The RZA, Wu-Tang

The House That Hatred Built by Gravediggaz

Back in the early 2000’s the idea of a proper Gravediggaz reunion or a recasting was super exciting. Over and over there were rumors. Warcloud, Killah Priest & Shabazz would be more involved. RZA would take the reigns again. But nothing ever really materialized after the death of Poetic, making Nightmare In A-Minor their last official collective effort.
Nowadays I’m not following everything what happens that much, and much time has passed since it sounded like something I’d like to hear. But some time ago Prince Paul took the time to share an unreleased Gravediggaz demo called The House That Hatred Built.
Apparently this was the first demo the group recorded ever, back in 1991. This recording, and the start of the Gravediggaz, predates the recording of the Wu-Tang Clan for RZA. There is actually a lot of interesting information about this and the formation of the Gravediggaz in this interview he did with Brian Coleman at Trinity College. Like how the album was recorded in full before Enter The Wu-Tang, but only released 9 months after. So be sure to read all about that there.

Another thing I came across, was the fact that the Gravediggaz declined a deal with Ruthless Records. Prince Paul actually met with Eazy-E & Jerry Heller, and this was during which he had a hard time finding a home for the record. But the deal they offered was so bad he still had to decline. There is more to read in this track by track run down of 6 Feet Deep that Prince Paul did with HipHopSite back in 2013.

Speaking of tracks. It seems that from time to time people did still record under the Gravediggaz monniker. Which leads to the following track I came across, 2 More Cups Of Blood. In 2010 Shabazz did an interview with Wu-International in which he revealed that the Gravediggaz was back together. It was him, Priest, Frukwan, 9th Prince, Beretta 9/Kinetic was there, and RZA & Prince Paul were also involved. Shabazz stated, ‘3 more songs and the new album is done! I recorded at Rza’s crib. He called me and we had a looong overdue reunion!!! Priest came thru too. So yes Gravediggaz is coming soon!!https://wutangcorp.com/forum/showthread.php?103433-Shabazz-the-disciple-wu-international-interview!!!!!!‘ He even mentions that he has some Poetic verses that they might use on the record, making it a complete reunion. Sadly nothing official ever saw the light of day or the dark of night save for this track. Apparently this was leaked by RZA himself, and most defintely flew under my radar.

One of the biggest tracks that Gravediggaz are known for, and also introduced some people to Shabazz The Disciple & KIllah Priest, is Diary Of A Mad Man. Now people seem to think that RZA produced this record, but in a video interview back in 2018 Prince Paul cleared up the air surrounding that record: “Alright, so RNS gets credit for the record [sample]. RZA gets credit ’cause it went through RZA, and me, ’cause I put the whole record together: programmed the drums, put the court pieces and stuff in it. But when you look at the credits, everybody goes ‘Yeah, RZA produced it, but Paul had nothin’ to do with it.’…it’s obviously a Prince Paul production, you can hear how it’s done. Nobody makes stuff like that, at least during that time.

The whole story you can hear about in the video underneath.

That said, Diary of a Madman is obviously a classic that many people hold dear. The track itself with the court, and the video is like no other. The video was actually direct by Hype Williams, who would later direct many more music videos in his own style. Which brings me to the following: Diary Of A Madman Part 2
About six month ago the Warcloud meets Killah Priest effort Savage Sanctuary got released on Black Stone of Mecca. This album carrying the track Diary of a Madman Pt. 2 featuring a slew of people on a original RZA beat. The track first surfaced on a Black Knights album a few year ago, but with in a horrible state. This time around they seemed to have cleared up the recordings and the mix a bit.
Rumors about this track travel back to around 2005 I believe. Word was that a part 2 was recorded with Priest, Shabazz & Warcloud. And again nothing ever got released, and now we finally have the track, 15 years later. Was it worth the wait?

Ol' Dirty Bastard, The RZA

Where did this ODB track come from?

Pretty sick tune that crossed my path the other day. An unreleased track by Ol’ Dirty, of which there are not many left any more. Produced by The RZA, and it is actually banging. Too bad about the quality, but it leave me wondering from which era this is. Sounds like his 2nd album though.
The RZA

RZA Returns With Digital Potions

Looks like RZA is going to give us a 3rd EP in two years with Digital Potions. He talked about this EP previously with the release of Pugilism back in April 2021. This is the end transformed into the Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater EP with DJ Scratch. Yes I am just as confused as you are. (That last one was also called RZA vs bobby digital at one point.) Even more so since there has been no update on his website or in any outlets. Just on the websites of the various records stores who are stating it as a Record Store Day release.

