On this day, 20 years ago, two classic albums were released that represent the vast diversity of Hip-Hop. Wu-Tang Clan dropped Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers on November 9, 1993 and A Tribe Called Quest released their third, and most successful album, Midnight Marauders on the same day. At the time, Wu Tang was kicking in the doors of opportunity, taking the music industry by storm with an unprecedented 9-man crew.
Exclusive Interview: RZA Talks, Rock The Bells, ODB Hologram And 20 Years Of Wu Tang!
On the other side, A Tribe Called Quest crystallized their genius and commercial viability with their third opus. Lead by the hit single “Award Tour,” the album would go on to achieve platinum success and fill the Hip-Hop Nation with positive vibes. Wu Tang repped the streets of Staten Island, an unlikely place to expand Hip-Hop, and brought forth a rawness unseen previously in Hip-Hop. Gritty, unmastered beats, a wild, fearsome crew and a marital arts theme all made Wu Tang special. A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders would symbolize something else for them: their last great album.
AllHipHop.com 15 Year Anniversary Concert Recap With Raekwon, Prodigy & Ghostface Killah!
Pay homage to both albums by listening to them in their entirety below.
Midnight Marauders:
Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers: