HipHopDX interviewed Redman recently and asked him about his song on "All Eyez On Me" with Tupac, Method Man, Kurupt & Daz titled "Got My Mind Made Up" which he never received any publishing for or a plaque. Here's a fun fact.. Lady Of Rage And Inspectah Deck were both originally featured on the song as well but Tupac rapped over Lady Of Rage's part and cut out Inspectah Deck's verse at the end. We also dive into the origins of how this song came to be. Enjoy!
After a decade of hyping up the long-awaited sequel to the cult classic How High, fans were less than impressed to discover Lil Yachty and DC Young Fly will star in it instead of Method Man and Redman. They were even more upset after learning the iconic duo wouldn’t be appearing in the film at all.
In the aftermath, Redman called into The Grass Routes Podcast to break down what went wrong.
“Me and Meth we’re not aware of the transaction of this movie,” Red confesses.
Funk Doc says they didn’t own the rights to the film, so a branch that exists under the Universal Pictures umbrella was able to move without the duo’s blessing.
“My thing is, you have the Red and Meth brand that [helped build] and create this … those are all our ideas,” he continues. “When the new deal came about, we weren’t involved in it.”
According to Redman, two writers were working on a version with him and Method Man. After an initial table read, they requested a few changes be made.
“As far as me and Meth know, we were waiting on a new script to read for How High 2,” he says.
Like fans, they were caught off guard by the Yachty announcement. Although they’ve been presented with an opportunity to be part of the sequel, Redman says it didn’t feel right due to the way things were handled.
“Yachty and DC have nothing to do with it,” he says. “It was just all business. I look at it like this man — when one door closes, another one opens and that just leaves room for [me] and Meth to do a whole new movie.”
He adds, “We got a dope idea movie we been sitting on for the longest that we might do … we had this idea like right after How High.“
The Wu-Tang Clan's legendary roots run deep, and even now, the names of the roster continue to ring bells in worthy circles. Fans know there's something unabashedly raw about the one and only Method Man, who previously won hearts through his self-titled 36 Chambers classic. Now, with a legendary career behind him, Tical has been steadily readying the torch for his disciples, as evidenced by his upcoming Meth Lab II album. Curated with an emphasis on local Staten Island emcees, The Meth Lab II was originally slated to drop on November 13th.
Now, a report from HipHopDx indicates that Meth heads will have to wait a little bit longer. Apparently, the publication got an email from Method Man's camp, explaining that the project would no longer be landing on its intended delivery date. As of now, a replacement has yet to be revealed, though it's entirely possible November is still in the cards.
Hopefully, we'll be bumping some new Method Man by year's end. Should you be fixing for more, check out the lead Meth Lab II single, "Grand Prix."
Logic enlisted the surviving members of Wu-Tang Clan — GZA, Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon, RZA and U-God — for the cut “Wu-Tang Forever” from his Young Sinatra IV project. Consequently, the legendary Hip Hop crew has earned their first Billboard charting single in 16 years.
While “Wu-Tang Forever” didn’t chart on Billboard’s Hot 100, it still hit No. 17 on R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales and No. 44 on the all-genre Digital Song Sales.
The track serves as their first group appearance on any Billboard chart since 2002. “Uzi (Pinky Ring)” made it to No. 16 on Hot Rap Songs in 2002 and claimed No. 93 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
According to Forbes, the Wu has two other singles that reached the Hot 100, which both come from 1993’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). “C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)” reached No. 60, while “Method Man” peaked at No. 69.
Logic’s Young Sinatra IV debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 this week, trailing behind Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter V.
OUTER SPACE – Wu-Tang Clan are no strangers to pushing products, but the group’s latest campaign might their most bizarre and entertaining yet. GZA, Ghostface Killah and RZA are starring in a new web series called Wu-Tang In Space Eating Impossible Sliders.
While the series exists to promote White Castle’s addition of Impossible Foods’ plant-based burger to its menu, it barely comes across as an ad for the fast-food chain. Instead, the debut short is a Star Trek-inspired creation reminiscent of something from Adult Swim or Mystery Science Theater 3000.
“We knew we wanted to set an idea in space for our partnership with White Castle,” Impossible Foods’ Executive Creative Director Sasha Markova said. “At Impossible, we’ve become obsessed with the idea that it’s only when you go to space that you realize how beautiful earth is.
“Then we thought, who can we send up into space? Who are the people who most embody that philosophy? And, in the midst of a crazy time on planet earth, who are the people who might have the answers? We knew it immediately. The Wu-Tang Clan.”
RZA and Ol’ Dirty Bastard weren’t just fellow members of the Wu-Tang Clan, they were also cousins. So, it’s only appropriate RZA would be instrumental in bringing ODB’s life story to the big screen.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a biopic about ODB is in development at Sony’s Columbia Pictures with RZA in the role of producer. Sources reportedly said the search for a director is currently underway.
