A SCHISM IN THE WU-TANG BY BEN WEDIN

A Schism in the Wu-Tang:

RZA and Raekwon

“Me and the RZA connect.” This is the shout out Raekwon gave to fellow Wu-Tang Clan member RZA on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, one of the most iconic albums from the ‘90s. The 1995 RZA-produced album not only solidified Raekwon’s rap career and RZA’s production career, but brought Mafia themes, Cristal, and hustler rap from the East Coast into the mainstream, carried on by Jay-Z in his 1996 album Reasonable Doubt. This line even gets a shoutout from Kanye and Jay-Z on Watch the Throne cut “New Day.” Since then, RZA has remained the principal producer of both the Wu-Tang Clan’s group and solo albums, but the divisions and tensions within the Wu have become more apparent. Don’t be fooled: Wu-Tang did not start as a bunch of friends cyphering, but was rather a product of RZA’s diplomacy. Raekwon has said that he initially “didn’t really fuck with” Ghostface Killah, but RZA “brought all the families together” to form a powerful relationship. The two members RZA and Raekwon have had their share of creative differences in the past. Raekwon had enough frustration with RZA’s experimental production on Wu-Tang Clan’s 8 Diagrams (2007) that he sought to make Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang, a Wu-Tang group album that would include all members except RZA. The New album eventually became Raekwon’s 5th solo album, and did not include any contribution from RZA. The most recent RZA/Raekwon dispute is about the group’s newest album, A Better Tomorrow. Raekwon has described the dispute as a result of RZA’s desire for total control, an unclear contract, and Raekwon not wanting to settle for an inferior product. RZA has given Raekwon an ultimatum of 30 days to get on board, or else the album may never see the late of day, as RZA wants all living Wu-Tang members to participate. Raekwon participated in the other Wu-Tang album scheduled for release, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, which will be only one copy and will make appearances in museums before its sale. So why the conflict on this particular project? The simple answer may be C.R.E.A.M – “Cash rules everything around me.” The members of Wu-Tang are all established names, so a new album is equal to an all-star ensemble film: the budget of the project will not be able to match the compensation individuals are used to. But the conflict also illustrates just how much the artists have developed over 20 years. RZA was the entrepreneur/ rapper/producer of the group from the start, but his creative scope has broadened over time.

Written By: Ben Wedin In the past 6 years, RZA has written a solo album, a movie, guest verses, and a book. He’s also produced movie soundtracks, songs on critically acclaimed albums, and continues his acting/directing career. Raekwon on the other hand, has focused on his rapping career and is currently the most active and commercially successful solo artist of Wu-Tang. In the same 6 years, Raekwon has made two solo albums (his third, F.I.L.A, is set to drop this year), a collab album, guest verses, and nine mixtapes. RZA may be pushing more boundaries with his sounds and ideas, but Raekwon has more output. Since 2013, Raekwon has guest verses on over 30 tracks, while RZA holds only 5 guest verses to his name. The two are still concerned with music, but now have vastly different approaches. If the RZA/Raekwon dispute gets settled, it’s hard to think any new Wu-Tang album will match the energy of 36 Chambers, when the members were coming from Shaolin (Staten Island) so hungry and fierce. The parts of Wu-Tang have become so disparate, that bringing them together to form the invincible Voltron they once were may sound impossible. Until you remember that’s how Wu-Tang started, and if anyone is up to the challenge it’s the RZA. Here’s to hoping for A Better Tomorrow. 21