Is Wu Tang: An American Saga Any Good? – Review

It is the middle of the cocaine epidemic of the 1990s in America. Opportunities are ripe for deviants, or anyone who wishes to escape their life of poverty.

The choice is between two paths- easy and right. What will a group of Staten Island boys choose?

1. Quick Review  

Wu Tang: An American Saga is a classic tale about a group of underdogs, beating all the odds stacked up against them, to create history.

Add to that groovy beats and verses that are bound to capture your attention, Wu Tang is a complete package.

2. Info Card

3. Is it worth watching?

Wu Tang is a story of the beginnings and rise of a group of hip hop artists that took the world by storm and inspired countless other musicians.

I. Plot

The story begins in the 1990s when the crack cocaine epidemic was at its peak in New York and America in general.

Cheap cocaine, which was easy to use and simple to develop, was available at every street corner, especially in black neighbourhoods.

It was the most tempting opportunity for young black males to enter the trade of drug dealing and earn a quick buck.

To many men of the black community, who were deprived and marginalised for all their lives, getting into the drug business seemed to be the only way they could provide for their families.

Bobby Diggs is interested in music. His brother believes that they should exploit the opportunity of drug dealing so that they can put food on the table for their family.

Leading a life as a drug dealer is not easy. As cocaine sweeps every corner of New York, neighbourhoods get divided up into turfs and there are frequent and violent turf wars.

As his family slowly gets drawn into a life of crime, Bobby becomes increasingly reluctant to participate in drug dealing.

When he gives in to his musical aspirations, he finds a group of boys who are united by their love for rap music and hip-hop but divided by turfs and drug trade.

II. Detailed Analysis   

The original members of Wu-Tang triumphed over a lot of obstacles to create a hip-hop group that brought in a new era of rap music and popularised it immensely.

These obstacles were not only of the physical kind but mental as well. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication and more importantly, time for musicians to make a breakthrough in the music industry.

With so little money to fall back on, many of the members often went back to their life in crime.

The plight and the strife of black Americans in the 1990s are very accurately portrayed in the show.

In the show, Bobby is often asked to put aside his dreams of making music to take up a life as a member of the drug mafia.

To them, putting their lives in danger was a quicker and guaranteed way of earning a living than chasing their dreams.

Most importantly, Wu-Tang is a story of never giving up even when you encounter failure.

The series showed how the boys had thought of giving up, many times, during the early days of the group when they did not find success.

But it was their perseverance that finally helped become what they are today.

III. Characters

Bobby Diggs

Bobby Diggs, the protagonist of the show and one of the original founders of Wu-Tang, is played by Ashton Sanders, who previously acted in the Academy Award-winning movie Moonlight.

Bobby or RZA (as he is more popularly known), he is quiet but resilient and devoted to music.

The audience feels for him- even though he questions his brother’s ideas, he is forced to be part of the drug business which often requires him to give up on his dreams.

Raekwon

His comrade in arms is his friend Sha or Raekwon who is played by Shameik Moore.

The others- Siddiq Saunderson who plays Ghostface Killah, Dave east who plays Method Man and Johnell Young who plays GZA- are a great addition to the cast.

All the actors play the characters in a rugged and realistic manner. Their performances inspire the feeling of unity and strength that the original Wu-Tang was known for.

4.Grade

5. Final Thoughts

Wu-Tang: An American Saga is a fictionalised version of the rise of the famous Wu-Tang group of the 90s.

For followers of rap music and hip-hop, especially those who are interested in rap being used as a form of protest, this series is a must-watch.

The series has been renewed for a second season and it will feature other members like U-God and will continue their journey towards fame.