Enter The Wu-Tang 36 Chambers Tour at Tsongas Center – 11/2/18
▣Tsongas Center | Lowell, MA ▣Friday, November 2nd 2018
Wu-Tang Clan a.k.a Killa Bees, from basements to stadiums, have created something that no other hip hop group has ever achieved – a movement, a culture, a family. They have achieved icon status and have become a household name. Reuniting for the 25th anniversary of their debut album, “Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers”, the legendary group brought the ruckus to Boston, and took their fans on a ride of their lives. The gods are here, the gods are here…
Getting to the venue and in the doors of the Tsongas Center was a sinch. As I walked in, it became immediately evident how much love their fans have for them. Many were wearing their WU shirts, black and yellow, myself included. It was as if we were all playing on the same team. “The gathering of the masses had come to pay respect to the Wu-Tang Clan”. It was amazing to see the unity in their fans.
I was really excited for the show. At first I was disappointed with the amount of people in the venue, because there were still a lot of empty seats. But, it was still early in the night. I fully expected the place to be packed by the time Wu-Tang hit the stage. Because, it is Wu-Tang, one of the best hip hop groups to grace the stage.
We were first entertained by the Michigan rapper, Lazarus. Of Pakistani decent and a Michigan native, he is no stranger to the Clan. Just last month he released a song featuring Ghostface Killah called, “Decapitation Chamber”. Lazarus then toured with Ghostface Killah through Canada to promote the single. The single has received much success, especially among Wu-Tang fans, for its raw lyrics and Wu sound.
Lazarus was accompanied on stage by rapper Philanthropist and DJ Shade. He of course performed the new single, and it looked really dope with the video playing in the background. But it was missing one thing, Ghostface! It would have been really cool if he joined him on stage but all in all, his set was short and really good. This was my first time hearing his music and now I’m definitely going to check out some of his other songs.
Mathematics made his entrance to warm up the crowd and begin the introduction. He played a few 90’s hip hop hits, hyping the crowd for the show. When he finally introduced the guys, the brotherhood that is Wu-Tang was in full affect. They opened with “Bring da Ruckus”, immediately setting the tone for the night.
They continued with “Shame on a Nigga“. So, who was taking the place of the late ODB you ask? To my surprise, I later found out it was none other than Bar-son Jones, or Ol’ Dirty Bastard Jr, ODB’s son. Those are some hard shoes to fill, but he was doing a fine job. His dad would be proud. ODB’s music made an impact in the hip-hop world, and his music will be played for generations to come. It’s really good to see his legacy being carried on through his son.
All of a sudden, the entire area where the photographers were standing filled up with Wu’s family and friends. We were the first to get sprayed and soaked champagne by RZA. It was an appropriate gesture for the night’s special occasion, celebrating 25 years of their iconic debut album, “Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers”. It was the album that started it all for them and became the foundation for their musical movement. Classic Wu-Tang songs like “C.R.E.AM” and “Protect Ya Neck”, are eargasms to any Wu fan. And both of those songs sounded amazing live. We were all in for a treat, as they went on to play the entire album for their fans.
It was truly great hearing the songs from the iconic album, but personally for me the album that opened the doors to their music was the Wu-Tang Forever Album. Hearing songs like It’s Yourz, Reunited and of course Triumph, had me buzzing for days on end.
The Wu Master, RZA, was dressed in all black with his shades on, never truly revealing himself. When he wasn’t in the spotlight or adding his touch on the songs, he just stood back and proudly watched as his troops entertained their fans. I could go on and on about the rest of the guys- GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, U-God and Masta Killa, but I will just tell you this… they all sounded great together and it was awesome to see them having so much fun on stage! Method Man was in full beast mode status all night, jumping in the the pit on more than one occasion. It was a classic moment, they gave the performance of their lives. Take a look at some of our video footage…
This was my first time seeing Wu-Tang live, after being a fan for years now. Knowing their individual capabilities as artists, my expectations were high. Their concert easily surpassed all of my expectations. It was a truly an amazing performance! Everyone in attendance was blessed by true lyrical masters. For me, it felt more like a party than a concert. It was a celebration, one I can say I was proud to attend.
A big thank you to Wu-Tang and their representatives for having me. Happy Birthday Wu-Tang. Enjoy the photos.
Peace & love.
Review, Video & Photos: Carlos Londono
Check out the band websites for more info!
LAZARUS
WU-TANG CLAN
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