For most of you, Wu-Tang is:
A) one of your top 5 groups of all time
B) the greatest group of all time
C) one of the most influential groups of all time
D) all of the above
…and I can’t blame you. I’m sure that they didn’t even know the impact they’d make in hip-hop on a worldwide scale. No disrespect to Biggie or Mobb Deep either but the Wu had 1995 locked down. Gilrs love the Wu. Guys like the Wu. Little kids were singing along to Raekwon’s “Ice Cream” back in 1995. And I didn’t know anyone back then who didn’t own at least two Wu related albums and their songs were actually played on the radio. So by the time this issue was released, they were riding higher than ever after Method Man, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and Raekwon had released solo albums with the Gza to come later that year. Everything in Rza’s five year plan was coming to fruition. I just wish he had created a ten year plan. I always wondered if he had burned himself out trying to produce the bulk of the music, watch out for ODB and keep everyone else focused. Did all of that responsibility slow down the recording of Wu Tang Forever?
Some other highlights from this issue:
– The Million Man March is coming
– Unsigned Hype with Capone & Noreaga
– Omniscence with the hip-hop quotable for “Amazin”
– Microphone Check with Junior M.A.F.I.A., South Circle, RBX and Ray Luv
– The 2nd Annual Source Awards – How did Biggie win Lyricist of the Year over Nas???
– Black political prisoners in America – Did anyone see the world news recently where they showed Iraqi prisoners in Iraq with a picture of Mumia hanging up in their jail cell?
Record Report:
KRS-One – KRS-One (4 mics)
Kool G Rap – 4, 5, 6 (4 mics)
W.C. & Maad Circle – Curb Servin’ (3.5 mics)
Doug E. Fresh – Play (3 mics)
8 Off – Wrap Your Lips Around This (3.5 mics)
Aceyalone – All Balls Don’t Bounce (3 mics)
Wildliffe Society – Jacktown (601) (2.5 mics)
The Menace Clan – Da Hood (3 mics)
B.G. Knocc Out & Dresta – Real Brothas (2.5 mics)
Mac Vo – Player IV Life (2.5 mics)
Source October 1995 issue
October 1995 fat tape
~Vincent~
THIMK 
How did Biggie win lyricist of the year over Nas?
More accesible. Simple and plain. Didn’t need a fine tooth comb to get to the root.
Side Note– “I Shot Ya” is one of LL’s best songs. Period.
By: TC on December 16, 2008
at 3:55 pm
once again in glad i own this issue!!
when Ice Cream out, i must have jammed that joint like 20,000x’s. i must have recorded the video like 10x’s. it was the jam that year. rZA went over the top for that 1!
i wish RZA had a 10 year plan as well vincent. This was when RZA was in a zone, everything he did was a immediate classic.
Now on Wu Forever, it was pretty tight, but i remember some was dissapointed when it came out, people had mixed reactions about it. But if look at it now, that album was the last great material they did as a whole. So now people think the album is great. so it just took some time for people to appreciate it.
How did BIG win lyricist of the year over Nas? great question, they were both there at the awards, im sure there was no hard feelings. BIG knew Nas was that nigga that was comin for that spot, but they were kool though. But once again competition is something else.
yall check out that fat tape? nothin but legendary classics from top to bottom! But please dont sleep on that Erick sermon ft. keith murray & roz “Tell ’em” joint. E-Double outdid himself on that joint, that beat is infectious!! And u better not front on Onyx “last days”!! yall know that was a head rocker!!
By: brandan on December 16, 2008
at 3:58 pm
Wu-Tang Clan is one of my favorite groups of all time, no doubt about that, and 1995, my favorite in hip hop history, is one of the main reasons why. This is why I miss the old days.
By: Wayne on December 16, 2008
at 5:04 pm
wu is the beatles of hip-hop, no question.
thanks for putting this one up.
Wade Word
By: wade word on December 16, 2008
at 9:57 pm
classic issue! thank you again for this post! brought back a gazzillion memories! i was known as the wu tang girl in jr high. ha!
By: phalary42 on December 17, 2008
at 3:34 pm
For the thing at the beginning, I choose D.
By: Sk8972 on October 25, 2012
at 12:24 am
KRS-One-KRS-One: This should have been 5/5 instead of 4/5.
Kool G Rap-4, 5, 6: Should have been 5/5 instead of 4/5.
By: Sk8972 on October 25, 2012
at 12:28 am