Wu-Tang Clan inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: 'We took Staten Island to the world'

Staten Island's most famous musical export is now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Wu-Tang Clan was inducted Saturday night, Nov. 14, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with comedian Chris Rock making the introduction and all of the group's living members taking the stage to perform, Rolling Stone and Pitchfork reported.

"We took Staten Island to the world," RZA told the crowd, according to Complex. Method Man summed up the group's path from outsiders to honorees: "We went from being banned on the radio to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

What happened on stage

• The introduction: Chris Rock said the collective "rewrote the rules of hip-hop and did it without a big machine behind them," Complex reported.
• The performance: backed by a jazz band, the members ran through a medley that included "C.R.E.A.M.," "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit" and "Shimmy Shimmy Ya," as the audience chanted "Wu-Tang! Wu-Tang!" Rolling Stone's review called it a performance that was hard to top.
• Who was there: Rolling Stone's photo caption lists U-God, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, GZA, Cappadonna, RZA, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah on stage.

Why the Hall picked them

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame describes the nine-person collective as having "radically transformed hip-hop," crediting its mix of martial arts mythology, Five Percenter philosophy, street storytelling and business savvy with emboldening independent artists worldwide. It singles out RZA's gritty, sample-heavy production and lists "Protect Ya Neck," "C.R.E.A.M.," "Can It Be All So Simple," "Triumph" and "Gravel Pit" among the group's signature tracks. The Hall notes that "Protect Ya Neck," first released as an independent 12-inch single, got the attention of Loud Records. The Hall lists the group's 1993 debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), as the source of three of those tracks.

The Staten Island connection

The group was first announced as part of the 2026 class in April, and SILive noted the borough-born group is now officially in the Hall. Back home, the streets around the Park Hill apartments in Clifton were co-named the "Wu-Tang Clan District" in 2019, SILive reported at the time.

Saturday's class also included Queen Latifah and Brooklyn's MC Lyte, honored in the Early Influence category, as well as Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Luther Vandross, Sade, Oasis and Iron Maiden, among others. Wu-Tang's next big stage is the halftime show at the Detroit Lions' Thanksgiving Day game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday, Nov. 26, according to Complex.