Studio Album · No. 5

8 Diagrams Songwriting Credits by Wu-Tang Clan

2007 SRC Records / Universal Motown 14 tracks 63 min
SRC Records / Universal Motown Experimental Hip HopHardcore Hip HopEast Coast Hip Hop
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 14 of 14 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 14 / 14 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether Wu-Tang Clan carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
14 trackswritten by Wu-Tang Clan 0 tracksoutside writers
Wu-Tang Clan's roles on this album

Share of the 14 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

14
Tracks
11
Lyricists
4
Producers
202,000
US Copies Sold
2007
Released
Data Insight

8 Diagrams is the most divisive Wu-Tang album because of RZA's authorial dominance: he pushed an experimental, orchestral direction built on live instrumentation rather than the group's signature soul-sample sound. Each member still wrote his own verses, but Raekwon and Ghostface Killah publicly criticized RZA's production, saying the record lacked the true Wu-Tang feel, and Raekwon floated an alternate group project without RZA. The lead single 'The Heart Gently Weeps' interpolates The Beatles' 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' and features Erykah Badu, Dhani Harrison and John Frusciante, underscoring how far RZA stretched the palette.

The fifth Wu-Tang Clan album, released December 11, 2007 on Wu Music Group, SRC, Loud and Universal Motown, six years after Iron Flag and three years after Ol' Dirty Bastard died. It brought the eight surviving original members back together, used archive ODB material, closed with a tribute track called 'Life Changes,' and made Cappadonna an official member. RZA produced almost all of it and wrote on every track, which is exactly what Ghostface Killah and Raekwon objected to in public, saying it had lost the Wu-Tang sound. The lead single 'The Heart Gently Weeps' interpolates the Beatles' 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' and credits George Harrison, with his son Dhani Harrison and John Frusciante playing guitar and Erykah Badu singing. It opened at number 25 on the Billboard 200 with 68,000 copies.

Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Campfire
Method ManGhostface KillahCappadonna Clifford Smith Jr.Dennis David ColesDarryl HillRobert Fitzgerald Diggs RZA Method Man (Rap)Ghostface Killah (Rap)Cappadonna (Rap)
2
Take It Back
RaekwonInspectah DeckGhostface KillahU-GodMethod Man Corey WoodsJason HunterDennis David ColesLamont Jody HawkinsClifford Smith Jr.Osten Harvey Jr.Robert Fitzgerald Diggs Easy Mo BeeRZA Raekwon (Rap)Inspectah Deck (Rap)Ghostface Killah (Rap)U-God (Rap)Method Man (Rap)
3
Get Them Out Ya Way Pa
Method ManU-GodMasta KillaGhostface KillahRaekwon Clifford Smith Jr.Lamont Jody HawkinsJamel IriefDennis David ColesCorey WoodsRobert Fitzgerald Diggs RZA Method Man (Rap)U-God (Rap)Masta Killa (Rap)Ghostface Killah (Rap)Raekwon (Rap)
4
Rushing Elephants
RaekwonGZAMasta KillaInspectah Deck Corey WoodsGary Eldridge GriceJamel IriefJason HunterRobert Fitzgerald Diggs RZA Raekwon (Rap)GZA (Rap)Masta Killa (Rap)Inspectah Deck (Rap)
5
Unpredictable
Inspectah DeckRaekwon Jason HunterCorey WoodsRobert Fitzgerald Diggs RZA Inspectah Deck (Rap)Raekwon (Rap)
6
The Heart Gently Weeps
RaekwonGhostface KillahMethod ManErykah Badu Corey WoodsDennis David ColesClifford Smith Jr.Erica Abi WrightGeorge Harold HarrisonRobert Fitzgerald DiggsGeorge Drakoulias RZAGeorge Drakoulias Dhani HarrisonJohn Frusciante
7
Wolves
Method ManMasta KillaU-God Clifford Smith Jr.Jamel IriefLamont Jody HawkinsRobert Fitzgerald DiggsGeorge Clinton RZA George Clinton
8
Gun Will Go
RaekwonMethod ManMasta Killa Corey WoodsClifford Smith Jr.Jamel IriefRobert Fitzgerald Diggs RZA Raekwon (Rap)Method Man (Rap)Masta Killa (Rap)
9
Sunlight
RZA Robert Fitzgerald Diggs RZA RZA (Rap)
10
Stick Me for My Riches
Method ManInspectah DeckGZA Clifford Smith Jr.Jason HunterGary Eldridge GriceRonald Maurice BeanRobert Fitzgerald Diggs MathematicsRZA Gerald Alston
11
Starter
StreetlifeGZAInspectah DeckU-God StreetlifeGary Eldridge GriceJason HunterLamont Jody HawkinsRobert Fitzgerald Diggs RZA GZA (Rap)Inspectah Deck (Rap)U-God (Rap)Streetlife (Vocals)
12
Windmill
RaekwonGZAMasta KillaInspectah DeckMethod Man Corey WoodsGary Eldridge GriceJamel IriefJason HunterClifford Smith Jr.Robert Fitzgerald Diggs RZA Raekwon (Rap)GZA (Rap)Masta Killa (Rap)Inspectah Deck (Rap)Method Man (Rap)
13
Weak Spot
GZARaekwon Gary Eldridge GriceCorey WoodsRobert Fitzgerald DiggsRussell Tyrone Jones RZA GZA (Rap)Raekwon (Rap)
14
Life Changes
Method ManRaekwonGZAInspectah DeckMasta KillaU-God Clifford Smith Jr.Corey WoodsGary Eldridge GriceJason HunterJamel IriefLamont Jody HawkinsRobert Fitzgerald Diggs RZA Method Man (Rap)Raekwon (Rap)GZA (Rap)Inspectah Deck (Rap)Masta Killa (Rap)U-God (Rap)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 32 contributors