NEW YORK, NY – Iconic streetwear brand Wu Wear first made a resurgence as a holiday capsule in winter 2017, followed by a full-scale Spring/Summer (2018) collection. Now, led by RZA, the Fall/Winter collection is here and consists of tees, long sleeve graphic shirts, sweaters, hoodies, pants, and jackets.
Emblazoned with the world-renowned Wu Wear logo, many of the pieces play off of timeless Wu-Tang imagery and lyrics, such as shirts with the lyrics for the intro from “Protect Ya Neck,” as well as new typographical treatments of the wordmark. There’s also a tracksuit that can best be summed up with the Fry “shut up and take my money” meme.
First launched in 1995 by RZA and Oliver Grant (better known as Power), Wu Wear was one of Hip Hop’s first clothing lines and was sold at major retailers like Macy’s. Remarkably, it stayed active until 2008, when it finally closed up shop. Riding the wave of streetwear brands making comebacks, it’s relaunch was brilliantly timed to coincide with the 25th year anniversary of the Clan.
Select items are sold at Barneys NY, Urban Outfitters, Zumiez, and WuWear.com. Check out images from the Fall/Winter lookbook, below.
Wu-Tang Clan’s seminal album, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), was released in November 1993. To celebrate the upcoming 25th anniversary, the bona fide Hip Hop legends have started teasing a tour on their social media group account.
On Saturday (July 28), a video was posted to Wu-Tang’s Instagram account featuring live footage of each member — RZA,Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, U-God, Masta Killah, Inspectah Deck, GZA and Cappadonna — rocking the stage.
Toward the end of the clip, it simply reads, “25th Anniversary Tour.”
While the details are scarce, the collective has already been doing shows in celebration of the album’s milestone.
On Friday (July 27), Wu-Tang performed material from the classic project at the Expo Hall in Los Angeles. The following day, they were in Canada as part of the Center of Gravity 2018 festival.
But that wasn’t all. Wu-Tang also shared another Instagram post announcing a deluxe edition of “Pearl Harbor” featuring the late Sean Price. The post, which shows off the cover art, promises a remix from DJ Mathematics and instrumental versions of the single.
“New LP for Pearl Harbor from Wu-Tang: The Saga Continues goes up on 36chambers.com for pre-sale next Wednesday,” the caption read. “Includes a brand new remix from @mathematicswu featuring Pharoahe Monch and Tek. #wutang.”
Fresh off a collaborative LP with DOOM, Deck revealed his Czarface trio — comprised of him, 7L and Esoteric — have a project in the works with Ghostface on Saturday (July 14).
“If you was feelin #czarfacemeetsmetalface just wait til u get that #Czarface vs @realghostfacekillah you might nut out ya ear… stay tuned!!!” he wrote on Instagram.
Magic was in the air when Method Man and Redman descended on the Red Rocks Amphitheater crowd in Morrison, Colorado last Thursday (April 19). The revered Hip Hop duo was billed as part of the annual 420 On The Rocks event headlined by 311.
Backstage, dubious amounts of pot smoke filled the air as Red celebrated his 48th birthday, which had fallen two days before. As people sang “Happy Birthday,” Meth — his ever faithful sidekick — was drying off from the electric set they’d just finished. Covered in sweat, the Wu-Tang Clan vet makes it clear they pour their heart and soul into every performance. But Meth didn’t always deliver a polished set.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Kendrick Lamar would become the first Hip Hop artist to receive a Pulitzer Prize for his much-heralded album DAMN. In a recent interview, founder of the iconic Wu-Tang Clan, RZA, shared his congratulations — and excitement that the culture was finally being recognized by such a high-minded institution.
“I’m glad that in today’s society Kendrick Lamar, who has got to be considered one of the best and most poignant lyricists out there, can win that prize,” RZA said in a conversation with TimeOut Miami. According to The Abbott, he’s always felt writing in itself was a large component, and that many classics in the pantheon of Hip Hop have been deserving of the same honor.
“When I go back and see some of the lyrics that GZA wrote on Liquid Swords, and Beneath the Surface, some of the writing he did was well-deserving,” he says. “Take a song like ‘Fame,’ where every verse and every line is somebody’s name. Everything he did to me was at a genius level of writing.”
Wu-Tang Clan’s enigmatic album Once Upon A Time In Shaolin — owned by infamous “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli — went up for auction on eBay last month. The two top contenders, Matt “M-Eighty” Markoff and Colorado resident Darby Welch, were (at various times) both confident they’d walk away with the rare, coveted album. But as of now, no sale has been finalized.
Markoff, a longtime Wu-Tang associate, believes Shkreli’s recent arrest put a halt on negotiations. He also questions the integrity of the auction.
“I think the ‘sale’ or Martin offering the album for sale was laced with fraudulent trolling intent from the get go,” Markoff tells HipHopDX. “From the moment I saw the album listed on eBay, I contacted him directly, provided him with my offer sheet and requested financial documents. You’re going to tell me my $1 million in cash you requested wasn’t enough to get the job done?
If there is any group in Hip Hop history that is most similar to real life superheroes, it must be Wu Tang. What they did, have done, and will continue to do has never been seen before in the history of the music business. Wu Tang over everything? Let’s break it down…
Only a few days after the managers of rappers U-God and Method Man of Wu-Tang Clan publicly spoke out against the legitimacy of that rare Once Upon a Time in Shaolin double CD in the possession of defamed “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli, the now convicted felon has sold the artifact for $1,025,100. As indicated in the description, Shkreli was not attempting to make this sale because he was strapped for cash, but rather wanted to rid himself of the album he felt was becoming a burden.
According to Domingo Negris, manager of U-God, the project in question is not considered to be "an authorized Wu-Tang Clan album.”
James Ellis, Method Man’s manager doubled down on the claim, adding "When we did the verses, it was for a Cilvaringz album. How it became a Wu-Tang album from there? We have no knowledge of that."
Nonetheless, Martin still managed to get the CD off his hands for almost half of the $2 million price tag with he first acquired it.
UPDATE!
Martin Shkreli’s eBay sale of Wu-Tang Clan’s Once Upon a Time in Shaolin is evidently incomplete. According to Matt “M-Eighty” Markoff, whose tenure in the Hip Hop game is decades deep, Shkreli was unable to officially finalize the sale before being booked into a federal Brooklyn jail last week.
The good news? Once Markoff, who routinely works with Wu-Tang, is able to secure the album, he plans to share it with the rest of us.
“I was the second highest bidder at 1,025,000 and he did not make arrangements for the sale before being arrested again,” Markoff told HipHopDX. “If he has any release time before his ultimate conviction and sentencing, that is when he and I will be finalizing the purchase agreement off eBay.”
He added, “I will be releasing the album to the world at large. ”
As indicated by eBay’s website, the bidding for Once Upon A Time In Shaolin closed on September 15 and a bid of $1,025,100 was deemed “the winning bid.”
So far, Shkreli’s signature has not made it to the paperwork.
RZA’s latest venture might be his most unusual yet and that’s saying something. The Abbot of the Wu-Tang Clan has partnered with Chipotle Mexican Grill for SAVOR.WAVS, a “musical experience” inspired by the ingredients of the restaurant’s chain.
The acclaimed producer has crafted 51 sounds to coincide with the ingredients available at Chipotle. Aspiring producers can go to the SAVOR.WAVS site to mix these sounds and create their own beat. The interactive platform aims to mimic the process of an order at Chipotle as users can keep it simple or throw together a variety of sounds.
Wu-Tang Clan pioneer Method Man has been tapped to host a new TBS series, Drop The Mic, a spin-off of James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke. Drop the Mic is already a viral, digital success as an ongoing popular segment on The Late Late Show with James Corden. The newly hatched version enlists entertainers from all over the world to engage in good old-fashioned rap battles, and finds Mr. Meth and model Hailey Baldwin helming the event.
The format pits four celebrities from various segments of the entertainment industry against each other and ultimately only one stands victorious.
Created by Corden, executive producer Ben Winston, Jensen Karp or “Hot Karl” (who wrote Kanye Owes Me $300 and writes many battle raps for The Late Late Show segment) and Ed Thomas, the show officially airs May 2.
SVP of Unscripted Series and Special Event Programming at TBS Michael Bloom spoke on the upcoming series.
“’Drop the Mic’ is a funny, authentic, high-energy series that brings together Hip Hop, comedy and pop culture in a way we’ve never seen before,” he said. “Method, Hailey, James, Ben and their team will make sure our celebrity competitors bring their ‘A’ game to the stage.”
Method Man, of course, is no stranger to being in front of the camera. In addition to his countless music videos with Wu-Tang, Redman and a plethora of others, he’s also appeared on the big screen in movies like How High, Soul Plane, Garden State, Trainwreck with Amy Schumer and Key & Peele’s Keanu.
King Magnetic has enlisted Wu-Tang alum Cappadonna and vocalist Dink for “I’ll Show You,” the second single off King Mag’s upcoming Everything Happens 4 A Reason (EH4AR). Produced by French producer Astronote (Kendrick Lamar, Blu, Talib Kweli), the track finds the Allentown, Pennsylvania rapper confronting police brutality and other issues plaguing our society.
In June, Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah revealed that if the legendary Hip-Hop crew is to release another album, he will be at the helm. “RZA put the ball in my hand. He said ‘Yo, I want you to do it,’ and I been wanting to do it, and that’s a big test for me right there,” the Staten Island, New Yorker said in an interview with HipHopDX.
