Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’ Unraveled: The Shaolin Shadowboxers’ Guide to Life

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Wu-Tang Clan's Da Mystery Of Chessboxin' at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

The game of chess is like a sword fight
You must think first before you move
Toad style is immensely strong and immune to nearly any weapon
When it’s properly used it’s almost invincible

Raw I’ma give it to ya, with no trivia
Raw like cocaine straight from Bolivia
My hip-hop will rock and shock the nation
Like the Emancipation Proclamation
Weak MC’s approach with slang that’s dead
You might as well run into the wall and bang your head
I’m pushing force, my force you’re doubting
I’m making devils cower to the Caucus Mountains

Well I’m a sire, I set the microphone on fire
Rap styles vary, and carry like Mariah
I come from the Shaolin slum, and the isle I’m from
Is coming through with nuff niggas, and nuff guns
So if you wanna come sweating, stressing contesting
You’ll catch a sharp sword to the midsection
Don’t talk the talk, if you can’t walk the walk
Phony niggas are outlined in chalk
I’m mad vexed, it’s what the projects made me
Rebel to the grain there’s no way to barricade me
Steamrolling niggas like a eighteen wheeler
With a drunk driver driving, there’s no surviving

Rough like Timberland wear, yeah
Me and the Clan, and yo the Landcruisers out there
Peace to all the crooks, all the niggas with bad looks
Bald heads, braids, blow this hook
We got chrome Tecs, nickel plated Macs
Black Ac’s, drug dealing styles in phat stacks
I only been a good nigga for a minute though
Cuz I got to get my props, and win it yo
I got beef wit commercial-ass niggas with gold teeth
Lamping in a Lexus eating beef
Straight up and down don’t even bother
I got forty niggas up in here now, who kill niggas fathers

My peoples are you with me where you at?
In the front, in the back killa-bees on attack
My peoples are you with me where you at?
Smoking meth hitting cats on the block with the gats

Here I go, deep type flow
Jacques Cousteau could never get this low
I’m cherry bombing shits, Boom
Just warming up a little bit, vroom vroom
Rappining is what’s happening
Keep the pockets stacked and then, hands clapping and
At the party when I move my body
Gotta get up and be somebody!
Grab the microphone put strength to the bone
Duh-Duh-Duh, enter the Wu-Tang zone
Sure enough when I rock that stuff
Guff puff? I’m gonna catch your bluff tuff
Rough, kicking rhymes like Jim Kelly
Or Alex Haley I’m a Mi-Beetle Bailey rhymes
Coming raw style, hardcore
Niggas be coming to the hip-hop store
Coming to buy grocery from me
Trying to be a hip-hop MC
The law, in order to enter the Wu-Tang
You must bring the Ol’ Dirty Bastard type slang
Represent the GZA, Abbott, RZA, Shaquan, Inspectah Deck
Dirty Ol’ getting low wit his flow
Introducing, the Ghostface Killah!
No one could get iller

My peoples are you with me where you at?
In the front, in the back killa-bees on attack
My peoples are you with me where you at?
Smoking meth hitting cats on the block with the gats

Speaking of the devil psych, no it’s the God, get the shit right
Mega trife, and yo I killed you in a past life
On the mic while you was kicking that fast shit
You reneged tried again, and got blasted
Half mastered ass style mad ruff task
When I struck I had on Timbs and a black mask
Remember that shit? I know you don’t remember jack
That night yo I was hitting like a spiked bat
And then you thought I was bugged out, and crazy
Strapped for nonsense, after me became lazy
Yo, nobody budge while I shot slugs
Never shot thugs, I’m running with thugs that flood mugs
So grab your 8 + 1, start flipping and tripping
Niggas is jetting I’m licking off son

Wu, Tang, Wu, Tang, Wu, Tang, Wu, Tang!

Homicide’s illegal and death is the penalty
What justifies the homicide, when he dies?
In his own iniquity it’s the
Master of the Mantis Rapture coming at ya
We have an APB on an MC Killer
Looks like the work of a Master
Evidence indicates that his stature
Merciless like a terrorist hard to capture
The flow, changes like a chameleon
Plays like a friend, and stabs you like a dagger
This technique attacks the immune system
Disguised like a lie paralyzing the victim
You scream, as it enters your bloodstream
Erupts your brain from the pain these thoughts contain
Moving on a nigga with the speed of a centipede
And injure any motherfucking contender!

