New York, New York

     This week in class we were assigned to research a song revolving around the horrific event, 9/11. My group and I analyzed the song Rule by Nas. However, another song that peaked my interest was Rules by Wu-Tang Clan. Wu-Tang has always been one of my favorite rap groups of all time, so when I saw this song on the list, I wanted to choose it. However, we could not because it was not under my group's list. Today, I will be analyzing that song here.

In the first verse, Ghostface starts off with "Who the f*** knocked our buildings down?/Who the man behind the World Trade massacres, step up now..." This is pretty dangerous territory for anyone that steps into the same city as Wu-Tang as they are a former violent rap group. They claim they would kill anyone that steps towards them with the intent of harm. Ghostface is asking the terrorist group who committed these acts to man up and show his face to Killah. Ghostface Killah continues the verse with "Where the four planes at huh is you insane bitch?/Fly that shit over my hood and get blown to bits!/No disrespect, that’s where I rest my head/I understand you gotta rest yours true, n***a my people’s dead." Ghosface is saying that the terrorist group are asking to get killed because New York is where Killah is from and where he lives, so to step into his territory is not a good idea. Followd by Ghostface Killah is Inspectah Deck in the second verse.

“Yes yes y’all, the I-N-S bless y’all/Stop hearts like cholesterol, let’s brawl/Never fall, tear it down like a wreckin’ ball...” Deck is claiming that his lyrics are so good that they can stop a person’s heart. In this verse, he also says “Providin’ you pure ecstasy without pills,” which means that his music is so good it’s addictive like drugs. He is providing figurative drugs with his bars.

Through the rest of the song is the same sort of things. Each members of the group that contributes to the song with either where they are from, lyrics that say how good the are, or both. With lines like “How the f*** did we get so cool” to “We live from the hills” to even “Battin average three-five-seven and still hittin’”, each line represents something important to each member. More specifically on the .357 line, it is a double entendre on a baseball batting average and a loaded .357 Magnum revolver. Method Man is saying that he hits wel in baseball and he is a good shot with a gun. Overall, this song has some parts to do with 9/11 and more to do with them just rapping freely, with no topic.

I overall enjoyed this song. Maybe it is just because I am a huge Wu-Tang Clan fan, but I really like this song. I do not think it is their best, but I consider it one of their better songs.