Editing Wu-Tang Clan (section)

=== 2005–10: Solo albums and ''8 Diagrams'' ===
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2020}}
In 2005, RZA released a book titled ''[[The Wu-Tang Manual]]''. In the same year, U-God's second album, ''[[Mr. Xcitement]]'' and a collaboration between GZA and producer [[DJ Muggs]], entitled ''[[Grandmasters (album)|Grandmasters]]'' were also released.

On March 28, 2006, Ghostface Killah released ''[[Fishscale]]'', to much critical acclaim and some commercial success.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/ghostface/fishscale |title=Ghostface Killah: Fishscale (2006): Reviews |publisher=Metacritic.com |date=March 28, 2006 |access-date=January 6, 2009 |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115154020/https://www.metacritic.com/music/fishscale/ghostface-killah |url-status=live }}</ref> The entire group, including Cappadonna and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, appeared on the track "9 Milli Bros".  The same year, Ghostface Killah released ''[[More Fish]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ghostface Killah Warms Up Leftover 'Fish' For Second 2006 Album |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/abdyxe/ghostface-killah-warms-up-leftover-fish-for-second-2006-album |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215134223/https://www.mtv.com/news/abdyxe/ghostface-killah-warms-up-leftover-fish-for-second-2006-album |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=MTV |language=en}}</ref>

On June 25, 2006, Inspectah Deck released a street album{{clarify|date=September 2020}} entitled ''[[The Resident Patient (album)|The Resident Patient]]'', a prelude to his upcoming album, titled ''The Rebellion'', which is said to be his final solo album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=inspectahdeck3 |title=Exclusive Hip Hop News, Audio, Lyrics, Videos, Honeys, Wear, Sneakers, Download Mixtapes |publisher=Hiphopgame.com |date=December 14, 2007 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310195219/http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=inspectahdeck3 |archive-date=March 10, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Also released in 2006 were [[Masta Killa]]'s second studio album, ''[[Made in Brooklyn]]'', to lukewarm reviews, and [[Method Man]]'s ''[[4:21... the Day After]].''{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} Ghostface Killah released his seventh full-length album, ''[[The Big Doe Rehab]]'', in December 2007.

In 2007, Wu-Tang Clan released their fifth album, ''[[8 Diagrams]],''<ref>Kaufman, Gil.[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1566877/20070810/west_kanye.jhtml 50 Cent, Kanye Lead Fall Album Rush&nbsp;— Mariah, Chris Brown, Lupe Fiasco, Alicia Keys Follow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916094941/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1566877/20070810/west_kanye.jhtml |date=September 16, 2010 }} MTV: August 13, 2007.</ref> on Steve Rifkind's new label [[SRC Records]].<ref>[http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/10516]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616012928/http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/10516|date=June 16, 2008}}</ref> This album marked the inclusion of Cappadonna as an official member of the group.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.30967/title.rza-reveals-cappadonna-s-status-in-wu-tang-clan|title=RZA Reveals Cappadonna's Status In Wu-Tang Clan|date=October 7, 2014|publisher=Hiphopdx.com|access-date=January 9, 2015|archive-date=May 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501143822/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.30967/title.rza-reveals-cappadonna-s-status-in-wu-tang-clan/|url-status=live}}</ref> In an interview with [[MTV|MTV.com]], Ghostface Killah stated that he was upset with RZA for starting the ''8 Diagrams'' project while he was in the middle of writing and recording ''The Big Doe Rehab'',<ref>[http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/46416-ghostface-upset-about-wu-tang-release-date]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511181850/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/46416-ghostface-upset-about-wu-tang-release-date|date=May 11, 2008}}</ref> as well as giving ''8 Diagrams'' the same release date as ''The Big Doe Rehab'', for which RZA rescheduled a release date one week later.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/102207/ |title=Mixtape Monday: Nas Talks About 'Crazy Joint' With Jay-Z; Wu-Tang Delay LP For Ghostface's Sake |publisher=MTV |date=March 9, 2006 |access-date=January 13, 2012 |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115072623/http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/102207/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The outcome of ''8 Diagrams'' received mixed views from both fans and critics, and is regarded as being RZA's most experimental work to date.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1268426|pure_url=yes}} |title=((( 8 Diagrams [16 Tracks&#93; > Review ))) |website=allmusic |date=December 11, 2007 |access-date=April 27, 2010}}</ref> Raekwon and Ghostface Killah were unhappy with the album, and proposed recording a group album titled ''Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tan'' without RZA production.<ref>{{cite web |author=Alvin "Aqua" Blanco |url=http://allhiphop.com/blogs/features/archive/2007/12/04/18959440.aspx |title=Features: Ghostface Killah: Iron Manual |publisher=Allhiphop.com |access-date=January 6, 2009 |archive-date=November 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120212824/http://allhiphop.com/blogs/features/archive/2007/12/04/18959440.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> That album would eventually become Raekwon's fifth solo album ''[[Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang]]''.

