Iron Flag reception at the time

[Shaolinmonk]

As someone who was surprised by the W and the sudden resurrection to glory over here in the Netherlands - starting with the Gravel Pit video that was on repeat like crazy, only to be followed by The Jump Off and Cant Go to Sleep, which also got crazy airplay - how surprising was it to see the Iron Flag album announced and being released so shortly after? I do remember seeing the Uzi video, but hated the song and didn’t even hit me that they did a whole new album as I wasn’t that big of a fan yet. Was there a lot of hype behind it? Did they do a lot of promotion, a sampler, the whole nine or not really? And what was the initial reaction, was it similar to now where most people feel it was a letdown after the W?

[David Daniel Davis]

Over here, it was obvious it was a desperation move by Loud as they were dwindling in sales at the time. Pretty much same reaction as W, but W is now seen as the superior of the two as time has gone by

[Shaolinmonk]

Over here, it was obvious it was a desperation move by Loud as they were dwindling in sales at the time. Pretty much same reaction as W, but W is now seen as the superior of the two as time has gone by

So both were perceived how then exactly? I am sure you didn’t care about the desperation part right?

[David Daniel Davis]

The W, poorly at first, with the exception of a handful of tracks, but it's reputation has increased since then. Iron Flag for the most part was considered subpar back then and still now. The desperation part, not at all.. I actually like it when labels are troubled, because then they start throwing out stuff that they usually would not throw out, hoping that something sticks.

[ta12113]

Personally I loved The W when it came it. I had it on repeat for the next year. But it was definitely a departure from Forever, and generally was not as well received as, say, Supreme Clientele. Not much support in the mainstream behind it.

I also loved Iron Flag. I must’ve played Uzi 1000 times. I still think it’s one of their best songs. Even though Iron Flag felt more like a compilation (which it basically was), I still thought it was a great record, on even footing with The W, but for different reasons.

[hiphopjunky]

Always felt like it was a decent album with some absolute bangers on it

[Abraham Lincoln]

There was mild reaction to Uzi Pinky Ring as the lead single, and that was the pinnacle of Iron Flag's relevance.
The album was released the same day as Nas' Stillmatic, and was an afterthought among the hype of that album and Ether

[Shaolinmonk]

There was mild reaction to Uzi Pinky Ring as the lead single, and that was the pinnacle of Iron Flag's relevance.
The album was released the same day as Nas' Stillmatic, and was an afterthought among the hype of that album and Ether

I can imagine, Uzi was a poor choice for a single for sure. I think Back in the Game Now and Rules would’ve been great choices. Right, makes sense.

Personally I loved The W when it came it. I had it on repeat for the next year. But it was definitely a departure from Forever, and generally was not as well received as, say, Supreme Clientele. Not much support in the mainstream behind it.

I also loved Iron Flag. I must’ve played Uzi 1000 times. I still think it’s one of their best songs. Even though Iron Flag felt more like a compilation (which it basically was), I still thought it was a great record, on even footing with The W, but for different reasons.

Very surprised with not much support in the mainstream as it felt they had it over here.

[jaydee3]

For me it came as a suprise. I heard nothing about it and mtv and another channel where i stayed that was simillar to mtv didnt play pinky ring from it. Internet was kind of new and I didnt have it at home. I remeber going into loud records homepage one day and saw it was about to be released.

The reception of the album for me was a bit mixed though. It felt like a album with leftovers whith some better songs on it.

Remember we had to wait until 8 diagrams for the next wu tang album after iron flag.

It seemed like a desperation move somehow.
After reading the forum here that loud wasnt doing well I can see why they banked on a new wu album to tey to save them.

I dont think it sold very well though.

[Jet Set]

I can imagine, Uzi was a poor choice for a single for sure. I think Back in the Game Now and Rules would’ve been great choices. Right, makes sense.

Back In The Game was actually released as a 12" and scheduled to be their next single. A video was to be shot directed by R Kelly if I recall correctly. But nothing was ever heard of. The 12" even featured a TV version of Back In The Game.

What was the b side of Uzi again? Because i remember Rules, In The Hood, & Y'all Been Warned. Ah yeah. Uzi (Pinky Ring) was the lead of single, with Y'all Been Warned as a b-side. Interestingly enough, they actually also shot a video for Y'all Been Warned. It did not see a release untill 10 years ago when the director uploaded it on YT. From the looks of it, it was recorded on the same day as Uzi.

In regard to Rules/In The Hood, that was supposed to be to so called street single. The funny thing about this one is that Wu appeared on Crank Yankers together with Chappelle. Chappelle dit a skit about booking a B&B for Wu. At the end Wu did a whole video as puppets for In The Hood.

