Raekwon: "Our Solo Careers Hurt The Wu-Tang Clan"

Raekwon reflects on his career with Wu-Tang and how branching out into solo careers took away from the group.

Wu disciples, do you think the solo careers of the members hurt Wu-Tang as a whole??
What do you think?

Victim - Words of wisdom #5 from The RZA (“The Tao of Wu)

Wu-Sciples - Last Supper Inspired Wu-Tang Clan Art

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Wu-Tang Clan, illustrator Adam Hathorn has created a ten color print of the group titled Wu-Sciples and based on "The Last Supper." Hathorn, aka Honkey Kong, was commissioned to create the work by Two Rabbits Studios. The late Big Baby Jesus is front and center, of course, and even Cappadonna makes it into the picture.

The limited edition prints are on sale for $60 a pop right here and you can see how they were created in the photos (click the #s). Spotted over at Animal New York.

Wu-Tang Finiancials

GZA/Genius In Spain, Barcelona @Apolo 2012

The Genius is scheduled to take over London's Oxford University this weekend for a lecture.

Over the past few years, Hip Hop has been taking over the university scene with numerous rappers giving lectures and teaching classes. Now, the backbone of the Wu-Tang Clan the GZA/Genius is taking his lecture series to Oxford University in England.

Fresh off his lecture at Harvard University this past November, the Liquid Swordsman is heading overseas to a number of European institutions to talk about his craft as an MC, his career, the state of Hip Hop and his seminal solo LP Liquid Swords. The four week lecture tour will begin this weekend at Sheffield University and Oxford University in the UK, and will continue on through Germany, Switzerland, France and other countries.

The GZA is also currently working on his follow up to 2008's Pro Tools and is in talks to lecture at NYU and MIT this spring. The full list of lecture dates can be seen below.

TOUR DATES

1/27 Sheffield, UK @ O2 Academy
1/28 Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy
1/29 Liverpool, UK @ O2 Academy
1/30 Bournemouth, UK @ Old Fire Station
1/31 London, UK @ O2 Academy
2/1 Gent, BEL @ Vooruit
2/2 Poitiers, FR @ Confort Moderne
2/3 Montpelier, FR @ Rockstore
2/4 Cologne, GER @ Essigfabrik
2/5 Stuttgart, GER @ Die Röhre
2/6 Munich, GER @ Backstage
2/7 Berlin, GER @ Cassiopeia
2/8 Hamburg, GER @ Klubsen
2/9 Zurich, SWI @ Escherwyss
2/10 Neufchatel, SWI @ La Case a Chocs
2/11 Geneva, SWI @ Usine PTR
2/12 Paris, FR @ Le Bataclan
2/13 Glasgow, SCO @ The Arches
2/14 Tilburg, NET @ 5-Elementz
2/15 Amsterdam, NET @ 013
2/16 Birmingham, UK @ The Other Room
2/17 Laax, SWI @ Riders Palace
2/18 Bristol, UK @ O2
2/19 Bratislawa, SLO @ Majestik Music Club
2/20 Vienna, AUS @ Fluc Wanne



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Raekwon Announces 'Unexpected Victory' Canadian Tour

Wu vet Raekwon kicked off 2012 with the release of a brand new mixtape, titled Unexpected Victory, and now, he's planning to head to Canada in late February in support of the release.

Dubbed the "Unexpected Victory Tour", Rae is set to kick things off on February 20th in Whistler, BC, before hitting 11 cities -- including Vancouver, Calgary, and Winnipeg -- through the beginning of March, where the tour comes to a close in Quebec City on March 4th.

Raekwon will be touring alongside his artist Ice H20 Records artist JD Era, as well as special guests Random Humans and Conscience.

The Unexpected Victory mixtape boasts 17 new tracks with features from the likes of Mobb Deep, the L.E.P. Bogus Boys, Busta Rhymes, Vado, C-N-N, and Styles P, as well as JD Era.

Download it over at MixtapePass.com.

Below is confirmed dates and venues for the upcoming "Unexpected Victory Tour":

02/20 - Whistler, BC @ Garfinkle's

02/21 - Victoria, BC @ Club 9one9

02/22 - Vancouver, BC @ Fortune Sound

02/23 - Castlegar, BC @ Element

02/24 - Calgary, AB @ Desperados

02/25 - Edmonton, AB @ Chrome Lounge

02/26 - Regina, SK @ Distrikt

02/27 - Winnipeg, MB @ Marquee Events Centre

02/28 - Thunder Bay, ON @ Crocks

03/02 - Ottawa, ON @ Ritual

03/04 - Quebec City, QC @ Dagobert

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GZA/Genius - Livemusic Interview

