Written by: Kane
Hunching over the makeup table in his hazy dressing room, RZA, in a state of post performance Zen, gave me a general item of advice. which was, “If you’re not having a good time, you’re wasting your time.” Then, adding educational effect, he repeated himself with emphasis on ‘good’ and ‘wasting’.
What do you want to do, what do you need to do, and why is it so difficult to figure out?
Coming from a man who has pretty much acted on every good idea he’s had, it makes life goals seem rather simplistic. After all, how often are we stifled by what to wear, what to eat or how to make a living? RZA’s vision of Wu-Tang and its many companies was only possible because he made a distraction-proof blueprint then delegated to dictate the talent which surrounded him.
Created emphatically in 1993, the Wu-Tang Clan launched their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), which is now commonplace among hip hop’s all-time elite records. His vision, from then on, was to develop a super-brand wherein the Wu-Tang ‘W’ was as identifiable as Mickey Mouse’s ears. For the following five years, RZA assumed a dictatorship of the clan and the solo work of its members: GZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and the now deceased, ODB.
“I guess every neighbourhood needed that Fonzi kind of character. When I was 7 years old, I moved to Brooklyn and was always like that, you know what I mean,” he said. “It’s like ODB and how he always lived unpredictably – he wasn’t always righteous but you knew he was real. He was how people wished they could be. Wu-Tang wouldn’t exist without different characters bringing different elements.”
Upon the completion of their five-year plan, the Clan released the double disc epic, Wu-Tang Forever and, as promised, RZA relinquished his rule. For the next 10 years, RZA has developed a Wu-Tang Playstation game, bible, comic book series and three albums. However, the most recent release, 8 Diagrams has caused turmoil within the Clan for its artistic direction.
Before the album’s December release, Raekwon called RZA a “hip hop hippie” in a television interview. The comment was due in part to the addition of string orchestration and a Beatles cover which fringed upon the group’s Mafioso reputation. RZA spends so much time on Hollywood film scores these days with the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Wu-Tang was sure to undergo change. Yet, the RZA says 8 Diagrams is of similar distinction to past works and that internal affairs are resolved.
“Hip hop is still mind, soul, spirit and roots. I’ve been in the business for a long time and am blessed to still be here,” he said while rotating the pieces on his ring clad hand. “A lot of MCs don’t always understand changes and why you need them to grow. That’s why, as a producer, you’re also a teacher. The teachings of Allah are part of my producing. Because I have that self knowledge, it gives me the knowledge of others.”
When RZA seeks refuge from the Clan, he exercises his solo groove with an alter ego; the hedonistic Bobby Digital. Thematically, Wu-Tang is all about organized crime, kung-fu, and universal spirituality. Bobby Digital is all about guns, drugs and women. This summer, RZA released Digi Snacks and was brought to Calgary as a part of the Sled Island Festival.
“I call [Digi Snacks] a snack pack because you get many different flavours. It’s like buying Mike and Ike’s – you get the yellow, green and red jelly beans,” he said adding that the album is designed to be fun and intoxicant-friendly.
The Bobby Digital tour bus was packed with an eclectic assortment of musicians and was truly unlike hip hop brigades (the Roots are an exception). RZA’s opening act and band was Stone Mecca, an R&B outfit from Los Angeles. Also in his corner was Kinetic 9 (aka Beretta 9) formerly of Wu-Tang branch band, Killarmy.
Kinetic moved to New York as a teenager to join Killarmy with RZA’s brother, Knight Prince. He and RZA clicked instantly; Kinetic would be called a “Knowledge Chi” by RZA for his humble quietness and loyalty. Kinetic and RZA would also form a new rap-metal project called Aschozen with System Of a Down bassist, Shavo Odadjian.
“The RZA and I are partners, so the W is also my brand. I’m the offspring, as they say,” Kinetic said from his Ohio residence. “I can’t say that the business I’m in is 100 percent possible without collaborations with a lot of different artists. That makes my means to eat.”
Also linked to these two is Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, John Frusciante, who contributed much of 8 Diagrams guitar sessions. Kinetic says that extensive album listening, reading and instrumental experimentation are all day-to-day elements for himself and RZA.
“You can’t limit yourself in knowledge. Even though there are all these different genres of music out there, RZA’s main genre is music,” he said. “I was always blown away by his work ethic as far as producing. The time he spends reading and playing chess and everything he does is all work on his craft. He does more now than ever - he’s even added guitar to the equation.”
Kinetic says RZA being called a hip hop hippie is practically a compliment because hippies are who he represents. He repels established society and makes his own. He generationally influences music, television, film, literature and art. But most importantly, his communal methods make everyone else stronger.“RZA is a hip hop hippie. I would say, so am I,” said Kinetic.
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