A Wu-Tang Clan project without the RZA may sound absurd to many, but it isn’t too far from the truth. One of the Wu’s top lyrical assassins Raekwon recently told to XXL that the Abbot will not appear on his upcoming Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang LP, due out this March 8.
“RZA is not on the album,” he said. “Being that he’s so die hard Wu-Tang, anything that sounds like it’s going at Wu-Tang wasn’t really up his alley.” (XXLMag.com)
Raekwon explained that there isn’t any bad blood within the Clan, however. He says that the RZA’s absence on his album is largely due in part to conflicting schedule, as the RZA is currently wrapping up production on his debut as a film director The Man with the Iron Fists. He also said that a lot of the album came out of his displeasure with the Wu’s most recent LP as a group, 2007’s 8 Diagrams.
“I aint mad at him [though],” he explained. “He’s doing his movie thing right now, he’s happy with that, and for me I’m just gonna keep the legacy alive. I think I’m a skillful artist that understands how to do things, so it wasn’t really a headache to not have him [involved]. He did things for me on Cuban Linx II which I’m very grateful for, but I didn’t want to get him to start dealing with [Wu-Tang vs. Shaolin] because I knew that at the end of the day he wasn’t fond about it.” (XXLMag.com)
He added, “It wasn’t about anybody trying to make this record to assassinate the RZA. We love the RZA. The RZA is the one that found us in the street. But we don’t always gotta be in love with the RZA you know what I’m saying? So this album was definitely picked from that time [with 8 Diagrams].” (XXLMag.com)
Without the RZA on the boards, Rae enlisted the likes of Erick Sermon, the Alchemist, Havoc of Mobb Deep and Scram Jones to flesh out Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang. The album is due out March 8 on Ice H20/EMI Records.
This ought to be interesting. I must say I wish we could get a RZA influenced album from RAE but so be it. It’s hard to do what you want to creatively on other people’s timelines and schedules.
And if this is somewhat topical based on frustration from the 8 diagrams effort then go ahead and air it out.
Shit I am so frustrated with my friend that I work with that I wanna beat him senseless. but that is part of working on music as a band , or rapper /producer, etc…. Not that that is what’s up here. Regardless RAE is gonna deliver , he has been really working his ass off these past 2 years especially.
naw im glad Rae’s pullin dis move cuz the production side of thangs on 8 Diagrams wuz disappointin. im sayin dat and the RZA is my all time favorite producer
Maybe Rae is mad that RZA didn’t want Justin Bieber on the album.
Haha…Word!
good luck to both of them
I don’t see this as a “Wu” album at all. Regardless of whether it’s good or not, it’s just Rae and friends. Without RZA, or at least Wu-camp producers, there is no Clan. I don’t blame Rae for keeping his personal momentum going, but Wu-Tang Clan means fam members only.
Um, Mathematics, Bronze Nazareth and Clivaringz are helping on the boards. And Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Inspectah Deck are also on the album, with GZA and Killah Priest appearing on the iTunes bonus track. That’s not Wu enough for you?
without RZA = Good Album
with RZA = CLASSIC WU SHIT
RZA is the Wu.
hahah youre funny…..RZA hasnt been on alot of GFKs CD and GFKs CDs have been the best WU Cd’s! …RZA just doesnt have it anymore man!
Keep it going! New Shxt!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtxXkKIJTy0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtxXkKIJTy0
DAAAMMMMMNNNNNNN!!!!
RZA’s been on too few solo projects the latest years. If they ask him to bring that gritty, raw Wu-Tang sound, he will. Raekwon is being selfish, it took 14 years for him to use RZA again, since OB4CL.
Raekwon always brings fire, but it would be even better with RZA.
why is everbody blaming Rae/the artists? maybe it’s RZA who don’t want to take time out of his schedule to focus on the projects. Still waiting on Crystal method and Liquid Swords 2…
You guys are full of it… If RZA can take time out to do shit with Kanye then he could’ve took time out to work with Raekwon. Sorry but Raekwon ain’t smart enough to pull the fuckin’ wool over my eyes like he’s doing the rest of you. There is a problem in Wu-Tang amongst each other and it just may be Raekwon and RZA. It’s funny that RZA took time out to co-produce some shit for Kanye’s ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ but yet he’s no where to be found on Rae’s ‘Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang’. So supposedly either RZA has a problem with Rae’s selection of the album title or those two are just continuing to cover a mysterious fallen out. People must have forgotten that RZA managed to work with Kanye. Read in between the lines please. RZA ain’t that fuckin’ busy so I ain’t buying it.
