S. Samuel
Wu-Tang Clan's RZA has stepped forward to speak out and respond to comments shot his way courtesy of estranged group member Raekwon.
According to RZA, there is a big misunderstanding going down between himself and the Chef.
“I’m gonna clear one thing up on the Raekwon thing. The newest article in Rolling Stone, Raekwon says I’m a bold-faced liar, right, which I’m far from. I don’t even lie. I’m a grown man, I got children. I only got one rule in my house, ‘Don’t lie to me.’ But what happened was I just did an interview a few weeks ago that ‘just’ came out. Later. I guess when it came out he read it. I spoke to Raekwon about eight days ago but the interview was probably fourteen or sixteen days ago, so he says RZA’s a liar, he spoke to me. No, when I did the interview, brother, I didn’t speak to you. I hadn’t spoke to him in six months before then until recently. … He gave me his demands, which we presented to the company – but it was no lying.” (“The Hot 97 Morning Show”)
In an interview published last week, Rae said Bobby Digital needed to come up with a winning strategy for the Wu.
“RZA’s the type of dude where, in the 90s, he ruled. Now it’s a new day. You’re not attached no more. It’s like being a coach and you won rings back in the day, but now your team is in ninth place. It’s time for a new f*cking game plan. I sit here with integrity all the time. When it comes to my music. When it comes to my business. When it comes to the fans. I’m always going to give them the best of me. And I know the Wu-Tang Clan is built like that, but if they’re sitting there listening to one man, ain’t no “I” in “Team.”” (Rolling Stone)
The Chef also defended his decision to fall back on Clan projects until things were ironed out.
“It’s the same as being an athlete. I don’t give a f*ck if it’s Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant. They will not touch the floor if their managers or lawyers are saying, “Listen, sh*t ain’t right.” So therefore, I’m in a limbo situation. So yeah, you’re right. I am on strike. It ain’t the fact that I don’t want to be there. Because of course I want to be there. But if we’re there, we gotta do the best everything. We gotta work 10 times harder, because that’s what I’m signing in for. I’m not about listening to somebody that’s not an artist telling me what the f*ck they think is hot.” (Rolling Stone)
Recently, the Wu leader revealed creative differences with Rae had sparked a conflict.
“There’s another album that belongs to the consumers called A Better Tomorrow. And that belongs to the consumers because it’s a celebration of Wu-Tang and their fans. And Raekwon has not been participating with that particular record. I haven’t had a chance to really talk to him about why not. All I see is the press going back and forth. But I would say that maybe creatively we on different paths. I’m creatively different than I was in the ’90s.” (Fuse TV)
Check out RZA’s interview:
