Shortly after Supernatural did his annual freestyle announcement of the Rock the Bells line up, GZA and RZA spoke to HipHopDX about the forthcoming Hip Hop festival. As we reported yesterday, this year’s RTB will feature Slick Rick, KRS-One, Rakim and The Wu-Tang Clan performing classic albums in their entirety. The plan was a challenge to emcees but one that was taken with excitement. For RZA and GZA, the two will join the other members of the Clan to perform their debut as a crew, Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers.
RZA told HipHopDX that he welcomed the challenge to perform the classic in its entirety, something rarely done in the genre. However, he said he’s confident that it will be a great experience.
“For this Rock the Bells, we’re doing a theme with the 36 Chambers. To me, that’s a better challenge. Well, first of all, it’s a challenge. Second of all, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do creatively. So, for them to give us some money just to do a regular Wu-Tang show? Eh, we did that already. But, to have a challenge and then get a chance to go back and relive this album entirely in front of an audience? It’s never been done by us! Even if we mess up…I don’t know if we’re going to rock it or mess up because it’s new. But, it’s still going to be a great experience. I’m really looking forward to it.”
GZA is also curious to see how the whole thing will be in the end.
“I would like to see how it’ll turn out. It’s a good thing, man. 36 Chambers! It’ll be great to see how that flows live. It’ll be a good thing,” he added.
The other albums that will be performed are The Great Adventures of Slick Rick by Ricky D, Paid in Full by Rakim and Criminal Minded by KRS-One. All of these albums hold a place in history but they also helped inspire GZA and RZA.
“Look, you’ve got the [Great] Adventures of Slick Rick. He made everybody write their stories better. He’s the best story telling lyricist of all time, actually. If you want to get better, you gotta study him. Rakim is considered the best solo rapper of all time. You want to get better, you gotta study him,” he noted. “At one time, there was argument in New York. I’ma tell you the argument. It was, ‘Who’s better? Rakim, KRS-One, Kool G. Rap or Slick Rick? Here it is, on Rock the Bells. You get three of the four right there.”
Aside from these acts and albums, fans can expect much more, as we reported yesterday. Although rumors of Lauryn Hill’s presence were dispatched, many others were confirmed. Street Sweeper Social Club, Murs and 9th Wonder, Wiz Khalifa, Clipse, Immortal Technique, Jedi Mind Tricks, Brother Ali, DJ Muggs and Ill Bill, Big Sean and Yelawolf will be present on the bill. The tour will begin in San Bernardino’s NOS Events Center on August 21, followed by San Francisco’s Shoreline Amphitheatre on August 22. New York will get their show on August 28 at Governer’s Island and the tour will end in Washington DC on the 29th at the Merriweather Post Pavillion.
Nah, in NYC, the argument was Kane, KRS, or Biz. At least it was with my friends, but we were pre-teens then.
Biz? yea yall were just snotbuckets… Its a known fact Kane ghostwrote for Biz as well as for Shante, thats how Kane got on Juice crew. The arguement without a doubt is Ra, Kane or KRS
R.T.B. should also invite the DON GIANCANA KOOL G. RAP, and KOOL KEITH/ ULTRAMGNETIC MCs. that would complete the concept, to me.
KANE AND G RAP IS MISSING..HAVE THEM NEXT YEAR..PLUS..BRAND NUBIAN..LL COOL JAY (AGAIN)..SNOOP..CUBE..(NWA..SOME HOW..R.I.P.EAZYE)..P.E..CYPRESS HILL..EPMD..
KRS BTW..ON THAT NY SHHIT..STILL MY FAVE..
I would like to see kool g rap involved…….
hopefully the whole of wu tang will show up although that means masta killa will only get 1 verse lol
gotter make one of these events!
Every Rock the Bells one Wu member that’s supposed to be there leaves.
yo its a great line. G rap would have made it a full circle of lyrical innovators being that almost all MCs can trace the roots of their style back to one of the four (cept Gucci Mane, he’d have to look up Dr. Suess). KRS – the ultimate battle rapper, Slick – the supreme storyteller, G Rap – THE standard bearer of a gangster MC… (not gangster rapper) and finally…. Ra – the master of the flow, internal rhymes, cadence changes, on beat off beat, etc, the man sent EVERY f*cking mc at the time back home to elevate what they had been doing. The man singlehandedly CHANGE mcing to an art form.
“somebody got to suffer, i just might spare one
and give a brother a fair one
stay alert and on “P’s”
while I do work with these, like Hercules
switch to southpaw, split ya right jaw
Cuz I dont like yall, I’m hype by night fall
Smooth but I move like an army
Bulletproof down in case brothers wanna bomb me”
Know the Ledge – Rakim, 1992
my god…please if anyone goes to this event or know the promoters, for the love of god RECORD THIS EVENT. seriously get some professional recording equipment hooked up and get this shit down on tape, when is this ever going to happen again? this needs documented.
I hope some of the underground acts follow suit. Could you imagine if Jedi Mind Tricks perform “Violent By Design,” Immortal Technique “Revolutionary Vol. 2,” straight through??
SHIT WOULD BE INSANE. I saw Gza do “Liquid Swords” in its entirety with Killah Priest, one of the best shows of my life.
What Clipse album would you rather here in full? “Lord Willin’ or Hell Hath No Fury” ???
I personally like “Hell Hath No Fury” better, it is dark and would go along with the others.