Wu-Tang Clan Swarm The L.A. Forum w/ Talib Kweli, Ras Kass + Pharoahe Monch! [Photos + Recap]

Words + Photos courtesy of Maxwell Benson courtesy of Sista Asia.

Wu-Tang Clan reunions--the official kind, with 9 MCs in physical form and 1 in spiritual essence--don't happen every day. When they do, it often happens on the set of say a Jimmy Fallon or Jon Stewart show; the sort of celebrity enclave the rest of us can only watch on TV. This weekend however, Wu-Tang brought the motherf*%in ruckus to the L.A. Forum and it seems like the whole West Coast turned out to be a part of it. Some of the Rest Coast too, as you best believe Okayplayer was there in the person of our very own Marketing Director Cali Green--for the rest of us (sigh) Maxwell Benson captured the historic night in words (read on) and images (scroll through the gallery above):

The L.A. Forum has played host to some of the greatest moments in entertainment history. So when a who’s who of MC luminaries was posted on the marquee for September 26, 2014, you knew the great venue would live up to it’s reputation. All 9 member of the Wu-Tang Clan were set to grace the stage backed by DJ Allah Mathematics and supported by an additional army of names like Casey Veggies, Ras Kass with special guest Kurupt, Pharoahe Monch and Talib Kweli--if the roster comprised a small army, the lyrical prowess this lineup carried was the equivalent of an atom bomb.

If there ever was a question if the Wu could still perform as a cohesive and solid unit, such questions were put to rest for good as the RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Master Killa, Cappadonna and Allah Mathermatics hit the stage and delivered their performance like it was 1993 again and the capacity crowd was being introduced to the 36 Chambers for the first time.

Fans in attendance got everything they could want as the Wu-Tang Clan covered their hits from “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing to Fuck Wit”; “C.R.E.A.M”; "Triumph" and individual cult classics like GZA’s “4th Chamber” and Method Man and Redman's “Da Rockwilder.”  One of the highlights of the night was to see all living members pay homage to their fallen brother ODB as they ran through “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” while the crowd sang along.

In an industry that often seems entirely driven by the next hot single from the next solo performer of the day, it was wonderful to be reminded of the power of a hip-hop crew like the Wu, kneedeep in lyrical styles and abstract beats that blend together wonderfully like Louisiana gumbo and embodying staying power.

With the Rza stopping the show to tease the assembled masses about the much anticipated alleged upcoming Wu-Tang Album, two things were made very clear: 1) Wu Tang is for the children and 2) Wu Tang is FOREVER! - Maxwell Benson