Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men

Please don't give this 10 out of 10 because you like the Wu-Tang Clan, not the point.

Sacha Jenkins' 'Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics & Men' is 4 hours of frustrating viewing, all over the place as a film and certainly not a fitting way to commemorate the mighty Wu-Tang Clan's 25th anniversary.

To do social history, you need to be particular about details: names, places, dates, timeline etc. For a music doc., structure interviews that shed some light on the artists' processes. And an honest visual record would cover the whole 25-year period with all its 'highs' and 'lows' (I don't remember anything shown between 2000 and 2017, a massive gap surely part of the band's history which has to be covered in some way? Solo projects, creativity, ageing, family etc.).

Too much of 'Wu-Tang Clan' is cliche-ridden, band squabbles and rambling rants about godknowswhat? Partially redeemed by RZA, interesting to listen to, bits of old film and music, obviously welcome, and the curios like 'Once Upon A Time In Shaolin', but the lack of clarity about anything, ODB's death, the band's philosophy, contractual arrangements/difficulties? And so little about the actual music itself, styles, production techniques, in-depth stuff about the MC's etc., these guys changed music forever, but 'Wu-Tang Clan' barely scrapes below the surface nor really distinguishes them from any other rap combo.

Sloppy documentary makers please take note: pointing a camera and microphone at a subject does not make you a film maker. As somebody relatively new to this band, 'Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics & Men' gave me so little to go on I came away massively disappointed. I'm surprised RZA didn't scrap the whole project to come up with something more worthy of the rap legends.

EXCELLENT!!!!!!! Seriously, this documentary series FAR exceeded my expectations. Their impact and business sense - OMG - so impressive. The music, of course, masterful. Their message and branding of unity outreaches beyond just music. An artful expression, a body of work, of humanity! Beautifully laid out, wonderfully crafted (ie editing, production, direction). Even if you are not a hip-hop fan (or even better) this is a must see for a great understanding. For real. TOP NOTCH! Very well done. Showtime needs to give it an Emmy push in the Non-Fiction cats.

I loved every second of this. I wish there was an in-depth interview about each member. Maybe that can be RZA's next project haha

The amount of old footage from the glory days of the early 90s, and even the 80s, plus interviews with the Clan themselves, as well as close associates, makes this series worth the price of entry. Especially the OBD footage, much of which I'd never seen before.

Sacha Jenkins does an excellent job of making this series feel very personal to The Wu, and capturing the raw, grimy, very, VERY silly, yet deadly goddam serious vibe, which made 'Enter The Wu Tang' and '36 Chambers' (and many solo albums) so magical, back in the day.

There's been other docos about Wu Tang Clan, made by outsiders. But this series is different- Here, we get previously unreleased home videos, family photos, interviews with the whole Clan, plus family and friends (Rza's brother/Wu manager Devine Diggs, ODB's mother, and widow, etc), reminiscing as they wander around Park Hill projects, and visit old haunts, from when the Wu were coming up.

So personal, that it honestly borders on cringey, at times (which is a good thing, considering the fake, manicured front that most rappers show the the world), 'Of Mics...' tells the story of The Wu, more authentically than anything else I've seen.

No review needed... pure 90's NY hip hop at it's finest. A story of brotherhood and no matter what blood over money