NEWS
EVENTS
RZA exclusive interview!
RnB/Hip Hop | Friday 13th May 2011 | Osh
Yes Big RZA, how’s things going with you?
What up y’all. Yeah all good.
I hear you’re going on tour again for the first time in four years with the Wu?
Got some big special dates, Glastonbury’s one of them. Wu tour at
least once a year, it's hard to get everybody together. When we started the business
we were young and obviously didn’t have families, now we have families we’re
more mature now and engage ourselves in other profitable business like you see
a lot of us on TV, movies and albums. We have a big
collaborative energy but we all come together for the Wu Tang concerts.
If there is something you can remember about back in the day when it was you
GZA, ODB and Force of the Imperial Master that sticks in your mind....
Well one thing in those days Hip-Hop was new and fresh in the city. There weren’t
a lot of people with record deals or on the radio. So a lot of the Hip-Hop
just took place on the streets, in small block parties or recreational halls. Being down
with the crew we used to travel throughout New York, Queens, and Brooklyn where
there was battles. MCs and DJs you know what I mean, go to a neighbourhood battle
a guy you never met before but you heard about ‘cause he had a tape out and you get
together and battle…and the best man wins…the good ol’ days of Hip-Hop.
Since then, what do you feel has been your greatest achievement?
Being able to raise a family you know. Having sons and a
daughter that I brought into this world, that I take care of, watch them grow and
learn how to walk, crawl, you know wee [laughs] I have a five year old son, he
likes playing drums and rappin’ he likes hip hop clothes, it’s so cool to see his energy
and his spirit. My biggest achievement is being a father and husband. On a creative
level, being an element of the Wu-Tang Clan and bringing it together has been the
greatest joy in the world. From being ‘ghetto’ guys in the hood to world famous MC's
and artists. My new sensation is that I’m doing a film now, that’s where I feel my
energy is at. My spirit is feeling real good like when I first started doing Hip-Hop that
wanting to do more, I got a whole new energy for film and I am having some fun you
know.
Is there a movie that you’ve worked on that means the most to you?
Well so far, being part of Kill Bill and being part of the music was a real transition
for me. But being an actor on a movie like ‘American Gangster’ working on the same
billing card as Russell Crowe, being a part of that big family really showed me that
it’s okay to dream. Growing up in poor neighbourhoods, life looks pretty dim, like
there’s no chance of heaven on earth. If you work hard and put your energy right life
will unfold like a flower, you will see the beautiful part of life.
You’ve been behind a lot of classic Hip-Hop albums, which ones stick out in
your mind?
There’s a couple, if I think back to my early days of course 36 chambers set it all off
Those are two of the greatest albums I’ve been involved
with. You know Wu Tang forever which is you know a manual for Hip-Hop. Also,
working with Biggie Smalls on his double album which was considered one of the
biggest albums in Hip Hop. Working with Cypress Hill-one of the first Hip-Hop groups
to come from the West Coast....with Nas-one of my favourite MCs. I got a
chance to do a lot of work with a lot of my favourite artists but one of them that I
regret not working with is Lauryn Hill.
If you could go to an island and take two artists with you to make an
album, who would you choose?
That’s a good question, I would take Lauryn Hill as one. Also Wu-Tang who would be with
me anyway, I think Stevie Wonder is one of the greatest artists who’s still living.
I listen to his music all the time, I was working on a film in China and I had the
Stevie Wonder catalogue and I realised this guy started off as a young man blind, you
know little Stevie Wonder to growing up into a teenager growing up into a Man to one
of the greatest musicians in history. His lyrics, his songs, all the different instruments
he would play that he introduced the world to. To have a guy like that one day you know
work with me would be cool. The reggae scene I’ve been involved with fom a long
time, I’m also a big fan of Junior Gong and the whole Marley family.
You’ve always got a ton of projects going on, what should we look out
for?
Right now you know, musically writing songs with different member of the crew.
In the film world I’m in the process of working on a film right now called the Iron
Fist with Russell Crowe. That’s gonna take up a lot of time, maybe 25 weeks of
post production but it’s going really well for me…a total creative high for me. It’s
a blessing you know what I mean...to keep our energy focused, keep our minds right
and stay out of trouble.
What books have you written?
Of course I wrote a book called the Wu-Tang manual which was originally about
the Wu-Tang Clan and where we came from and some of our slang. The second
book which I wrote was called the The Tao Of Wu which I was really really proud
of which was my memoirs of my life and some of the things I’ve learnt from the
Bible and Jesus Christ or reading the prophet Mohammed in the Qur’an or
the great Buddha. My own ghetto life of going through hell and going through
heaven, growing up in Brooklyn and New York City…I put all that in a book. I
think it was a good book because I had some people come up to and say they
have lead similar lifestyles you know a lot of people in the hood and then you
got people not in the hood, you can relate to my life as a fan going through the
ups and down the gains, loss and revenge. You know the book ‘Tao’ means the
way and the ‘Wu’ actually means universe, so it means the way of the universe.
