{"product_id":"wu-tang-wheels-wu-160-prototype-alloy-wheel-signed-by-the-wu-tang-clan-2000","title":"Wu - Tang Wheels \"WU-160\" Alloy Prototype","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis 20” alloy wheel prototype with Wu-Tang Clan “W” insignia rim was one in a set of four produced in 2000 for a “lost” joint venture between the Wu-Tang Clan and Raceline Wheels. It was fabricated specifically for Raekwon's BMW X5, built for a rim launch that never reached the market. The wheel instead went unseen, used only in promotional photography that was never released, and as a prop during the Clan's 2000 U.S. tour supporting \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe W\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe early-2000s \"bling era\" saw hip-hop artists increasingly stake claims in the custom car and rims world, and Wu-Tang Wheels would have marked the Clan's own entry into that space. \"This is the original rim prototype that we did when we started the partnership,\" says Duane Grant (Wu Wear, Queen Ruby Holdings), who oversaw the venture. \"This is the actual prototype that we put on Rae's X5 for the rollout... it was set for the BMW X5, because that was the hot truck back then in 2000.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTwenty-five years later, on July 17, 2025, the wheel was signed backstage at Wu-Tang Clan's concert at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, in smudge-proof water-based paint marker,  by seven of the eight surviving members of the Clan's \"core nine\" (all but GZA), plus longtime affiliates Cappadonna and Mathematics, Wu-Tang manager Mitchell \"Divine\" Diggs, and Loud Records founder Steve Rifkind. The signing closes a 25-year loop on an object that otherwise never left prototype form.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Details \u0026amp; Collectability\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e· One of four prototypes produced in 2000 for the unreleased Wu-Tang Wheels venture (Wu-Tang Clan x Raceline Wheels\/Allied Wheel Components)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e · Fabricated specifically for Raekwon's 2000 BMW X5; used as a tour prop and in unreleased promotional photography\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e · Signed backstage at Wu-Tang Clan's July 17, 2025 concert at Prudential Center, Newark, NJ — eleven signatures: Raekwon, RZA, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, Cappadonna, Mathematics, Mitchell \"Divine\" Diggs, and Steve Rifkind\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e · Accompanied by a 1-of-1 promotional poster of Raekwon and U-God with the X5, never distributed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e · Sole surviving example of a shelved hip-hop\/auto-parts crossover venture; never available at retail\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e From the personal collection of Duane Grant (Wu Wear, Queen Ruby Holdings), who oversaw the Wu-Tang Wheels venture.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Duane Grant","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55104105939273,"sku":"NYC_WUDG_001","price":10000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0064\/9992\/files\/NYC_WUDG_001.0_efa0c639-547c-4fef-abce-1e4e106d4d1c.jpg?v=1787144101","url":"https:\/\/waxpoetics.com\/products\/wu-tang-wheels-wu-160-prototype-alloy-wheel-signed-by-the-wu-tang-clan-2000","provider":"Wax Poetics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}