OBFCL (which through the years has also been referred to as the “Purple Tape”, because the plastic covering on the first pressings of the cassette version of OBFCL was completely purple) would be produced entirely by Rza, and Ghostface Killah would play Robin to Raekwon’s Batman throughout the album (underneath Raekwon’s name on the album cover it actually says “Guest starring Tony Starks (Ghost Face Killer)”). Raekwon the Chef would release the next Wu-Tang Clan production, striking with Only Built For Cuban Linx in the summer of ’95. So which member would follow these two high profile clansmen solo releases? Yep, you guessed it. He would sign a deal with Elektra and release his solo debut, Return To The 36 Chambers, in March of ’95. The court jester of the crew, Old Dirty Bastard, was also one of the crew’s most popular members, beloved for his zaniness and wild antics. Method Man quickly became the breakout star, thanks to the success of his self-titled single and his legendary hooks, so it was no surprise when he signed with Def Jam and became the first member from the Clan to release a solo album ( Tical) at the tail end of 1994 ( yes, I know Rza and Genius had solo albums before Meth, but those were BEFOERE the Wu-Tang Clan was formed…thanks!).
After the success of the Wu-Tang Clan’s mammoth 1993 debut album, Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, the hip-hop world was eagerly awaiting to see what the Shaolin crew would do next.