At first glance, Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Da Mystery Of Chessboxin” can seem like another lyrical juggernaut from the golden era of hip-hop, fueled by gritty metaphors and street-wise philosophies. Yet, there is a deeper resonance to be found within its verses—a resonance that aligns ancient martial arts wisdom with the stratagem of survival in the urban landscapes.

From the compelling intro that correlates chess with premeditated combat, to the relentless verses that depict a struggle against societal constraints, ‘Da Mystery Of Chessboxin” is more than just a musical track—it’s a manual for mental resilience and tactical mastery encapsulated in the guise of rap.

The Philosophical Gameboard: Chess as a Metaphor for Life

The song opens with a sample that is a battle cry and a lesson: ‘The game of chess is like a sword fight. You must think first before you move.’ This is the crux of Wu-Tang’s ethos – think strategically, act decisively. The Clan depicts life as a game of chess, where each decision, like each move on the board, carries weight, repercussions, and the potential for triumph or downfall.

Moreover, the chess metaphor extends to the multiple layers of the song’s structure. Each member’s verse operates like a chess piece, with its unique capabilities and movement—profoundly strategic, each contributing to the checkmate of mainstream rap’s predictability.

The Rawness of Reality: An Expression of Urban Struggle

In the gritty realms of ‘Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’,’ the Clan conveys rawness akin to ‘cocaine straight from Bolivia.’ The unfiltered portrayal of their environment is painfully akin to struggles and conflicts, often invoking violent and stark imagery that reflects societal issues, gang violence, and the pursuit of authenticity amidst chaos.

Diving into the urban jungle where the ‘weak MC’s approach with slang that’s dead,’ the Clan distinguishes themselves as entities of force, pushing against the status quo, an embodiment of rebellion born from the concrete confines of Shaolin, the name they gave to their home, Staten Island.

The Symphony of Diverse Styles: Wu-Tang as Masters of Collaboration

Wu-Tang Clan’s collective synergy is palpable in ‘Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’.’ Each member delivers verses in their signature style— from U-God’s avant-garde opening to Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s raw and untamed flow. The connection between martial arts prowess and lyrical mastery is a recurring theme as each rapper sets the mic ablaze with their individual flair.

This song exemplifies how Wu-Tang thrives on contrast and variety; much like a chess game’s complexity comes from the diversity of pieces and strategies, so too does the Clan’s strength stem from the diverse talents of its members, coming together as a cohesive and unstoppable force.

Decoding the Strategy: The Hidden Meaning Inside Wu-Tang’s Verses

Beyond its visceral imagery and alarming metaphors, ‘Da Mystery Of Chessboxin” is layered with references to systemic oppression and the pursuit of autonomy within it. Lines like ‘Homicide’s illegal and death is the penalty,’ question the paradoxes present in law and society. They urge the listener to consider the rules of the game of life, asking if the game is rigged from the start.

Underneath the aggressive exterior of their lyrics lies a pattern of resisting complacency and challenging the structures that hold individuals back. The Wu-Tang Clan, in this anthem, beckons its listeners to question the status quo, just as wise chess players question and counter their opponent’s moves.

Verses That Struck a Chord: Memorable Lines and Their Lasting Impact

Lines like ‘My hip-hop will rock and shock the nation like the Emancipation Proclamation’ and ‘Steamrolling niggas like an eighteen-wheeler’ have left an indelible mark on the genre’s history. They echo Wu-Tang’s unapologetic intention to redefine the game and engage with issues larger than the music itself, resonating with cultural and historical gravitas.

The eloquence and depth of lines such as ‘Life is a game of chess, but with no moves left,’ capture the existential dilemma faced by many who feel cornered by life’s constraints. These words, while rooted in the era of their conception, continue to influence and inspire a timeless questioning and defiance that stirs the mind and spirit of listeners across generations.