Wu-Tang is my favorite rap group.... their best work is from the 90's though. They still put out decent albums if your into old school 90's hard core rap. Ghostface Killah is my favorite....
Their name comes from the Wu-Tang Clan depicted from old Shaw Brothers kung fu flicks. Rza and Ol Dirty ....... (RIP) used to watch kung fu movies in NYC when they used to play them. The Wu-Tang Clan was made to protect the Shao Lin Monestarys but had an internal conflict because the Monks and the Wu-tang had an argument on who's kung fu was actually better.
They call Staten Island where most of the Wu-tang members are from Shao Lin also... alot of their early works had samples from the old shaw brothers kung fu movies and alot of the rappers names come from the movies such as Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, Ol Dirty ......., and Killah Priest (not in wu-tang but associated).
Most of the members were associated or are still practicing the lessons of the Nations of Gods of Earths or 5% Nation. Which is an offshoot of the Nation of Islam. But instead they believe they are GODS, the poor righteous teachers which are the 5% that have the 360 degrees of knowledge while the 10% that have the knowledge use it to spread evil over the 85% that are deaf blind and dumb. Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Busta Rhymes, Mobb Deep, and countless other rappers are also affiliated with the Nation of Gods and Earths. Alot of people don't even know that they are sometimes preaching to people through their raps... Pretty interesting. Well at least to me...