Wu without Rza aint Wu!
More importantly where is the Genius
WITH OUT RZA, IT AINT WU . YO REA, WHAT THE DEAL KID ?? DUH !!!
then the last 5 GFK CD’s are not Wu as well….GTFOH!!!!!!!!!!
i heard that Justin bieber will rap a verse on this album the title is: Raekwon vs Bieber.
To “The MG” down bellow…Of the 18 reported tracks, Bronze Naz, Math, and Cilvaringz produced a total of three cuts (one a piece). Granted, Ghost, Deck, Meth, GZA, and Killah Priest make appearances; but so do Lloyd Banks, Busta’ Rhymes, Estelle, Nas, Raheem DeVaughn, Rick Ross, Kobe, Black Thought, and Jim Jones. Wu-Tang is fam members only, including RZA.
Fam members only? Who made you the Wu-Tang police? This isn’t the 90s anymore when they were just starting. They made a huge impact on hip-hop and got a lot of other rappers, singers and producers wanting to record with them. You think they’re going to say “no, fam members only”? Of course not. I’m guessing you probably fast-forward through Nas’ verse on Verbal Intercourse since he’s not a “fam member”. SMH
BULL SHIT….RZA’S TO BUSY???? BULL SHIT RAE….HOW’D HE MAKE IT TO HAWAII WITH KANYE….I AINT BUYIN IT LEXI……
RAE’S KILLIN THE GAME RIGHT NOW………..
LUPE FIASCO IS THE GOAT….
That’s Crazy.
STOP CASHING MONEY! Copy me and rake in $18,000 during a slow week. No less than $6,000 a
day! SEE PROOF!Hit me up on Facebook.
Wait till the album comes out before you judge. Everybody talking about its not a Wu album. C’mon OBCL2 was dope with a little bit of influence from the RZA so why would this album be any different.
Everybody know that 8 Diagrams was weak, so if Rae know that RZA is on some other shit why fu** with him like that. Rae know niggas want that street shit, so that what he is going to give us. RESPECT!!!!!!!!
for all you saying that without RZA , it aint a WU album….please STFU! …See GFK’s albums….They are some of the best WU CD’s…AND there is NO RZA production. …The last GFK CD to have RZA was The Pretty Toney Album….After that, all of GFK’s CDs have been straight FIRE!!…Fishscale, More Fish, Big Doe Rehab, Ghostdeini, Apollo Kids….Shit even GFK knows that RZA doesnt have it anymore. Now rae is starting to notice that….Shit what clan member has used RZA the past 5 years besides Rae in OBFCL2?
Thing aren’t always what they seem my friend. Ghost has said that he has asked RZA for beats many times, but RZA has always said no unless they meet up in a studio and actually produce tracks together as a unit rather than emailing beats to each other. The reason rae had beats on cuban 2 was because RZA made the entire album with rae in the studio with him. Rae decided against having an album with only RZA beats though.
The best in Wu from top to bottom:
1 Rae
2 Gza
3 Ghostface
4 Meth
5 ODB
6 Deck
7 Masta Killa
8 Cappadonna
9 Rza
10 U-God
Redman should be on the list since he’s basically Wu!
GZA
Ghost
Rae
Meth
Masta (my fav but not enough solo to rank higher)
Deck
RZA
ODB
Capadonna
UGod
^^^^^^^ SO fucking what…OK you both know the names of all the members…heres your cookie………….BITCHES!
I’m down to hear whatever comes of this – period
Tony Starks
Lex Diamond
Maximillion
Bob Digi
Dirt McGirt
LuckyHands
Noodlz(slept on MC)
JohnnyBlaze
BabyHuey
8 Diagrams production was not vintage Rza brilliance. Rae/Ghost flying that Wu flag very well!