At just 15 years old, Inspectah Deck had to learn how to hold his own against older, more dangerous convicts when he was sent to jail for selling crack to an undercover cop. It wasn’t the first time he did hard time. Multiple stints behind bars gave him nothing but time – to reflect, to strategize, to learn how to rap, and to take that new skill and use it to turn his life around on the outside. But years later, the bad decisions of his youth were just some of the reasons why the the NYPD, the ATF, and the FBI were so interested in his groundbreaking hip-hop group. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com. Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other awesomeness - GET THE NEWSLETTER Support our Advertising Partners: Factor: factormeals.com/disgraceland50 Code: DISGRACELAND50 ZBiotics: ZBiotics.com/DISGRACELAND  Code: DISGRACELAND Liquid IV: liquid-iv.com/disgraceland Code: DISGRACELAND Follow Jake and DISGRACELAND: Instagram YouTube X (formerly Twitter)  Facebook Fan Group TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wu-Tang episodes are back, and it's got Jake talking Inspectah Deck and Cappadonna. Plus your emails, cartels, Tiny Desk, and U2. What other artists are worthy of a whole season of Disgraceland? Get in touch at 617-906-6638, on socials @disgracelandpod, or [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wu-Tang Clan were inspired by more than just other musicians. They were kung fu film fanatics, and they used the mythology of countless movies to build their own world. Like the films of Bruce Lee, whose classic kung fu epic Enter the Dragon is baked into Wu-Tang's first album title. In this archive episode from BADLANDS, Jake Brennan's other show about the intersection of entertainers and true crime, hear all about how Bruce Lee got into so much trouble as a kid in Hong Kong that his parents banished him to the place of his birth: America. There he found all kinds of new trouble to get into. He upset kung fu traditionalists with his revolutionary style of fighting. He challenged long-held perceptions in racist Hollywood. He was an outsider determined to change the system the hard way – but did bringing about change cost Bruce Lee his life? To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com/badlands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The After Party returns this week while DISGRACELAND takes a break from our full season on the Wu-Tang Clan, and Jake is talking the Wu's influences, Ringo Starr, Bruce and Brandon Lee - and of course your voicemails, texts, and DMs. What other artists are worthy of a full season in Disgraceland? Let Jake know at 617-906-6638, [email protected], or on socials @disgracelandpod, and come join the After Party. After Party is brought to you by FUM - go to https://tryfum.com/ and use the code DISGRACELAND to save 10% off when you get the Journey pack today. After Party is brought to you by Blueland - get 15% off your first order by going to https://blueland.com/disgraceland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ringo Starr’s first show as the Beatles’ new drummer was nearly ruined by a hostile audience that wanted him out of the band. Although he was finally accepted as one of the Fab Four, he was still targeted by those who did not wish him well. French-Canadian separatists in Montreal threatened to kill him. Mexican Federales tried to lock him up and throw away the key. And a decades-long running gag that he wasn’t creatively on par with his fellow Liverpool lads nearly undermined his legacy. It wasn’t until Ringo conquered his own beaucoups of blues that he got the respect he deserved and the world recognized him for what he is: in the words of his old mate John, “the greatest.” This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners and includes descriptions of domestic violence and suicide. If you're thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com. Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other awesomeness - GET THE NEWSLETTER Support our Advertising Partners: Factor: factormeals.com/disgraceland50 Code: DISGRACELAND50 Rocket Money: rocketmoney.com/disgraceland Code: DISGRACELAND ZBiotics: ZBiotics.com/DISGRACELAND  Code: DISGRACELAND Liquid IV: liquid-iv.com/disgraceland Code: DISGRACELAND Follow Jake and DISGRACELAND: Instagram YouTube X (formerly Twitter)  Facebook Fan Group TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices