Wu-Tang Really *Is* for the Children

After hopping the New Jersey transit to Secaucus Junction on Wednesday night, I sat behind a father and school-age son who were talking vigorously about hip-hop. And not just in a let me put you onto this old ’90s or 2000s-era record type of conversation, either. It started with an impassioned debate about whether Drake had anything to do with the murder of controversial Florida rapper XXXTentacion, which led to connecting dots between J Prince (“the Rap-A-Lot nigga,” as referred to by pops before being corrected by his son, who couldn’t have been older than 10) and the murder trial of Young Thug. Eventually, they did swerve to music, where the son explained his love for Lil Tecca and the appeal of a livestreamed concert. Pops took it all in, genuinely curious about the music and process, before offering up comments and song recommendations of his own. I’m big on those kinds of intergenerational rap moments, so I had a pure and wholesome time eavesdropping, made doubly so by the kid’s constant swearing.

I was unsurprised to learn they, like me, were heading into New York City to catch Wu-Tang Clan at Madison Square Garden. If you’re not hip, Wu-Tang is currently on the final leg of their farewell tour, titled the Final Chamber Tour, a celebration of the collective’s 33-year history featuring every living member (RZA, GZA, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Masta Killa, Cappadonna) and a few affiliates (Streetlife, Mathematics). The Wu has been a legacy act for some years now, but it’s always special when rappers hit this milestone because so many are denied that prestige—either because the industry fucked them out of it or they die before they can smell those flowers. So there was a very potent energy buzzing through the building—not only was Wu-Tang about to perform for 20,000 people at the most prestigious arena in their hometown, they were about to do it as quinquagenarians (The youngest member, Method Man, is 54.)