One of my enduring childhood memories was being given a copy of the Wu-Tang Clan's 'Enter the 36 Chambers' by my next-door neighbour. I remember listening to the tape religiously on my walkman over and over again (as well as my mother taking an instant dislike to the neighbour in question for introducing me to the world of gangster-rap.) As a young-lad of 10 years, I marvelled, mainly at the shit-load of swear-words within the raps but also at the lyrical content of the record. It was my official soundtrack to Euro '96. Fuck the 'Three Lions', I had the '36 Chambers.' Fast-forward several years and the album was once again an integral part of my life, this time playing it's part in my introduction to the world of recreational drugs. I'd sit about with my mates whilst Method Man instructed us to, "roll that shit, light that shit, smoke it." We duly obliged. By no means was the record all about cursing, drugs and violence, it was riddled with spellbinding rhymes, silky-smooth delivery and of course some of the finest beats ever to be crafted by man. One member in particular sparked the receptors in my brain into a frenzied-overload. The man in question is referred to by his fellow Wu-Tang members as 'The Genius.' This lyrical-mastermind is regarded as the "spiritual head" of the Wu-Tang, being the oldest member of the clan and the first to strike up a solo record deal. His 1995 album 'Liquid Swords' is a shining example of word-smithery at it's finest and is still widely considered as one of the greatest releases from the Wu-Tang camp. I had the pleasure of sitting down with the man himself to talk about what makes 'The Genius' a genius.

Read Full Interview here

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Even on a Wheel Chair, Wu-Tang Method Man Still Rocks On

Even on a wheelchair, Wu-Tang still rocks on.
Method Man in a wheelchair with a broken leg, RZA, and U-God, doing there classic "C.R.E.A.M" back stage filmed by Apaulo Treed live at the Mateel in Humbolt County, California 01/23/12

RZA : Californication: Santa Monica Cop Trailer

Method Man Giving Away Free Champagne at South Beach's Cameo on February 4

The world's formal introduction to Clifford Smith -- then, now, and forever known as Method Man, the Wu-Tang Clan's most ruthless and bloodthirsty assassin-slash-MC -- came via an intense spoken-word skit on the Clan's 1993 debut, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).
Before launching into his signature, eponymous track, "Method Man," (the only cut on 36 Chambers named after one of the group's MCs), Meth treats the listener to an extended, buffet-like rundown of ridiculously gruesome torture techniques.
This highly scatalogical list of, ahem, methods, includes burning anuses with a hot wire-hanger, slamming nuts in a dresser, and sewing butt-cheeks shut.

Luckily, in the couple of decades since the Wu crew first hit the streets, Method Man has gradually transformed himself into a more conventional mainstream entertainer. He's starred in weed movies and shilled deodorant with Redman. And no doubt, this MC has softened substantially. In fact, his appearance at Cameo on February 4 even promises free champagne. Albeit, the bubbly is limited to the first 100 ladies. But hey, that all sounds better than whatever weird shit Method Man would have had planned for the evening circa '93.Method Man, hosting Saturday at The 400. Saturday, February 4. Cameo, 1445 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. Doors open at 11 p.m. and tickets cost $22.50 plus fees vias wantickets.com. Call 305-532-2667 or visit cameomiami.com.

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Uncle Ray's Weekly Wuspiration #1: Life is short....

'Life is short, LIVE IT. Love is rare, GRAB IT. Hate is bad, DUMP IT. Fear is awful, FACE IT. Memories are forever, CHERISH IT.

From Ray Acosta (President/GM @ Wu Music Group)

Wu-Tang Clan - Club Nokia - January 21, 2012

Pictures by Timothy Norris

Raekwon Birthday Bash At Eve Ultra Lounge w/ Funk Flex, JD Era & Others

RZA Says He's Given Beats To Busta Rhymes & Nas, Speaks On Method Man LP

The RZArector also updates on the upcoming Wu-Tang Clan album.




RZA recently checked in with GWHH'S GY312 in Chicago, Illinois, speaking on his various projects in 2012. During the interview, the Wu-Tang Clan swordsman said that he supplied beats to Nas and Busta Rhymes, each of whom came to his home to select from his 500-beat stash. He also remained vague about the upcoming Wu album, which he previously revealed would release in 2012.

"As far as the Wu brothers, whatever we do, we do it. Sometimes we premeditate it, sometimes it’s just done naturally. I’m more in a natural mode right now. I got 500 beats in my crib. So if anyone wanna come over and collect them, they can collect them. We had a lot of other brothers come over. Last year, I was home and people like Busta came over and got some beats, Nas came through… My door is open."

News recently broke that he and Method Man would reunite for what would be either their last collaborative album or Meth's final LP. RZA remained more elusive about the project, stating that it's more about the tour at the moment.

