Wu-Tang Clan Tour to Follow 2007 Album

Wu-Tang Clan has signed a record deal with Steve Rifkind of SRC records, who was responsible for bringing the group to the masses.

“We are back, it’s official,” Rifkind said this week in a video on his blog, thelabel.blog.com.

He may just be the one to revive the group’s popularity in 2007. With nothing but solo releases from the group since their last project together in 2001, this announcement comes at the perfect time. Since the group’s recognition at this year’s VH1 Hip-Hop Honors and the success of records from Ghostface Killah (“Fishscale” and “More Fish”) and Method Man (“4:21 … The Day After”) the timing may be ideal.

“Fishscale” has been hailed as one of the best hip efforts of the year. Wu-Tang is back in the spotlight, ready to return to their position of prominence in the rap world. Work is expected to begin on the album at the start of ’07 with a release date planned for later in the year. A major tour will also follow, Rifkind said.

“The mind state is the 36,” he told All Hip Hop, “that’s what we’re bringing it back to.”

The success of Wu-Tang and Rifkind’s only previous collaboration, “Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers” in 1993, does not guarantee victory this time around, especially since the 2004 death of Ol’ Dirty Bastard. His overdose while recording a third solo project just two days before his 36th birthday was a major blow to the group. Reports say the death was accidental, and the result of a deadly combination of cocaine and the pain-killer Tramadol.

ODB was a core member of the group, which started with his two cousins, GZA and The RZA, forming “All in Together Now.” Changing the name to Wu-Tang Clan, the group evolved into a nine-man supergroup, poised to take over the rap world. Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon the Chef and Inspectah Deck are the other well-known members. Masta Killa and U-Dog are lesser known, as both had been incarcerated during key times of Wu-Tang’s recording history.

Wu-Tang originally secured a rare contract that would allow the individual members of the group to pursue solo projects separate from their collaborative efforts, to be produced by other record companies. All nine members have taken advantage of the opportunity, some with great success.

Rifkind said, “We’re going to start with this one album and then let’s see where it all goes.”