I would suggest this book to any Wu Tang fan if they want a bit of wisdom
If you were invisible for one day what would you do?
[laughs] I’d change the world, I’d sneak in all the places where there was negative
laws could change the negative laws into positive ones so we as population of planet
earth could enjoy pieces of democracy so there’s ways we could solve all
that. . Go to London and go to the Priminister go to his contracts and change them.
I’d go to the Middle East and make peace. In my home land America, I would add on
positive laws man you know. Freedom is important, you’re not free to go shit on
the floor in my house. Its steps to freedom. What is freedom without justice and
equality?
So tell me, why do you like London?
I love the city of London for a few reasons. First of all it’s a unique city, it’s a
very big city and it’s full of cultures that have merged who have migrated there over a
few years. Whether it’s from Indian cultures, Jamaican cultures, Scottish cultures
or other parts of the United Kingdom. It’s a real city, it’s got a very long history,
it’s got great museums, art houses and concerts hall. I stayed in London for about
30 days once; they gave me a flat at London Metropolitan Hotel, and I got to see
what London has to offer. The pounds more heavy than the dollar, its more expensive
out there than a lot of other cities around the world but It’s a great city with great
culture.
What’s the best thing about being RZA?
There’s nothing better than being a successful father. Another great thing is that we
came out of pretty tough times, being accepted by the artistic community whether
I’m doing music or whether I’m acting or I’m painting. People have accepted my
ideology, I’ve realised I’m an artist in any form. You see me writing lyrics, movie
scripts or writing poems. Whether I’m playing guitar or drums it’s the expression
of the artistic nature in me. We’ve all got an artistic nature we need to find it and
find ways to express it. I’ve been given the chance to do it and people know me
around the world for doing it. Learn from the masters, learn from the old ones but
try to use your own voice that’s when your voice becomes part of the rest of the
world. Whether you’re BB King, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Run DMC and the
Wu Tang Clan. These names are all expressions of Art that we know that made it
on their own, Jimi Hendrix was known for playing guitar but he did it in such a
way he become synonymous with it so many artists try to learn from the artist but can generate
your own voice to become part of this history.
Catch RZA at Glastonbury on part of the Wu World Tour
What up y’all. Yeah all good.
I hear you’re going on tour again for the first time in four years with the Wu?
Got some big special dates, Glastonbury’s one of them. Wu tour at
least once a year, it's hard to get everybody together. When we started the business
we were young and obviously didn’t have families, now we have families we’re
more mature now and engage ourselves in other profitable business like you see
a lot of us on TV, movies and albums. We have a big
collaborative energy but we all come together for the Wu Tang concerts.
If there is something you can remember about back in the day when it was you
GZA, ODB and Force of the Imperial Master that sticks in your mind....
Well one thing in those days Hip-Hop was new and fresh in the city. There weren’t
a lot of people with record deals or on the radio. So a lot of the Hip-Hop
just took place on the streets, in small block parties or recreational halls. Being down
with the crew we used to travel throughout New York, Queens, and Brooklyn where
there was battles. MCs and DJs you know what I mean, go to a neighbourhood battle
a guy you never met before but you heard about ‘cause he had a tape out and you get
together and battle…and the best man wins…the good ol’ days of Hip-Hop.
Since then, what do you feel has been your greatest achievement?
Being able to raise a family you know. Having sons and a
daughter that I brought into this world, that I take care of, watch them grow and
learn how to walk, crawl, you know wee [laughs] I have a five year old son, he
likes playing drums and rappin’ he likes hip hop clothes, it’s so cool to see his energy
and his spirit. My biggest achievement is being a father and husband. On a creative
level, being an element of the Wu-Tang Clan and bringing it together has been the
greatest joy in the world. From being ‘ghetto’ guys in the hood to world famous MC's
and artists. My new sensation is that I’m doing a film now, that’s where I feel my
energy is at. My spirit is feeling real good like when I first started doing Hip-Hop that
wanting to do more, I got a whole new energy for film and I am having some fun you
know.
Is there a movie that you’ve worked on that means the most to you?
Well so far, being part of Kill Bill and being part of the music was a real transition
for me. But being an actor on a movie like ‘American Gangster’ working on the same
billing card as Russell Crowe, being a part of that big family really showed me that
it’s okay to dream. Growing up in poor neighbourhoods, life looks pretty dim, like
there’s no chance of heaven on earth. If you work hard and put your energy right life
will unfold like a flower, you will see the beautiful part of life.