"Right now I’m on tour with the Wu-Tang, having fun. As far as musically, me and Method Man are talking about going to the studio. We never got a chance to do another album since my first album. Maybe we’ll do another album together. Other than that, just rocking these shows and shit, having a good time and shit."

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Raekwon, Common, Aretha Franklin & More at Martin Luther King Weekend & BET Honors

Last night in Washington, D.C., Common, Aretha Franklin, Raekwon, Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton, DJ D-Nice, and more, all came out to celebrate MLK weekend and the BET Honors at the "Hennessy VS BET Honors After Party" event at The Park on Fourteenth and at The National Portrait Gallery.The gang of celebrities started out their night at the BET Honors and afte wards, they party hopped from one Hennessy VS event to the other.It was like a high school reunion for the artists who chatted with each other and danced the night away. Below are a few photos.

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Wu-Tang Clan Brings Out Bun B in honor of Pimp C (UGK)

Legendary hip hop crew The Wu-Tang Clan paid tribute to fallen rapper and UGK member Pimp C during a performance in Houston. While the Clan was without longtime rhymers Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, the Wu took the time to honor the legendary rapper who passed in 2007.

Pimp C's UGK partner, Bun B, was on-hand at the House of Blues for Wu-Tang Clan's show.

Wu-Tang Clan brought Bun B out to the delight of his hometown crowd, though he did not rhyme. Nonetheless, the audience was receptive and enthusiastic and the tribute was well-received. The Wu-Tang Clan also lost one of its own members years ago; as the Ol' Dirty Bastard died in 2004 at the age of 36.

GHOSTFACE KILLAH SAYS RESPECT THE HIGHER POWER, "STOP FRONTING ON GOD" [VIDEO]

Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah recently opened up on his belief in God and stressed the importance of fans and hip-hop artists alike having faith in a higher power.

Tony Starks said faith and belief in God can ultimately bring a person more happiness.

"What I want to say right now is just stop fronting on God. Keep God in your life man cause God is real. You know what I mean? You go through a lot of stuff because we ignore his signs and stuff like that though," Ghost said in an interview. "And they expect him to answer they prayers or whatever immediately. But I wouldn't even answer you after you been doing a lot of bullsh*t and you gonna call on me when you need me when you shot or something. So I'm just saying you gotta give daily prayers...And then you'll probably have a closer relationship. Your relationship will probably be more closer to God and you'll be more happy." (The Come Up Show)

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Cappadonna - Cuban Link Kings (New Official Video)

Wu-Wednesday : RZA Shock Me

SHOCK ME by RZAWU

2012 T and L..Truth and Love.

We will continue the love chamber with an old Bobby Digital demo I found.

#WuWednesday

- The RZA

Raekwon's Wu-Tang Vs Shaolin Album Ranked Amongst The Top 10 Albums of 2011

Raekwon - Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang

While the album does not feature the RZA, it does have its share of Wu-Tang brethren present (conveniently it is basically all the members who sided with Raekwon regarding the critiques of the last Wu-Tang album). "Every Soldier in the Hood" features Method Man and has him dropping some of his best work in recent years, while "Silver Rings" features Ghostface as well Inspectah Deck makes an appearance on "Chop Chop Ninja". All Wu members come correct, and you can sense that they are enjoying rhyming over the types of beats that made them breakthrough in the early years.

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DESIREE ELYDA LOVES WU-TANG

DESIREE ELYDA LOVES WU-TANG

Horror - Words of wisdom #4 from The RZA (“The Tao of Wu)

C.R.E.A.M.

Method Man Featured on Ebony’s Black Love Issue: The Men of ‘Red Tails’ Cover

Gracing the cover of their February issue are Nate Parker, Terrence Howard, David Oyelowo, and Cuba Gooding, Jr, the cast of George Lucas’ upcoming movie, “The Red Tails,” which tells the story of the heroic Tuskegee airmen.
Inside, they also have the leading men’s cast mates, Elijah Kelley, Ne-Yo, Tristan Wilds, Michael B. Jordan, Method Man, and Leslie Odom, Jr.

Trailer of upcoming movie which features Method Man below;

Wu Tang's Inspectah Deck talks new album & retirement

The Wu Tang Killa Bees are on the swarm and headed toward Minneapolis tomorrow, and among the crew members ready to deliver a hot set of old favorites and new jams at Epic is Staten Island native Inspectah Deck.

Whereas counterparts Method Man and Ghostface are known for their hyped-up characters behind the mic, Deck (a.k.a. Jason Hunter) adopts a more reserved flow. His verses, especially at the front of Wu classics "Triumph" and "CREAM" are celebrated for their intricate quality, and he's also been known to stretch projects into leftfield territory.

