Wu-Tang Clan Announces Residency In Las Vegas
The Wu-Tang Clan is set to embark on a Las Vegas residency starting in February, coinciding with the city’s first Super Bowl. In a unique move for a hip-hop group, the Grammy-nominated rap collective will present “Wu-Tang Clan: The Saga Continues … The Las Vegas Residency” at the Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The residency kicks off with concerts on Feb. 9-10, Super Bowl weekend, followed by performances on March 22-23 during the N.C.A.A. college basketball tournaments. Ticket sales begin on Friday, with additional dates to be announced.
While Las Vegas has been a popular destination for concerts and nightclub appearances by rap stars, a traditional residency of this nature is a novel venture for the genre. The nine-member Wu-Tang Clan, known for iconic hits like “C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)” and “Protect Ya Neck,” recently concluded a tour with rapper Nas. The group’s leader, RZA (Robert Diggs), revealed that the residency had been in the works for about five years and aims to elevate hip-hop as the genre celebrates its 50th anniversary.
RZA expressed a desire to showcase the richness of hip-hop’s content and creative offerings, stating that the residency is a way to demonstrate that hip-hop can venture into diverse artistic realms. Residencies in Las Vegas have traditionally featured pop artists like Adele and Katy Perry, as well as U2 and Usher Raymond, who recently completed a residency and will headline the Super Bowl halftime show, respectively.
Las Vegas, known for hosting boxing and mixed martial arts events, has expanded its reputation as a sports and entertainment hub. Alongside hosting the upcoming Super Bowl, the city held its first Formula 1 race in November and witnessed championship victories by its professional hockey and women’s basketball teams in the past season. RZA expressed hope that Wu-Tang Clan’s residency would inspire more rap artists to engage with Las Vegas’s vibrant entertainment scene, contributing to the city’s artistic landscape.