RF
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs
Writer
On this album14 written
CS
Clifford Smith Jr.
Writer
On this album9 written
CW
Corey Woods
Writer
On this album9 written
MM
Method Man
Writer · Rap
On this album9 written
R
Raekwon
Writer · Rap
On this album9 written
ID
Inspectah Deck
Writer · Rap
On this album7 written
JH
Jason Hunter
Writer
On this album7 written
GE
Gary Eldridge Grice
Writer
On this album6 written
G
GZA
Writer · Rap
On this album6 written
JI
Jamel Irief
Writer
On this album6 written
MK
Masta Killa
Writer · Rap
On this album6 written
LJ
Lamont Jody Hawkins
Writer
On this album5 written

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Frequently Asked Questions 8 Diagrams

When did Wu-Tang Clan release 8 Diagrams?
Wu-Tang Clan released 8 Diagrams on December 11, 2007 through SRC and Universal Motown. It debuted at number 25 on the Billboard 200 and was the group's first album after the 2004 death of Ol' Dirty Bastard.
Why was 8 Diagrams controversial within Wu-Tang Clan?
RZA produced 8 Diagrams with an experimental, orchestral approach using live instrumentation instead of the group's classic soul-sample sound. Raekwon and Ghostface Killah criticized the record for not feeling like authentic Wu-Tang, and Raekwon discussed making a separate group album without RZA.
What does The Heart Gently Weeps sample?
'The Heart Gently Weeps' interpolates The Beatles' 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps.' The track features Erykah Badu, with guitar from Dhani Harrison, George Harrison's son, and John Frusciante.
Who produced 8 Diagrams?
RZA was the lead producer and steered the album's experimental sound, with additional production from Easy Mo Bee, George Drakoulias and Mathematics. As always, each Wu-Tang member wrote and performed his own verses.
Is Rushing Elephants on 8 Diagrams?
Yes. 'Rushing Elephants' is a track on 8 Diagrams produced by RZA. It runs about three minutes and features hard, sword-style lyricism in the classic Wu-Tang vein.
Did 8 Diagrams chart any Billboard Hot 100 singles?
No. The singles 'The Heart Gently Weeps' and 'Take It Back' did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100. The album itself peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200 and number 9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Sources

Wikipedia: 8 Diagrams Wikipedia: The Heart Gently Weeps MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: 8 Diagrams by Wu-Tang Clan