Raw

By Lamont "U-God" Hawkins

Raw - Lamont
  • Release Date: 2018-03-06
  • Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 80 Ratings

Description

A PERFECT COMPANION READ TO THE SHOWTIME DOCUMENTARY, WU-TANG CLAN: OF MICS AND MEN

Selected as a Best Book of the Year by Esquire

"Couldn't put it down." – Charlamagne Tha God
"Mesmerizing." – Raekwon da Chef
"Insightful, moving, necessary." – Shea Serrano
"Cathartic." –The New Yorker
"A classic." –The Washington Post

The explosive, never-before-told story behind the historicrise 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, invivid detail, the making of one of the greatest acts in American music history.

Reviews

  • Raw

    5
    By Ad88.1
    This was such an amazing book. The storytelling was even better… I had to buy this book!
  • Good book with gaps

    4
    By FlyEli
    Congrats to Baby U for putting his story down on paper. It’s a true ghetto tale complete with detailed description of how wild it is to be raised as a black man in the New York projects. His drug game narratives are on point. He lets many poor blacks are really living in another world. What’s missing is the development of the Wu. It’s goes from he’s in jail to they are on tour without mention of their formation or the early days before they got signed. GZA and RZA are barely mentioned, same with Deck
  • Not well written...

    1
    By S82_
    I wanted to like this. I wanted to finish reading this. I couldn't and I cannot. It is awful.
  • Couldn’t put down

    5
    By B MCGRGS
    Read whole book in under 24 hours. Great wu tang earlier day stories and what it was like growing up in nyc in the most dangerous time. Deff a must read for any WU heads out there or anyone .
  • Great book u God

    5
    By Sllliimee
    Here I am thinking u god was one of the weaker members until I read this book and went back and listened to his verses again on forever, and I have a much better level of respect for him now.
  • Another Wu Banger!!! (in book form)...

    5
    By P Foles
    I’ve read many books and watched several documentaries on famous musical artists, bands etc.., but this book I just read probably sits somewhere on the top 3. This is a must read... The stories that U-God tells are just too vivid, captivating, and mind blowing that before you know it, you’ll be 2/3 done with the book! And I’m not a fast reader by any means but this book isn’t easy to put down... If you thought the movie on NWA “Straight Outta Compton” was an awe inspiring movie on the overall hood struggle and the ultimate rise to fame and fortune, you’ll be even more impressed with this! Always been a huge fan of the Clan the moment I heard them. I’m even more of a fan after reading this.. Thanks U-ey
  • W 4 E

    5
    By Rican3d
    Thanks for this book God. I feel Like I have walked and chilled in the most dangerous parts of Staten Island. I made it thru the hell U God went thru with out the chance of getting harmed of forever scared. That’s how well this book is written. Very detailed account of Ueys life and the very beginning of The W. I can tell you I have not been thru the pain and hell U God has been thru but the fact that he stays pushing forward regardless is a inspiration to never give up. Thank for sharing your story Uey I enjoyed and appreciated it.