S. Samuel
With buzz generating over Redman's supposed Wu-Tang Clan induction, SOHH called up the group's founding member RZA to get the story straight.
Acknowledging that Red has been down with Wu from their early 1990’s, “Bobby Digital” admitted the New Jersey-based emcee was the closest unofficial member of his camp.
“Ah man, we love Redman, he knows that,” RZA told SOHH. “Redman has always been with us. You know how many times we had Redman spitting in the studio or sitting in the car smoking? [laughs] Or how about how many times he’s been popping up onstage with us because he always wanted to pop up and show love? If you look at his old videos, when Wu wasn’t on TV, he was on TV rocking Wu Wear back in the days like that. In Wu-Tang, we call each other brothers because we grew up so many years together. But Redman is definitely like a first cousin.” (SOHH)
Yesterday, reports landed online denying Red’s membership in the Clan.
Earlier today I asked a couple of people within the Wu-Tang circle about Redman claiming to be an official 11th member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Unfortunately, this is not true. He has never been officially inducted as an 11th member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Redman is definitely considered as close to being a Wu-Tang member as you can get. But not on the official tip. If anything, you can even consider Nas to be on the same boat as Redman because in the 90’s, Redman and Nas would always be chilling with the Wu-Tang Clan and vice-versa. Reggie Noble aka Redman is the Unofficial Official 11th member of the Wu-Tang Clan. (57th Ave)
Earlier this week, Red said he was enrolled in the Clan since 2005.
“I am a Wu-Tang member and Method Man, he been a Def Squad member way before I was a Wu member,” Redman said. “I was like a Wu member but I wasn’t official. But [Erick] Sermon made Meth a Def Squad member back in the day. I became a Wu member about 5 years ago. I am the 11th member of Wu.” (All Hip Hop)
Although he may not be official, Red and the Wu’s Method Man released a collaboration album last year.
The “How High” duo Method Man & Redman’s Blackout 2! marked another hip-hop comeback landing at No. 4. With a solid week under their belts, the rap veterans’ return racked up 63,400 scanned discs. (SOHH Sales Wrap)
Check out some recent Redman footage below:
