A few years back, 2012, a couple of the guys from the Clan sat down with RBMA to talk Wu. The talk lasted for about an hour, and gives some interesting insights. A must watch, or read for the fan. So if you have the time, grab a seat, and turn back time.
Lecture: Wu-Tang Clan (RBMA World Tour 2011) from Red Bull Music Academy on Vimeo.
Wu-Tang Clan member Masta Killa was recently awarded peta2’s Libby Award (short for liberation) for Best Animal-Friendly Hip-Hop Artist.
Peta2 is the world’s largest youth animal rights organization and is an offshoot of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
Other rappers nominated for the award included dead prez, Sage Francis, K-OS and others. “I’ll do anything that’s going to save animals,” Masta Killa said. “Anytime I can encourage people to think twice before [doing] anything to animals … that’s a good thing.”
The Brooklyn native is also a vegetarian and was featured in a previous peta2 advertising campaign that encouraged people to become vegetarians.
“When it comes to fighting animal abuse, peta2 and Masta Killa are marching to the same beat,” added peta2 Assistant Director Dan Shannon. “Masta Killa is living proof that there’s strength in compassion and that the best thing that you can do for yourself—and for animals—is to go vegetarian.”
Winners will receive plaques and will be featured on the peta2.com website.
More on Masta Killa at peta2.com
Wu Tang Clan: Interview With Masta Killa
Jan. 09, 2008 The Power Of Perception
by: Patrick Slevin
Six years was the longest period fans had yet to wait for a reconvening of the Wu-Tang Clan, but following some festival plays in 2007, the group released 8 Diagrams last month to a warm reception. Its very anticipation was a breath of fresh air for the hip-hop community that they’ve been such an influential and integral part of, pervading all aspects of the business and art.
Strangely, though, coming out of production, it wasn’t the album Masta Killa thought he and his fellow swordsmen would be releasing. A more reflective listen than what many were expecting to hear, the grand return of the Wu is not the joyous record that might have been expected from the conquering masters of hip-hop.
Their first release without their beloved Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the direction taken on 8 Diagrams was expressly what has made the Wu-Tang Clan unique over the years—their power to create what no one else is. As MK describes, the swordsmen are simply conquering another chamber.
Continue Reading “MK Thinks People Are Not Ready For 8D”
Wu-Tang Clan to invade Toad’s Place
Masta Killa and company release emotional fifth album, ‘8 Diagrams’
By David Friedman MUSIC WRITER
Even the hardest of rappers — members of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan — underwent a range of emotions when it came time to record songs for their fifth studio album, “8 Diagrams.”
For emcee Masta Killa, there was the joy of working with funk icon George Clinton on the track “Wolves,” which also includes verses from Clan members U-God and Method Man. Masta Killa called his mother to share the news that he’d be collaborating with Clinton, whose music his mother used to play at home when he was growing up.
Then came “Life Changes,” a tribute to late Wu-Tang Clan member Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who will be noticeably absent when the group headlines Jan. 13 at Toad’s Place in New Haven.
“That track (messed) me up,” Masta Killa said in a Jan. 3 interview from a Las Vegas hotel room. “It still kind of (messes) me up every time I hear it because I miss my brother, you know? I’m not even the type of dude that distills too much. When I say distills, I mean cry. I’m one for sucking it up and turning it into positive energy. But even when I was writing that, I had a shed a tear or two. It was hard. And I did it in the studio where he expired at. It was kind of tough.”
Continue Reading “Masta Killa Still Distills Over Dirty”
I got these from the wutangcorp forums. Venex there posted these bits of a RZA interview the dutch magazine called RIFRAF did. PRetty interesting stuff.
- Masta killa was always around when they recorded the album…sometimes he even slept there on the studiofloor. the RZA really thanks him for that.
- But the RZA says it’s raekwon who really takes the crown! since his single “state of grace” the man is a rhyming machine, sometimes i ask myself where he keeps getting it..he writes his lyrics very fast, ghost might have dropped a jewel on “my heart gently weeps”, but to me RAEKWON IS ALREADY MORE THEN A YEAR THE BEST MC IN THE BUSINESS (RZA)
- his fixed costs (don’t know if this is the right translation) amount 50 000 dollars EVERY MONTH
- the RZA was first planning REDMAN to replace ol’ dirty bastard, especially because ghostface took so long, he was planning to call Reggie. But redman got his own thing going on and that’s why he asked George Clinton. Him and dirty could get along very well.
Venex wants to be famous! So, venex, venex, venex KUDOS!
Source: venex
By Matt Diehl
Rolling Stone 9/18/2003
Hip-hop heroes focus on solo work
IS WU-TANG CLAN OVER? “IT’s SON ice, really,” says Wu leader RZA. Despite breakup rumors, Wu may eventually come back someday. “When it’s time to rock, I think everybody’s down,” RZA says. In the meantime, bonds among the Staten Island, New York, rap crew are strong: Most of the Clan MCs are helping out with one another’s solo discs because, as Method Man puts it, they’re “Wu for life.”
