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The

Wu-Tang Clan performed to a capacity crowd at The

Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan last night, drawing over a

thousand people to celebrate the release of their latest album

The W. While the members of Clan were all in demand,

none are sought after as fugitive Old Dirty Bastard, who took

the time to pass through.

After the Clan performed

their newest songs, a nondescript, much heavier looking Old

Dirty (who had been on the stage the whole time unnoticed) removed

the hood on the winter bomber style coat he was wearing. He

proceeded to perform his classic song, "Shimmy Shimmy Ya."

Before he left the stage for good, he spoke to the audience.

"Ya’ll know I can’t stay up here too long, " he said

with a bottle of Champagne in his hand. "Ya’ll know the

whole world is looking for me!" With 15-20 Wu Tang affiliates

on stage, Old Dirty eventually left the scene, disappearing

backstage.

As a group, Wu Tang

performed selections from the new album. Starting with "Protect

Ya Neck (The Jump Off)," the group proceeded to give an

energy charged performance. The Rza, who guided the evenings

show, said the event marked "the first time we all been

together on one stage in three years." He also told the

crowd that Loud Records, the group’s label, wanted them to focus

on performing the new material but they performed hit songs

like "Cream," "Triumph," "Ice Cream,"

and "Cher Chez La Ghostface"

Later on in the

evening, Method Man performed "The Rockwilder" with

Redman from their album, The Blackout.

DJ Premier, Afu

Ra, Jigsaw and members of The Outfit were also present to show

support for the new Wu Tang album.

(Editor’s Note:

Old Dirty Bastard managed to elude capture from the NYPD.)