Protect Ya Neck / After the Laughter Comes Tears

Financed entirely independently and sold initially out of the trunks of cars, this relentlessly aggressive posse cut introduced the massive Staten Island collective to the world. RZA's production eschewed polished R&B loops in favor of a raw, grimy piano sample and fiercely martial-arts inspired sound design. The track features eight different MCs passing the microphone in rapid succession, fundamentally redefining East Coast hip-hop aesthetics.