What’s going on with Wu-Tang Cland
1. Masta Killa
He’s the only Wu-Tanger to never release a solo album-butthat’s aboutto change. Masta Killa will soon drop No Said Date, which RZA calls “a crazy classiccompletely raw. He’s the motherfucker right now.”
2. Raekwon
A new Raekwon effort — The Lex Diamond Story-is expected to come out later this year.
Continue Reading “VDB Rewinds: Wu-Tang Plot The Future”
Got this one from the ChamberMusik forums. It’s from the Blender magazine. Props to whomever scanned it.
People who kept an eye on Ghost his track record are likely to be aware of his fascination for money. He always wants to get paid first. And that was one of the main problem with the clan coming bakc together. Ghst was heavily touring also. Yes, he had to bring food to the table. But now again he has brought it out in the open. Like U-God and cappa before him. Is it coincidence an album is being released? Big clash coming up. Ghost, the Clan, Shyheim(if he is still dropping on the 4th), Styles P, Saigon & Busta Rhymes all dropping on the same day.
It’s no secret that I am a die-hard Wu Tang Clan fan. I’ve championed Ghost and Rza and Rae and Genius and Meth for not just their music but also, the fact that they bring character to the game that’s rare-to-non-existent nowadays. So nobody cling more to the possibility of a true Wu reunion or a purple tape 2 like me.
That said…
Last week Ghostface reached out. There will be some shocking statements on the state of the Wu this week. Make sure you check my boys over at MTV News tomorrow for their legendary Mixtape Monday Report. Ghostface makes a serious allegation about some Wu finances. (click here on Monday to read Shaheem, Rahman and Jayson’s scoop.)
And in a related dispute, if the Dec. 4th release date for both the new Wu-Tang album, “8 Diagrams,†and the new Ghost album, “Big Dough Rehab,†seemed a bit strange, your gut instinct was right. Ghost calls it “sabotage†and charges “Wu Tang the brand.†When I asked him specifically, what constitutes “the brand†he wanted to make sure I understood that he didn’t mean the other group members. He named only Rza, Divine, and Loud.
sigh.
I will bring you more of Ghost and Rae’s very heartfelt words. But I also want to reach out to Rza for a reaction. I know lots of fans hope for the best, but each man is entitled to his say.
UPDATE: here is an excerpt from the Mixtape Monday item by Jayson R.
“I had December 4 for the longest,†he explained. “But the Wu album, brothers was kinda late on doing whatever they were doing and pushed it back … on my date. You can put this in there, I’m not [mad at] all the members. It’s not based on the members, but the hierarchy at Wu-Tang Clan is on some bullsh–. They trying to f— around and make me push my album back and doing all this. But n—as ain’t f—ing around or give us money when we did them Wu-Tang tours. The first one, they paid us after a while, but this last one, n—as is holding onto a lot of money. And [they’re] upset based on that. It’s a battle right now…
As far as Ghost’s participation on The 8 Diagrams, though, so far he’s only jumped on a handful of tracks.
“I got on some of them,†he said. “A few of them. … N—as better pay my f—ing money. Matter of fact, they can keep the money — just get me out of their life right now.“
Continue Reading “Ghost vs WU, it’s my turn, Ghost vs WU, just bring that shit”
I might be mistaken but I haven’t heard anything from MK since this whole 8D started. Sit Down Stand Up caught up got the god talking about 8 Diagrams & his next album.
Today I sat down with Wu-Tang Clan’s very own Masta Killa and spoke on 8 Diagrams, his upcoming solo work, the Rock The Bells tour and more. We got to listen to some of the tracks off the new album as well. My comments and details on the new tracks are here.
W: The Wu is about to release a new album, 8 Diagrams. How does it feel to come back together after a few years of everyone focusing on their solo albums?
MK: It feels real good. It’s something the fans have been craving for a while and it was great to come back together with all the brothers again as family. Aside from that I’m also just real happy with the work we put in on 8 Diagrams. To me Iron Flag and The W were good, but I feel with 8 Diagrams we bring it back to the origin. Back to the 36 Chambers where there’s a real intimacy between the brothers. Continue Reading “A few words from the Masta Killa”
Deck & Masta getting interviewed by Cool in you Code
One of hip hop’s most influential groups, the Wu-Tang Clan, started on Staten Island 15 years ago. CiNYC Host Shirley got to hang in 10304 with SI’s own Inspectah Deck and BK’s Masta Killa.
Hip hop may have started in the Bronx, but when it landed on SI, Wu-Tang raised it to another level. When asked about their experiences with Wu-Tang over the years, Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa look at each other and shake their heads. “We’re still mystified,†said Inspectah Deck.
“It hasn’t really dawned on me, the effect we’ve had on so many people worldwide. I take everything as a blessing.†Masta Killa said.
Wu-Tang lets their words and music speak for themselves. “The mind is the most powerful weapon you’ve got. The biggest gun anyone may have is not nearly as powerful as one of my thoughts,†said Deck.
See how the streets of New York helped shape one of the most influential rappers to hit the airwaves.
