Category: U-God
Merry Christmas, Enjoy
It all started here
Member of rap’s first family a RIOT on campus
Member of rap’s first family a RIOT on campus
Sat Dec 08, 2007
By: By Christy Chase
OSHAWA — A rather interesting mix, the musicians listed by rapper U-God as his influences.
The rapper, part of the popular and long-lived Wu Tang Clan, made a brief appearance at Durham College and on RIOT, the campus radio, Nov. 30 before he and several other clan members performed at Le Skratch that night.
One of the last questions he was asked, before the shortened question-and-answer event got cut off, was about his influences.
He listed Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley and, wait for it, Barry Manilow. Yes, Barry Manilow. Who knew
U-God was the only one of his fellow Wu Tang Clan members who made it to the radio interview, held live in the Marketplace Cafeteria on campus. And even he was delayed by more than an hour, due to problems at customs. The others didn’t arrive until after the interview was over.
But the crowd didn’t seem to mind and spent the time watching Wu Tang Clan videos and talking. When U-God finally arrived, he was greeted with loud applause and a bigger audience than he expected. He talked about a soon-to-be released album and in particular the changes in the group’s music. Don’t expect the same sound, he told his fans.
“We grew,” he said. “We can’t talk about some of the stuff we used to because we’re not living that anymore. We got babies. Some of us are married. There’ll be a little touch of the old flair with a little touch of the new.”
As for the current state of rap, U-God lamented the attempts to “revamp” rap, something he says can’t be done.
“You can’t really regurgitate it, you can’t reduplicate it,” he said. “They took our formula. We’re the first hip-hop family.”
He called the group’s and its individual members’ successes “truly the Lord’s blessings.”
He praised the fans, saying the fans have backed them for 15 years, since the start. And he also signed autographs at the end of the interview.
Source: News Durham Region (via Art Vandelay)
Video of U-God at Durham College
The Wu-Tang Klan played a show at Le Skratch in Oshawa but talked to fans and media at Durham College on Nov. 30. Band member U-God talked about past success and upcoming projects.
Kotorimag RZA, Deck & U-God Interview
Head over to kotorimag.com and check out the full interview. It talks about 8 Diagrams. How they got the members back together, what’s the meaning behind it, why now, with whom does Wu got beef, the evolution of RZA as a producer and more. Some nice raw stuff in between all this drama.
Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA Insists Infighting ‘Evaporates’ When Crew Is Together
Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA Insists Infighting ‘Evaporates’ When Crew Is Together
Rapper/producer also talks ODB-inspired new track featured on group’s 8 Diagrams.
By Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Jasmine Dotiwala
“How can hip-hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever?” the RZA asked over the summer. A few months later, some fans are asking if his sentiments will continue to hold true.
To the dismay of Wu-Tang fans, the Clan seem to be falling apart, and RZA is in the proverbial eye of the storm when it comes to the group’s open dissention. Two of the group’s most vocal, flamboyant and popular members, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, have accused the RZA of mismanaging the group’s money and creative malpractice.
Rae told New York radio personality Miss Info that he and the crew craved more street-orientated beats on the new album, 8 Diagrams. Meanwhile, Ghost told MTV News that the album was “rushed,” he hasn’t heard good word-of-mouth about the handful of records that have leaked and, most importantly, the RZA owes him more dough than they have at your favorite pizza shop.
Continue Reading “Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA Insists Infighting ‘Evaporates’ When Crew Is Together”
VDB Rewinds: Wu-Tang Plot The Future
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”
VDB Rewinds: Wu World Order
By Matt Diehl
Rolling Stone 10/15/98
“Rap is like the polio vaccine: Once they knew it worked, everyone wanted it.”-Grandmaster Flash
WU-TANG CLAN LEADER RZA MAPS OUT HIS BATTLE PLANS FOR THE MILLENNIUM, INCUDING ALBUMS FROM METHOD MAN, CAPPADONNA AND GHOSTFACE KILLAH
MASTER P PETER WATCN HIS BACK: WHEN IT COME TO RELeasing multiple multiple albums, da last don has fierce competition from rap’s illest conglomerate, Wu-Tang Clan. Already this year, the Wu posse has released five albums, three in the past two months: Dirty Weaponry, Killarmy’s second release; The Last Shall Be First, the debut from the Wu offshoot Sunz of Man; and RZA Presents Wu-Tang Killa Bees: The Swarm, a compilation featuring new tracks from Wu-Tang veterans as well as fresh recruits like Remedy, the first white Wu-affiliated rapper, and the all-female crew Deadly Venoms. And don’t expect the flow to slow down: The next eighteen months could find more than twenty-four Wu-related projects hitting the street, including new albums from Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck and Bobby Digital, the alter ego of Clan mastermind RZA. “Bobby’s a motherfucker that’s down for the bullshit,” RZA explains. “I think people are going to love him, because people love bullshit.” Here, RZA gives the 411 on the Wu world order.
Continue Reading “VDB Rewinds: Wu World Order”
VDB Rewinds: A Tragic, Bloody Week On Staten Island
By Havelock Nelson
Billboard 04/02/94
Wu-Tang Clan’s Loud/RCA album “Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” was certified gold by the RIAA. According to a spokesman at Street Life/Scotti Bros…
King Just’s “Warriors’ Drums” (Black Fist) is a phat, fluid, flippy, dusty, and off-the-wall freestyle jam that’s worth seeking out. It’s straight from the depths of Shaolin (that’s New York’s Staten Island, homefolks). The B side, “Move On ‘Em Stomp,” also punches and kicks…
The other week was a crazy and tragic one in Staten Island, N.Y. Three males connected to the borough’s burgeoning rap scene died from gunshot wounds. First Dante Hawkins, the son of Wu-Tang Clan member U-God, was caught in the crossfire of a shootout March 12. Then, three days later, Darryl Routte, the 27-year-old brother of Guy Routte, who manages Virgin rapper Shyheim, was shot during an argument. Next, Two Cent, an associate of both Shyheim and Wu-Tang Clan, died from a bullet wound in the chest. Speaking of homicides as they relate to his hometown, Shyheim rhymes in “On And On,” his debut single, “This happens everyday around my way, so I pray that I could live another day.” Amen.
Requiescat In Pace
Sunday Randomness: UGodz-Illa – Move Bitch
Just a little video I made this week. U-God really rips this song in half. Enjoy.
Oyeah the movie is Godzilla vs Biollante.
U-God Video Interview with One On Hiphop
Speaks about his favorite artist, down south movement & if NYC can get the crown back.
Sunday Randomness: Wu-Tang Clan – Bring Da Ruckus live at xm radio
Wu-Tang & El Michels Affair “Bring Da Ruckus” live at xm radio, oct 2005
Geek Files: Wu-Edition
Got this one from the ChamberMusik forums. It’s from the Blender magazine. Props to whomever scanned it.
Ghost vs WU, it’s my turn, Ghost vs WU, just bring that shit
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”
Wu-Tang Interviews at Rock The Bells
Cappadonna (of Wu-Tang Clan) – Interview (Live At Rock The Bells 2007 – New York, NY – 7/28/07) (Video)
VanStylez catches up with Cappadonna, fresh off his 2007 Rock The Bells NYC performance. Cappa is always one to drop knowledge when the spotlight is on. A very interesting interview where Cappadonna explains how he maintains his discipline when dealing with life’s temptations, especially with being a figure in the public eye. He also expands on the changes he’s made since the Pillage.
Flava Flav (of Public Enemy) & Rza (of Wu-Tang Clan) – Interview (Live At Rock The Bells 2007 – New York, NY – 7/29/07) (Video)
Flava Flav is always a character. In this entertaining interview with UGHH he blasts off about PE’s legacy and reveals an interesting fact; that he is blood relatives with Ol Dirty Bastard and the RZA.
Raekwon (of Wu-Tang Clan) – Interview (Live At Rock The Bells 2007 – New York, NY – 7/28/07) (Video)
OB4CL2 not dropping on Aftermath? Sounds like it is a strong possibility in this interview w/ UGHH. Raekwon also goes into some of the behind the scenes politics in putting the record out and speaks on the record labels jerking him. He also states the record will be out “Summer 2008â€.. we’ll see I guess. The Chef also chops it up about the state of hip hop. Peep this interview.
Rza (of Wu-Tang Clan) – Interview (Live At Rock The Bells 2007 – New York, NY – 7/28/07) (Video)
VanStylez goes jogging with The RZA, and taps deep into his “fountain of knowledgeâ€. Find out how RZA orchestrated the Wu-Tang rise with a five year plan of dropping classic albums and his thoughts on the current state of the Clan. Dope interview, peep it.
Streetlife (of Wu-Tang Clan) – Interview (Live At Rock The Bells 2007 – New York, NY – 7/28/07) (Video)
In one of the craziest interviews of the Rock The Bells weekend, Streetlife goes into detail about his drug use with Method Man, how he’s not really stressing his rap career and suggests all MCs give up their rapping aspirations and concentrate on gaining knowledge, how Ol’ Dirty Bastard caught an STD in the mouth in Thailand, and even drops an interesting story about the god, Biggie Smalls. A must watch!
U-God (of Wu-Tang Clan) – Interview (Live At Rock The Bells 2007 – New York, NY – 7/28/07) (Video)
U-God extols on the shortcomings of his previous solo efforts, his future as a solo MC, and even drops a direct threat to Tony Yayo of G-Unit (at the end). Worth watching this just to here U-God do his “Ay Bay Bay†impression.