It's the middle of summer when RZA hops on Zoom one afternoon, but the Wu-Tang architect and Hollywood maven isn't exactly taking it easy. The Wu-Tang Clan are on tour with Nas for the overseas leg of their New York State of Mind Tour, thrilling crowds while exemplifying the possibilities for hip-hop icons entering middle age. "We have to show the young generation that this can be a lifelong career if you follow the proper path," he says.
RZA, 54, parlayed his music into a decades-long career in Hollywood, acting, producing, and scoring films such as American Gangster and The Man With the Iron Fists. He also helmed WuTang: An American Saga, a three-season-long TV series about the legendary group. These days, RZA says, he's waiting out the Writers Guild strike while touring the world and running 36 Chambers, his vegan-lifestyle company. He's still making music, too, most recently last year's Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater, a collaboration with DJ Scratch. And, it turns out, he's just heard something that makes him excited about the possibility of another WuTang album.
We're at Hip-Hop 50. What do you think are some of the biggest things that the community needs to be asking itself heading into the next 50 years?
We're at the base of the mountain, not at the top. Somebody tweeted recently that "we are still not aligned." I think we need to align. Maybe get some of the godfathers to come together and talk about what we're going to do with this culture, and how we're going to protect it, preserve it, and advance it.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame didn't come immediately [to hip-hop]. We're happy that now they're inducting some of us. Great. Let's make the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame. The BET hip-hop awards is cool. Love BET. But it's not from us - it's corporate. We need people of the culture to govern and guide the culture.
Bu hikaye RollingStone India dergisinin September 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye RollingStone India dergisinin September 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Akshath Plots India Tour on the Back of Hit Song 'Nadaaniyan'
Mumbai artist's breezy love song took over streaming charts and short-video platforms
Aksh Baghla and 10CM Swap Languages in 'Spring Snow' Hindi Version
The Indian pop artist got the South Korean indie-pop artist to sing in Hindi on his hit song from the 'Lovely Runner, Part 8' soundtrack
Sukha Talks New EP '2003' and the Success of '8 Asle'
The Toronto-based Punjabi artist also looks back at hits like 'Sangdi' and the EP 'Undisputed'
Masrat Un Nisa on Channeling Raj Begum in Upcoming Film 'Songs of Paradise'
Inspired by the legendary Kashmiri voice Raj Begum, the singer talks about working with filmmaker Danish Renzu, who has also called on her for songs with his label Renzu Music
How Daira's 'Jaadoo Bastar' Tapped Into Chhattisgarh Tribal Stories
Mumbai rock band teamed up with artists including Lakheshwar Khudaram and Hindi lyricist Alok Ranjan Srivastava for five songs and a documentary that goes behind the scenes of the project
Peekay Embraces Djent on 'Merciless' and Plots an L.A. Move
The Hyderabad artist worked with guitarist Jonathan Edward and prog band Skyharbor's Keshav Dhar on the track
The Derelicts Take a 'Highway Drive' on Euphoric New Song
The Kochi disco-pop/electronica band introduce a science fiction-informed storyline for their first release since 2018
Sudan on How 'Happy Accidents' Led To His Genre-Defying Debut Album
Mumbai-based producer and multiinstrumentalist launched 'Sudan?' in August with a collab-heavy list of guests including Tejas, Frizzell D'Souza and more
Zubin Mehta Talks Symphony Orchestra of India Concerts
The Mumbai-born conductor leads a slightly offbeat selection for the SOI Autumn 2024 Season, taking place on Aug. 17 and 18, followed by Aug. 24 and 25
Ameya Saraf: 'I Wanted to Do Music for Life the First Time I Picked Up a Guitar'
Los Angeles-based Indian composer and producer worked his way from the rock scene to assisting pop artist Arjun Kanungo at the latter's Promethean Studio in Mumbai