C. Smith Woods Diggs Coles Hawkins | The RZA | 3:18 |
| 11 | "Back in the Game" (featuring Ronald Isley) | Iron Flag | C. Smith Woods Coles Hunter Jean-Claude Olivier Samuel Barnes | Poke And Tone | 4:29 |
| 12 | "What You in fo'" (featuring Streetlife) | Oz | C. Smith Woods Diggs Charles | True Master | 3:08 |
| 13 | "The Monument" (featuring Busta Rhymes) | The W | C. Smith Woods Diggs Coles Hawkins Trevor Smith | The RZA | 2:38 |
| 14 | "Can It Be All So Simple" | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | Woods Diggs Coles Alan Bergman Marilyn Bergman Marvin Hamlisch | The RZA | 4:12 |
| 15 | "The W" | Bonus Track from Iron Flag | C. Smith Grice Woods Diggs Hawkins | The RZA | 3:41 |
| 58:34 ||||||
Disc Two :
| No. | Title | Original Album | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Time |
| 1 | "Protect Ya Neck" | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | Clifford Smith Gary Grice Dennis Coles Lamont Hawkins Robert Diggs Corey Woods Jason Hunter Russell Jones | The RZA | 4:32 |
| 2 | "Reunited" | Wu-Tang Forever | C. Smith Grice Diggs Jones | The RZA | 5:22 |
| 3 | "Shame on a Nigga" | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | C. Smith Grice Coles Hawkins Diggs Woods Hunter Jones | The RZA | 2:54 |
| 4 | "Hollow Bones" | The W | Coles Diggs Woods Hunter | The RZA | 3:16 |
| 5 | "Triumph" (featuring Cappadonna) | Wu-Tang Forever | C. Smith Grice Coles Hawkins Diggs Woods Hunter Jones Jamel Irief Darryl Hill | The RZA | 5:38 |
| 6 | "Redbull" (featuring Redman) | The W | C. Smith Diggs Hunter Reginald Noble | The RZA | 3:54 |
| 7 | "Method Man" (performed by Method Man) | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | C. Smith Diggs | The RZA | 5:00 |
| 8 | "It's Yourz" | Wu-Tang Forever | Coles Hawkins Diggs Woods Hunter Juergen Koduletsch Mats Bjoerklyn Thoris Baldursson | The RZA | 4:14 |
| 9 | "Put Your Hammer Down" | The Mix Tape, Vol. III | C. Smith Grice Coles Hawkins Diggs Woods Hunter | The RZA | 2:04 |
| 10 | "One Blood Under W" (featuring Junior Reid) | The W | Diggs Elgin Turner Delroy Reid | The RZA | 4:12 |
| 11 | "Diesel" (featuring Ron Isley) | Soul in the Hole | C. Smith Grice Coles Hawkins Diggs Woods Hunter Jones | The RZA | 5:30 |
| 12 | "Careful (Click, Click)" | The W | Hawkins Diggs Hunter Hill Turner | The RZA | 4:25 |
| 13 | "Protect Ya Neck II (The Jump Off)" | The W | C. Smith Grice Coles Hawkins Diggs Woods Hunter Jones | The RZA | 3:38 |
| 14 | "Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber (Part II)" | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | C. Smith Grice Coles Hawkins Diggs Woods Hunter Jones | The RZA | 5:08 |
| 59:47 ||||||
Notes
* signifies a co-producer.