Art, Deep Cover

Wu-Tang Fantasy Covers

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There’s no questioning the lyrical genius of the Wu-Tang Clan, however, many fans often overlook their creativity in pioneering many artistic themes and images prominent in hip-hop today. Drawing upon cartoon, fantasy, and supernatural influences, Wu extended their image well beyond their lyrics into everyday aesthetics, videos, and cover art. The Wu-Tang graphic nature is a direct reflection of their lyrical imagery descriptive nature, particularly of RZA and U-God. The ability to use fantasy art, while still maintaining street cred, has set the Wu-Tang Clan apart from other artists and inspired their peers.

RZA – The Formula for the Cure
RZA is immortalized in the classic bust statue illustration, that has been sported by historical greats such as Beethoven and Nelson Mandela, on the cover of The Formula for the Cure mixtape. The mixtape served as a promo for RZA’s album, The Cure.

ODB – A Son Unique
Bringing it back to the days of A Son, the A Son Unique cover brings back an old school theme by displaying ODB sporting the classic b-boy track jacket with a “Dirt Mcgirt” alias graffiti tag atop a cement wall.

RZA – Bobby Digital in Stereo
Bobby Digital in Stereo is the soundtrack to the RZA directed/produced/written film Bobby Digital. In the film RZA smokes a powerful blunt in his laboratory and turns into an intense experiment that births RZA’s alter ego, Bobby Digital. The album cover depicts the heroic Bobby Digital over a back drop of fast cars, girls and enemies emerging from a giant “W” logo.

RZA – Ooh I Love You Rakeem
RZA released his EP, Ooh I Love You Rakeem under one of his many aliases, Prince Rakeem in 1991. The cover art was influenced by the caricature graffiti murals created in the late 80s, early 90s that are still popular today.

GZA – Legend of the Liquid Sword
GZA reveals fantasy-like theme similar to that of his Wu Tang counterpart, RZA, with the cover art of Legend of the Liquid Sword. The cover displays a futuristic GZA station with the legend of the liquid sword book glowing in its splendor.

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Kendra Desrosiers

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3 comments

  1. matt wiseman says:

    No mention of Afro Samuri or Grandmasters. Excellent choice of topic, but I felt the cover critiques should have been a bit more in depth. Also, a brief history of the influences of the Wu-Tang clan could have been very helpful for someone other than a Wu-Head. What most people don’t know, is why the clan does what they do. Particularly where they are coming from. That is why a lot of people don’t get them. If they just knew a brief history, it would all make a lot more sense. Thank goodness for the Wu Manual.

  3. KD says:

    Well Matt this piece is for the avid Format reader because it’s a part of the Wu Deep Cover series. The first part, Wu Logo, had the brief history and featured the Grandmasters cover and was posted a while back. Wu covers are multifaceted so they overlap in categories but they can only be featured once. Check the archive for more info.

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