Alvin Blanco on His New Book The Wu-Tang Clan and RZA: A Trip Through Hip Hop’s 36 Chambers [Video]

Alvin Blanco is a writer and editor. He received a BA in African and African American studies and psychology from the University of Virginia. He is former features editor at AllHipHop.com and his work has appeared in Vibe, Spin, XXL, The Source, Village Voice, and other publications.

"The Wu-Tang Clan and RZA: A Trip Inside the 36 Chambers" chronicles the rise of the Wu-Tang Clan from an underground supergroup to a globally recognized musical conglomerate. Enhanced by the author's one-on-one interviews with group members, this book covers the entire Wu-Tang Clan catalog of studio albums, as well as albums that were produced or heavily influenced by producer/rapper RZA. Wu-Tang Clan's albums are analyzed and discussed in terms of their artistry as well as in terms of their critical, cultural, and commercial impact. By delving into the motivation behind the creation of pivotal songs and albums and mining their dense metaphor and wordplay, this book provides an understanding of what made a team of nine friends and relatives from Staten Island with a love of Kung Fu movies into not just a music group, but a powerful cultural movement.