Wu-Tang Clan vs. Juice Crew: The Greatest Rap Crew Competition
In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew.
Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all-time, this is your opportunity to collectively make that decision. After giving the opportunity to any and all fans to provide feedback on which crews should be included, 32 collectives from different regions, styles, and generations have been selected—all vying for that #1 spot. When the final battle is over and the last vote is cast, you will have determined who is your Greatest Rap Crew of All Time. The voting began with eight crews from the East Coast, which were selected with your feedback. Now, that bracket is down to four.
WU-TANG CLAN VS. JUICE CREW
Round 2 begins with an East Coast heavyweight clash. During the late 1980s, the Juice Crew put on a show for Queens, New York, with an elite crew of Rap lyricists, even while representing other boroughs. In the 1990s, Wu-Tang Clan branded its Shaolin identity with a similar approach—assimilating like-minded talent from Staten Island and neighboring areas. These crews flaunted their tight-knit bonds in different ways. While the Juice Crew used posse cuts and stage shows, Wu-Tang extended to make albums as a unit. While GZA’s career reportedly included an early offer to join the Juice Crew, projects like Chamber Music, Ghostface Killah’s 36 Seasons, and the Afro Samurai soundtrack demonstrated chemistry through collaborations between various Wu and Juice Crew members. Juice Crew paved the way for Wu-Tang, and Wu could capitalize on crew projects in a way that their predecessors did not. Wu-Tang defeated Dreamville to make Round 2, while the Juice Crew knocked out the Native Tongues to advance. Both of these squads are legendary, but only one can reach Round 3.
Go to BET.com to vote on which of these crews you believe should advance to the next round, and to learn of the other East Coast crews that are battling in this round. You can also vote on Twitter and Instagram, using the hashtag #BETGreatestRapCrew and a hashtag with your favorite crew.