It’s only fitting that the Wu-Tang Clan’s Australian return took place at the Sydney Opera House. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of their quintessential album ‘Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers)’ the collective brought the ruckus, vibes, and their undeniable classics to the iconic venue.
Their signature velvet delivery was on full display Saturday night, as they performed the entirety of ‘36 Chambers’, proving that, like a fine wine, their presence has only gotten better with time. Moments like The RZA sipping from a bottle of champagne as the diverse audience joyfully cheered back every verse, sung every chorus, and filled every second with a positive energy (that can only be described as hip hop) made it feel like the Sydney Opera House had been transformed into a New York block party.
As Raekwon would tell you, Wu-Tang forms like Voltron, and that was certainly the case as members were continuously brought on stage and the Wu flexed their sprawling discography. Besides the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, every single member — from Cappadonna to U-God — did their thing. Not even death could stop ODB’s wildfire spirit from taking over the stage; his now fully-grown son (who goes by Young Dirty Bastard) was brought out to carry on his legacy. If you needed proof that Wu-Tang is for the children, YDB ecstatically performing “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” to the sold-out crowd was exactly that.
In a night of many highs, I can’t turn a blind eye to Method Man’s undying confidence and swagger as he performed his self-titled solo cut from ‘Enter the Wu Tang’. Any man who can hit the two-step while spitting some of the most influential bars of all time, and then make the effort to high-five his adoring fans in the front row, deserves his place carved into hip hop’s Mount Rushmore.
Luxurious sample-based boom bap perfection carried powerful vibrations throughout the venue, and there was a moment where I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride. Many artists whose original songs were sampled by the Clan would have felt right at home performing in the venue, before the Wu had ever released ‘36 Chambers’. Meanwhile hip hop and rap acts have just relatively recently had the opportunity to grace the stage of the Opera House, a beautiful show of progress that highlights how much the collective has helped to push hip hop culture from the fringe of our society to its main stage.
As the show was wrapping up, I took some time to reflect on the generational impact of the Wu-Tang Clan, and soaked in the audience that had filled out the Concert Hall. As my gaze was drifting across the beautifully-lit room (shout out to the Wu-Tang logo projected onto the far left wall), I saw a familiar face sitting behind me. “Excuse me, are you The Kid Laroi?” I asked, to which the young Sydney up-and-comer smirked and proudly said, “Yes. Wu-Tang forever.”
Photos by Lars Roy.