In 2008, RZA released ''[[Digi Snacks]],'' under the name Bobby Digital. The album included lesser-known [[Wu-Tang Clan affiliates]] such as Freemurder, Killa Sin, Black Knights, and others. In the same year, GZA released the album ''[[Pro Tools (album)|Pro Tools]]''. In September 2008, RZA announced that he had signed a deal with digital music company [[The Orchard (music label)|The Orchard]] to release the Wu-Tang Clan's back catalogue worldwide digitally, for the first time. In addition to forthcoming material, the Wu-Tang Clan's catalogue includes 13 previous releases that have been previously unavailable digitally, including recordings by the group as a whole, U-God, Wu-Syndicate, Killarmy, Shyheim, [[West Coast Killa Beez]], Black Knights and others, and would be available online beginning September 23.{{clarify|date=September 2020}} RZA said: "The time is right to bring some older Wu material to the masses digitally. Our fans have been dedicated and patient and they're hungry to hear the music that has set us apart from so many others. Hip-hop is alive in Wu Music, and with The Orchard, we've got a solid partner that understands our audience and is committed to doing all they can to help us reach the fans. I'm definitely looking forward to working with them to see what else we all come up with. There's much more to come".<ref>[http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/news/2008/09/5445/]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918025417/http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/news/2008/09/5445/|date=September 18, 2008}}</ref>

In 2009, U-God released his third solo album, ''[[Dopium]]'', which features guest appearances from several Wu-Tang Clan members, and affiliates, among others, and was met with mostly lukewarm reviews. ''[[Wu-Tang Chamber Music]]'' was released in the same year, a side project executively produced by RZA, featuring live instrumentation from a Brooklyn soul band The Revelations. The album features appearances from five Wu-Tang Clan members, along with [[AZ (rapper)|AZ]], [[Kool G Rap]], [[Cormega]], [[Havoc (Mobb Deep)|Havoc]], [[Sean Price]], and [[M.O.P.]] Its first single, "Harbor Masters" featured Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, and AZ.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fatlacemagazine.uproxx.com/2009/06/new-wu-tang-clan-harbor-masters-taken-from-new-album-chamber-music/ |title=New Wu Tang Clan "Harbor Masters" taken from new album "Chamber Music" &#124; Fat Lace Magazine |publisher=Fatlacemagazine.uproxx.com |access-date=April 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612030427/http://fatlacemagazine.uproxx.com/2009/06/new-wu-tang-clan-harbor-masters-taken-from-new-album-chamber-music/ |archive-date=June 12, 2009  }}</ref> RZA spoke about the album to Billboard.com: "I think the ''Chamber Music'' title is very fitting. This music is totally in the chamber, or in the mind-frame of Wu-Tang like in the [''Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)''] days. But it's not a Wu-Tang album. The whole Clan's not on this album. But it couldn't be in any other category but Wu-Tang".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9388/title.news-bits-wu-tang-eve-travis-mccoy |title=DX News Bits: Wu-Tang Clan, Eve, Travis McCoy |magazine=HipHopDX |date=June 25, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115154024/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.9388/title.dx-news-bits-wu-tang-clan-eve-travis-mccoy |url-status=live }}</ref>

Raekwon's ''[[Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II]]'' was released in September 2009, which features guest appearances from several big-name artists, and Clan members, with Ghostface being the most prominent, and also production from RZA, [[Dr. Dre]], [[Pete Rock]], and [[J Dilla]], among others. The album was initially intended to be released on Dr. Dre's [[Aftermath Records]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Cuban Linx II coming Summer 2007 :: news articles at Wu-Tang Corp.&nbsp;– The Official Site of the Wu-Tang Clan|url=http://www.wutang-corp.com/news/article.php?id=742|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314021324/http://www.wutang-corp.com/news/article.php?id=742|archive-date=March 14, 2009|access-date=January 6, 2009|publisher=Wutang-corp.com}}</ref> The album debuted at number 4 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and at number 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and has been praised by most music critics. Several weeks later, Ghostface Killah released ''[[Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City]]''.

