Protect Ya Neck

"Protect Ya Neck"
SinglebyWu-Tang Clan
from the albumEnter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
B-side	"After the Laughter Comes Tears" "Method Man"(reissue)
Released	December 14, 1992
Recorded	1992
Genre	Hardcore hip hop
Length	4:37 5:01 (Original, uncensored aka the Bloody Version)
Label	Wu-Tang Loud
Songwriter(s)	Wu-Tang Clan
Producer(s)	RZA
Wu-Tang Clansingles chronology
"Protect Ya Neck" (1992) "C.R.E.A.M." (1994)
Audio sample
Protect Ya Neck file help
Music video
"Protect Ya Neck"onYouTube

"Protect Ya Neck"is the debut single by Americanhip hopgroupWu-Tang Clan,originally released on December 14, 1992, through Wu-Tang Records and later re-released May 3, 1993 throughLoud Records.The song appears on the group's debut studio albumEnter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).It was produced byRZAand features eight of the original nine Wu-Tang members.

Background and composition

"Protect Ya Neck", along with "Tearz", were the first tracks recorded by the Wu-Tang Clan, released independently by the group as a 12-inch single in 1992."Protect Ya Neck" is a free-associative and braggadociousbattle rapand was the first Wu-Tang song bringing together the original four members and four others (excludingMasta Killa,who had not yet joined). The single was originally released by Wu-Tang Records backed with theB-side"After the Laughter Comes Tears". After it created an underground buzz, Wu-Tang Clan signed withLoud Recordsand re-released it in 1993, with "Method Man"as the B-side, which sold 10,000 copies.

The album version of the song (even explicit versions of the album) is edited to scratch out all profanity, save for use of the word "nigga". The song was originally recorded over a different beat and the verses in a different order before producer RZA decided to rearrange them and change the beat. The person who calls into a radio station at the start of the song was from an interview Wu-Tang Clan did onWashington, D.C.radio stationWPGC.Different segments of the same interview are placed at different parts of their first album,Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).

RapperGrand Daddy I.U.noted the swipe thatGZAtook at him on the song. Prior to the formation of the Wu-Tang Clan, GZA was originally known as The Genius – who, along with Grand Daddy I.U. – was signed toCold Chillin' Records.GZA's verse was directed at his former label for lack of promotion over his debutWords from the Geniusin favor of the former's debut albumSmooth Assassin.Aside from the swipes at his former label, GZA also took a few swipes at I.U., to which I.U. discussed in 2006:

I was wearing the suit and tie shit back then on some old time gangster shit. He had that other shit like, ‘Girl come do me.’ I guess they wasn’t feeling that shit so they chose to push me harder than they pushed him. That ain’t my fault what the fuck are you mad at me for? So you know how that shit is. He ain’t gonna come to my face and say nothing so later on he put that shit in his little rhyme or whatever throwing a subliminal jab. That shit is neither here nor there.

"Protect Ya Neck" is featured on greatest hits compilations such asThe RZA Hits,Disciples of the 36 ChambersandLegend of the Wu-Tang Clan,which contains the original, uncensored version known as the "Bloody Version". In 2000, Wu-Tang Clan would release a sequel on their third albumThe W,called "Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)", which also featuresCappadonnaandMasta Killain place of the then-incarceratedOl' Dirty Bastard.

"Protect Ya Neck" has been featured in video gamesTrue Crime: New York City,Skate 2,andWWE 2K22.The chime that opens the song is from the kung-fu movieExecutioners from Shaolin.

The "Protect Ya Neck / Method Man" single madeThe Source's100 Best Singles list.In September 2010Pitchfork Mediaincluded the song at number 5 on theirTop 200 Tracks of the 90s.

It has also been featured in the final episode ofsuperheroweb television seriesThe Defendersduring a fight scene between all fourDefendersandThe Hand.

Music video

Themusic videofeatures each Wu-Tang member inblack and whiterapping individually with their entourage in the background. As each rapper starts his verse, their rap aliases are shown on the screen. Many of these aliases are spelled incorrectly or never used on official releases such asGZAbeing shown as "The Jizah" orInspectah Deckas "Inspektah Deck". In the video, occasionally clips of Wu-Tang as a full group in color are flashed for a couple seconds. It features a cameo appearance from a then-unknownCappadonnaduringRaekwonandMethod Man's scenes and Masta Killa is seen being chased by the rest of the whole clan during ODB and Gza scenes.

Track listing

Wu-Tang Records release

Wu-Tang Side

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Protect Ya Neck" (Radio Edit)	4:37
2.	"Protect Ya Neck" (Bloody Version)	5:01
3.	"Protect Ya Neck" (Instrumental)	2:00

Shaolin Side

No.	Title	Length
1.	"After the Laughter Comes Tears" (Vocal)	3:17
2.	"After the Laughter Comes Tears" (Instrumental)	3:17

Loud Records release

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Protect Ya Neck" (Radio Edit)	4:30
2.	"Protect Ya Neck" (Shao Lin Version)	4:36
3.	"Protect Ya Neck" (Bloody Version)	5:03

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Method Man" (Radio Edit)	4:15
2.	"Method Man" (Smoked Out Version)	5:02
3.	"Method Man" (Home Grown Version)	5:08
4.	"Method Man" (Bonus Beats)	0:57

Personnel

Credits adapted from single's label.

Production

• Prince Rakeem– production, mi xing, arranging

Additional personnel

• Robert Diggs– executive production
• Oli Grant– executive production
• Dennis Coles – executive production
• Mitchell Diggs – executive production