New York - Digital music and video distributor The Orchard (NASD: ORCD) said on Thursday that it has signed a deal with Wu Music Group for the rights to distribute legendary hip-hop troupe Wu-Tang Clan's catalog to digital retailers. In addition to Wu-Tang Clan, the deal also includes offshoot releases from U-God, Wu-Syndicate, Killarmy, Shyheim, West Coast Killa Beez, Black Knights and others.

Los Angeles - WuChess, an online chess community created by hip-hop troupe Wu-Tang Clan member RZA and social network ChessPark, on Monday announced its launch, TechCrunch reported. The social network, which costs $48 per year to join, offers exclusive hip-hop videos and music along with its online chess.

Chicago - Hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan have become the first musicians to legally license a sample from a Beatles song for one of their own compositions, Pitchfork reported on Tuesday.

San Francisco - Wired on Monday called attention to the fact that seminal hip-hop group the Wu-Tang Clan -- whose members included Raekwon, RZA, Ghostface, Method Man and Ol' Dirty Bastard -- have made 215 tracks available to download as free, 160 Kbps MP3 files on their website. The tracks include original versions of the group's tracks, in addition to live versions, demos, mixtape outtakes and other rarities.