We caught up with Inspectah Deck, in his usual mellow mood, while on the Wu tour bus with his crew, and we were surprised to hear he's dropping one last studio album before retiring and taking on new ventures.

Give us an update on your projects since you're always dipping into different sounds. You're probably on to producing dubstep by now.

The album you're thinking of was more of a Euro type of thing, trance music and other collaborations going on outside of hip-hop. That album was called Manifesto Redux and it was a remix project from the Manifesto album. It's available on Traffic/Urban Icon Records. I did remixes of different Wu sounds and put my acapella to them just to give the songs a change of pace -- it's something I'd never done in my career. The album I'm working on now is called Rebellion and it's going to be my final album. I'm going to put that together this year guaranteed and it's going to have all the Clan members and the normal formula.

If you go
​
Final album? Why? Did you come to some kind of realization that you wanted to be done with solo projects?

Well, I've come to a couple realizations. One that I came to a long time ago was that I might not be the three, four time platinum selling artist, so with that being said, I've learned to take my money and invest it into other things. I have mutual funds going, dealing with the stock exchange, preparing myself a long time ago just in case this didn't work out. Right now, I'm more into the camera side of everything. Everyone wants to be rappers and actors, so I'd rather be the director now. I want to capture the shots. I want to write scripts. My rhymes are graphic enough to be movies.

I'm just preparing myself for the next side, you know? Not to mention I'm 40. This whole rap generation today is on something new right now. I can understand it. I see it, but I'm just not part of it.

Is there anything new in rap that's grabbing you at all?

Odd Future is cool because they're coming up under the ranks of hip-hop. Random Acts and these other groups are coming out with cats who have been in the game. Right now, I'm working on an collaboration EP with Aguilar the producer, Propane Campaign. I have a collaboration with 7L and Esoteric coming out of Boston. We put out a song called "Speaking Real Words" that did real good. I've got another mixtape coming out soon, too. I'm just working on those things and honing my camera skills, leaning Premier Pro and Final Cuts and all that.

So you'd be interested in doing films and music videos for other people?

I don't care, I'll set up a company that will do weddings and bah mitzvahs. It doesn't matter. I'm just working up to the next level of Inspectah Deck.

A lot of people are super excited and are wondering who's showing up this go-round to Epic. Are you guys all coming to Minneapolis?

You know the thing you get with Wu Tang, if you've got 9 generals, you've got 9 independent minds. I can't call it and I have no contol over it. Sometimes there's previous engagements or family matters. We all represent each other. There's been times I've been on the stage and there's just four of us and we still gave a great show. We have those type of fans where some people come specifically for a certain member -- just for Meth, just for RZA or just for GZA or just for me. But that's the beauty of us. Ghost and Raekwon haven't been there for this tour as they've got previous engagements but the crowd hasn't been bitching about it. We still do a great job. I wish they were here, though.

If you had to perform only one Wu song for the rest of your career with them, which would you pick?

That's hard. It would be between "CREAM" and "Triumph". CREAM just because that was the first major song I was a part of. Wu Tang had blown up. Before that it was Method Man and Old Dirty. But it was a song like that that propelled us into a different realm. We started getting globally accepted, like "Oh wow, Wu Tang Clan, that's THEM." For me to be on there is monumental. And with "Triumph" it's the same thing.

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Wu-Tang Clan: Yields Prime Cuts

Have a lovely weekend Wu Disciples, Be safe, Inspiration and quote for the weekend

"Every pain makes you stronger, every betrayal makes you smarter, every disappointment and every experience makes you wiser."

- by Ray Acosta (President/GM Wu Music Group)

Wu-Tang

Raekwon Unexpected Victory (Mixtape Review)

On Raekwon’s latest offering, "UnExpected Victory," “A Pinebox Story” is the lone true solo joint. 9th Wonder works up a wondrously alluring concoction of soul samples and spotless snares because that’s what 9th Wonder does. The Chef appropriately soils it immediately with a grimy, IMAX-ready crime tale seemingly without exposition; seemingly too gritty for such a pristine soundscape because that’s what The Chef does. “Swollen eyes / His face was pulverized,” raps Raekwon. / Tryna be a hustler / 2 ounces / He wanna mobilize / Dumb dummy.” You can almost smell the beat down through the Bose speakers. It’s that detailed. It’s that quintessential on all fronts. And on this project, it’s the joint that fist-pumps loudest as if to exclaim, “Yes, Yes, this is a Raekwon release!”

