Wu-Tang Clan – "Wu-Tang Forever" Review: The Full Clan at Their Commercial Peak
- Daniel Rasul
- May 3
- 3 min read
Quick Verdict
Wu-Tang Forever arrived on June 3, 1997, as one of the most anticipated rap albums in history — the full collective’s follow-up to Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), four years and a dozen solo albums after that debut had changed hip-hop permanently. The double album runs 27 tracks across 105 minutes and features every core member of the Wu-Tang Clan in extended, largely unfiltered performance. Where 36 Chambers had the urgency of a debut and the cohesion of a single aesthetic statement, Wu-Tang Forever has the sprawl and ambition of a group asserting its legacy at the peak of its commercial power. It debuted at number one with 612,000 first-week copies, making it the first rap double album to debut at number one in US chart history. It won the Grammy for Best Rap Album. At its best — “Cash Still Rules,” “Killer Beez,” “Vu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F’ Wit” Pt. 2, “Grieves” — it is the equal of anything on the debut. Rating: 9/10.
At a Glance
Album Details
Context: Wu-Tang at the Peak of Their Commercial Power
Between Enter the Wu-Tang (1993) and Wu-Tang Forever (1997), every member of the Clan had released at least one solo album under RZA’s production supervision — Method Man’s Tical, Raekwon’s Cuban Linx, GZA’s Liquid Swords, Ghostface Killah’s Ironman, Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Return to the 36 Chambers, and others — building an interconnected Wu-Tang universe that kept the collective’s profile at the highest level of hip-hop’s commercial and critical landscape. The follow-up group album was accordingly one of the most anticipated releases of the era. The decision to make it a double album — 27 tracks, 105 minutes, every member given extended space — reflected both the collective’s confidence and the commercial reality that any single-disc album would be accused of shortchanging one member or another. RZA produced the majority of the record, continuing his five-year plan for the group, though the production is slightly more polished and less raw than Enter the Wu-Tang’s deliberately grimy aesthetic. The album debuted at number one with 612,000 first-week copies, making it the first rap double album to achieve that chart position. It won the Grammy for Best Rap Album. Its critical reputation has been debated ever since: is it a worthy successor to one of the greatest albums ever recorded, or an overlong victory lap? The honest answer is that it is both.
Track-by-Track Review (Key Tracks)
Final Verdict and Rating
Wu-Tang Forever is not 36 Chambers. Nothing is. But at its best — “Triumph,” “Cash Still Rules,” “For Heaven’s Sake,” “Older Gods” — it is the equal of the finest Wu-Tang solo material from the same period and a genuine collective statement from a group at the height of its combined powers. Inspectah Deck’s opening verse on “Triumph” is one of the greatest single verses in the group’s history. The Grammy was deserved. The 105-minute runtime is genuinely earned more often than its critics acknowledge. A 9/10 record and essential Wu-Tang listening.
Final Rating: 9/10
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best songs on Wu-Tang Forever?
The five essential tracks are: "Triumph," "Cash Still Rules," "For Heaven's Sake," "Older Gods," and "Reunited." Inspectah Deck's verse on Triumph is one of the greatest single verses in the Wu-Tang catalogue.
What is the rating for Wu-Tang Forever?
Rap Reviews Daily rates Wu-Tang Forever 9/10. It is not 36 Chambers, but it is the full collective at their commercial peak and essential listening for any Wu-Tang fan.
References and Further Listening
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