Last week, the seminal hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan reunited at Rock the Bells in the group's hometown of New York City. While the presence of the charismatic Ol' Dirty Bastard was missed, his sad absence was an afterthought. Wu-Tang was back.

Although some members of the group don't have the star power of hip-hop gods RZA, Method Man and Ghostface Killah, the allure of the Wu-Tang Clan has always been the rappers' rapport amongst each other. Their records stand out like the Showtime Lakers, knowing exactly where everyone else on the court stands at any given time.

It'd be unfair to expect the group's upcoming release, 8 Diagrams to stand up to the Clan's debut, Enter the Wu-Tang Clan because of that record's hallowed status in hip-hop history. But even if it falters, the group's comeback is a good thing for the hip-hop community.

The Clan's comeback stands as a reminder of the great hip-hop groups of the early '90s, when hip-hop was markedly different from the way it stands today. MTV recently made a list of The Greatest Hip-Hop Groups of All Time, and the only one still making great records is OutKast. Meanwhile, groups like N.W.A., Public Enemy and A Tribe Called Quest have long since lost their hip-hop juices.

Hopefully, the Wu-Tang Clan's appearance at Rock the Bells and subsequent album release can bring more respect to the art of hip-hop groups, the focus might move away from MCs and more toward the interplay that hip-hop groups allow. Groups like Wu-Tang allow for expansion in hip-hop.