When Wu-Tang Clan's debut album was released in November 1993, the group consisted of nine rappers: Robert Diggs, called RZA, his cousins ​​Gary Grice and Russell Jones, who called themselves GZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Raekwon and Masta Killa.

The dark, distinctive sound of "Enter the Wu-Tang" created a blueprint for hardcore hip-hop of the 1990s and propelled New York City hip-hop to national prominence. The album's sound also had a major influence on modern hip hop production, while the group members' explicit, humorous and free-associative lyrics served as a template for many subsequent rap records. The album is considered a milestone in the era of hip-hop known as the East Coast Renaissance and was groundbreaking for many other East Coast rappers, including Nas, The Notorious BIG, Mobb Deep and Jay-Z.