Ask most individuals who their favourite member of the Wu-Tang Clan is, and so they’ll doubtless inform you someone like Ghost, Rae, or Technique Man (whom I’ve already talked about on this website).
However, as a HUGE fan of the hip-hop collective, I’ve at all times thought-about RZA to be my favourite member. From his work with the Clan — his kung-fu impressed manufacturing is what obtained me into martial arts films within the first place — to side-projects like Gravediggaz, to his solo work as Bobby Digital, the RZA has at all times been one of the fascinating males in music.
That stated, the rapper born Robert Fitzgerald Diggs additionally had a sneakily attention-grabbing profession in Hollywood, and I would like to speak about it.
From Hip-Hop Albums To Film Soundtracks
There are just a few data that previous hip-hop heads (like myself) will agree upon as being licensed classics. Nas’ debut album Illmatic is certainly up there, as are Biggie’s Able to Die, Outkast’s Aquemini, and Dr. Dre’s The Power. However, one other album that I consider we’re all in settlement upon is Wu-Tang Clan’s debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).
Now, since they seem to be a Clan, each member clearly contributed in a significant method. Nevertheless, I am virtually optimistic that the album would not have struck such a significant chord if it didn’t have RZA’s aggressive and grungy manufacturing on it.
Each observe on Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is laced with darkish vibes, and lots of of them are affected by kung fu flick dialogue or sound results (or each). All of it makes for one of the distinctive and distinctive albums of the early ‘90s.
So, when RZA determined to maneuver onto making film soundtracks, the Jim Jarmusch movie, Ghost Canine: The Manner of the Samurai was a match made in Heaven. For Wu-Tang followers who’ve by no means listened to it, they positively ought to because it just about operates as one other Wu-Tang album. With tracks that includes artists from Sunz of Man to North Star to different Wu associates, it positively sounds extra like a standard rap album than a film rating.
Nevertheless, his work on later soundtracks, like Kill Invoice Volumes 1 and a pair of, and The Protector (also referred to as Tom-Yum-Goong) have been a bit extra dynamic. That stated, Afro Samurai: The Soundtrack proves he can bounce forwards and backwards between extra conventional soundtracks, and extra rap-heavy soundtracks. All of it simply is dependent upon what the temper requires.
A Transition To Performing In Films
Now, there’s a historical past of Black folks liking martial arts, so I don’t wish to pin all of that on the recognition of the Wu-Tang Clan, however I don’t assume it is little marvel that if the RZA was going to point out up in any sort of films, it could be in martial arts flicks.
And, we’ve positively gotten roles similar to that on his resume. From his SUPER transient cameo in Ghost Canine, to enjoying a blind grasp in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, to even enjoying a blacksmith in his personal movie, The Man With the Iron Fists (Which I’ll get into quickly), it simply made sense for RZA to look in chopsocky flicks.
Nevertheless, what won’t have been so apparent is simply how humorous RZA is. I first observed RZA’s deadpan humorousness in Humorous Individuals (Which some people name Adam Sandler’s greatest film…although I believe my college students may disagree).
RZA performs a bit half within the story, appearing as a pal to Seth Rogen’s character, nevertheless it’s a memorable one, and I at all times bear in mind it after I assume again to the movie.
He was additionally hilarious on the TV present, Californication, as Samurai Apocalypse, enjoying a job that appeared prefer it was simply RZA, however magnified. He additionally performed a significant position in Brick Mansions with David Belle, and Paul Walker (RIP, Paul Walker), and he even performed the brother to Bob Odenkirk’s character within the film, No one.
So, just like the title of this text suggests, RZA is sneakily one in all Hollywood’s most attention-grabbing artists. You by no means know what he will do subsequent. Particularly when it got here to 2012…
To Directing Them!
…As a result of in 2012, RZA directed his first film in The Man With the Iron Fists. Co-written with Eli Roth, and “introduced” by Quentin Tarantino, The Man With the Iron Fists is precisely what you’d anticipate from RZA for his directorial debut.
Within the movie, there are totally different clans (You see?) which can be towards one another, however they kind (One may say, “like Voltron”) to defeat a standard enemy. RZA additionally stars within the movie as a blacksmith–he’s really the titular “Man with the Iron Fists”–and the movie additionally options Russell Crowe, Lucy Liu, and Dave Bautista, simply to call just a few.
And, whereas not everyone cherished the movie — we gave it a middling assessment — it positively confirmed that the RZA had expertise within the discipline. He didn’t direct its 2015 sequel, however he did return as his character, and likewise helped write the screenplay. Funnily sufficient, he directed an episode of the Marvel present, Iron Fist, and likewise directed the 2010’s rap film, Love Beats Rhymes.
Nevertheless, in 2020, RZA directed the heist movie, Reduce Throat Metropolis, starring Shamiek Moore, Wesley Snipes, Ethan Hawke, and lots of others, and it obtained rather more favorable critiques than The Man With the Iron Fists.
The movie issues pals in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans who, as a consequence of circumstances, discover that they flip to a lifetime of crime. The movie is an enchanting addition to RZA’s resume, and I’m wanting ahead to the upcoming movie, One Spoon of Chocolate, which is able to hopefully come out subsequent 12 months.
Let’s Not Neglect His Distinctive Voice Work
One motive why RZA is my favourite member of the Wu is due to his extraordinarily distinctive voice and cadence.
Because the de facto chief of the Clan, at any time when I’d hear him on the mic, I’d know that it was about to go down. So, with a voice as recognizable as his, is all of it that shocking that he’s additionally lent his abilities to numerous reveals?
His distinctive voice has been on all the pieces from Afro Samurai to Robotic Rooster, however my favourite position of his was on The Simpsons’ episode, “The Nice Phatsby: Half 2,” the place he really dropped a rhyme or two, together with Snoop Dogg and Frequent. It simply reveals that RZA is at all times maintaining himself busy, even in animated kind.
He’s Additionally An Government Producer, No Much less
Final however not least, regardless that most individuals in all probability think about music after they assume RZA and manufacturing, he was additionally an govt producer for the Hulu biographical drama, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, which he additionally co-created with Alex Tse.
The present chronicles RZA’s formation of the Clan, and the way music saved him and his pals from taking place a highway of medicine and violence. Ashton Sanders performs RZA within the position, and the present ran for 3 seasons.
And, that’s only a sampling of what RZA has his hand in. For extra information on the intersection between hip-hop and Hollywood, you should definitely swing by right here usually!