Wu-Tang Forever

"Wu-Tang Forever" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake from his third studio album Nothing Was the Same (2013). The song was released as the album's first promotional single on September 12, 2013. "Wu-Tang Forever" features a significant sample of "It's Yourz" by the Wu-Tang Clan. The song was produced by frequent collaborator Noah "40" Shebib. The song has since peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Background On August 30, 2013, Drake first revealed he would have a song featured on the album, produced by 40 and titled "Wu-Tang Forever". On September 12, 2013, Drake released the previously announced "Wu-Tang Forever", as the album's first promotional single along with the pre-order of Nothing Was the Same on iTunes. The song is a reference to the Wu-Tang Clan and their critically acclaimed double album Wu-Tang Forever (1997). The track also samples the Clan's song "It's Yourz". Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA said he gave Drake the sample free of charge. The song pays homage to the legendary hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, even though the song is primarily about women and relationships. The Clan initially responded positively to the song via their official Twitter. However, Inspectah Deck commented on the song after listening to it saying, "I agree with u... It is in no form a tribute to WU and SHOULD NOT wear the title Wutang Forever!" He later elaborated saying, "I felt it didn't have no bearing on the Wu-Tang Clan or Wu-Tang Forever for that matter. Besides the [fact that] I heard him say, 'Young brother on his Wu Tang.' That in itself gives respect to the Clan. I'm not taking that from the brother. Whatever his intentions was, I'm not saying that I'm feeling that he had some deliberate snake intentions. I'm saying that I disagree with the title of that song being "Wu-Tang Forever" when it has no bearing on Wu-Tang Clan despite the fact that the "It's Yourz" sample floatin' in the background. We sampled "It's Yourz." That's a sample. That's there for the taking. It's not like, Oh, he used y'all sample. We both used it from T La Rock." Critical reception "Wu-Tang Forever" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics, however it did receive a mixed response for not being anything similar to or representing the Wu-Tang Clan. David Amidon of PopMatters said, " "Wu-Tang Forever" is such a great song to talk about for everything but that title.