Entertainment
LEGEND OF THE BLUNTED MASTERS
Fri, Jan 10, 2003 12:00 am
Story by Devin Horowitz
It’s Wu-Tang Clan’s first record together in over five years and U-God’s birthday as well, so it’s no surprise that the Clan is in good spirits. I was welcomed at the undisclosed interview location by healthy clouds of smoke and empty bottles of Hennessy. Clearly, the band has gotten a head start on the festivities. “I’m a black-weed guy,” reveals the outspoken Raekwon, after being presented with a big, bright cola to roll up. “I can’t stand none of that green.”
“Good, then there’ll be a lot more for us,” chimes in The Rza, the subtle Don of the Clan. He’s the longtime architect of Wu’s “Shaolin” sound and the group’s tireless leader. It can’t be easy keeping that big of a crew together—today he’s only able to secure half of the team for this interview.
“It’s not that I don’t feel the good green, it’s just some kids be trying too hard to make their shit smell the illest,” cautions Raekwon, who, like the other Wu members, has become increasingly concerned with anything he puts in his body. “I wonder what they’re doing to it.”
“You gotta look out for that chemically impaired shit,” advises Inspectah Deck, one of the less visible heads on the Wu-Tang totem pole.
“And understand the consequences of putting anything that’s not organic in your system,” adds The Gza, the lyrical sword-swinging scientist. Clearly, The Rza’s Zen-like mentality has rubbed off on the rest of the Clan.
So much has happened since the Wu debuted with Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers in 1993. Everyone except for Masta Killa has dropped his own solo album (some even doing two and three joints). The Wu’s 1996 follow-up, the Wu-tang Forever double CD, unfortunately inundated fans and confused critics with a classic case of too many chefs in the kitchen. Still, whatever the adversity, be it business or otherwise, Wu-Tang members say weed has always pulled them through the tough times.
“You know what made us smoke a lot?” asks Raekwon, who last year starred in the movie Black and White. “Depression.”
“Weed will turn you inside out,” explains The Gza. “But at the same time it helps you to be real creative.”
“When we were in a fucked-up part of our lives, the first thing we’d do was roll something,” offers Raekwon. “Weed can be a natural psychiatrist. It’s true as long as you apply it right. When you smoke weed, you’re bringing out both sides of you at one time. No one’s got to be there, but as long as you’re blazin’, you’ve got a conversation.”
Anxious to talk about The W (Loud), their new album, The Rza jumps in. “You’ll definitely like our shit more when you’re high,” he explains. “Our shit is high music.” The album’s musical spectrum broadly ranges from the eerie Syl Johnson soul loop on “Hollow Bones” to the rugged reggae cover of “One Blood,” featuring the legendary Junior Reid. It’s rare that Wu ever step outside their Shaolin circle in the studio, so the blunted cameos from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Redman, Busta Rhymes and even Isaac Hayes come as a big surprise.
“That Isaac Hayes track [a remake of his version of “Walk on By” titled “I Can’t Go to Sleep”] will definitely put you in a zone,” says Raekwon. “At like three in the morning when you’re rolling up a chunky one, you gotta light up to that song.”
“People tell me they didn’t understand the first album until they smoked a blunt,” comments U-God. “It’s probably gonna be the same with this one.”
“I can’t deny that,” adds The Rza. “You almost gotta be high to sit through that. Then all your thoughts and inspirations will come through at that single moment. That what’s so popping about Amsterdam. You have that freedom anytime, either in your hotel room or at a club, wherever.”
“We were smoking in front of cops, and even in McDonald’s out there,” laughs U-God about their Dutch experience.
“I don’t know how you guys do it without the Feds running up in your shit,” Raekwon wonders about HIGH TIMES. “I’ve always been curious about that.”
“However you do it, big up,” adds The Gza. “You come through, get smoky, ask questions and analyze us. HIGH TIMES is definitely killing it.”
Feelings are mutual, oh blunted masters.
It’s Wu-Tang Clan’s first record together in over five years and U-God’s birthday as well, so it’s no surprise that the Clan is in good spirits. I was welcomed at the undisclosed interview location by healthy clouds of smoke and empty bottles of Hennessy. Clearly, the band has gotten a head start on the festivities. “I’m a black-weed guy,” reveals the outspoken Raekwon, after being presented with a big, bright cola to roll up. “I can’t stand none of that green.”
“Good, then there’ll be a lot more for us,” chimes in The Rza, the subtle Don of the Clan. He’s the longtime architect of Wu’s “Shaolin” sound and the group’s tireless leader. It can’t be easy keeping that big of a crew together—today he’s only able to secure half of the team for this interview.
“It’s not that I don’t feel the good green, it’s just some kids be trying too hard to make their shit smell the illest,” cautions Raekwon, who, like the other Wu members, has become increasingly concerned with anything he puts in his body. “I wonder what they’re doing to it.”
“You gotta look out for that chemically impaired shit,” advises Inspectah Deck, one of the less visible heads on the Wu-Tang totem pole.
“And understand the consequences of putting anything that’s not organic in your system,” adds The Gza, the lyrical sword-swinging scientist. Clearly, The Rza’s Zen-like mentality has rubbed off on the rest of the Clan.
So much has happened since the Wu debuted with Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers in 1993. Everyone except for Masta Killa has dropped his own solo album (some even doing two and three joints). The Wu’s 1996 follow-up, the Wu-tang Forever double CD, unfortunately inundated fans and confused critics with a classic case of too many chefs in the kitchen. Still, whatever the adversity, be it business or otherwise, Wu-Tang members say weed has always pulled them through the tough times.
“You know what made us smoke a lot?” asks Raekwon, who last year starred in the movie Black and White. “Depression.”
“Weed will turn you inside out,” explains The Gza. “But at the same time it helps you to be real creative.”
“When we were in a fucked-up part of our lives, the first thing we’d do was roll something,” offers Raekwon. “Weed can be a natural psychiatrist. It’s true as long as you apply it right. When you smoke weed, you’re bringing out both sides of you at one time. No one’s got to be there, but as long as you’re blazin’, you’ve got a conversation.”
Anxious to talk about The W (Loud), their new album, The Rza jumps in. “You’ll definitely like our shit more when you’re high,” he explains. “Our shit is high music.” The album’s musical spectrum broadly ranges from the eerie Syl Johnson soul loop on “Hollow Bones” to the rugged reggae cover of “One Blood,” featuring the legendary Junior Reid. It’s rare that Wu ever step outside their Shaolin circle in the studio, so the blunted cameos from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Redman, Busta Rhymes and even Isaac Hayes come as a big surprise.
“That Isaac Hayes track [a remake of his version of “Walk on By” titled “I Can’t Go to Sleep”] will definitely put you in a zone,” says Raekwon. “At like three in the morning when you’re rolling up a chunky one, you gotta light up to that song.”
“People tell me they didn’t understand the first album until they smoked a blunt,” comments U-God. “It’s probably gonna be the same with this one.”
“I can’t deny that,” adds The Rza. “You almost gotta be high to sit through that. Then all your thoughts and inspirations will come through at that single moment. That what’s so popping about Amsterdam. You have that freedom anytime, either in your hotel room or at a club, wherever.”
“We were smoking in front of cops, and even in McDonald’s out there,” laughs U-God about their Dutch experience.
“I don’t know how you guys do it without the Feds running up in your shit,” Raekwon wonders about HIGH TIMES. “I’ve always been curious about that.”
“However you do it, big up,” adds The Gza. “You come through, get smoky, ask questions and analyze us. HIGH TIMES is definitely killing it.”
Feelings are mutual, oh blunted masters.