You’ve been behind a lot of classic Hip-Hop albums, which ones stick out in
your mind?
There’s a couple, if I think back to my early days of course 36 chambers set it all off
Those are two of the greatest albums I’ve been involved
with. You know Wu Tang forever which is you know a manual for Hip-Hop. Also,
working with Biggie Smalls on his double album which was considered one of the
biggest albums in Hip Hop. Working with Cypress Hill-one of the first Hip-Hop groups
to come from the West Coast....with Nas-one of my favourite MCs. I got a
chance to do a lot of work with a lot of my favourite artists but one of them that I
regret not working with is Lauryn Hill.
If you could go to an island and take two artists with you to make an
album, who would you choose?
That’s a good question, I would take Lauryn Hill as one. Also Wu-Tang who would be with
me anyway, I think Stevie Wonder is one of the greatest artists who’s still living.
I listen to his music all the time, I was working on a film in China and I had the
Stevie Wonder catalogue and I realised this guy started off as a young man blind, you
know little Stevie Wonder to growing up into a teenager growing up into a Man to one
of the greatest musicians in history. His lyrics, his songs, all the different instruments
he would play that he introduced the world to. To have a guy like that one day you know
work with me would be cool. The reggae scene I’ve been involved with fom a long
time, I’m also a big fan of Junior Gong and the whole Marley family.
You’ve always got a ton of projects going on, what should we look out
for?
Right now you know, musically writing songs with different member of the crew.
In the film world I’m in the process of working on a film right now called the Iron
Fist with Russell Crowe. That’s gonna take up a lot of time, maybe 25 weeks of
post production but it’s going really well for me…a total creative high for me. It’s
a blessing you know what I mean...to keep our energy focused, keep our minds right
and stay out of trouble.
What books have you written?
Of course I wrote a book called the Wu-Tang manual which was originally about
the Wu-Tang Clan and where we came from and some of our slang. The second
book which I wrote was called the The Tao Of Wu which I was really really proud
of which was my memoirs of my life and some of the things I’ve learnt from the
Bible and Jesus Christ or reading the prophet Mohammed in the Qur’an or
the great Buddha. My own ghetto life of going through hell and going through
heaven, growing up in Brooklyn and New York City…I put all that in a book. I
think it was a good book because I had some people come up to and say they
have lead similar lifestyles you know a lot of people in the hood and then you
got people not in the hood, you can relate to my life as a fan going through the
ups and down the gains, loss and revenge. You know the book ‘Tao’ means the
way and the ‘Wu’ actually means universe, so it means the way of the universe.
I would suggest this book to any Wu Tang fan if they want a bit of wisdom
If you were invisible for one day what would you do?
[laughs] I’d change the world, I’d sneak in all the places where there was negative
laws could change the negative laws into positive ones so we as population of planet
earth could enjoy pieces of democracy so there’s ways we could solve all
that. . Go to London and go to the Priminister go to his contracts and change them.
I’d go to the Middle East and make peace. In my home land America, I would add on
positive laws man you know. Freedom is important, you’re not free to go shit on
the floor in my house. Its steps to freedom. What is freedom without justice and
equality?
So tell me, why do you like London?
I love the city of London for a few reasons. First of all it’s a unique city, it’s a
very big city and it’s full of cultures that have merged who have migrated there over a
few years. Whether it’s from Indian cultures, Jamaican cultures, Scottish cultures
or other parts of the United Kingdom. It’s a real city, it’s got a very long history,
it’s got great museums, art houses and concerts hall. I stayed in London for about
30 days once; they gave me a flat at London Metropolitan Hotel, and I got to see
what London has to offer. The pounds more heavy than the dollar, its more expensive
out there than a lot of other cities around the world but It’s a great city with great
culture.
What’s the best thing about being RZA?
There’s nothing better than being a successful father. Another great thing is that we
came out of pretty tough times, being accepted by the artistic community whether
I’m doing music or whether I’m acting or I’m painting. People have accepted my
ideology, I’ve realised I’m an artist in any form. You see me writing lyrics, movie
scripts or writing poems. Whether I’m playing guitar or drums it’s the expression
of the artistic nature in me. We’ve all got an artistic nature we need to find it and
find ways to express it. I’ve been given the chance to do it and people know me
around the world for doing it. Learn from the masters, learn from the old ones but
try to use your own voice that’s when your voice becomes part of the rest of the
world. Whether you’re BB King, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Run DMC and the
Wu Tang Clan. These names are all expressions of Art that we know that made it
on their own, Jimi Hendrix was known for playing guitar but he did it in such a
way he become synonymous with it so many artists try to learn from the artist but can generate
your own voice to become part of this history.
Catch RZA at Glastonbury on part of the Wu World Tour
Follow RZA on Twitter: @RZAWU
Interview by @MRoshi
