Post by 35thchamber on Dec 13, 2007 12:58:59 GMT -5
A self-described ancestor in the rap game, Raekwon’s colossal Only Built for Cuban Linx… alone guaranteed that he would never have to worry about extinction. With an uncontested legacy that secures him a place in rap annals, some might think the Chef has nothing more to prove. But as his leadership in the controversy surrounding the Wu-Tang Clan’s 8 Diagrams demonstrates, the forerunner of criminology rap refuses to stray too far from the aesthetic origins of Hip Hop’s unmatched super group.
It seems appropriate that while most rap infighting is centered on money, Raekwon’s most ardent criticisms of RZA are concerned with art. After all, the Clan represents a now bygone era when creativity appeared to trump financial motives, and when the closest the Wu came to being political was with Rae’s slang rap democracy. Claiming to be a spokesperson for the group’s collective grievances, Raekwon is dismayed at what he sees as RZA’s self-motivated stylings, and is planning a counter-offensive to put the embattled leader in his place. Regardless of whether or not a new generation of listeners will grant this artistic debate the attention it deserves, Raekwon is faithful that true Wu fans will follow its evolution closely. And if the lukewarm reception to 8 Diagrams is any indication, many disappointed listeners will be turning to Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang and the perpetually delayed Only Built for Cuban Linx 2: The Return of the Purple Tape as potentially more desirable alternatives. In a conversation with HipHopDX shortly after his memorable performance at the Jam Master Jay Awards show in New York City, Raekwon reveals his motivation behind the new projects and reflects on his influence in Hip Hop.
HipHopDX: Is the Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang album still coming out?
Raekwon: Yeah, it’s going to be coming out.
DX: How will this album separate itself musically from 8 Diagrams?
R: It’s just gonna be fire. You got 8 Diagrams or whatever, it sounds aight; I mean I’m on it, I came to work and do what I have to do. But I feel like dudes got a stronger ear for what they want right now. RZA gotta step his production up, and he probably gonna see what we dealing with and realize we not gonna play no games- it’s on, he know what it is.
DX: Is it true that the entire clan is down with the idea to exclude RZA?
R: I really don’t like when people try to sit here and say we trying to assassinate RZA’s character. At the end of the day, RZA ain't doing no production on it, because he’s not with it. It’s like we representing what we representing, and he representing what he representing. So it’s not to incriminate him but it’s just to teach him a lesson, and let him know that that “Yo, you The Abbot and all that but we the backbone, so watch what we do. We gonna show you how to make a crazier album,” that’s all. RZA is being selfish right now with his ears and he gotta understand: as an artist coming up under the family, it ain’t no higher team. And he’s still caught up in his ways, so therefore we have decided to move forward and do a project. He can be mad or whatever whatever, it is what it is. It’s just to let the world know that we not having it and we not going out like no "yes men" niggas, so that’s what it is.
DX: One of the most remarkable things about the Clan is how well you all understood each other creatively, on so many levels. When did that understanding start to break down with RZA?
R: You know a lot of nuts been going on for years, we just haven’t really been exploding off of it because we have a lot of respect for one another. At the end of the day, we all brothers still. But by the same token, if I feel like my brother is f**king up and he ain't on point the way he supposed to be and he not listening anymore, then it’s like “You know what? You gotta sit in the corner for a little while and do what the f**k you feel like you gonna do.” I’m so surprised you can sit here and try to speak for all of us, and you know we all don’t feel like you feel. But you disregarding brothers’ feelings and you just can’t do that, that aint what it’s about. It’s about us coming together for one common cause and working together. I don’t work for RZA- I come together to do business with RZA and when the hands are pointed at you from mad different people saying, “Yo, step your game up my nigga,” and you’re not stepping it up, then we’ve got a problem.
DX: Were the tensions apparent when you were recording the album, because according to RZA they evaporated in the studio?