It seems to feature the following 7 songs:

  1. Fashion
  2. Better Than Yours
  3. Flagrant Flavors
  4. Garden State
  5. Rain on Em
  6. Attack of the Lioness
  7. Don’t Cry on My Shoulder



Visit the following the links to order your copy.
Rough Trade
Good Taste Records
Elmhurst Records


8 Diagrams, Inspectah Deck, The RZA 7 comments on You Can’t Stop Me Now

You Can’t Stop Me Now

If my mind recalls correctly You Can’t Stop Me Now was a title planned to be on the 8 Diagrams album. Previous news bits have John Frusciante playing on the guitars and RZA doing production. Now like suspected it ended up elsewhere. The new bobby digital album to be exact.

To be fair the track is real nice. No real bobby feel here. I approve.

On another note, the cover you see here is done by Gary Alford and seems to be an early sketch for the cover. The album is slated for a July 1st release.


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GZA, The RZA 0 comments on HHIR Presents The Liquid Sword Samples

HHIR Presents The Liquid Sword Samples

HHIR Presents The Liquid Sword SamplesAnd another one. The Liquid Sword collection of samples. This one includes a lot of samples I myself did not have. Mainly because I never really searched for them. So this is a good chance of updating it.

Kudos to Hip Hop is Read for doing this. Greatly appreciated. Hit up their site if your are by any chance looking for the samples to God’s Son, Game Theory or Doctor’s Advocate.

It would be nice if someone took the time to collect the samples used on 8 Diagrams. Sure to happen some time in the future.

Download via Zshare
Download via RS

Hit the jump for the complete tracklist.

  1. ‘Mercy, Mercy, Mercy’ by Willie Mitchell
      Sampled for ‘Liquid Swords’ by GZA (feat. RZA)
      Produced by RZA
  2. ‘Groovin” by Willie Mitchell
      Sampled for ‘Liquid Swords’ by GZA (feat. ODB, Masta Killa & Inspectah Deck)
      Sampled for ‘4th Chamber’ by GZA (feat. Ghostface Killah, Killah Priest & RZA)
      Produced by RZA
  3. ‘That’s the Way it Is’ by Al Green
      Rumored to have been sampled for ‘Liquid Swords’ by GZA (feat. RZA)
      Produced by RZA
  4. ‘I’m Afraid the Masquerade is Over’ by David Porter
      Sampled for ‘Duel of the Iron Mic’ by GZA (feat. ODB, Masta Killa & Inspectah Deck)
      Produced by RZA
  5. Continue Reading “HHIR Presents The Liquid Sword Samples”

The RZA 0 comments on Unreleased World According To RZA Join Featuring Dutch MC

Unreleased World According To RZA Join Featuring Dutch MC

The World According To RZASome of y’all might remember The World According To RZA album, released in 2003. RZA recorded a whole bulk of songs for this album. Amongst which one with a Dutch MC called Brainpower. At the time the best selling Hip Hop artist of the country. When he announced this at his concert in Amsterdam in 2003, it was received with an almost general consensus: BOOO! The RZA fans there did not appreciate the move. Word was that Brainpower was sitting backstage at that moment, and could thus hear it all.

That day he did record a song with Brainpower however. The song had been scheduled to show up on W.A.R. and feature Tekitha and Cilvaringz if I recall correctly. Due to some error in the recording the song was scrapped. Here is the bit that was released a few years back.

ANd while we are at the subject. It may be time to do those other parts of the world now. Because in all actuality, this was Europe According To The RZA.

RZA ft. Brainpower – Untitled

Download here

The RZA 2 comments on See RZA For Free

See RZA For Free

Free FunAgain Grandgood. This time reporting that people can see a RZA show fro free this Friday the 22nd.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22ND FREE FUN THE STUDIO B WEBSITE LAUNCH PARTY sponsored by FRANK 151

with live performances by

RZA – wu-tang clan
TEAM FACELIFT
THE STATIONARY SET
BLOOD RED SUN
MURDER MYSTERY MUSIC
PAUL HOLMES AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION

OPEN BAR FROM 10-11
FREE W/ RSVP
rsvp@clubstudiob.com

$10 W/OUT

DOORS OPEN 8PM

STUDIO B
259 banker st. btwn meserol and calyer.

FOR MORE INFO AND DIRECTIONS
clubstudiob.com

Source: Grandgood, Brooklyn Vegan & the9elements

The RZA 0 comments on RZA Keynote Speaker At Canadian Music Week

RZA Keynote Speaker At Canadian Music Week

RZA KeynoteIs it just me or is RZA doing a lot of stuff like this in the last years. During the Canadian Music Week he will hold a keynote on March 8th. That is a Saturday, just so you know. Looks pretty cool to me to see what he has to say about music, or even what he will say.

