S. Samuel
While fans await to see if Raekwon will have an active role in a long-awaited Wu-Tang Clan reunion project, the "Chef" made sure to wave his crew's flag at a concert this week.
According to reports, Raekwon and other key Wu members reunited in Toronto for a special 20-year anniversary show.
The celebration continues in rememberance of Wu-Tang Clan’s classic debut, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) which turned 20 earlier this month. Last night, the majority of the crew shared the commemoration with our Northern neighbors performing for a raucous crowd in Toronto. Speculation continues as to whether Raekwon will be a part of the new forthcoming album A Better Tomorrow, but, Chef along with Ghostface Killah, Method Man, U-God, GZA, Masta Killa and Inspectah Deck were on hand to perform hits like “Bring Da Rukus” and “Wu Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F**k Wit.” (XXL Mag)
Recently, Wu head RZA said he should have the group album finished within the next couple months.
RZA sees the latest Wu-Tang Clan endeavor as the end of the influential rap group as we know it. The 44-year-old Wu-Tang leader and producer says he’s still six weeks or so away from finishing the Clan’s overdue new album “A Better Tomorrow.” The process has made him realize he’s got different priorities these days. “When you’re a young man, you’re hustling and you’ve got 12 hours a day to dedicate to music. It might be more than that,” said the rapper, whose real name is Robert Diggs, in a phone interview. “The energy that’s important is constantly pouring out. But when you’ve got to go seek for the energy, it becomes a little more difficult. Wu-Tang is forever, I’ll never take back that statement. But we haven’t recorded a lot of studio albums. This is the first album we’ve recorded in seven years, actually. And we can’t wait seven years for another album.” (Associated Press)
Bobby Digital also noted Raekwon had yet to contribute to the LP and would consider moving forward on the project without his presence.
“Everybody did their verses except Raekwon,” RZA said. “He hasn’t turned in his verses yet. I don’t know if he’s still trying to find the vibe of the music. We have to talk about it before it becomes too late. But he hasn’t come to the table yet.” Attempts to reach Raekwon for comment were unsuccessful. RZA says he’s not sure if the project can be completed without his crewmate: “Well, you know what, that’s something that I would take a vote on with the rest of the crew. I’m not a dictator about that. Raekwon is a valuable energy to the Wu-Tang, his voice, his lyrics, his approach. Rae is a master lyricist.” (Associated Press)
Brief with his remarks, Raekwon recently informed fans he had read RZA’s comments about him not being fully onboard for the regathering.
“Yea i just read that rza article? Sh*t is funny to me.,” Rae tweeted November 9.
“I love u rza, u know what it really is.” (Raekwon’s Twitter)
Earlier this month, RZA singled out a few keys members including the Chef.
“And one of the guys who showed up the most was Method Man. 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.” (Grantland)
Check out some of the concert footage:
