He was down with Wu-Tang before there was a Wu-Tang.

Mathematics, or Allah Mathematics, is a DJ and producer who has been part of the Wu-Tang Clan since before there was a Wu-Tang Clan. He DJ’d for GZA in the early 1990s, back when the rapper was known as “The Genius.” At the same time, Mathematics kept seeing a young rapper named Rakeem around town. That guy, Rakeem, would soon become the RZA, and would assemble an all-star team of MCs to form one of the most influential rap groups of all time.

Mathematics DJ’d for almost all of the Wu members at different points, as well as spinoff groups like Red and Meth. But starting in the mid-1990s, he really made his mark as a producer. Mathematics produced some of the best-loved songs from Wu-related projects, including “Mighty Healthy,” “Cobra Clutch,” “Wu Banga 101,” and more. He also designed the crew’s famous “W” logo.

Hear Unreleased Snippets From RZA & GZA Demos That Birthed The Wu-Tang Clan (Audio)

Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and GZA each had careers prior to 1993’s game-changing Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). While GZA’s February, 1991 Cold Chillin’/Warner Bros. Records release Words From The Genius garnered some hardcore interest, RZA (t/k/a Prince Rakeem) did not fare as well with his Tommy Boy Records maxi-single, Ooh, I Love You Rakeem. While the July of ’91 maxi included a “Wu-Tang” mix on Side B, the video single of a similar name did not blaze a path for Robert “Rakeem” Diggs as planned.

Appearing on episode #171 of The Cipher, Monica brought cassette tapes from 1991 and 1992. Included–and believed to be not previously digitized, these recordings feature post-Ooh, I Love You Rakeem RZA coming into form. In the podcast, Heads can hear snippets of RZA and GZA long before they had a Loud contract or advance. In fact, these are the recordings believed to be the very moments that led a nine-man collective to literally swarm on the labels, suits, and powers that be that did believe.

[via Ambrosia for Heads & The Cipher]

A Fascinating Chat with Robert “The RZA” Diggs