Released in February 1997, "" is a landmark single by the Wu-Tang Clan that served as the lead track for their second album, Wu-Tang Forever . It is widely celebrated as one of the greatest "posse cuts" in hip-hop history, breaking standard radio rules with a six-minute runtime and no chorus. Production and Structure
Directed by with a budget of roughly $800,000 , the video was one of the most expensive of its time. Wu Tang Clan – Triumph
: The track opens with a chaotic intro by Ol' Dirty Bastard , followed by verses from Inspectah Deck , Method Man , Cappadonna , U-God , RZA , GZA , Masta Killa , Ghostface Killah , and finally Raekwon . The Iconic Opening Verse Released in February 1997, "" is a landmark
: Produced by RZA , the beat features cinematic strings layered over boom-bap drums. Despite its length, RZA refused to edit the track for radio, successfully getting the full six-minute version into heavy rotation. : The track opens with a chaotic intro
: It begins with the legendary line, "I bomb atomically, Socrates' philosophies and hypotheses," showcasing intricate internal rhyme schemes and complex metaphors.