The Swarm is the first compilation album by American hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Killa Bees. It was released on July 21, 1998, via Wu-Tang/Priority Records. Recording sessions took place at Alien Flyers Studios and Firehouse Studios in New York. Production was handled by Wu-Tang Clan member the RZA, who also served as an executive producer and presenter. The album also featured additional production from The Wu-Elements, such as Mathematics, Darkim Be Allah, Bolo Gah, DJ Devastator, Inspectah Deck, Remedy and The Blaquesmiths.
It features contributions from Wu-Tang Clan members Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon and RZA, and Wu-Tang affiliates A.I.G., Black Knights of the North Star, Killarmy, Remedy, Royal Fam, Ruthless Bastards, Shyheim, Street Life, Sunz of Man, Tha Beggas and Wu-Syndicate among others.
In the United States, the album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on February 10, 1999, for the sales of 500,000 units.
Track listing
;Notes
- The "Intro" mentioned on the back cover, booklet and disc is not featured on the record itself.
- Track "Legacy" incorrectly listed as performed by A.I.G. in the booklet.
Personnel
- Timothy "Timbo King" Drayton – vocals <small>(track 2)</small>
- Chron "Hell Razah" Smith – vocals <small>(tracks: 3, 4)</small>
- Frederick "60 Second Assassin" Cuffie – vocals <small>(track 3)</small>
- Vergil "Prodigal Sunn" Ruff – vocals <small>(track 3)</small>
- Shyheim Franklin – vocals <small>(track 4)</small>
- Jason "Inspectah Deck" Hunter – vocals <small>(tracks: 5, 6)</small>, producer <small>(track 5)</small>
- Patrick "Streetlife" Charles – vocals <small>(tracks: 5, 6)</small>
- Corey "Raekwon" Woods – vocals <small>(track 6)</small>
- Elgin "Masta Killa" Turner – vocals <small>(track 6)</small>
- A.I.G. – vocals <small>(track 7)</small>
- Robert "RZA" Diggs – vocals <small>(track 8)</small>, producer <small>(tracks: 2–4, 6, 8, 15)</small>, executive producer
- Rodney "Islord" Stevenson – vocals <small>(track 8)</small>
- Samuel "Beretta 9" Murray – vocals <small>(track 8)</small>
- Terrance "9th Prince" Hamlin – vocals <small>(track 8)</small>
- Clifford "Method Man" Smith – vocals <small>(track 8)</small>
- Quintarus "Crisis" Bennet – vocals <small>(tracks: 9, 16)</small>
- Reginald "Meko the Pharaoh" Dimeko – vocals <small>(tracks: 9, 16)</small>
- Deshawn Dante "Doc Doom!" Cunningham – vocals <small>(tracks: 9, 16)</small>
- Dewayne "Rugged Monk" Rose – vocals <small>(tracks: 9, 16)</small>
- Anthony "Holocaust" Brown – vocals <small>(tracks: 9, 16)</small>
- Andre "Christ Bearer" Johnson – vocals <small>(tracks: 9, 16)</small>
- Apocalipps – vocals <small>(track 10)</small>
- Blizzard – vocals <small>(track 10)</small>
- Iron Mic – vocals <small>(track 10)</small>
- Sha Gotti – vocals <small>(track 10)</small>
- Robert "Truck" Daniels – vocals <small>(track 10)</small>
- Buda Love – vocals <small>(track 11)</small>
- Dragonfly – vocals <small>(track 11)</small>
- Long Axe – vocals <small>(track 11)</small>
- Samo Heung – vocals <small>(track 11)</small>
- Dennis "Ghostface Killah" Coles – vocals <small>(tracks: 12, 15)</small>
- Ross "Remedy" Filler – vocals & producer <small>(track 13)</small>
- Timothy "Myalansky" Turner – vocals <small>(track 14)</small>
- Joseph "Joe Mafia" Outlaw – vocals <small>(track 14)</small>
- Corey "Napoleon" Hart – vocals <small>(track 14)</small>
- Darryl "Cappadonna" Hill – vocals <small>(track 15)</small>
- Donnie "Darkim Be Allah" Banks – producer <small>(track 7)</small>
- Ronald "Allah Mathematics" Bean – producer <small>(tracks: 9, 12, 16)</small>
- Mike McDonald – producer <small>(track 10)</small>
- Jorell Brand – producer <small>(track 10)</small>
- R. "Bolo Gah" Brown – producer <small>(track 11)</small>
- David "DJ Devastator" Walker – producer <small>(track 14)</small>
- Nolan Moffitte – engineering <small>(tracks: 1–4, 6–12, 14–16)</small>
- Steve Sola – engineering <small>(track 5)</small>
- Charlie Marotta – engineering <small>(track 13)</small>
- James Cruz – mastering
- Mitchell "Divine" Diggs – executive producer
- Sherin Baday – art direction, project coordinator
- Arlene Godfrey – project coordinator
- Jeff Trotter – A&R coordinator
Charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1998)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
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! scope="row" |US Billboard 200
| 4
|-
! scope="row" |US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
| 3
|}