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.
3. Method Man
Wu-Tang’s own Michael Jordan has completed roles in Scary Movie 3 and My Baby’s Mama, and will appear in a B-boy remake of Airploan! next year; his new album, Tical O: The Prequel, is slated for release on October 28th. RZA produced two of the tracks.
4. Cappadonna
He’s currently driving a cab on Long Island and working on a solo album.
5. RZA
Wu’s mastermind produced the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, due out October 10th. “Me and Quentin hooked up because kung-fu movies are our joy of life,” RZA says. His solo album Birth of’a Prince is out now, as is an import-only CD, The World According to RZA, featuring collaborations with European rappers. “You don’t understand what they’re saying, but you can hear the flow in their voice,” he says.
6. Ghostface Killah
“He’s the greatest MC ever,” according to RZA. In addition to appearing on Mark Ronson’s hot summer single “Ooh Wee,” the Wu’s most mysterious man is recording an album, due out next year.
7. Inspectah Deck
Wu-Tang’s secret weapon — his verse was the germ behind their breakout hit “C.R.E.A.M.” -Deck released the soulful, socially conscious The Movement earlier this year, garnering good underground buzz.
8. U-God
“I can’t really speak on U-God because I haven’t seen him a lot, but we’re planning on hooking up and kicking it,” RZA says. “I know that when that iron flag goes up in the air, he’ll be there.”
9.Genius/GZA
According to RZA, Wu-Tang’s second-in-command has been out of commission due to the loss of his mother a couple of months ago. GZA is working on a Wu-Tang DVD, featuring unreleased footage.
10. Dirt McGirt (a.k.a. OI’Dirty Bastard)
“He’s back and doing better than a lot of people who’ve been through what he’s been through,” says RZA. Wu-Tang’s craziest member has signed to Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella label for his new album, due out later this year. Guest stars tentatively include RZA, the Neptunes, Ghostface Killah, Mariah Carey, Ludacris and, er, Posh Spice.