Wu-Tang forever: Rap legends surprise N.J. crowd with Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill at farewell concert

Run The Jewels opening for the Wu-Tang Clan at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

After all, the legendary hip-hop group’s leader, the RZA (aka Robert Diggs), has owned a home in Millstone for many years, known as the “Wu Mansion,” the band’s occasional headquarters.

The group’s recent biographical drama, “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” on Hulu, filmed extensively in the Garden State — including in East Orange, Kearny, Newark and Paterson — to tell the story of the greatest rap collective of all time.

The Wu-Tang Clan performing at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Last year, Wu member Raekwon the Chef opened a weed dispensary in Newark, just around the corner from Prudential Center, where the group took its farewell stage Thursday night, the penultimate show on their “Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber” goodbye tour.

As the graying rap royals trotted through their eruptive set — a celebration of more than 30 years of raw street poetry and Asian iconography brought to the mainstream — Method Man was sure to label New Jersey as Wu-Tang’s “second home.” He was flanked by Ghostface Killah and Inspectah Deck wearing custom Devils hockey jerseys, the word “JERSEY” plastered across the front.

The Wu-Tang Clan performing at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Still not convinced? For what was purportedly the group’s final New Jersey performance, Wu-Tang welcomed a very Jersey guest to the stage: Ms. Lauryn Hill.

Hill, who was raised and still lives in South Orange, donned a Wu-Tang bomber jacket over a simple dress, emerging from the wings to “serenade the gods,” she said, grinning. Hill led a roaring sing-along to “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” the packed crowd delighted as she changed lyrics to “killing us softly with their songs,” honoring Wu’s swan song.

She then sang some of her “Miseducation” ballad “To Zion,” where her son, Zion David Marley, emerged for a bit of reggae. Hill’s 10 minutes or so on stage ended with her well-loved tune “Ex-Factor,” which she noted includes a sample from Wu-Tang’s single “Can It Be All So Simple.” Hill noted how her Jersey rap trio the Fugees and Wu-Tang came up together in the early ‘90s and called the night “a nostalgic moment for me.”

Not long after, a grander surprise was in store, as Method Man welcomed R&B icon Mary J. Blige to the stage for a quick duet of her and Method Man’s “All I Need,” (1994) with Blige’s blonde locks waving as she sang (into a microphone that was turned too low for much of her performance). Then she was gone; a quick but very welcome appearance that left the crowd of about 15,000 fans in varying states of disbelief.

The Wu-Tang Clan performing at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

As for Wu-Tang itself, all living members — RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Cappadonna — were on stage and in good spirits, boosted by appearances from the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s son, Barsun Jones, 36, better known as Young Dirty Bastard, who took on ODB’s famed verses to “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’” and “Shimmy Ya.” The latter tune was a formal tribute to ODB, who died of a drug overdose in 2004, with his image shown on the jumbo screen angled above the group and their eight-piece backing band.

Fans watching the Wu-Tang Clan perform at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

The night was a bombastic, strobe and laser-laden production, a sequel to the glitz of Wu-Tang’s Las Vegas residency last year, marking them as the first rap group to book such a Sin City run, party of their long exit plan.

RZA, 56, remains the group’s lion, a rafter-quaking frontman — does he even need a microphone? — who first appeared on stage solo, opening the show to remind the audience that “Wu-Tang is for the children,” or, after three decades, perhaps children’s children. RZA later condemned the country’s relentless scourge of gun violence, barking “our government wants to regulate women’s bodies, but not guns.” His brief speech led into a short in memoriam of rap stars killed by firearms, including Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur and Nipsey Hussle, who appeared on the big screen. Wu-Tang also paid homage to late New York-area stars Biz Markie, Phife Dawg (of A Tribe Called Quest) and DMX with a medley sing-along to their hits.

All the Wu-Tang classics were predictably booming, especially the opening suite containing “Bring da Ruckus,” “Protect Ya Neck” and “Wu Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthin to F--- Wit,” where Method Man first appeared, exploding onto the stage in his Louis Vuitton jacket, bulging muscles, still clearly a gym rat. Blunts were passed, jokes were cracked and fans reveled in the group’s thrilling victory lap and a seminal career.

While it’s hard to believe Wu-Tang will never tour again — give it a few years, some purses will surely need filling — the night’s mantra “Wu-Tang forever” rang true through the Brick City.

The rap superduo Run the Jewels, who’ve clearly taken inspiration from Wu-Tang in their own incendiary sound and image, opened the show with a deafening 45 minutes of tunes. Members Killer Mike and El-P are brilliant masters of mixing fury and comedy, heavy and light, as the crowd chanted “RTJ” and the guys blasted through fan favorites “Talk to Me,” “Blockbuster Night Part 1” and “Close Your Eyes (And Count to F---).”

Wu-Tang Clan’s setlist

July 17, 2025 — Prudential Center, Newark

  • ACT I
  • "Intro"
  • "Sunlight"
  • "Bring da Ruckus"
  • "Clan in da Front"
  • "Da Mystery of Chessboxin’"
  • "Wu Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing To F--- Wit"
  • "Method Man"
  • "Shame on a N---a"
  • "Protect Ya Neck"
  • ACT II
  • “Killing Me Softly with His Song” (with Lauryn Hill)
  • “To Zion” (with Lauryn Hill)
  • “Ex-Factor” (with Lauryn Hill)
  • "Criminology"
  • "‘97 Mentality“ (Cappadonna song)
  • "Rainy Dayz Intro“ (Ghostface Killah and Raekwon cover)
  • "Above the Clouds“ (Gang Starr cover)
  • "Scarface"
  • "Ice Cream"
  • "Release Ya Delf Intro“ (Method Man & Redman cover)
  • "Bring the Pain“ (Method Man song)
  • "All I Need“ (Method Man song, with Mary J. Blige)
  • ACT III
  • "Liquid Swords“ (GZA/Genius song)
  • "Duel of the Iron Mic"
  • "4th Chamber"
  • "Gravel Pit"
  • "No Said Date“ (Masta Killa song)
  • "Tearz"
  • ACT IV
  • "Reunited"
  • "Shimmy Shimmy Ya"
  • "Got Your Money"
  • "C.R.E.A.M."
  • "Triumph"

Related stories:

  • 2025 Hot 97 Summer Jam review: Straddles between hip-hop’s past and future in Newark
  • 2025 Rock the Bells review: A testament to hip-hop’s impact
  • How Nina Simone’s grandson brought Black music back to Asbury Park

©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit nj.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Post Related