Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men

Director: Sacha Jenkins

Institute History

  • 2019 Sundance Film Festival

Description

Throughout the history of hip-hop, no single group changed the game in the same way the Wu-Tang Clan did. In the early ’90s, a group of young rappers from Staten Island and Brooklyn joined forces to escape the poverty, violence, and oppression of their neighborhoods through music. Hot off the success of their single “Protect Ya Neck,” RZA, GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Raekwon da Chef, and Masta Killa “formed like Voltron” to release Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), a seminal album that redefined a genre and forever changed the economics of the industry.

The real story of the Clan unfurls here, with never-before-seen footage and interviews recounting the obstacles traversed to stay united as one Wu family. Director Sacha Jenkins (Fresh Dressed, 2015 Sundance Film Festival) poignantly captures their struggles and triumphs in intimate detail, creating a group portrait that transcends music and delves into broader themes of race, economic strife, and brotherhood while weaving their distinctly raw and resonant sound throughout.

We are thrilled to present the first two episodes of this docuseries, followed by a Q&A with director Sacha Jenkins and surprise guests.

Closed Captioned (CC) features available for this film.


— A.M.

Screening Details

  • Section: Indie Episodic Programs
  • Film Type: Episodic
  • Country: U.S.A.
  • Run Time: 117 min.
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