Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men

Merging music, socio-cultural commentary and intimate family portrait, the documentary mini-series Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men examines the cultural history of hip-hop’s most influential group as they commemorate the 25th anniversary of the group. Their ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit brought them together to overcome the poverty, violence and oppression of their New York neighbourhoods. But it was music and their shared lyrical genius that allowed them to form one of the most recognised musical movements in the world, all while walking the tightrope that links business with brotherhood.

The four 60-minute episodes include never-before-seen archival footage and performances, and interviews with all nine living members of the group – RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Cappadonna – as well as footage from 2004 featuring the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

The docuseries was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program, with filmmaker Sacha Jenkins (Burn Motherf*cker, Burn!, Word Is Bond) nominated for a Black Reel Award for Outstanding TV Documentary. It has a 100% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics’ consensus says, “Of Mics and Men condenses the mythology surrounding the celebrated Wu-Tang Clan with finesse, honoring the hip hop collective’s aura of legend while also delving into each member’s earthy humanity,” and RogerEbert.com calls it, “A joyous document of the history of one of music’s most important bands.”

Also watch the dramatisation of the Wu-Tang Clan story in Wu-Tang: An American Saga.