Protect Ya Neck

Infobox Single
Name = Protect Ya Neck


Artist = Wu-Tang Clan
from Album = Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Released = May 3, 1993
Format = 12" single
Genre = Hip hop
Length = 5:03
Label = Loud Records
Writer = Robert Diggs
Jason Hunter
Lamont Hawkins
Clifford Smith
Corey Woods
Dennis Coles
Russell Jones
Gary Grice
Producer = RZA
Chart position =
[ Reviews = ] *
Last single =
This single = "Protect Ya Neck"
(1993)
Next single = "C.R.E.A.M."
(1994)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Type = studio
prev_track = "Method Man"
prev_no = 9
this_track = "Protect Ya Neck"
track_no = 10
next_track = "Tearz"
next_no = 11

"Protect Ya Neck" is the debut single by hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. The song is from the group's critically acclaimed first album "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)" and is one of the group's most popular singles. It is produced by RZA and features eight of the original Wu-Tang members.

ong information

It is the first ever Wu-Tang song bringing together the original four members and four others (excluding Masta Killa, who was at the time incarcerated). It was originally released in 1992 as part of the "Protect Ya Neck"/"After The Laughter Comes Tears" single by Wu-Tang Records. When it created an underground buzz, Wu-Tang signed with Loud Records and released it with "Method Man" on its b-side. That single sold 10,000 copies. [ [http://www.buy.com/prod/Enter_The_Wu_Tang_36_Chambers_Explicit_Version/q/loc/109/60132453.html Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers (Explicit Version) - Wu-Tang Clan - CD - Buy.com ] ] . This single was very influential in the Hip-Hop World, as it re-defined the term "posse cut" and it also popularized having posse cuts. Before this single was released, the term "posse cut" meant having just more than two rappers on a track and the longest posse cuts had about four rappers. However, this single became one of the first, if not the first, single to have more than four emcees on one track. This track also influenced rappers to create posse cuts, and many present albums have at least one posse cut.

"Protect Ya Neck" is featured on greatest hits compilations such as "The RZA Hits", ' and "Legend of the Wu-Tang Clan". On Wu-Tang Clan's third album, "The W", an alternate version named "Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)" can be found. It features new Wu-Tang member Cappadonna and Masta Killa in place of the then-incarcerated Ol' Dirty Bastard. "Protect Ya Neck" was also featured in the game '.

The chime that opens the song is from the kung fu movie Executioners from Shaolin.

The "Protect Ya Neck/Method Man" single made The Source's 100 Best Singles list. [ [http://www.rocklist.net/source.htm ~~~~ www.rocklist.net ~~~~ ] ]

Song order

* "Intro"
** "(sounds of fighting)
** "Wu-Intro: RZA & Method Man"
* First Verse: Inspectah Deck
* Second Verse: Raekwon
* Third Verse: Method Man
* Bridge: U-God
** "Interlude: Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard & RZA
* Fourth Verse: Ol' Dirty Bastard
* Fifth Verse: Ghostface Killah
* Sixth Verse: RZA
* Seventh Verse: GZA/Genius
** "(sounds of fighting)"
* Outro: RZA, Method Man

Music video

The music video shows each Wu-Tang rapper in black and white rapping individually with their entourage in the background. As each rapper starts their verse, their rap aliases are shown on the screen. Many of these aliases are spelled incorrectly or never used on official releases such as Ghostface Killah being shown as "Ghost Face Killer" and GZA as the Jizah. In the video, occasionally clips of Wu-Tang as a full group in color are flashed for a couple seconds.

ingle track listing

A-Side

# "Protect Ya Neck" (Radio Edit) (4:30)
# "Protect Ya Neck" (Shao Lin Version) (4:36)
# "Protect Ya Neck" (Bloody Version) (5:03)

B-Side

# "Method Man" (Radio Edit) (4:15)
# "Method Man" (Smoked Out Version) (5:02)
# "Method Man" (Home Grown Version) (5:08)
# "Method Man" (Bonus Beats) (0:57)

References