"Wu-Tang: An American Saga" is an American biographical drama streaming television series created by RZA and Alex Tse, which premiered on September 4, 2019, on Hulu. The show portrays a fictionalized account of the formation of Wu-Tang Clan. In November 2021, the series was renewed for a third and final season which premiered on February 15, 2023.
"Wu-Tang: An American Saga" is set in New York City during the height of the crack cocaine epidemic in the early 1990s. It follows Wu-Tang Clan's formation, a vision of Bobby Diggs aka RZA (portrayed by Ashton Sanders), and its rise amid the dangers and excesses that came with the epidemic. Seeking his own way out, RZA turns to rap in order to carve a path to fame going against his older brother Mitchell Diggs aka Divine (portrayed by Julian Elijah Martinez), who favored the drug trade as the means to giving their family a better life. The story depicts how it all came together for the clan as RZA unites a dozen young men who are torn between music and crime. The group battles against the forces that hold them down and these include their own occasional impulse to give up the fight.
Shefik appears in Season 3, Episode 10 as a Concert Goer and Club Goer, in the series finale titled "Triumph". In this episode, RZA pushes his musicianship to new heights, as he creates the album "Wu-Tang Forever" with a studio orchestra. However, the recording process strains Wu-Tang Clan. As tensions boil over during their biggest tour yet, RZA is concerned about Wu-Tang Clan's future and legacy.
"Wu-Tang Forever" is the second studio album of Wu-Tang Clan, released June 3, 1997, on Loud/RCA Records in the United States. Pressed as a double album, it was released after a long run of successful solo projects from various members of the group, and serves as the follow-up to their debut album "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)". "Wu-Tang Forever" features several guest appearances from Wu-Tang affiliates Cappadonna, Streetlife, 4th Disciple, True Master, and Tekitha. The original run of compact discs featured an "Enhanced CD" which allowed users to walk around the "Wu Mansion" and access additional content.
Upon its release, "Wu-Tang Forever" received positive reviews from critics, who praised RZA's production work and the group members' lyricism. "Wu-Tang Forever" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 612,000 copies sold in its first week. The album was certified 4x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on October 15, 1997 (each disc in the double album counted as separate unit for certification purpose), selling over 4 million copies in the United States. It is the group's highest selling album to date.
Credits
- Director: RZA
- Concert Goer: Shefik
- Club Goer: Shefik
Last Updated: April 29, 2023