In essence, "UnExpected Victory" is a cross-generational collaboration project. The remaining 15 crew love-smothered tracks (excluding “Intro’s” opening instrumental) is ultimately the unexpected victory. Where Rae, CL Smooth, and Sauce Money take hustling to the next level on the Scram Jones-produced “Silk” - a place where warlords are determined by their quest for peace and bookkeepers are within arm’s reach - “Chupa Cabra” (featuring Capone-N-Noreaga) revels in rollicking international drug trafficking. Where Rae and Mobb Deep drop mafioso braggadocio on “Chinese Marines,” Rae and Busta Rhymes play lyrical tour guides on the appropriately entitled “MTV Cribs” (produced by Vin Da Chin). “Shoes forbidden in the crib / Especially on my Alaskan polar bear rugs,” Bus raps in a raucous Robin Leach flow.

Lex Diamonds makes certain to enlist his fellow luminaries while also tossing the mic to a few notable newer names. Vado, L.E.P. Bogus Boys and Dino Primo, and Fred Da Godson appear on “A Few Good Men,” “This Shit Hard,” and “Luxury Rap,” respectively. Only “Luxury Rap” is compelling enough keep from reaching for the skip button.

Rae's Ice H2O roster is easily "UnExpected Victory’s" biggest winner. Reason absolutely owns “The Brewery’s” (produced by Scram Jones) riotous amalgamation of bass lines and background chants and JD Era attacks all four of his appearances (“Just A Toast,” “Goodfellas,” “Soldier Story,” and “Gangsta Cazals”) as if the industry went Delonte West on his moms. His verse on “Solider Story” is a statement maker, brimming with perspective and maximizing Pro Logic & Moss‘ awesomely layered piano keys and hi-hats:

“I’m writing to give you more of me / There’s more to see / More than petty wars and monotonous beef / I’m more than meets the eye / I’m the eye of the beast / So keep eyeing me too long and get your eyelids beat...I got sick of chasing stars with spacious cars / Like, ‘Take this / Tape of ours / And don’t take no bars’ / Hopin they’d / Take it abroad / It’ll play so hard / That I could replace my broad and replace my job / I prayed to God / Grant me whatever I deserve / ‘Cause I don’t wanna grow to be Legend Of The Curb / But / Believe in it and it will come / Aye this a dedication to the real ones."

If only "UnExpected Victory’s" production was as impressive as the cross-generational dopeness going down on the mic. If only “That Good Good” (featuring Altrina Renee, produced by Scram Jones & Blickstreet) and “This Shit Hard” (produced by The Olympicks) didn’t sound so elementary next to “A Pinebox Story” or “Soldiers Story." If only as much effort was put into mixing and mastering the project so that “The Brewery” didn’t blast in shockingly louder than “Just A Toast” (or so “Black Dust’s” sonic details were anywhere near distinguishable) as was put into finalizing features, then The Chef’s latest might’ve avoided any glaring holes in replay value.

The emcees showed up; the engineers and producers showed up less often. Even with that, considering Raekwon improbably relinquished the reigns to a staggering 21 different artists and 15 different producers - saving only one joint for himself - and still compiled a quality listen, he absolutely came away clean. A victory after all is still a victory, unexpected or otherwise.

Download Mixtape here if you have not already done so


By The Company Man for HiphopDX

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Popa Wu aka Freedom Allah - The 5% Interview

Happy Wu Year! Setting this year off with a bang is the long overdue Popa Wu interview the fans have been requesting. If anyone can say he’s known the Wu Tang Clan from day one, then it’s Popa Wu. If anyone can say he’s part of the Wu fam literally … again it’s Popa Wu, being family to about half of the Generals and a number of Killa Beez, Popa Wu is considered a father figure by all. Popa Wu was commercially introduced to the world on Raekwon’s "North Star" in ’95 and on Ghostface Killah’s "All That I Got Is You" in ’96. On these contributions we already heard hints of the man’s influence on the Clan members and of his 5% teachings, but it was only on “Wu-Tang Foreverr” we fully got an idea of how much the Generals appreciated the man and esteemed his lessons as they asked him to do the intro on this album: "Wu-Revolution", a 7 minutes long RZA beat solely built for Popa Wu to aim his wisdom to the youth with an ear for all things Wu, filled with 5% teachings and terminology.

Since then he went on numerous tours with the Clan, released a compilation album titled “Visions of the 10th Chamber” in 2000 where he introduced the world to his own chambers within the Wu followed by a second installment later on in 2008. He has been featured on countless albums from Wu-Tang Clan members, affilaites as well as other artists, such as Masta Killa's second LP “Made In Brooklyn”, Lord Jamar’s (Brand Nubian) “The 5% Album” and laced "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II...” seamlessly with Rae’s classic OBFCL on its intro "Return of the North Star”.

