Starting from the emergence and prominence of
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its original members include RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. Close affili ...
in the mid-1990s, several of the group's members have branched out to create their labels following
RZA's lead. Some of the labels have dissolved, while other labels have transitioned into other labels. Also included in this list are some of the group members and affiliates that were/are signed to them.
Wu-Tang Records
A label that existed in the mid 1990s. Although never publicly stated, it is believed that RZA was the
CEO
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
. The only known acts on the label were
Shyheim
Shyheim Dionel Franklin (born November 14, 1977) is an American rapper from New York better known simply as Shyheim. He initially gained fame as a teenager, releasing his debut album ''AKA the Rugged Child'' at the age of 16 in 1994. He has sp ...
,
Wu-Syndicate,
Killarmy
Killarmy () is an American Hip hop music, hip hop group that is affiliated with Wu-Tang Clan It is one of the earliest and most successful of the many List of Wu-Tang Clan affiliates, Wu-Tang affiliates along with Sunz of Man.
Killarmy's music ...
, and
Sunz of Man
Sunz of Man is a New York-based Wu-Tang Clan affiliated group that currently consists of Prodigal Sunn, Killah Priest, Hell Razah and 60 Second Assassin. The group's first incarnation also included Shabazz the Disciple, 7th Ambassador and pr ...
. The current situation of the label is unknown. It was distributed by
Priority/
EMI Records
EMI Records (formerly EMI Records Ltd.) is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British flagship label by the music company of the same name in 1972, and launched in January 1973 as the succ ...
.
[Time (magazine)](_blank)
/ref>
* Black Knights
*Killarmy
Killarmy () is an American Hip hop music, hip hop group that is affiliated with Wu-Tang Clan It is one of the earliest and most successful of the many List of Wu-Tang Clan affiliates, Wu-Tang affiliates along with Sunz of Man.
Killarmy's music ...
*Royal Fam
Royal Fam is an American hardcore hip hop group affiliated with Wu-Tang Clan. Timbo King is the leader and founding member of the group and Y-Kim The Ill Figure is their main producer. Other group members are Mighty Jarrett, Dark Denim, Dreddy Kru ...
*Shyheim
Shyheim Dionel Franklin (born November 14, 1977) is an American rapper from New York better known simply as Shyheim. He initially gained fame as a teenager, releasing his debut album ''AKA the Rugged Child'' at the age of 16 in 1994. He has sp ...
*Sunz of Man
Sunz of Man is a New York-based Wu-Tang Clan affiliated group that currently consists of Prodigal Sunn, Killah Priest, Hell Razah and 60 Second Assassin. The group's first incarnation also included Shabazz the Disciple, 7th Ambassador and pr ...
*U-God
Lamont Jody Hawkins (born November 10, 1970), better known as U-God, is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He has been with the group since its inception, and is known for his deep voice and rhythmic flow tha ...
*Northstar Northstar may refer to:
* Polaris, a star
Arts and entertainment
* Northstar (band), an emo band from Alabama
* Northstar (rap group), a rap group affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan
* "Northstar", a 2019 song by XXXTentacion from the album ''Bad Vi ...
* Wu-Syndicate
*Inspectah Deck
Jason Richard Hunter (born July 6, 1970), better known by his stage name Inspectah Deck, is an American rapper, producer, and actor. He is a member of the groups Wu-Tang Clan and Czarface.
He has acquired critical praise for his intricate lyri ...
*Masta Killa
Jamel Irief (born Elgin Turner; August 18, 1969), better known by his stage name Masta Killa, is an American rapper and member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Though one of the lesser-known members of the group (he was featured on only one track on their 19 ...
Razor Sharp Records
Razor Sharp Records is a recording label that was believed to also be run by RZA. However, the label was run by his brother, Divine. The label was founded in the early 1990s around the time that RZA produced Method Man
Clifford Smith, Jr. (born March 2, 1971), better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is known as a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He is also half of t ...
's '' Tical'', Raekwon
Corey Woods (born January 12, 1970), better known by his stage name Raekwon The Chef, or simply Raekwon (), is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which achieved mainstream success ...
's '' Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...'', Ol' Dirty Bastard
Russell Tyrone Jones (November 15, 1968 – November 13, 2004), better known by his stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard (often abbreviated as ODB), was an American rapper. He was one of the founding members of the Wu-Tang Clan, a rap group primarily fr ...
's '' Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version'', The GZA's ''Liquid Swords
''Liquid Swords'' is the second solo studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, released on November 7, 1995, by Geffen Records. Recording sessions for the album began midway through 1995 at producer RZA's basement studio in ...
'' and Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles (born May 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of ''Enter the Wu-Tang (36 C ...
's '' Ironman''. Although the label received returning profits and proceeds on every album made by each clan member, very few acts were seen on the label, most notably Cappadonna
Darryl Hill, better known by his stage name Cappadonna, is an American rapper. He is a member of the hip-hop collective the Wu-Tang Clan and is a member of the rap group Theodore Unit together with Ghostface Killah.
Career
Cappadonna (also know ...
