Prior to the release of the Wu-Tang Clan's fifth group album 8 Diagrams, turmoil between perceived leader RZA and various members, namely Raekwon and Ghostface Killah over back royalties [click here to read...], advance money and Wu's ever-changing sound led to rumors that the 15-plus year-old group may be disbanding [click here to read...]. Although 8 Diagrams still appears to not have lived up to its hype as the first Clan album in over five years by critics or charts, the presently eight-man outfit reunited on stage for the first time since August 2007 last night at New York's Irving Plaza.

"There is no more beef!" one publicity representative from RZA's camp told HipHopDX during the event. The true effects of that statement will be judged throughout 2008, which is confirmed to see releases from RZA, Method Man, GZA and Raekwon's highly-anticipated Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 project which RZA has been said to be highly-involved in, along with heavyweights including Dr. Dre, Erick Sermon and rumored executive producer Busta Rhymes.

With Wu-Tang Clan performing together, there may be grumblings of a summer Hip Hop festival, as was the case last year with Rock The Bells. HipHopDX will keep you posted.