There have been recent talks of a Popa Wu DVD, The 5% Story which is a documentary film that explores the life of a man who has existed behind the shadows, yet has been a pivotal influence to the greatest and most far reaching rap group of all time: The Wu-Tang Clan. There seems to be a lot on the plate for 2012, he mentioned he was planning on publishing a book on the public premiere of “Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang in NYC” some time back, he is also working on a number of projects musically as well as the much talked about Ol' Dirty Bastard movie.

With all this in mind and curious on what is still to come from one of the most influential character in the Wu camp, Wu-International had the honor and privilege to talk to and learn from Freedom Allah aka Popa Wu.. Enjoy!

Read full interview

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RZA (Wu-Tang Clan) in Late, Late Show Craig (04/01/2012)

RZA Talks Acting, Chess, Wu-Tang On 'Chelsea Lately' (Video)

In case you haven't noticed by now, RZA's got a whole lot more going on lately than just rapping and producing as part of the Wu-Tang Clan. He's got a fair amount of directing duties and acting roles -- including a recurring spot on Californication -- along with a new line of headphones. Dude also loves himself some chess, which is why he discussed just that and his aforementioned endeavors on last night's episode of Chelsea Lately. Pretty much any interview with any member of the Wu is a must-watch, and this is no different. Peep the interview below.

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A Beer Called Ghostface Killah (World's Spicest Beer)

Twisted Pine Re-releases Ghost Face Killah - "World's Spiciest Beer"

Twisted Pine Brewing Company had a simple objective in mind when developing Ghost Face Killah: to make the spiciest beer in the world. Owner Bob Baile explains how the idea for the beer was born in response to constant requests from fans of the brewery's standard chili beer, Billy's Chilies, for something ‘hotter'. "Customers kept asking for more heat and we were determined to oblige them." The reaction has been overwhelming.

At its base, Ghost Face Killah is an American-style wheat ale, but it is undeniably different than any other wheat beer out there. Once fermentation is complete, six different strains of chili peppers are introduced: Anaheim, Fresno, jalapeño, serrano, habanero and bhut jolokia, the ‘ghost' pepper. The result is liquid fire that makes endorphins rush and foreheads sweat. The intense heat presents itself immediately and persists for more than a minute after the sip. Due to the extreme nature of the beer, Ghost Face Killah is sold individually in twelve ounce bottles, as Twisted Pine feels that amount is the perfect dose.

Since bottling the beer for the first time in May 2011, demand for the capsaicin-loaded beverage has continued to surge. That batch was only available in Colorado, much to the dismay of Twisted Pine's out-of-state distributors. "We never really planned to mass-produce Ghost Face Killah," General Manager Jody Valenta points out, "but once we made it, everyone wanted some and the orders just came pouring in." This time, the brewers made enough for everybody and Ghost Face Killah is slated to appear in early January across Colorado, as well as in Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Nebraska, Missouri and Louisiana.

In addition to drinking it, cooks at Twisted Pine's Ale House have been finding creative ways to incorporate the piquant ale into the dishes they serve. On the premises at the brewery, Ghost Face Killah's distinctive flavor can be found in salsas, soups, and chili. Other restaurants in the Boulder area have taken note and there is now a growing interest in the culinary community for the fiery beer. Valenta, whose unofficial title at the brewery is Agent of Chaos, encourages chili lovers to "try and drink the beer first, and if it's too overpowering for you, use it in the kitchen."
Based in Boulder, Colorado Twisted Pine Brewing Company has been handcrafting beer since 1995. They are the brewers of such favorites as "Hoppy Boy IPA," "Raspberry Wheat Ale" and "Billy's Chilies." The Ale House is a very popular local hangout and boasts 17 taps, 5 rotating. Twisted Pine is active with local charitable organizations and a strong believer in sustainable business practices.

Nothing to do with Wu-Tang's own Ghostface Killah it seems but hey, who would have guessed a beer would been named after a rapper? can we get some RZA doughnuts or Raekwon's Burger with a Cappadonna's Fries to go please? what do you think of this beer and its name comparision?

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More Updates On Yesterday's Cancelled Wu-Tang Show

This was reported to be due to illness affecting rappers RZA and GZA, promoters rescheduled Wednesday night's Wu Tang Clan show at the Royal Oak Music Theatre to Monday 09th. This show will also be supported by Wu affliate Bronze Nazareth and his Wiseman crew.

Previously purchased tickets will be honored. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door. For more, please come back here or go directly to www.royaloakmusictheatre.com

Wu-Wednesday : RZA - 2 Left Shoes

IN MATHEMATICS, THE NUMBER 12 IS "L" WHICH REPRESENTS LOVE , SO WE'LL START THE YEAR OF WITH A CASE OF LOVE.

