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
| Category | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9/10 |
| Best Song | "Cash Still Rules / Scary Hours (Still Don't Nothing Move But the Money)" |
| Weakest Song | "A Better Tomorrow" |
| Best MC | Raekwon |
| Best Beat | "Triumph" |
| Main Sound | East Coast Hardcore / Wu-Tang / Boom-Bap |
| Replay Value | High — rewards patient listening |
| Recommended For | Wu-Tang fans who want the full collective at its commercial peak |
Album Details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Artist | Wu-Tang Clan |
| Album | Wu-Tang Forever |
| Release Date | June 3, 1997 |
| Label | Loud Records / RCA Records |
| Producer | RZA (primarily) |
| Members | RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, Cappadonna |
| Number of Tracks | 27 (double album) |
| First Week Sales | 612,000 (debuted #1 — first rap double album to do so) |
| Grammy Awards | Best Rap Album (1998) |
| Final Rating | 9/10 |
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)
| Track | Quick Review |
|---|---|
| Triumph | The lead single and the album's most immediately imposing track. An eight-verse collective performance over RZA's most cinematic production on the record. No hooks — just nine MCs trading verses at their most focused. Inspectah Deck's opening verse is one of the finest single verses in Wu-Tang history. Essential. |
| Reunited | The album's warmest track. A collective celebration of the group's reunion after the solo era, with genuine warmth and mutual appreciation between members that gives the record an emotional anchor. |
| For Heaven's Sake | One of the album's finest productions. A cinematic, atmospheric RZA beat that gives Inspectah Deck and Ghostface their best moments on the record. Essential. |
| Cash Still Rules / Scary Hours | The album's finest track. Raekwon and Ghostface at their Cuban Linx-era best, with RZA's most menacing production. Connects the collective album directly to the mafioso solo aesthetic. Essential. |
| Visionz | A philosophical collective track with Method Man and Raekwon providing the album's most complementary verse pairing. The RZA production is hypnotic. |
| As High as Wu-Tang Gets | The album's most atmospheric and meditative production. GZA and Inspectah Deck at their most introspective. |
| Severe Punishment | A hard, aggressive posse track. Raekwon and Ghostface again deliver the album's most street-focused verses over a menacing RZA beat. |
| Older Gods | GZA's finest solo moment on the album. One of the record's most lyrically sophisticated tracks, with RZA in his most stately and sombre production mode. |
| Maria | Ghostface Killah's showcase and a highlight of his contribution to the album. A narrative track with the emotional depth and sensory detail of his solo work. |
| A Better Tomorrow | The album's closing inspirational track. Well-intentioned but the most conventional and least musically interesting thing on either disc. An odd way to close a Wu-Tang album. |
Final Verdict and Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Production | 9/10 |
| Lyrics | 9.5/10 |
| Flow & Delivery | 9.5/10 |
| Cohesion | 8/10 |
| Replay Value | 9/10 |
| Overall | 9/10 |
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
Stream Wu-Tang Forever on Spotify