Which 1993 album introduced the Wu-Tang Clan with the single “C.R.E.A.M.”?

Wu-Tang Clan introduced its signature sound with the 1993 album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).

Released on November 9, 1993, the album was the group’s debut studio record and was produced mainly by RZA. Its title combines references to the martial-arts film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and the idea of a musical chamber or collective. The record brought together several MCs, including the RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

“C.R.E.A.M.” became one of the group’s best-known songs, with its title meaning “Cash Rules Everything Around Me.” The album’s raw production, kung-fu imagery, and unusually large ensemble influenced independent rap and the business model of artist-owned affiliate projects.

The group’s second album, Wu-Tang Forever, followed in 1997, so it is not the debut.