The
Wu-Tang Clan
performed to a capacity crowd at TheHammerstein 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.)