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WU-TANG CLAN: Reuniting Da Ruckus!
Topics: WU, Wu-Tang Clan, Raekwon, Bakotopia, Bakersfield, Magazine, December 2007, RZA, GZA, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Old Dirty Bastard, Cappadonna, U-God, Rap, hip-hop
Posted by matt Tue Dec 11, 2007 17:24:59 PST
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0 responses 4 comments Location: 2001 H. St, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Reuniting Da Ruckus!
Raekwon The Chef of Wu-Tang Clan - keeps loyalty cookin’
<<<LISTEN TO THE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH RAEKWON!


By Matt Muñoz, Bakotopia.com Editor

Unlocking the mystery of the Wu-Tang Clan is no easy feat.

Like the deadly Shaolin monks of classic Kung Fu flicks they’re inspired by, hip-hop’s greatest group has decided to leave the monastery and tame the streets once again.

Nine emcees - each with his own distinctive style, image and prowess. Catch ’em if you can, but beware …

“I’m at the point where it’s like a title fight,” said Wu member Corey “Raekwon The Chef” Woods via telephone on the importance of coming out swinging as an artist in today’s hip-hop industry. “I don’t wanna fight the whole 12 rounds. Because if you’re fightin’ somebody, and people look at you as the champ, you gotta come in and knock a (expletive) out!”

Appearing live at Bakersfield’s Fox Theater on Saturday, Dec. 22, at 7 p.m. as part of the “8 Diagrams” reunion tour, the lyrical warriors from Staten Island, N.Y. always place family first despite the difficulty the road brings.

“When it comes to touring, this is something we gotta do to provide for our families,” explained Woods. “It’s been a long time since we’ve actually been touring consecutively with one another. It’s just so hard to still have everybody punctual at any given moment.”

All original Wu-Tang members: Robert “RZA” Diggs; Clifford “Method Man” Smith; Dennis “Ghostface Killah” Coles; Gary; “GZA” Grice; Lamont “U-God” Hawkins; Elgin “Masta Killah” Turner; and Darryl “Cappadonna” Hill will make the ’round the globe trek through ’08. Noticeably absent will be Russell “Old Dirty Bastard” Jones. who passed away in ’04.

Jones became an unforgettable figure with his “drunken style” of freestyle rapping, both on and off the stage. During the ’96 Grammy Awards, Jones did what he did best - rushing the microphone during the awards ceremony to declare, “Wu-Tang is for the children!”

“He was the best, you know,” described Woods of his lost friend. “He was the dude who gave us all the confidence we needed, like a first officer. I mean just his spirit alone in the building allowed us to feel like champions even when we wasn’t champs at the time, so it’s beyond words on how I feel about what he’s put into the music.”


(Russell "Old Dirty Bastard" Jones)

Constructing the Wu-Tang in ’92, the group hit the “gangsta rap”-riddled rap game dominated by the West Coast. While the West was ridin’ low and slow, the east was keeping it “hardcore” with bonfire ghetto storytelling.

The group’s ’93 debut “Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” brought the realities of N.Y. life on the streets. Challenged only by Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic,” the Wu’s assemblage of young and wild characters made them an instant underground movement.



“Back then we was like the Fat Albert Gang,” remembered Woods of the group’s rough and ready early days. “Havin’ some skills and intellect, and a belief in what we were doin’. We came in with nine dudes - which was unheard of back then, besides groups like Public Enemy and X-Clan.”

Live onstage, the group smoked, hyping crowds with songs like - “Protect Ya Neck” and “C.R.E.A.M.,” now classics in the essential hip-hop songbook.
But where there’s smoke, there’s fire - in the form of solo project offers, even a video game.


(Original Wu-style)

From Method Man to GZA, every member of the Wu has managed to get a piece of the action. With a clothing line bearing group’s name and a management company, music became just a piece of the Clan kingdom. The money rolled in, but so did the friction.

“It was almost like a gift and a curse, because you have so many talented dudes in one group,” said Woods. “You got different mentalities, and then having to worry about how the money is being split is hard. If I had an opportunity to put out a group with nine individuals, and they were all nice - I’d have to second guess myself on them.”



Like his crewmates, Wood’s solo-success has garnered him plenty of critical praise as an artist.

“Only Built 4 Cuban Linx,” released in ’95, shifted the spotlight on Woods. Staying to his hardcore roots, Woods re-invented the “mafioso” style crime drama technique with a storytelling flow and a nod to the masters before him.

“I was a street peddler like maybe a lot of dudes in the business,” said Woods. “When I came into the game, that’s all I really knew what to talk about. I grew up with Big Daddy Kane and Rakim - emcees that were representing dudes like me.”

Through the ’90s, Wu-Tang Clan and their affiliates managed to dominate the industry.

Whether reuniting to release subsequent Wu-Tang albums (“Wu-Tang Forever” and “The W”) or make movie appearances (Method Man in “How High”), these brothers from the “ghettos of Shaolin” always manage to “reform like Voltron” for fans all over the world when the time is right.



“It’s like being loyal to the people for the rest of my life, it affects me so much,” said Woods. “A lot of groups don’t have the ability to be successful in different countries and regions of the planet. To me, it’s a blessing.”

If you’ve managed to keep up on the drama surrounding the latest Wu-union, it’s no secret that Woods has maintained a very critical view of “8 Diagrams,” the group’s long-awaited return to the studio. Although reviews from studio leaks have been positive in many trade and online fan forums, Woods continues to stand by his “unfinished” view on of the project.



“I'm not goin’ to say I was vetoing the album, but I felt it coulda’ been stronger,” he said. “I’m not gonna bad mouth it, but I’m also not gonna act like I’m really feeling it. If you are a real Wu-Tang fan, then I hope you enjoy it.”

In true hip-hop fashion, Woods takes no time in hyping his upcoming ’08 solo disc - “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2,” the sequel to his ’95 debut. Featuring Wu-producer RZA on board, Woods also recruited a pack of heavy hitters for the sessions.


(Raekwon - kickin' it live..)

“You got Dr. Dre, Marley Marl, DJ Scratch,” he said. “I feel real confident with this one. This is my baby right here, kid.”

Yet, amid the big talk and business deals, the heart of the Wu is all about showcasing the talents of nine talented friends who’ve stayed loyal to the original mission come hell or high water.

“I feel like we put the work in, and we’ve shown a lot of people - not only in the rap industry - how you can make your dreams come true, and I’m forever loyal to that.”


Wu-Tang Clan live!
-Saturday, December 22nd
-Bakersfield Fox Theater
-7pm / All Ages
-$45-$55

 

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Comment From: jr

Great interview Matt. The latest edition of Bakotopia is the best since your last up until your next. Keep up the great work!! JR Comment From: benjamins1419

Well done sir. Great job! Comment From: thenovelist

Great interview about the realities of the road and being in a hip-hop band. So many personalities have to create a lot of sparks. This is a reality check interview that success is hard to come by and difficult to maintain... Comment From: Ninpire

good stuff