, who had close ties with the group, and was often believed to be an unofficial member, until his official induction prior to ''8 Diagrams''. Sophia Chang
Sophia Chang (born 1965) a music director, producer, manager, and author. Widely recognized as the first Asian woman in hip hop, Chang managed A Tribe Called Quest, Raphael Saadiq, Q-Tip, and members of Wu-Tang Clan such as RZA, GZA, and Ol' Di ...
was the manager of this label in 1999. The current situation of the label is unknown, although is it possible that the label dissolved or possibly became one of the more recent Wu labels.[Wu-Tang Corp. - Home of the Wu-Tang Clan and Killa Beez]
/ref> It was distributed by Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America
Sony Corporation of America (SONAM, also known as SCA), is the American arm of the Japanese conglomerate Sony Group ...
& Sony Music
Sony Music Entertainment (SME), also known as simply Sony Music, is an American multinational music company. Being owned by the parent conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is owned by Sony Entertainment ...
. RZA relaunched Razor Sharp Records with Mike Smith and King Tech
Rod Sepand (born June 30, 1971), better known professionally as King Tech, is an American DJ, B-boy, VJ and audio engineer. He is one half of the duo Sway & King Tech.
Career
DJ King Tech started off in the Hip Hop game as a B-Boy in the bay ...
.
*Cappadonna
Darryl Hill, better known by his stage name Cappadonna, is an American rapper. He is a member of the hip-hop collective the Wu-Tang Clan and is a member of the rap group Theodore Unit together with Ghostface Killah.
Career
Cappadonna (also know ...
*Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles (born May 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of ''Enter the Wu-Tang (36 C ...
*Tekitha
Tekitha Washington is a Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated female vocalist who was the Wu-Tang Clan's in-house singer (previously filled by Blue Raspberry (singer), Blue Raspberry) for the album ''Wu-Tang Forever'', on which she also performed a solo track ...
* Chanel Sosa
* Jammie Sommers
36 Chambers Records and Wu Music Group
Other record labels, known as 36 Chambers Records and Wu Music Group were also founded, and are still active in the present. Very little is known about these labels, other that the fact that RZA produces music and movie scores on them. Wu Music Group receives profit on every album that is released from a Clan member. His involvement with these labels are deeply uncertain, considering that he was never known to be CEO
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
of any recording label.
*Solomon Childs
*Boy Jones
Wu-Tang International
Another label founded by the RZA. Unlike the other labels, it signed hip-hop talent from countries outside of the United States. Cilvaringz
Tarik Azzougarh ( ar, link=no, طارق أزوگاغ; born January 29, 1979), better known as his stage name Cilvaringz, is a Dutch-Moroccan record producer, rapper, and artist manager from Tilburg, North Brabant. He is associated with the Wu-Tan ...
was signed to the label. Wu-Tang International does not exist as a label any longer. A web site dedicated to Wu-Tang under the same name exists and covers everything Wu-Tang across the globe: wu-international.com
*Cilvaringz
Tarik Azzougarh ( ar, link=no, طارق أزوگاغ; born January 29, 1979), better known as his stage name Cilvaringz, is a Dutch-Moroccan record producer, rapper, and artist manager from Tilburg, North Brabant. He is associated with the Wu-Tan ...
Soul Temple Records
Upon completion of his film directorial debut work The Man with the Iron Fists
''The Man with the Iron Fists'' is a 2012 American martial arts film directed by RZA and written by RZA and Eli Roth. The film stars RZA, Russell Crowe, Cung Le, Lucy Liu, Byron Mann, Rick Yune, Dave Bautista, and Jamie Chung. Set in 19th cen ...
, RZA founded Soul Temple Records
Soul Temple Records is an American record label founded in 2012 by hip hop recording artist RZA and Bob Perry after the release of the RZA directed ''The Man with the Iron Fists''. The label's first release was The Man with the Iron Fists (soundtr ...
. The label has since released Ghostface Killah's ''Twelve Reasons to Die
''Twelve Reasons to Die'' is the tenth studio album by Wu-Tang Clan member and rapper Ghostface Killah. It is a concept album based on a comic book of the same name. The album was produced and composed by Adrian Younge. It was also executive produ ...
'' and U-God's solo album ''Keynote Speaker
A keynote in public speaking is a talk that establishes a main underlying theme. In corporate or commercial settings, greater importance is attached to the delivery of a keynote speech or keynote address. The keynote establishes the framework fo ...
'' both executive produced by RZA. The label has also released Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its original members include RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. Close affili ...
's sixth studio album ''A Better Tomorrow''.
Liquid Swords Entertainment
An independent record label founded by the GZA
''Gary Eldridge Grice'' (born August 22, 1966), better known by his stage names GZA ( ) and The Genius, is an American rapper and songwriter. A founding member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, GZA is the group's "spiritual head", being both ...
. Created in 2008 with the GZA's first release for the label, ''Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed and released by Avid Technology (formerly Digidesign) for Microsoft Windows and macOS. It is used for music creation and production, sound for picture (sound design, audio post-productio ...
''. It is distributed through a partnership with Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records is an American independent record label based in New York City, founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by The Orchard and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.
History
Babygrande Records was ...
.Liquid Swords Entertainment - Wu-Tang Corp. - Official Site of the Wu-Tang Clan
/ref>
*GZA
''Gary Eldridge Grice'' (born August 22, 1966), better known by his stage names GZA ( ) and The Genius, is an American rapper and songwriter. A founding member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, GZA is the group's "spiritual head", being both ...
*Reverend William Burke
References
{{RZA
Hip hop record labels
American record labels