CHICAGO—KILLA BEES SWARM. Tuesday, May 8, 9:00 p.m. at the Hungry Brain—2319 W. Belmont—Homeroom presents the music, history, and mythology of the Wu-Tang Clan.  Join hosts Fred Sasaki and Seth Vanek, comedian Emerson Dameron, and hip-hop writer Sherron Shabazz for a look at the many hearts of hip-hop royalty. 

The leader of the group, RZA, named the band after a kung-fu movie he watched as a child and developed the Wu-Tang philosophy around topics of spirituality, martial arts, capitalism, comic books, chess, organized crime, cinema, and chemistry. Only after the band’s multi-platinum success RZA discovered that the Chinese word “Wu-Tang” means “man who deserves God.” The Wu went from Staten Island rappers to international entrepreneurs to spiritual gurus while creating a lasting, influential universe starring RZA, GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, U-God, Inspectah Deck, and Masta Killa—36 chambers of one heart. The whole brought people together of all colors and creeds under one roof, under the W, and this 101 will explore how and why.

The night features clips, DJ sets of hits and deep cuts, plus laughs and deadly venom. Stick around for a screening of the original kung-fu movie that set it off: Shaolin and Wu-Tang by Gordon Liu. $5 suggested. For more information, visit www.homeroomchicago.org