Here's a comment in that ODB verse thread by /u/albinojustice
>Speaking of ODB's death, I recently read the RZA's memoir, The Tao of Wu and he has a very chilling story about the day Dirty died. Apparently earlier in the day Dirty had forced his son and RZA to watch him smoke crack and wouldn't let them leave. He then told RZA repeatedly that he "didn't understand." A few hours later he was gone. Shows just how crazy things had gotten for ODB by that point.
If you're looking for some deep inspiration, the best thing I could advise is to order and read The Tao of Wu. It's easy reading, took me a couple of weeks at an hour or two a day, and even as a huge Wu Tang fan myself I learnt loads more about them, far more than any of us in this sub could summarise in comments.
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As far as imagery - Wu Tang logo, Hip Hop influence, Killer Bees and Martial Arts would be key elements to try and incorporate.
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CREAM - Cash Rules Everything Around Me
WUTANG - Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game
Here's a comment in that ODB verse thread by /u/albinojustice
>Speaking of ODB's death, I recently read the RZA's memoir, The Tao of Wu and he has a very chilling story about the day Dirty died. Apparently earlier in the day Dirty had forced his son and RZA to watch him smoke crack and wouldn't let them leave. He then told RZA repeatedly that he "didn't understand." A few hours later he was gone. Shows just how crazy things had gotten for ODB by that point.
EDIT: Imma take this moment to plug the actual book: http://www.amazon.com/The-Tao-Wu-RZA/dp/1594484856
Check out The Tao of Wu or The Wu-Tang Manual by RZA. very cool and interesting
EDIT: forgot to mention DMX's autobiography its reeeaaally dark tho
If you're looking for some deep inspiration, the best thing I could advise is to order and read The Tao of Wu. It's easy reading, took me a couple of weeks at an hour or two a day, and even as a huge Wu Tang fan myself I learnt loads more about them, far more than any of us in this sub could summarise in comments.
​
As far as imagery - Wu Tang logo, Hip Hop influence, Killer Bees and Martial Arts would be key elements to try and incorporate.
​
CREAM - Cash Rules Everything Around Me
WUTANG - Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game
Another one is called The Tao of Wu.
Root For The Villain: Rap, Bull$hit, and a Celebration of Failure by J-Zone (who, if you're familiar with his music, is equally funny in his book)
Hip Hop Family Tree by Ed Piskor (it's a graphic novel focusing on the early days of hip hop done in the style of 90s Image comics)
How to Rap: The Art and Science of the Hip-Hop MC by Paul Edwards (this is full of interviews with some of the greatest of all time discussing every single aspect of rapping)
There's also The Wu-Tang Manual and The Tao of Wu, both by RZA and both very good for Wu-Tang fans.
If you think she may be interested in books on specific albums, the 33 1/3 series has quite a few on some of the genres greatest albums: Illmatic, Paul's Boutique, Donuts, People's Instinctive Travels And the Paths of Rhythm, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. She may enjoy Born to Use Mics: Reading Nas's Illmatic, which is a more scholarly approach to Illmatic, although admittedly not for everyone (if critical theory isn't her thing probably pass on this one).
Read RZA's book The Tao of Wu
Don't make judgments or assumptions of people unless you hear it from them.