R: It's been tension, it been a lot of tension. It been to the point where it’s like RZA feel like he know everything, and at the end of the day we not agreeing with his ways of handling the situation. We came up working together- if I’m telling you it ain't right, the nuts is weak, come on. It’s like yo, that ain't how we supposed to work if we family. It’s a lot of other nuts though, but it is what it is
It seems appropriate that while most rap infighting is centered on money, Raekwon’s most ardent criticisms of RZA are concerned with art. After all, the Clan represents a now bygone era when creativity appeared to trump financial motives, and when the closest the Wu came to being political was with Rae’s slang rap democracy. Claiming to be a spokesperson for the group’s collective grievances, Raekwon is dismayed at what he sees as RZA’s self-motivated stylings, and is planning a counter-offensive to put the embattled leader in his place. Regardless of whether or not a new generation of listeners will grant this artistic debate the attention it deserves, Raekwon is faithful that true Wu fans will follow its evolution closely. And if the lukewarm reception to 8 Diagrams is any indication, many disappointed listeners will be turning to Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang and the perpetually delayed Only Built for Cuban Linx 2: The Return of the Purple Tape as potentially more desirable alternatives. In a conversation with HipHopDX shortly after his memorable performance at the Jam Master Jay Awards show in New York City, Raekwon reveals his motivation behind the new projects and reflects on his influence in Hip Hop.
HipHopDX: Is the Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang album still coming out?
Raekwon: Yeah, it’s going to be coming out.
DX: How will this album separate itself musically from 8 Diagrams?
R: It’s just gonna be fire. You got 8 Diagrams or whatever, it sounds aight; I mean I’m on it, I came to work and do what I have to do. But I feel like dudes got a stronger ear for what they want right now. RZA gotta step his production up, and he probably gonna see what we dealing with and realize we not gonna play no games- it’s on, he know what it is.
DX: Is it true that the entire clan is down with the idea to exclude RZA?
R: I really don’t like when people try to sit here and say we trying to assassinate RZA’s character. At the end of the day, RZA ain't doing no production on it, because he’s not with it. It’s like we representing what we representing, and he representing what he representing. So it’s not to incriminate him but it’s just to teach him a lesson, and let him know that that “Yo, you The Abbot and all that but we the backbone, so watch what we do. We gonna show you how to make a crazier album,” that’s all. RZA is being selfish right now with his ears and he gotta understand: as an artist coming up under the family, it ain’t no higher team. And he’s still caught up in his ways, so therefore we have decided to move forward and do a project. He can be mad or whatever whatever, it is what it is. It’s just to let the world know that we not having it and we not going out like no "yes men" niggas, so that’s what it is.
DX: One of the most remarkable things about the Clan is how well you all understood each other creatively, on so many levels. When did that understanding start to break down with RZA?
R: You know a lot of nuts been going on for years, we just haven’t really been exploding off of it because we have a lot of respect for one another. At the end of the day, we all brothers still. But by the same token, if I feel like my brother is f**king up and he ain't on point the way he supposed to be and he not listening anymore, then it’s like “You know what? You gotta sit in the corner for a little while and do what the f**k you feel like you gonna do.” I’m so surprised you can sit here and try to speak for all of us, and you know we all don’t feel like you feel. But you disregarding brothers’ feelings and you just can’t do that, that aint what it’s about. It’s about us coming together for one common cause and working together. I don’t work for RZA- I come together to do business with RZA and when the hands are pointed at you from mad different people saying, “Yo, step your game up my nigga,” and you’re not stepping it up, then we’ve got a problem.
DX: Were the tensions apparent when you were recording the album, because according to RZA they evaporated in the studio?
R: It's been tension, it been a lot of tension. It been to the point where it’s like RZA feel like he know everything, and at the end of the day we not agreeing with his ways of handling the situation. We came up working together- if I’m telling you it ain't right, the nuts is weak, come on. It’s like yo, that ain't how we supposed to work if we family. It’s a lot of other nuts though, but it is what it is