That same day KRS-One will also be speaking here’s the programme & address:

Fairmont Royal York Hotel
100 Front Street West
Toronto, ON M5J 1E3, Canada

Panels:
March 8th

Keynote: KRS-One
12:15PM-1:15PM, Saturday, Ballroom

In Conversation with RZA
2:45PM-3:30PM, Saturday, Ballroom

Source: CMW via Peace & Grandgood

8 Diagrams, The RZA 1 comment on RZA: Digi Snacks Is Finished

RZA: Digi Snacks Is Finished

RZA has only one eyeclaa7 got together a small recap from a RZA interview featured in the Swedish KingSize magazine. Here are a few things he pointed out that were said in the interview:

  • RZA announces that the whole ‘Digi Snacks‘ album is finished but put to the side for the release of 8 Diagrams (the goes same for OB4CL2). Bobby has matured allot on the album. This will be showcased by writing of the songs, which has gotten better according to RZA. There is a really beautiful song on Digi Snacks that’s called ‘Drama‘ which has an incredible chorus and Bobby tells people how to make their lives better. That one feels like a hit-record. But there is also tracks like ‘My Lovin’ Is Digi Pt.2‘ where he just talks shit; “my dick is hard” – that’s that Bobby Digital shit.
  • He says that his favourite Wu-Tang album is ‘Return To The 36 Chambers,’ there is no other album that provides so much joy. It’s a true piece of art.
  • In 1997 RZA found a book on music-theory which started his translation from hip-hop producer to musician. The first beats he made after reading this book were ‘It’s Yourz‘ and ‘Triumph.’
  • He says that Ghostface has a very good ear for music and that he is 100% sure that if he just learned how to use a sampler he would never have to work with a producer again. He also says that INS is the only one in the Clan that learned how to make beats and that ”He actually done a couple beats that are quite interesting.”
  • He gives a prediction that Young DB (ODB’s son) will have a hit-record on top of the charts in 2 years. And it will be a real song-song that people can sing along to. “That’s my first priority when 8 Diagrams is over; Young Dirty Bastard – he is wild, seventeen years old but just like his father. If he just can keep his health.”

Kudos to claa7 for translating the bits

The RZA 0 comments on Old Interesting RZA Interview

Old Interesting RZA Interview

Bududu

The RZA Revisited

By Chi Tung

An arresting storyteller, philosopher and anthropologist, the RZA is at his best when he just riffs. Call it the RZA reel o’rama, if you wish. Or simply sit back, and let him kick some knowledge.

On the origins of the Wu Tang sword…

Shaolin fit in with the mental part of life; the Shaolin discipline was able to produce the Wu Tang sword. The person who invented the sword according to the history I read was a monk named Shien Tseng Fei. He was a great martial artist, but he wasn’t in depth into Buddhism; he actually had more Daoist thoughts in him. He ended up leaving Shaolin; some say he was exiled and expelled, some say he left on his own. But he walked to Wu Tang mountain, which was started by General Wu hundreds of years earlier and founded a place of peace, true enlightenment within himself.

On the parallels between Shaolin and Staten Island…

How it fits into the Wu Tang philosophy and the urban culture is that Staten island — where we grew up, were disciplined at, had our fights at — that’s Shaolin, but we’re the Wu Tang clan. Because the Shaolin monks were really good guys, but we weren’t good guys — we had good principles, but a lot of actions that weren’t considered good.
Continue Reading “Old Interesting RZA Interview”

8 Diagrams, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, The RZA 2 comments on How We Treat Them Hoes: Life Changes

How We Treat Them Hoes: Life Changes

Did ya see that?Anybody remember the reversed RZA line on Life Changes? Which turned out to be ‘fuck ’em in the butt’. I think some may have missed that because we ran the article quite some time before the album got released. Well here are the two bits again.

Life Changes Snippet Original
[audio:https://www.vogeltjesdansbende.nl/weblog/wp-content/uploads/life-changes-snippet-original.mp3]

Life Changes Snippet Reversed
[audio:https://www.vogeltjesdansbende.nl/weblog/wp-content/uploads/life-changes-snippet.mp3]

So you heard the thing. Now that piece originates from the infamous Radio 1 Tim Westwood show they did around the release of Forever. Listen to the next sample to hear what it was all about.
Wu-Tang Clan Live In London – X-Rated

Download the Complete Live Session here.
Adn do it because it is a classic piece of Wu-Tang history. Meth, Dirty & RZA taking calls and leaving the callers clueless. And it goes on for quite some time too. Check it out.