Raekwon Is “On Strike” From The Wu-Tang Clan

Wu-Tang has been in the news quite a bit lately as they are reportedly releasing two new albums, The Wu: Once Upon A Time In Shaolin and A Better Tomorrow, and there seems to either be miscommunication or lack of cohesiveness amongst the Wu.

After RZA claimed that Raekwon was non-existent during the creation of A Better Tomorrow, the Chef sat down with Rolling Stone for an in-depth interview and Rae held nothing back. The Chef says that he is currently on strike from the Wu "It’s the same as being an athlete," says Rae. "I don’t give a fuck if it’s Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant. They will not touch the floor if their managers or lawyers are saying, "Listen, shit ain’t right." So therefore, I’m in a limbo situation. So yeah, you’re right. I am on strike."

Quite frankly, the wordsmith is unhappy with the direction of the music and the way the project is being handled. “I’m not happy with the direction of the music and I’m not happy with how dudes is treating dudes’ business,” says Raekwon. “What are we giving the fans? What are we giving the people that help us be here? If it don’t feel right, I can’t be fake. And I’m not the only one who feels like that. Fans want the best and I have to sit here and work that hard to give them the best. Period.”

Raekwon was also quite critical of the Clan’s new single, “Keep Watch,”

“I hate it. I hate it. I don’t hate shit, but I hate that fuckin’ record,” said Raekwon. “It ain’t the gunpowder that my brothers are spitting; it’s the production. And I ain’t shitting on the producer because he’s one of our soldiers. But if it ain’t where it need to be… It’s 20 years later. We talkin 'bout a whole new generation is sitting here representin' and making fiery shit and you telling me that we comin out with some mediocre shit? That ain’t part of our plan.”

Whoa. Hopefully the Wu can resolve their issues before it’s too late but for now, A Better Tomorrow may need a new working title.—Peter Walsh

[Rolling Stone]