IN THE NEW SEASON OF CALIFORNICATION I PLAY A RAPPER NAMED APOCALYPSE AND I HAVE AN ARTIST NAMED KALI (PLAYED BY MEAGAN GOOD).

WE REVEAL OUR LOVE TRIANGLE IN THE FORM OF A SONG CALLED "2 LEFT SHOES".

#WuWednesday

2 LEFT SHOES by RZAWU

DETROIT SHOW HAS BEEN RESCHEDULE

Today's Wu Tang Clan show in Royal Oak Music Theater Detroit Michigan has been rescheduled to Monday, January 9th 2012

Working with the Rza, Wu-Affiliate Bronze Nazareth & the making of “Evil Deeds” (Ghostface Killah, Rza & Havoc)

Both the Wu-Tang albums “Chamber Music” (2009) & last years “Legendary Weapons” were built by working with the Brooklyn soul band The Revelations. The majority of the beats for these albums were produced by Lil Fame, Noah Rubin & myself, sampling & chopping up the music the band played. It was our way of capturing the Rza sound, but also getting around paying for samples & publishing. But before the idea of the “Chamber Music” album ever existed, there were a couple of early studio sessions with Rza & The Revelations. These sessions were very experimental and were just the band & Rza getting to know each-other musically. A couple of beats were made, most notably the core pieces for the beat for what would later become “NYC Crack” (the Rza solo track on “Chamber Music”). Lil Fame & myself resurrected it and completed it during one of the later sessions.

Because of Rza’s schedule & spending a lot of time in LA, he entrusted us to construct the “Chamber Music” album to a point where once the main pieces were there and all the rappers recorded, he could come in towards the end & put his touches on all the tracks. “Evil Deeds” (Ghostface Killah, Rza & Havoc) was one of the last tracks put together that he was heavily involved with. I remember the feeling on the way to the studio to meet with Rza, there was this anxiety of whether or not what we had been working on for the last couple months was going to be approved or rejected. Once the songs started playing and he was happy with them, any worries went away. We all sat around in the studio, going through the tracks, running through them one by one as Rza and his crew nodded their heads in approval. He didn’t want to change much, he gave notes on the mixes and pretty much kept it moving. “Evil Deeds” was a beat that started in an earlier session, with me bringing in a Ramsey Lewis record and asking the band to play something similar. I wanted the replay to be based heavily on Lewis’s opening piano arrangement. Borum, the keyboard player, played a number of short arrangements, which we later chopped up and simplified. The “chorus” that Rza laid down wasn’t originally a chorus. We were short on hooks, so we took the part before his verse & copied & placed it over the piano breakdown between the verses. Rza loved it. His verse is definitely one of the best he has written recently, clearly inspired by Ghost’s opening barrage. With the verses laid out, we started adding in bits of dialogue from the Kung Fu classic “5 Deadly Venoms”. At that point Rza had taken a seat at the main mixing board and was running the Pro-tools session. We all gazed at the large monitors and let him do his thing. He slid and chopped pieces of the dialogue, taking our suggestions on placement etc. Towards the end, I suggested we extend the last bit of dialogue on the track by echoing out the last word until it outlasted the beat fading out underneath it. “I’m gonna try a couple things… Then I’ll try his echo idea…. Bong” he said smiling, never breaking his stare at the monitor. Afterwards having Rza turn to me and tell me my idea was a good one, however simple it was, was pretty surreal. Honestly I didn’t have much time to dwell on it, we were hastily trying to finish an album and the clock was ticking. He was cool as hell though; he appreciated input & was generally excited about the collaborative effort that it took to finish the project. It was a great experience just to be in the same room as the guy who made some of my all time favorite records.

When “Legendary Weapons” started coming together, we recorded with Rza before anyone else in the Clan, out in Cali at his home studio. We had to do this before he left for China to film his movie, “The Man with the Iron Fists”. He recorded verses on pretty much every beat we made. We later narrowed the verses down based on how they sounded with the other rappers. If you listen very closely to the end of Rza’s verse on “225 Rounds” you can hear the beat for “Meteor Hammer” bleeding through his headphones because that verse was originally recorded on the “Meteor Hammer” beat. Bronze Nazareth came through to the studio after we finished the album and he remixed 3 of the unused Rza verses and jumped on 2 of them and spit some dope verses. These tracks were supposed to be Best Buy Bonus Tracks, but for whatever reason it didn’t work out with Best Buy. I think Bronze has plans to release these in the future. Bronze was a beast in the studio, remixing all three tracks during the day and sequencing & recording them later that night. I wasn’t too familiar with his work before that, I just new he made some banging beats. After that brief time in the studio together, I could see why Rza had given him that Wu-Tang co-sign. His work ethic is great and he clearly has a grasp on that Rza/ Wu-Tang sound while also carving his own niche. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and check out Bronze’s recent album “School For the Blindman”.

