Top 3: Wu-Tang Clan at O2 Apollo

In US tradition, a 20th anniversary is commemorated with a platinum gift. In the UK, we settle for China. It doesn’t take a journalism degree to mention the many platinum discs earned and Chinese imagery used by Wu Tang Clan for an introduction about them – but here we are. Now, 20 years on, the Wu are touring in celebration of the fact they’re still together, still going strong (even if it is without ODB, rest in peace). They pop by Manchester for one very special night in July – so we thought we’d use that as an excuse to run through three of our favourite Wu tracks…

C.R.E.A.M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjZRAvsZf1g

Recently it has inspired Kitty Pryde’s benedryl addiction ode R.R.E.A.M., but this classic still holds up with its sparse production style that would later be echoed by the likes of Jurassic 5. It was released as a single in 1994 and still hasn’t aged.

Wu Tang Clan Ain’t Nutin’ To Fuck With

A call to arms of sorts, this track was never released as a single but has become a cult classic anyway – another number taken from their seminal debut. Method Man’s final verse is a particular highlight.

Protect Ya Neck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FImAWSHDI_w

The band’s first ever single, and perhaps their most important still. The fact that a tribute scarf became one of the most sought after items of 2012 says a lot – that people are still yearning for them in 2013 says even more. Pitchfork named it #5 in their top 200 songs of the 90s, but even that shows a misunderstanding of how great this song is.

Thu 25 Jul, O2 Apollo, Stockport Road, Ardwick Green, M12 6AP, 7pm, £38.25, www.seetickets.com