The Ruckus Comes Home: Wu-Tang Clan Closes Out Summer in Tinley Park

Sep 6

By Lori Sapio

RZA stepped out through a fog of smoke after gold bees took over the screens, dressed in white, and opened the show with "You Can't Stop Me Now." It was on. One by one, another member came out with each song, ending with Method Man- and now the crowd was insane. Redman was missed.

For this run of "The Final Chamber Tour," Wu-Tang Clan brought together RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa, along with Cappadonna and Young Dirty Bastard, who carried on the legacy of his late father, Ol' Dirty Bastard.

At some point toward the end, RZA instructed everyone on how to do the Shaolin jump, then stopped when he realized the whole crowd wasn't jumping. He asked who was born in the '70s, '80s, '90s, and 2000s. Of course, the loudest response came from those of us born in the '70s- RZA said we'd been in it with them since 1992.

It was a hot one. The air wasn't moving the closer you got to the stage. But the crowd showed up and brought the energy, and the heat from the talent onstage was electric all the way through the closing song, "Triumph."

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony opened the show, bringing together two of the most influential groups of the '90s. Both acts helped shape the sound of hip-hop and have carried that influence across decades of music- a fitting pairing for a night built on legacy.