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Album Review
by SashaS
1-5-2003
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| RZA creates united Hip-hopworld record |
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RZA: 'The World According To RZA'
(Virgin)
RZA unites Hip-Hoppers of the world
There have been countless Afro-American musicians that influenced and changed the world of music but there were only a handful that really infiltrated the business side and truly altered things forever. George Clinton was one of the first with his Parliament Funkadelic dealings, then P.Diddy (ex-Puff Daddy) comes to mind and, certainly, RZA (born Robert Diggs), the unofficial-but-crucial Wu-Tang Clan man.
Ever since appearing in the early 1990s with their genre-defining kung-fu inspired Shaolin rappinghood, the WTC has grown into an empire. Aside each member having an independent solo deal, there is clothing line Wu Wear, publishing companies (two, Diggs Family Music and Ramecca Publishing), Wu Electronics (based in Bern, Switzerland) for development and marketing of advanced studio and DJ equipment such as Replicator.
And then, there is the Wu Films, responsible for a number of Kung Fu movies; RZA is also working on Quentin Tarantino ‘Kill Bill’ flick soundtrack in collaboration with Metallica’s drummer Lars Ulrich. Most importantly, there is music which this time comes in a shape of a communal album, ‘The World According to RZA’, brimming with Euro-grown rap talent – such as Saian Supa Crew, Blade, Xavier Naidoo, Passi, Kool Savas – plus the fellow WTC-ers, Method Man and Ghostface Killah. The idea for ‘The World’ was seeded almost ten years ago, when the brothers-in-rap, WTC, toured Europe for the first time.
RZA noticed the burgeoning local rhyming-scene then and made a mental note to comeback and cut an album with the talent. It would take another 8 years to get down to realising it and he explained the reasons behind it in a press release (edits here).
“There is a worldwide rap movement and it is not only an American expression anymore. Every country has its own Hip-Hop stars and they all do their own, different thing, but the essence is the same. They address their problems, which often are the global one. Most of these kids come from similar backgrounds; they share the same problems and need to address them… That’s why I think this album is going to work on both sides of the Atlantic.”
“Plus, there are a lot of kids who are from the same ethnic background, some of them with direct connections to Sweden, Germany or any of the other countries we represent on the record. The simple message of the album is that we are one and the same.”
Global connection: There’s more. Forever pushing to find new outlets for his overall creative vision, RZA has also turned this recording experience into a movie. He brought a film crew with him as he travelled through Europe, seeking out the rap stars he helped mentor a decade ago. Beyond that, he brought almost nothing. He played it by ear, throwing it out there on a backpacking trek through Europe. The result of this filming will be released on a DVD later this year.
‘The World According To RZA’ makes its point – “One world = One Hip-hop” – solidly.
7/10
SashaS
1-5-2003
RZA’s album ‘The World According To RZA’ is released on 28 April 2003 by Virgin (Germany)/EMI
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