It's 1993. Wu Tang Clan - just another unknown American rap group, led by the future genius that is RZA - drop a future-classic of an album. ‘Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)' lay the foundations for a rap that mixed social engagements, lyrical wizardry and special brand of delirium. Twenty-five years later, this New York collective’s legacy may be waning, but their name has never been as celebrated.
As proof, beside the other homages to their fellow rappers, it is Paris that will become the almighty megaphone for wo weeks. La Place, a cultural hip-hop centre, welcomes fans for two weeks from May 5-17 to come and (re)discover the Shaolin imagery from the Staten Island troupe, through many different medium; paintings, records, clothes, as well as a significant number of satellite events; DJ sets, documentaries and workshops.
Organised by the CEO of Wu-Tang Management John Mook Gibbons and journalist Olivier Annet N’Guessen, the exhibiton aims to take us back into Wu-Tang’s vast universe. The idea is "to allow the public to plunge into the imagination of this prolific group, whose logo and aesthetic have inspired dozens of artists from all genres, whether stylists or designers", says the latter.
It’s about time a good pretext has emerged of their long and established discography.
