Not only did Wu-Tang Clan change the sound of Hip-Hop, but they also changed the style and the business around it. Interestingly enough, Wu-Tang Clan was able to ink a contract that allowed each of them to record as solo artists and the ability to choose their own record label. This was something brand new to the industry. Being a group of nine with a diversity of lyrics and sound, their influence was broad and undeniable. Unfortunately, like most artists, RZA and GZA had to learn the music business the hard way. Originally they were signed to petty record contracts. Rakeem changed his name to RZA and began assembling a new crew of MCs. Wu-Tang Clan then made him famous. The degree to which Wu-Tang Clan took their lyrics seriously has influenced the hip-hop genre indefinitely. Artists like Eminem, who is still currently in the rap industry, were heavily influenced by the legendary rappers. In the song “I Will” by Eminem, he pays homage to Wu-Tang Clan: “Word to Method Man / She heard some Wu-Tang coming from towards the patio / She was like, “What the heck was that?” / She went to check on the noise and go inspect the deck / Then I jumped out with a sword and yelled, “Protect your neck.“ In this verse, he mentions Method Man and Inspectah Deck, as the phrase “inspect the deck” is a double entendre for Inspectah Deck. “Protect Ya Neck” is also a song off of Wu’s 1993 debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).
Although not the first, Wu-Tang Clan helped formulate a strong, rebellious, masculinity that is still present in the rap industry today. They helped open the door for other subtypes of hip-hop like conscious rap that convey a cultural/societal implication. Growing up as young black men in America, the Wu-Tang Clan had a well-established understanding of the social and economic disparities faced by African Americans. This frustration was channeled through their music. Not only did it motivate their music, but they also saw their music as an opportunity to invoke change. This change could be made possible through their massive following and overall societal impact as a popular music artist.