As far as reception, it sort of came out of nowhere for me. Happy, but weird suddenly. Plus everybody was hoping ODB would be on the album. Also suddenly Cappadonna was scrapped from Wu. I personally enjoyed the album even though it is very very uneven. It had some insane bangers. But yeah, it was all cobbled together. Old Masta Killa tracks, some clear bob digi tracks.

On that last stretch, Loud & Sony were pushing the album a lot.

[David Daniel Davis]

Yeah, and that Y'All Been Warned video was not worth the wait. It sucked very badly..

[Shaolinmonk]

Back In The Game was actually released as a 12" and scheduled to be their next single. A video was to be shot directed by R Kelly if I recall correctly. But nothing was ever heard of. The 12" even featured a TV version of Back In The Game.

What was the b side of Uzi again? Because i remember Rules, In The Hood, & Y'all Been Warned. Ah yeah. Uzi (Pinky Ring) was the lead of single, with Y'all Been Warned as a b-side. Interestingly enough, they actually also shot a video for Y'all Been Warned. It did not see a release untill 10 years ago when the director uploaded it on YT. From the looks of it, it was recorded on the same day as Uzi.

In regard to Rules/In The Hood, that was supposed to be to so called street single. The funny thing about this one is that Wu appeared on Crank Yankers together with Chappelle. Chappelle dit a skit about booking a B&B for Wu. At the end Wu did a whole video as puppets for In The Hood.

As far as reception, it sort of came out of nowhere for me. Happy, but weird suddenly. Plus everybody was hoping ODB would be on the album. Also suddenly Cappadonna was scrapped from Wu. I personally enjoyed the album even though it is very very uneven. It had some insane bangers. But yeah, it was all cobbled together. Old Masta Killa tracks, some clear bob digi tracks.

On that last stretch, Loud & Sony were pushing the album a lot.

So actually they did pick the right songs for singles, just didn’t really push them through proper music videos like the W. I bet that would’ve made a difference. Still maintain that thinking Uzi is the video to start off with was and is stupid. Holy shit, never knew they did a video for Y’all been Warned lol. A shame that Back in the Game Now video never happened.

Any chance you have that Crank Yankers video?!

Thanks a lot for the info.

[IrOnMaN]

My memory is foggy because I was 16 when Iron Flag was released. I remember The Box playing their videos alot, and high school students were playing some songs, including my friend.

[Jet Set]

So actually they did pick the right songs for singles, just didn’t really push them through proper music videos like the W. I bet that would’ve made a difference. Still maintain that thinking Uzi is the video to start off with was and is stupid. Holy shit, never knew they did a video for Y’all been Warned lol. A shame that Back in the Game Now video never happened.

Any chance you have that Crank Yankers video?!

Thanks a lot for the info.

This is In The Hood

Here you can find the Chappelle skit:
https://www.wcostream.tv/crank-yanke...3-wu-tang-clan

Here is the Y'All Been Warned video:


I believe the original uploaded made the video private couple years after uploading it. They also stated that they forgot about it.

In regard to reception, I remember when we heard some of these for the first time (in fucking RA format). Like the earlier version of Y'all Been Warned, which was received as a boring loop, it was just the first loop without the later added sounds in the loop. Uzi, Rules & In The Hood, after the more slickly produced The W, were positively received. Gone was the Gravel Pit hip pop, even though it was huge in Europe.

What did strike people, was the outside production by Trackmasters with Back In The Game now. Flavor Flav being featured, as a substitute ODB. Both were received mixed. Some though Flav to be a good fit, like Busta previously. Some were not having it. Which brings it back to the album being and uneven product, that turned out to be actually slapped together.

A part from the album dropping out of nowhere, I do remember the album trying to use more online marketing. Could simply be due to the fact that the money was gone. Because as mentioned, the video for Uzi is very basic, with Y'all been Warned being even more basic compared to that. A year earlier we got a DVD with a 3 song mini movie, which was followed up with a emotional video for I Can't Go To Sleep with Isaac Hayes and Ghost spitting cereal while rapping dressed in pj's.

In any case, the support for the album was short lived.

(Being that One Blood was released late in The W's lifespan as a 12", I am left wondering if they were planning a video for this as well. It has since become a staple for Killa during shows. Something that can not be said for many of the other tracks of these two albums. Safe for Click Click with Cappadonna.)

[Jet Set]

Speaking of haphazardly thrown together, just discovered this was the cover of the Uzi promo single in Australia: