record_label c.r.e.a.m.
Enter the Wu - Tang ( 36 Chambers ) is the debut ___MASK78___ by the American hip hop group Wu - Tang Clan , released November 9 , 1993 , on ___MASK18___ and distributed through ___MASK65___ . Recording sessions for the album took place during 1992 to 1993 at Firehouse Studio in New York City , and it was mastered at The Hit Factory . The album ' s title originates from the martial arts film " The 36th Chamber of Shaolin " ( 1978 ). The group ' s " de facto " leader RZA , also known as Prince Rakeem , produced the album entirely , utilizing heavy , eerie beats and a sound largely based on martial - arts movie clips and soul music samples . Russell Tyrone Jones ( November 15 , 1968  November 13 , 2004 ), better known under his stage name Ol ' Dirty Bastard ( or ODB ), was an American rapper and producer . He was one of the founding members of the Wu - Tang Clan , a rap group primarily from Staten ___MASK69___ , New York which first rose to mainstream prominence with their 1993 debut album " Enter the Wu - Tang ( 36 Chambers )". ___MASK65___ is an American major record ___MASK63___ owned by ___MASK9___ ( SME ). It is one of SME ' s flagship record labels alongside sister labels Columbia Records and Epic Records . The ___MASK63___ has released multiple genres of music , including pop , rock , hip hop , R & B , blues , jazz , and country . The company ' s name is derived from the initials of the ___MASK63___ ' s former parent company , Radio Corporation of America ( RCA ). It is the second oldest recording company in U . S . history , after sister ___MASK63___ Columbia Records . RCA ' s Canadian unit ( formerly Berliner Gramophone Canada ) is Sony ' s oldest ___MASK63___ in Canada . It was one of only two Canadian record companies to survive the Great Depression . Clifford Smith ( born March 2 , 1971 ), better known by his stage name Method Man , is an American rapper , ___MASK52___ producer , and actor . He is known as a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu - Tang Clan . He is also one half of the hip hop duo Method Man & Redman . He took his stage name from the 1979 film " Method Man ". In ___MASK72___ , he won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group , for " I ' ll Be There for You / You ' re All I Need to Get By ", with American R & B singer - songwriter Mary J . Blige . Soul music ( often referred to simply as soul ) is a popular music genre that originated in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s . It combines elements of African - American gospel music , rhythm and blues and jazz . Soul music became popular for dancing and listening in the United States ; where ___MASK52___ ___MASK68___ such as ___MASK45___ , Atlantic and Stax were influential in the civil rights era . Soul also became popular around the world , directly influencing ___MASK20___ and the music of Africa . Lamont Jody Hawkins ( born October 11 , 1970 ), better known as U - God ( short for ___MASK22___ God ), is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective , Wu - Tang Clan . He has been with the group since its inception , and is known for having a deep , rhythmic flow that can alternate between being gruff or smooth . Staten ___MASK69___ is one of the five boroughs of New York City in the U . S . state of New York . In the southwest of the city , Staten ___MASK69___ is the southernmost part of both the city and state of New York , with Conference House Park at the southern tip of the ___MASK69___ and the state . The borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull , and from the rest of New York by New York Bay . With a 2015 Census - estimated population of 474 , 558 , Staten ___MASK69___ is the least populated of the boroughs but is the third - largest in area at . The borough is coextensive with Richmond County , and until 1975 was the Borough of Richmond . Its flag was later changed to reflect this . Staten ___MASK69___ has been sometimes called " the forgotten borough " by inhabitants who feel neglected by the city government . Wu - Tang Clan is an American hip hop group from New York City , originally composed of East Coast rappers RZA , GZA , Ol ' Dirty Bastard , Method Man , ___MASK91___ , Ghostface Killah , Inspectah Deck , U - God and Masta Killa . Cappadonna later became an official member of the group . The group was formed in and is associated with the New York City borough of Staten Island . `` C . R . E . A . M . '' ( `` Cash Rules Everything Around Me '' ) is a song by the New York hip hop group Wu - Tang Clan , from their 1993 ___MASK78___ , Enter the Wu - Tang ( 36 Chambers ) . The song was produced by Wu - Tang Clan leader RZA , and samples The Charmels ' 1967 song , `` As Long As I ' ve Got You '' . `` C . R . E . A . M . '' was released as a single through ___MASK7___ in early 1994 . Dennis Coles ( born May 9 , 1970 ), better known by his stage name ___MASK14___ , is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu - Tang Clan . After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of " Enter the Wu - Tang ( 36 Chambers )", the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success . ___MASK14___ debuted his solo - career with " Ironman " in ___MASK72___ , which was well received by music critics . He has continued his success over the following years with critically acclaimed albums such as " Supreme Clientele " ( 2000 ) and " Fishscale " ( 2006 ). His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film " Mystery of Chessboxing ". He is the founder of his own label Starks Enterprises . Corey Quontrell Woods ( born January 12 , 1970 ), better known by the stage name ___MASK91___ , is an American rapper and a member of the Wu - Tang Clan . He released his solo debut , " Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ..." in ___MASK77___ , and has since recorded numerous solo albums , as well as continuing to work with Wu - Tang and providing an extensive number of guest contributions to other hip hop artists ' works . He is the founder of his own label ICEH20 Records . ___MASK18___ is a ___MASK52___ ___MASK63___ founded by Steve Rifkind and Rich Isaacson in 1991 .