I Found these in the studio today. These are rough notes from when we were putting together Wu-Tang “Legendary Weapons”. These were used to keep track of everybody and what beat they were on. The hand written one was from early on and the typed out one was when we were finishing up.

By Andrew Kelly

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RZA's World App 2012

Download RZA's new app #RZASWORLDAPP. Get Original music in soundtrack to your life and play the RZA in a game of Chess. Send some screen shots below the comment page here or to his facebook or twitter account ! BONG!

RZA's App

Bronze Nazareth Talks About His Debut Experience With The RZA

A Day To God Is A 1000 Years (from RZA’s “Birth Of A Prince”): Produced by Bronze Nazareth

2003...I was out in New York that summer. So I would chill all days and meet Rza and crew at 36 Chambers at night. I would spend most of the day observing, and soon as we got to Rza's sessions, he ran thru a bunch of beats and as soon as he heard “Day to God”, he wanted it. I tracked it out as he dabbled in his notebook. Choco Reynoso set it up to record and I watched as Rza laid the vocals. Maybe it was because it was my production but I was thinking this was some of the best RZA shit in years...he didn't spend a lot of time on it, he kinda spit it a couple times and it was done. Then we moved onto “The birth”. That's a song I'm super proud of and grateful to have been my debut.

- Bronze Nazareth

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Inspiration / Quote of the Day by RZA 03rd January 2012

'Trouble follows behind an impure mind With 20/20 vision of the prism of light yet still blind. Because you lack the inner.'

- The RZA

Win Tickets to Wu-Tang Clan at Showbox SoDo

Wu-Tang Clan and Champagne Champagne @ Showbox SoDo | 01/25 | 8pm | $35 ADV $40 DOS | All-ages

Staten Island’s most well-known hip-hop crew is coming to the Showbox SoDo on January 25. If you don’t know who we’re talking about then you likely don’t listen to music and this post just isn’t for you. And that’s, as Stuart Smalley says, “Okay.” But for the rest of you red-blooded, black-hoody donning fools this show is a godsend, especially because word on the street is that all living members will be there to rock. (With this group’s track record I’ll believe it when I see it, but it’s important to dream big in 2012 so let’s just go with it.)

Even better news: SSG Music has two tickets to give away to one lucky reader. This concert will sell-out, that’s a certainty, so we’re happy to ensure there’s one less crying sucker who didn’t click fast enough to get his or her spot in the pit. See the details below on how to enter.

To enter to win two tickets to see Wu-Tang at the Showbox SoDo, leave a comment on SSG Music's facebook wall telling them so . Each comment with the words “Wu Tang″ and “The Showbox” is a qualified entry. You can enter up to five times a day; SSG Music will pick a winner closer to the show.

WuTang x Rocksmith Skate Decks

"If there is a soundtrack to the sport of Skateboarding it is certain that atleast half of the songs on that album will have came from The Wutang Clan. The 90's were epic years for the sport of Skateboarding and Wutang was the music group of that decade. It only makes sense that we drop these Wutang Ltd skateboards to pay respect to that era. Hip Hop has changed Skateboarding forever, and vice versa. . These are top quality decks made by the last east coast skateboard manufacture none only then Chapman Brothers out of New York City."

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Happy Wu Year: Download Raekwon – Unexpected Victory mixtape

Raekwon rings in the new year with a new mixtape "Unexpected Victory" ft. Mobb Deep, Capone N Noreaga, Styles P & production from 9th wonder & more. Enjoy, and Happy New Year! or rather Happy Wu Year!

Stream it above, or download your copy at DatPliff.com.

Unexpected Victory Tracklist:

01. (Intro) Unexpected Victory

02. Just A Toast (feat. JD Era)

03. The Brewery (feat. Ceazer-N-Reason)

04. A Pinebox Story

05. Goodfellas (feat. JD Era & Camoflauge)

06. Silk (feat. CL Smooth, Sauce Money & Big B)

07. That Good Good (feat. Altrina Renee)

08. Luxury Rap (feat. Fred The Godson)

09. Chinese Marines (feat. Mobb Deep)

10. This Shit Hard (feat. Dion Premo & LEP Bogus Boys)

11. Soldier Story (feat. JD Era)

12. MTV Cribs (feat. Busta Rhymes)

13. A Few Good Men (feat. Vado & Tommy Nova)

14. Chupa Cabra (feat. Capone-N-Noreaga)

15. Facetime (feat. Atrina Renee)

16. Gangsta Cazals (feat. JD Era, Camoflauge & Styles P)

17. Black Dust (feat. Tommy Nova & Mean Doe Green)