Exactly a year removed from his last session, RZA again offered himself up to fan-submitted questions in the form of a Reddit Ask Me Anything session earlier this week. During the AMA, RZA rationalized the still vague and oddball rollout of Once Upon A Time in Shaolin, answered questions about ODB, named Eric B. & Rakim’s Paid in Full album as a desert island record, and more.
When asked by a fan about the thinking behind releasing a one-off album that will likely go unheard for nearly one hundred years, RZA compared the singularity of Once Upon A Time in Shaolin to a world renowned piece of fine art.
“I’ve released a lot of music and different albums for people to enjoy, or not enjoy,” RZA wrote. “And the album you are referring to, Once Upon A Time in Shaolin, is a singular, unique piece of art. And it’s singular. Just as the Mona Lisa.”
Speaking about his own favorite album, or at least the one he’d pick if forced to listen to only one record for the rest of his life, RZA named Eric B. & Rakim’s debut as his selection.
“If I had to choose one album, which one would it?” he started. “I would go with… Eric B. & Rakim, Paid in Full.”
Turning his sights on a younger batch of artists, RZA named Kendrick Lamar as his favorite new artist before rattling off a few others that he’s enjoyed recently.
“My favorite at the moment is Kendrick Lamar,” he said. “I’ve been listening to a lot of Drake, Kanye, Big Sean, as far as Hip Hop is concerned. But I also spend a lot of time listening to the Arctic Monkeys.”
Touching on a Divorce Court-sourced rumor that a woman slept with all members of Wu-Tang Clan after a tour stop at some point in recent years, RZA joined Method Man in jokingly shrugging off the claims.
“Uh… Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothin’ to fuck with,” he wrote.
Asked a common question about his memories of fallen Wu-Tang rapper ODB, RZA shared one of his favorite memories of Ol’ Dirty.
“I have so many fond memories, that I will never say what the fondest is,” RZA said. “But I will share one witchu. ODB came out of his car to lift a car off a little girl to save her life. It’s an example of the warmth of his heart that wasn’t showed a lot to the public.”
Check out the full Reddit AMA here.
For additional RZA coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
really …..wu tang haven’t worked well as a group since WU-Tang Forever what was that 97′ the last couple group album have been a mess. I hope this is fire and sumone can leak it for the fans but cant say I got much faith in rza these days
The difference between the Mona Lisa and this album is people can actually experience the Mona Lisa. Art is sort of pointless if it can’t been experienced.
mona lisa is nothing but a painting of an european woman, what do you enjoy from that and what makes it so special that it’s priceless beyond what some rich european deemed a value to it. think for yourself lame
So… can I hear it?
I painted a masterpiece, but y’all can’t see it, but I swear it’s a masterpiece.
At this point some of the statements Rza makes these days come off more as delusions of grandeur.This guy had a Q & A session on facebook concerning his Man with the Iron Fists 2 movie, and I asked him two pertinent questions : 1) Did he ever consider that another actor specifically Michael Jai White may have better carried and played the part of Thaddeus (Rza’s titular character?). 2) The story in part two was better than part one, however why was the fight choreography atrociously worse? And I meant no disrespect with these questions but its like Rza is too great he finds responding to any fan who isn’t riding his nuts or kissing his a$$ to be way beneath his radar. Ever hear of constructive criticism much Rza? Get your head out the clouds, you wouldn’t be where you are without all us fans and supporters.
you sound like you got your feelings hurt because he ain’t answer u the way u wanted it be
This guy is gassed up on himself, the mona lisa may be hundreds of years old but it didn’t take 100 years for it to be released. Also when your fan base is too old or dead by the time it is released than whats the point. The best thing RZA has had going for him in the last 10 years is being cool with, learning from and working with tarantino. I think they should Release it for the 25 year or 30 year anniversary of 36 chambers, since once upon a time was late on the 20 year and underwhelmed
mona lisa is a painting of an european woman. that’s it. no value whatsoever beyond what society and it’s owner make it. this wu-tang project consists of art, music (which is timeless and you sound foolish stating “the fanbase won’t be around” lol is beetoven’s fanbase still around?) with words that can be interpreted at a later date to gain knowledge and a perspective of the whole package. the only reason you cats are crying is because you’re selfish and want to be gratified, and jealous because you won’t be around to take part in it’s unveiling. that’s all it is.
Ya and who cares about a Beethoven record now? A niche of people that want to seem refined, I don’t think that crowd will be shouting Wu-tang clan ain’t nothing to F with
Wu has released 7 masterpieces, the last one was in 1996.
This nigga is just Hollywood now son. He hasn’t listened to an underground hip-hop record in 10 years fam. The Wu’s music is at an age now where a lot of the big names in Hollywood grew up listening to it and worshiping Rza, so now he’s got some of the richest people in the World on his dick, so he’s super gassed. You can’t tell this nigga nothin’. Just another ‘golden age’ Hip-Hop artist trying to live off reputation and get invited to the pool party with all the new young rappers. It’s sad. You gotta look long and hard to find a rapper from the 80’s/90’s that has maintained their dignity and musical integrity. Peace.
Nobody give a shit what RZA gotta say, hope this album can just be out the news really since its for “private use” and all – the news and updates from RZA is irrelevant we bumping that F.I.L.A