Rap was never the same after the Wu-Tang Clan formed in 1993. The gang of nine seemed to unlock a whole new level of menace in the fledgling genre, while reaching new heights of musical creativity. RZA’s sampling prowess, sharp as a katana, unites the manic screams of ODB and the cruel science of GZA; his detuned pianos and B-movie strings can sound triumphant, ugly, or both at once. This chapter features highlights from across the Wu diaspora, alongside unimpeachable classics of NYC rap from Illmatic to The Infamous.