Raw

By: Lamont "U-God" Hawkins

Narrated by: Lamont "U-God" Hawkins

Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

The explosive, never-before-told story behind the historic rise of the Wu-Tang Clan, as told by one of its founding members, Lamont "U-God" Hawkins. 

“It’s time to write down not only my legacy, but the story of nine dirt-bomb street thugs who took our everyday life - scrappin’ and hustlin’ and tryin’ to survive in the urban jungle of New York City - and turned that into something bigger than we could possibly imagine, something that took us out of the projects for good, which was the only thing we all wanted in the first place.” (Lamont "U-God" Hawkins)

The Wu-Tang Clan are considered hip-hop royalty. Remarkably, none of the founding members have told their story - until now. Here, for the first time, the quiet one speaks. 

Lamont “U-God” Hawkins was born in Brownsville, New York, in 1970. Raised by a single mother and forced to reckon with the hostile conditions of project life, U-God learned from an early age how to survive. And surviving in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s was no easy task - especially as a young black boy living in some of the city’s most ignored and destitute districts. But, along the way, he met and befriended those who would eventually form the Clan’s core: RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, and Masta Killa. Brought up by the streets, and bonding over their love of hip-hop, they sought to pursue the impossible: music as their ticket out of the ghetto. 

U-God’s unforgettable first-person account of his journey, from the streets of Brooklyn to some of the biggest stages around the world, is not only thoroughly affecting, unfiltered, and explosive but also captures, in vivid detail, the making of one of the greatest acts in American music history. 

This program includes the song "Fire" (featuring Method Man & Jackpot Scotty Wotty) (DJ Green Lantern Remix) from U-God's Bring Back God II mixtape, under nonexclusive license from Babygrande Records, Inc.

©2018 Lamont "U-God" Hawkins (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Clan N Da Front

This was a very insightful book on my favorite group of all times, I was 14 when I first heard the protect yo neck single with m e t h o d man on the b side and it changed reshaped hip hop for me forever. I always wanted to know what went down behind the scenes and U-Gods life I can’t damn near relate to 90% of it. Every fan of the Wu-Tang need to read this book. It’s great.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

<br />

Ugod did a great job. it was great to hear these stories in his own words and voice. great book

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Good Knowledge

I liked hearing about what it took to get him where he is in life

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Dope Listen. U God killed Wu 4 Ever Album 🔥🔥🔥

The Book takes you into journalism of 1 of the elite groups! Suuuuu. Wu ✌🏿

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Wu Tang Forever

A good read overall. If you want to hear some stories in the original tones of an founding member of the greatest hip hop group of all time then this is a must have.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A gifted story teller

U God is a gifted story teller and has a great relaxed voice and excellent use of inflection

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

It’s a must

The story is dope because it’s real. Roller coaster of emotions throughout the story. Talks about good times and bad times.

Wild Ride

As a prototypical, white, 40-year old yuppie who listened to this as a privileged, affluent, suburban kid, I found it both entertaining and informative. Then it got a little weird.

UGod does a solid job telling the story of his own tale of growing up, the formation of Wu Tang, and all of the crazy stories related. I felt like I was getting a primary source like a historian would use about life in the Park Hill projects in New York in the 80s. He does a pretty good job of making you feel like you're there, though he spends more time talking about the people but almost no time describing the surroundings. Still, those characters - real people - are brought to life in an intense, yet matter of fact manner.

He goes off the rails toward the end when he talks about how the group had grown apart and problems between members in the group, as well as with UGod. It felt a little weird; maybe people who paid closer attention to their personal lives outside their music will enjoy this part more.

Overall, I recommend it, but there are parts where you're forgiven if you fast forward on through.

Great Book<br />

loved it!! I like the fact U-God narrated it himself.. Very insightful and the inspirational.

A Must for any Wu Afficianado

The title sums it up, it's more about U God, his journey and experiences in the Wu Tang Clan than it is a tell all about the whole clan itself. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it enough to breeze through in record speed. The book takes you from his upbringing in the streets, stardom, the rise and fall of the Wu, including the age old story of group strife that seems to affect many groups across time and genres. The narration by U God himself was great for me and I could see anyone else telling his story. If you're thinking about coppin' this fly shhh don't hesitate!