Bodog Entertainment, one of the world's fastest growing digital entertainment companies, is gearing up for its autumn launch into the United Kingdom and Europe with an after-party for top Bodog Music Europe artists Wu-Tang Clan.
“We have been itching to get into the UK market and could not resist throwing a party for our new act the Wu-Tang Clan” said Calvin Ayre, Founder of Bodog Entertainment. “This party will have all the elements of a legendary Bodog event – great music, fantastic crowd and stunning Bodog girls.”
On the television side, Bodog expects to announce several UK/European deals for its television productions “Bodog Fight”, “Bodog Battle of the Bands” and “Calvin Ayre Wild Card Poker” in the coming months.
In gaming, British players will be able to play casino and poker on Bodog.com from pound sterling accounts as well as place bets on popular UK sporting events in football, cricket, rugby and horse racing. Bodog.com will also have a wide selection of pop culture bets available for British reality television programmes, as well as the celebrity milestones bets that have proven popular worldwide.
8 Diagrams the new album from Wu-Tang Clan contains new tracks by the eight remaining original members, as well as unreleased vocals by the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, which were recorded during sessions for the group's first album. There will also be a tribute song to ODB called "Life Changes."
"This is really what Bodog Music is all about: Hip-hop at its highest," says Ayre, who along with Wu-Tang's international representative Eva Ries, has closed a deal that will revitalise the Wu-Tang brand and help position Bodog Music as an ambitious hip-hop label. "With the Wu-Tang Clan being the widely respected and revered group that they are, and with Bodog's international music distribution expertise, the potential of this relationship is unlimited. Wu-Tang Clan still ain't nothing to f#@k with."
Ayre's sentiments are echoed by Wu-Tang producer RZA who says, "The RZA himself has called upon his Wu-Tang brothers to reunite and show the real unity and raw force of hip-hop. How can hip-hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever?"
Bodog Music's marketing competence will be a big lift to Wu-Tang in Europe, as the record label has signed the group exclusively for European releases. Distribution will be via Pinnacle in the UK and EDEL for the rest of the continent.
After a three year touring hiatus, the hip-hop collective will be touring Europe this summer, including the July 5th Hammersmith Apollo event and a show at the Manchester Apollo on July 6. Appearing live will be original Wu-Tang members, Ghostface Killah, RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, U-God and Cappadona. This summer the crew hits the road in the U.S. with Rage Against The Machine and Public Enemy.
Debuting in 1993, the Staten Island, NY-based Wu-Tang Clan is one of the most revolutionary hip-hop acts of all time. Throwing out the pre-established formulas for breaking a rap group, Wu-Tang methodically released each album while cultivating the solo careers of all nine MCs.
After its breakthrough album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the Clan reconvened in 1997 for the much-anticipated double-album Wu-Tang Forever, which simultaneously shot straight to #1 in the US and UK charts. In 2000, the group released The W, which included the hit single Gravel Pit and most recently, Iron Flag in 2001.
