React Presents special guest Wu-Tang Clan at the Congress Theater in Chicago, IL
Wu-Tang clan came back to Chicago - a year to the date last year when they played this same venue. Last year Raekwon, Ghostface, and Gza were on the lineup but not the case this year. This year featured Method Man, always a fan favorite, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, Cappadonna, Streetlife, and my favorite of the group, RZA.
With what seemed like one opening act after another coming on, the crowd got rowdy when Brooklyn Zu, to the point that they started booing and shouting, “WU-TANG!” and throwing up the “W.” With a start time past 10:30 p.m., it was time to get what they came for, as Method Man and RZA came out alone - Method Man in a black fur coat and RZA in a black crushed valet jacket and a bottle of Moet, which he had an endless supply of throughout the show. Opening with Killa Beez, Wu-Tang Clan Aint Nuthing Ta F’ Wit, Da Mystery of Chessboxin, which exploded the crowd from their weed haze as they sang along word-for-word.
Wu-Tang has always been my favorite Rap group and seeing them up on stage still has that larger-than-life feel as the pseudo names they gave to each other. As a kid growing up, there is certain music that sticks in your head forever, like the first time you heard Led Zeppelin in a cloud filled room with your friends. The same can be said for Wu-Tang; it’s something that just gets into your bloodstream and you always remember like it was the first time you heard them.
Tonight, The Congress became that for many fans that never saw them live or still getting their feet wet as a purple haze filled the giant venue as the room became just a bunch of friends nodding their heads to the music. With classic cuts like, Shame On A Nigga that went out to Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who left us way too early, C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me), which had all the members spitting out quick verses and the crowd shouting lyrics on queue. Hearing RZA rapping live was a treat for many fans. He has one of those voices that you can pick out of any song and when you add the other members and their distinct raps, you just have perfection.
One of the highlights was when they launched into M.E.T.H.O.D Man, which had Method Man go to the barricade and rap along with the crowd. He did not do his move of standing on everyone’s hands due to a sore knee but that did not stop him from giving 110%. Another highlight was when they played Ice Cream which allowed Cappadonna to shine on the mic before Method Man ended it with his classic lyric in which he added another flavor to it. DJ Allah Mathematics took his spotlight as he tore the turntables up, even to the point where he threw his shoes off as he scratched away. Masta Killa did just as his name means, and killed it on Duel of the Iron Mic and then went into Shimmy Shimmy Ya, another ODB hit.
They ended the night with Liquid Swords, Triumph and as Method Man told the crowd - to never forget where Hip-Hop came from and that it was about having fun and not all the garbage that is out there now, as they launched into Rockwilder.
While the show was a little over an hour and missing 3 key members, it was still a great night of the good ol’ days music and a show for fans of true Hip-hop to not miss.
All photos provided by Peter Lizano
