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Protect Ya Neck
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Protect Ya Neck
| cover = Wutangclanprotectyaneck.jpg
| alt =
| type = Single
| artist = Wu-Tang Clan
| album = Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
| B-side = Method Man
| recorded = 1992
| released =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hardcore hip hop
| length = 5:03 (original), 4:52 (Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) version)
| label = Loud Records
| writer = Wu-Tang Clan
| producer = RZA
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Method Man
| next_year = 1993
| misc =
}}
"'Protect Ya Neck'" is the debut single by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released in 1992. The song is featured on the group's debut studio album 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)'. It is produced by RZA and features eight of the original nine Wu-Tang members.
Song information
"Protect Ya Neck" was the first Wu-Tang song bringing together the original four members and four others (excluding Masta Killa, who had not yet joined). It was originally released December 14, 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 on May 3, 1993, 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]
The album version of the song (even the 'explicit' versions of the album) is edited to scratch out all profanity, save for repeated use of the word 'nigga'. On the original recording version of the song, Inspectah Deck's verse came second, but RZA changed it to first in the order. The original beat was totally different, and all Wu-members were in a different order. RZA just said "I just need y'all voices" and Wu entered the studio the next morning and RZA arranged everything, including the karate chops. The person who rings into a radio station at the start of the song was from an interview Wu did. Wu did the interview on a radio station WPGC in Washington, DC. Different segments of the same interview are placed at different parts of the album.Check The Technique: Linear Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies by Brian Coleman. Page 463.
Rapper Grand Daddy I.U. noted the swipe that GZA took at him on the song. Prior to the formation of the Wu-Tang Clan, GZA was originally known as The Genius who, along with Grand Daddy I.U. was signed to Cold Chillin' Records. GZA's verse was directed at his former label for lack of promotion over his debut 'Words from the Genius' in favor of the former's debut album 'Smooth Assassin'. Aside from the swipes at his former label, GZA also took a few swipes at I.U., to which I.U. discussed in 2006:
'"I was wearing the suit and tie shit back then on some old time gangster shit. He had that other shit like, Girl come do me. I guess they wasnt feeling that shit so they chose to push me harder than they pushed him. That aint my fault what the fuck are you mad at me for? So you know how that shit is. He aint gonna come to my face and say nothing so later on he put that shit in his little rhyme or whatever throwing a subliminal jab. That shit is neither here nor there".'
"Protect Ya Neck" is featured on greatest hits compilations such as 'The RZA Hits', 'Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1' and 'Legend of the Wu-Tang Clan', which contains the original, uncensored version known as the "Bloody Version". In 2000, Wu-Tang Clan would release a sequel on their third album 'The W', called "Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)", which also features Cappadonna and Masta Killa in place of the then-incarcerated Ol' Dirty Bastard.
"Protect Ya Neck" has been featured in video games 'True Crime: New York City', 'Skate 2', and 'WWE 2K22'. 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. In September 2010 Pitchfork Media included the song at number 5 on their 'Top 200 Tracks of the 90s'.[http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7853-the-top-200-tracks-of-the-1990s-20-01/2/ Pitchfork Top 200 Tracks of the 90s]
It has also been featured in the final episode of superhero web television series 'The Defenders' during a fight scene between all four Defenders and The Hand.
Song order
* 'Intro'
** '(sounds of fighting)
** 'Wu-Intro: RZA and Method Man'
* First verse: Inspectah Deck
* Second verse: Raekwon
* Third verse: Method Man
* Bridge: U-God
** 'Interlude: Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard and RZA
* Fourth verse: Ol' Dirty Bastard
* Fifth verse: Ghostface Killah
* Sixth verse: RZA
* Seventh verse: GZA
** '(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 his 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. It features a cameo appearance from a then-unknown Cappadonna during Raekwon and Method Man's scenes.
Track listing
A-side
# "Protect Ya Neck" (radio edit) 4:30# "Protect Ya Neck" (Shao Lin version) 4:36
# "Protect Ya Neck" (bloody version) (the ORIGINAL, uncensored 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
Category:Wu-Tang Clan songs
Category:1992 debut singles
Category:1992 songs
Category:2000 singles
Category:Song recordings produced by RZA
Category:Songs written by Method Man
Category:Songs written by Raekwon
Category:Songs written by Ghostface Killah
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