We can argue all day about who’s the best member. The beauty about the Wu is that each member gives you something unique and possibly everything you could want as a hip-hop fan. Whether it’s battle raps, mafioso sh*t, religious, conscious, street, or just something to get you hype, the Wu’s got it in one form or another.

While the group’s recent output sadly hasn’t been up to par, there are still plenty of joints in their group archives to digitally thumb through and enjoy. Whether you’re a novice to the Wu-mansion or a seasoned vet with your own room, here’s a Primer for you and yours as we approach the 19th anniversary of their second LP, Wu-Tang Forever this Friday.

1. “Protect Ya Neck”

If there’s any Song that is quintessential Wu, it’s their very first single. With such a large crew, the best way to make sure everyone shined was to put the rhymes back-to-back with no hook or chorus to distract. They’ve used this formula for 20 years now with varying degrees of success, but it was perfected early on via “Protect Ya Neck.” This joint also established Inspectah Deck as the best lead-off man in the game.

2. “Da Mystery of Chessboxin”

Wu wear their influences on their sleeves. Two of their biggest staples, Kung-Fu flicks and chess, are thoroughly represented here. RZA’s eerie sound design offered something different as a producer and the Clan followed with a unique vibe as a group. Aside from movie samples and something that sounds right out of the orient, “Da Mystery of Chessboxin” also has U-God’s best verse…if you’re into that kind of thing.

3. “Triumph”

How do you follow up a classic album? By going big. “Triumph” follows the same formula as “Protect Ya Neck” but on a much larger canvas, featuring more members and a polished sound. Masta Killa was locked up when they recorded their first single so his inclusion makes the Clan whole. It’s still Wu, but the song feels more refined and maybe a tad sharper.

4. “Ya’ll Been Warned”

Iron Flag, their fourth studio album, is an interesting project. The 2001 LP came out only a year after The W, a rare quick turnaround for the group. It also found them experimenting with sounds, with RZA combining his more cultivated style with his raw sh*t that defined their earlier work. “Ya’ll Been Warned” is the latter. Rae, Meth, RZA, and Masta Killa trade verses on a subject the group was apt in by this point: Don’t f*** with the Wu.

5. “Chamber Music”

After Wu-Tang Forever, the group seemed to be in disarray. Between ’97-2000, they released a string of ‘meh’ solo joints with a few gems spread throughout. Fans wanted them to get back to what they did best. “Chamber Music” is a direct response to that desire, as Raekwon, GZA, Method Man, and Masta Killa illustrate exactly what The W was going to be: dark, dense, gritty, and a very dope return to form.

6. “A Better Tomorrow”

Never let anyone say Wu isn’t a socially conscious group. While a lot of their mystique comes from aggressive beats and rhymes, they’re also a group of black men who are very astute about the world they live in. “A Better Tomorrow” speaks on the necessity to not “party your life away” as the younger generation will imitate, thus continuing the cycle of decline in the black community.

7. “Babies”

Whenever it’s time to tell a story, Wu leans on their three best storytellers: Rae, Ghost, and GZA. On “Babies,” the trio explores different situations in a neighborhood filled with corrupt cops doing their best to frame every young black man in sight. There’s police brutality, betrayal, and despair as they realize, much like the characters in their stories, that the system doesn’t want them to thrive or survive.

8. “C.R.E.A.M.”

No Clan list is complete without this song. It’s synonymous with Wu, with an era, and pop culture. According to legend, there are alternate versions of the song with different members doing verses. In the early days, RZA would have cats compete to be on tracks. The best verses stayed and those that didn’t fit were left on the cutting room floor. Deck and Rae survived the gauntlet to make a classic with Meth, adding his sing-song flow to the hook and the rest is history.

9. “Windmill

8 Diagrams is an interesting album in that the behind the scenes drama is more intriguing than the album itself. Despite the group bickering among themselves regarding their creative direction, there are still gems sprinkled on it with “Windmill” being one of them. It’s Wu rapping over vintage RZA production that sounds like something he created while working on the Kill Bill score. It’s one of the few tracks on their fifth album that feels like everyone was happy making it.

10. “Necklace”

The Wu’s latest — and hopefully not their last — album, A Better Tomorrow, has even more acrimony behind it than 8 Diagrams. It’s tough to keep grown men on the same page for 20 years, but when they are on one accord for a common cause, you get something like “Necklace.” Cappadonna, Raekwon, Ghostface, and GZA trade bars about the trouble that comes with wearing nice things. Four different perspectives on one piece of jewelry over a dope RZA beat with a Kung-Fu sample to bring it home. A simple formula that works every damn time.