Ahead of his Instagram Live battle against DJ Premier, RZA admitted his pivot to the television and film industry has left him “kind of out of the [musical] culture.”
“You don’t hear a lot of production from me, a lot of songs,” the Wu-Tang Clan leader told Complex on Thursday (April 9), two days before his Verzuz showdown. “You see me making movies, making TV series… I sought to expand Hip Hop culture through film and TV. That seems to be my trajectory, and that’s what I’m doing.”
Before COVID-19 hit, RZA’s next film, Cut Throat City — which stars T.I., Terrence Howard, Wesley Snipes and Kat Graham — was slated to hit theatres today (April 10). Set in Hurricane Katrina-devastated New Orleans, the heist-action movie was meant to premiere at SXSW, which was also ultimately canceled due to the coronavirus.
“This took me three years. So for me, seeing that it had to be shut down and put into limbo, that’s tough,” RZA said. “I think it’s a good film for the people to see, but you won’t be seeing it unless they figure out another way to share it with the public. Cut Throat City now has to find its way to the people.”
Iconic Producers RZA & DJ Premier Set To Battle On Instagram Live
With less time to work on new music, RZA agreed to the upcoming virtual battle as a way to give back to Hip Hop.
“The culture is the foundation for so many of our lives, and so much of our business. When you start looking at some of our top comedians, some of our top actors, some of our top films, Hip Hop is the foundation to it,” he said. “So, I’m giving back to the culture.”
Tune into the mega-producers’ battle on DJ Premier‘s Instagram Live at 9 pm EST on Saturday (April 11).
We already knew this, didn’t need explaining. RZA been hollywood for years now. His last fully produced classic albums were Ghostdog and The W.
Nah, just supreme clientele
RZA didn’t fully produce Supreme Clientele, jack. Reading comprehension is important.
In my opinion, RZAs production stopped being great a very long time ago. His original work in Wu-Tang was timeless, and still has that dope, raw, gutter NY sound. But soon after, he started making beats that really weren’t gritty or hard hitting. Due to that, Wu-Tang started to sound boring, dated, and old. I do actually love RZAs production for beats in The Boondocks though. He had some dope stuff there, better than his beats for artists!
Which beats did he produce for that show… not saying you are wrong but yeah I don’t think that happened pimp
This didn’t happen. Maybe you meant Afro Samurai.
He was in his bag on supreme clientele…my gawds of the artillery shake that body party that body
Rza will return! He always working on the down low.
I say keep on with your work RZA bc no one else can do YOU! People always have negative things to say when a black mans trying to make change when all they do is Sit on their asses and criticize a man or Black women for doing something there jealous s they can’t do, Opinion MA!!
Why make it about race? Nobody is critsizing RZA because he’s black. It’s because he whet Hollywood.
RZA is one of the greatest producers ever. I prefer his solo work to Wu-Tang. So weird, so progressive.
RZA gets credit for all the Wu’s production because people assume he did it. Read the credits. 4th Disciple, Tru Master, and Mathematics did a lot of those beats that ya’ll give Rza credit for, even on Rza’s albums. I am a long time Wu fan, but I’m objective, and at this point Rza’s ‘legend’ has become way bigger than his body of work. The Digi Snacks album had some good stuff on it. What was that though, ten years ago? He says he’s putting his energy into films and TV but where is it? His little movie cameos and low budget karate flics? That takes up all his energy. Rza might be a fraud. Someone had to say it.
he makes kung fu films not karate you racist idiot. you think china and japan are the same country?
He made a single kung fu movie, so plurals aren’t necessary. He has five director credits, and only one is a kung fu flick.
Ur an I D I O T. RZA the G.O.A.T. He’s produced over 300 songs do ur research u F A K E longtime WU fan
There’s no way he did 300 beats. You’re one of the dumb fans I’m talking about. He did like MAYBE 100 beats in 30 years. 100 of them are experimental disasters.
He produced damn near everything from 93 to 97. Those other producers worked mostly Killarmy & Sunz of Man projects. Those other producers offered bangers here and there on wu forever and the first round of solos, but 95% RZA production up to wu forever.
RZA hairline so mature.. oh so mature!
Sounding Very defensive. Is he expecting to lose the battle?
Preemo gonna clean his ass up!
For anyone arguing about what rza produced the credits are there for everyone to read unlike some of your favorite rappers and producers who take credit for work they never created. Even though his best days are far behind him, the body of work left behind is timeless. A man should not be judged on his courage to try something else in life.
That makes sense.
Your movies suck! Stick to producing music!
Just the work RZA did on Liquid Swords and OB4CL alone is enough to solidify him regardless….but Preem edged him.
I’m a racist because I called karate Kung-fu? Fam…there is enough REAL racism out there for you to reserve it for real racist situations, that is s big stretch. So, if you confuse a Belgian custom with a French custom, are you a racist? If you confuse a new Zealand custom for an Australian one, racist? That type of garbage desensitizes the accusation of racism, which is bad. For everyone. Grow up kid. There’s bigger fish to fry. And I didn’t say that because you’re asian.