Wu-Tang Clan artists recently spoke about the potential of an upcoming group album. Wu members discussed the likelihood of the project and the hurdles they’ve faced along the way in a profile by Grantland. The profile features different group members, including RZA, who says he is pushing for Wu-Tang Clan to unite on an album.
“We all agree — me, you, and the rest of the world — that these guys are great by themselves any fucking way,” RZA says. “But they are greater when we come together! We come together, we make platinum, G. That’s the true fucking reward for our top talent. And I say that to the guys. I don’t know who hears me.”
RZA says he’s been trying to keep the Wu-Tang Clan album plans alive, though he has faced some obstacles along the way. Nevertheless, RZA says challenges aren’t new to him.
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“In the beginning, I’d fight for the ship to go in the right direction,” RZA says. “Not just yelling. Physical fights. After five years, I just didn’t have the same willpower to fight…I felt really personally hurt after 8 Diagrams…That was my brothers and they [Wu-Tang Clan members] was shitting on it. I remember, it was all of us in a room, and I said, ‘I will never again step up and do business with you.’ Then the 20th anniversary came up. I said, ‘I gotta try it again.’ I’m pushing. I’m pushing.”
Raekwon Discusses Wu-Tang Clan’s Disagreements
Raekwon is also profiled in the article, acknowledging that he does not think RZA should be in control of “everything.”
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“I would be the first one to say that we cannot leave everything in RZA’s hand no more,” Raekwon says. “He has done his job to the greatest of his ability when we were younger, but now every man plays an imperative role in this situation. His plan was to do a more humble album. We was like, Nah. You can’t do that with the hardest group in the game.”
According to Raekwon, the group has not agreed on many things, including the title some have used for their upcoming project, A Better Tomorrow.
“It’s like getting the United Nations to all agree on one fucking thing,” Raekwon says. “Italy ain’t having it. Japan is on some shit. You know what I mean? Now, here it is, the 20-year anniversary that’s so decoratedly respected that we might not even be on time for this shit.”
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U-God Details Bond With Wu-Tang Clan Members
U-God’s bond with several rappers in the Wu-Tang is “stilted,” according to Grantland. The following excerpt reveals the different relationships he has with other members of the crew.
These days, U-God’s relationships with other members of the Wu are amicable, if stilted: Raekwon is “tired of hanging around me”; Ghostface has been rebuffing his offer for a full-album team-up, called Goldie and Ghost, for years. “Whatever. I don’t care,” he says. “Maybe when I was a little younger, it might’ve bothered me. I felt entitled. Nine egos, nine dudes, nine everybody thinking they the shit. [But] I’m not entitled to nothing but what I put work in for.”
U-God and RZA also “go through it,” the rapper says. Despite any differences, he remains grateful for RZA’s work in his career.
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“I love this nigga,” U-God says. “He saved my fuckin’ life. He gave me a purpose. Nobody better be disrespecting him in front of me.”
Inspectah Deck Says Wu-Tang Clan’s “Nucleus Has Separated”
Moreover, Inspectah Deck offers additional insight about the group’s dynamics in the article.
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“The nucleus has separated,” Deck says. “But it’s temporary. Once RZA throws up that Batman symbol, that Wu-Tang ‘W,’ it’s goin’ be on again. And I can’t wait.”
GZA also appears in the article, discussing his perspective on a new Wu-Tang Clan project. “It would be great to do another album, come back with a banger, but I don’t think we have anything to prove. We proved it already.”
In November 2013, RZA spoke about different members contributing to the new album.
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“And one of the guys who showed up the most was Method Man,” RZA said at the time. “He showed the most tenacity, he was the most vocal, he showed up the most, and he got the most lyrics on the new album. He’s already recorded eight or nine songs. He’s been on it. You know, I give Cappadonna credit, he’s been really on it. U-God has been present. Masta Killa be representing. Inspectah Deck has been somewhat present. Ghost has been, you know, 20 percent present. And Raekwon hasn’t shown up at all. When you look at somebody like Masta Killa and U-God, they seem to have that original hunger to complete the legacy. I respect that everybody [is] busy with they own lives. I started with a plan that I thought would work. Now maybe my plan not working.”
In February 2014, Raekwon spoke about how he felt regarding another Wu-Tang Clan album at the time.
“Yo, all I can say is like—it’s business,” Raekwon said. “You know? I would never put my family—First of all, you know that’s the mothership. Never ever ever gonna violate that, but at the same time it’s 20 years later, b. And business gotta be done correctly. I wanna be happy. You know what I mean? I wanna do this album in harmony. I wanna do it most likely—I wanna do it in the best way because, you know, brothers already said that’s the last joint. And that right there was like—I found out like y’all found out.”
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During that interview, Rae also addressed the group’s dynamics.
“And I feel like it always be a lack of communication and the respect as men as somebody, as people who built this thing together,” Rae said. “You know? It wasn’t just one cat that—you know, he masterminded it of course. And I love him for that. And I’m always loyal cause he came and grabbed me out the street. But today being a 40-year-old man and having three seeds and having to deal with taxes and this and that, whenever I’m on the dance floor it’s business. You know what I’m saying? It’s business. It ain’t no disrespect. Don’t hit me with the brotherhood because that’s unconditional right there. Don’t use that as a shield. And a lot of times it’s like I watched them battle me and do certain things because I guess they feel like ‘Yo, Rae’s moving. We ain’t in control of Rae, so Rae’s gonna be the big problem.’ I’m running a business too. I got a label thing going on. It’s like my time is serious. You know what I mean? Cause I’m trying to build my artists and spread my legacy in a great way.”
RELATED: Raekwon Says There’s Lack Of Respect Among Wu-Tang Clan Members
