Tour news: Wu-Tang Clan join Raggamuffin line-up

Inspectah Deck, one of the members of Wu-Tang Clan, the Staten Island rap group who will perform in New Zealand for the first time in 2016. Photo/Getty

Rap fans rejoice: New York collective Wu-Tang Clan are bringing the ruckus to New Zealand for the first time in their 23-year career.

The Staten Island hip-hop group are the last headlining act announced for next year's Raggamuffin festival, being held at Trusts Stadium in West Auckland on February 20.

It's the first visit to New Zealand by the nine-strong hip-hop troupe, of which at least six are scheduled to make the trip. Founding member Ol' Dirty Bastard died of a drug overdose in 2004.

Scoring a performance by Wu-Tang Clan is good news for Raggamuffin, the long-running festival which moved to Auckland from Rotorua last year and has had its fair share of line-up problems.

Soul singer Cee-Lo Green dropped out of a headlining spot after being named on the initial line-up, and Jamaican star Beenie Man was removed from the bill over continued problems with homophobic lyrics in his songs.

Wu-Tang Clan's addition adds to a strong hip-hop contingent at Raggamuffin, including Compton MC The Game, Detroit rapper Xzibit, '90s group House of Pain (with Everlast), Boo-Ya Tribe and Kiwi rapper Savage.

Other acts on the bill include UB40, Macy Gray, Eddy Grant, Inner Circle, Maxi Priest and Junior Marvin's Wailers.

Wu-Tang Clan formed in Staten Island in 1992, releasing their seminal debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in 1993, a masterclass in menacing, minimalist hip-hop and rugged street rhymes that saw, and their fashion sense, quickly hit the mainstream.

Despite each member forging their own careers and constant rumours of infighting, they've gone on to release six more albums. Their last was this year's Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, of which only one copy was made and was reportedly sold to controversial businessman Martin Shkreli for US$2 million. It is yet to be released to the public.

While Wu-Tang Clan didn't make to New Zealand in their prime, several of the group's MCs have paid regular visits, including Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and RZA.

Other members include GZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Cappadonna.

For more information, visit www.raggamuffin.co.nz.

- nzherald.co.nz