music
March 18, 2026
Wu-Tang Clan review
O2 Arena, London This is slicker than their thrillingly chaotic early gigs, but the veteran New York hip-hop crew’s flows remain feral after 30-odd years
TL;DR
- The Wu-Tang Clan's farewell tour played to an audience largely born in the 70s, acknowledging the physical realities of aging performers and fans.
- The European leg of the tour was scaled down compared to the US, with fewer guest stars, featuring only Mobb Deep's Havoc.
- Despite the years, the members' verbal skills remained sharp, retaining a sense of feral energy, with Young Dirty Bastard effectively filling in for his late father.
- Individual showcases for members like Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Method Man were included, though the crowd's reaction to Raekwon and Ghostface was noted as reserved.
- The setlist included both crowd-pleasing hits like 'Gravel Pit' and a surprising straight delivery of Barbra Streisand's 'The Way We Were' as a tribute.
- Promotional segments for RZA's movie, a Wu-Tang video game, and a documentary contributed to a disjointed show quality.
- The performance was described as slicker than their early chaotic gigs, with less actual chaos, culminating in a performance of 'CREAM'.