Revolutionary Hip Hop Act Wu-Tang Clan Joins Raggamuffin Line-Up

In a major coup, Raggamuffin today announces that legendary hip hop act Wu-Tang Clan will headline the festival in February – the first time the revolutionary rap group has performed in New Zealand.

Wu-Tang Clan joins reggae legends UB40 to top the bill for Raggamuffin IX at The Trusts Arena, Auckland on Saturday 20 February 2016.

The infamous W logo of the Wu-Tang Clan looms large over the history of hip hop. The story of the Wu is one of legend, full of mystery, controversy and some of the most exciting and genre-defining hip hop ever produced.

Emerging in 1993, the Staten Island, NY-based Wu-Tang Clan proved to be the most revolutionary rap group of the mid-'90s – and only partially because of their music. Turning the standard concept of a hip-hop crew inside out, the Wu-Tang Clan assembled as a loose congregation of nine MCs. Instead of releasing one album after another, the Clan was designed to overtake the record industry in as profitable a fashion as possible – the idea was to establish the Wu-Tang as a force with their debut album and then spin off into as many side projects as possible. In the process, the members would all become individual stars as well as receive individual royalty cheques.

Surprisingly, the plan worked. All of the various Wu-Tang solo projects elaborated on the theme the group laid out on their 1993 debut, the spare, menacing Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Taking their group name from a powerful, mythical kung fu sword wielded by an invincible congregation of warriors, the crew is a loose collective of nine MCs. All nine members worked under a number of pseudonyms.



Across seven studio albums, from their debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), through to their latest, the as yet unheard, multi-million dollar, single copy only The Wu – Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, along with a myriad of solo albums and associated projects, the Wu-Tang Clan has continued to define the very parameters of hip hop.

With ground-breaking production techniques, inimitable style and an enthralling mythology surrounding the crew, they are the past, present and future of the movement.

In 2016 Wu-Tang Clan joins a staggering line-up of reggae and urban artists for Raggamuffin IX and fans of The Wu have the opportunity to experience the amazing Shaolin warriors in full battle mode, so you best protect ya neck, it’s time to celebrate!

Raggamuffin IX takes place on Saturday 20 February at The Trusts Arena in Auckland with two stages providing non-stop music all day. The festival is the biggest urban and reggae festival in the southern hemisphere with a line-up featuring Wu-Tang Clan, UB40, The Game, Xzibit, Macy Gray, Sly & Robbie with Bitty McLean, Diana King, Inner Circle, Maxi Priest, Junior Marvin’s Wailers, Spawnbreezie, House of Pain featuring Everlast, Savage, Boo Yaa T.R.I.B.E, L.A.B, Aotearoa Reggae Collective (Majic, L-40 and Israel Starr), Cool Meditation and ReZist.

Raggamuffin IX is supporting the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust as its chosen charity for the 2016 event. The Trust is an organisation which provides music therapy to special needs children and a percentage from every ticket sold goes towards the charity.

Tickets for Raggamuffin IX are on sale now and include VIP tickets, Grandstand tickets, GA tickets, Family passes and Youth tickets. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 www.ticketmaster.co.nz and Red Rat clothing stores. For more details visit www.raggamuffin.co.nz