RZA Says Guitars Are A Part Of Hip-Hop, Cites Lil Wayne’s LP, Defends Last Wu Album

RZA engineered Wu-Tang Clan’s sound from the beginning producing nearly every album and record, including classics like the group’s debut and Raekwon’s Only Built For Cuban Linx….

But when the nine-man crew reunited for their 5th album, last year’s 8 Diagrams, Clan members rallied against The Abbott and criticized his production, including his use of live instrumentation, particular guitars.

He’s trying to do too much of this guitar shit,” Rae fumed in an interview with Hot 97’s Miss Info. “Our whole shit is we don’t want that....So chill with that, b.”

Now, however, RZA is feeling a bit a vindication.

“I was just listening to Lil Wayne’s album and there’s guitars all over that album,” RZA told XXLmag.com. “Guitars are a part of hip-hop, a part of music. When we were doing 8 Diagrams, we had this lack of feedback and negative energy. I think it was a misunderstanding and premature. If you name 10 hip-hop songs they either have guitars or pianos on it. So the guitar has always been in hip-hop, we just forgot. I didn’t forget though. Plus I fell in love with guitar culture the last few years. Just like I fell in love with samplers when I first got a hold of a sampler. They’re all instruments, and if you can use them, use them.”

The Wu leader is currently on tour in the midst of promoting his latest Bobby Digital project, Digi Snacks, due next month on Koch Records. The first two singles, “You Can’t Stop Me Now,” featuring Inspectah Deck and “Drama” have already been released.

The Bobby Digital character, he explained, originally served as an alter-go persona for the rapping producer, but now is more of a an offshoot character.

“It’s kind of developed a life of his own, more of how a character in a movie would develop,” RZA said. As Bobby Digital, I have that power now. Before he was almost synonymous with myself. But now I don’t feel the pressure of the responsibility of him. So it gives me more freedom to wild out, wig out, or calm it down.”

After RZA’s released the album he said he would look into other opportunities for Bobby Digital, including comic books and a short he wrote with Chuck Wilson a few years ago called “Black Shampoo.”

“The character actually has a catalogue of his own,” RZA said. “And Digi Snacks is the relaunch of [the brand].”---Jayson Rodriguez