Talk of the album ''Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang'' re-surfaced in July 2009;<ref name=":2">{{cite web |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1616673/20090721/50_cent.jhtml |title=50 Cent Would 'Love' To Make A Joint Album With Eminem |publisher=MTV |date=July 22, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115154019/http://www.mtv.com/news/1616673/50-cent-would-love-to-make-a-joint-album-with-eminem/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> originally planned as a Wu-Tang album without RZA's input. The project evolved to include RZA only vocally, with no contribution to production.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}} Raekwon stated "[It'll] be alter egos challenging each other, really allowing RZA to fall back on the production and allowing us to give him a flashback memory to the things we know we need from the abbot [RZA]. We want him to be involved [with the album as an MC], but the concept was for him not to be involved production-wise".<ref name=":2" /> Speaking to MTV.com, Method Man revealed his, Ghostface Killah's and Raekwon's plans to record a separate album as a trio: "I don't want to say it's written in stone, but it's in discussion. I want some feedback from the fans to see how they would take that. RZA produced tracks, some other outside producers, of course, and we gonna have Wu-Tang members on the album, but it'll be a Rae, Ghost and Meth album".<ref>{{cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Jayson |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1616797/20090723/method_man.jhtml |title=Method Man Wants To Hook Up With Ghostface, Raekwon For Joint LP |publisher=MTV |date=July 23, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115154026/http://www.mtv.com/news/1616797/method-man-wants-to-hook-up-with-ghostface-raekwon-for-joint-lp/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Soon after, Ghostface Killah cemented the details: the record, featuring other Wu-Tang Clan members, was to consist primarily of him, Method Man, and Raekwon. The title, as announced in three separate trailers (directed by [[Rik Cordero]]) promoting the upcoming release, is ''[[Wu-Massacre]]''.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}} Speaking on their willingness to complete the album, Ghostface Killah estimated the release date of the album to be the end of 2009 or January 2010.<ref>{{cite web |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1618535/20090811/ghostface_killah.jhtml |title=Ghostface Expects Group Album With Raekwon And Method Man This Year |publisher=MTV |date=August 12, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115154020/http://www.mtv.com/news/1618535/ghostface-expects-group-album-with-raekwon-and-method-man-this-year/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was then announced{{when|date=September 2020}} that the album would be pushed back from December to March 30, 2010;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://illrideamotorbike.com/?cat=19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713010348/http://illrideamotorbike.com/?cat=19|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 13, 2011|title=illrideamotorbike.com|publisher=Illrideamotorbike.com|access-date=January 9, 2015}}</ref> the single, "Meth vs. Chef Part II", was released after the announcement. Produced by [[Mathematics (producer)|Mathematics]], it is an update of the song "Meth vs. Chef" from Method Man's first solo album, ''[[Tical (album)|Tical]]'', featuring verses by only Method Man and Raekwon. It had been confirmed by Raekwon that ''Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang'' would in fact be his next solo album<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Vozick |first=Simon |url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/02/19/raekwon-cuban-linx-wu-massacre/ |title=Raekwon on 'Wu-Massacre,' the future of the Wu-Tang Clan, his label dreams, and more: The Music Mix Q&A &#124; EW.com |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115154021/https://ew.com/article/2010/02/19/raekwon-cuban-linx-wu-massacre/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and that ''Wu-Massacre'' is a separate album, while the rapper{{who|date=September 2020}} stated that he himself had petitioned to have ''Wu-Massacre''{{'}}s release date postponed in order to yield more studio time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/v/JH7LYgNjkm0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs= |title=Raekwon Speaks on Dr. Dre, New Wu Album |publisher=Youtube.com |access-date=April 17, 2013 |archive-date=July 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726090524/http://www.youtube.com/v/JH7LYgNjkm0%26color1%3D0xb1b1b1%26color2%3D0xcfcfcf%26hl%3Den_US%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded%26fs%3D |url-status=live }}</ref>

On February 25, 2011, ''Wu Tang Live At The Palladium NYC'' was released through the group's official Facebook page as a collectors digital download. This included exclusive, unreleased freestyles. It was limited to 100 downloads before the page was disabled after this figure was reached.