RZA has responded to some of the allegations lobbied by Raekwon in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, clarifying certain statements and reiterating that Wu-Tang Clan “need him” on the upcoming album A Better Tomorrow.
“We can call it arguing or we can call it building,” RZA told New York radio station Hot 97. “What we’re not doing as brothers and as business brothers is putting time together. So I gotta read about how he feel. He gotta read about how I feel. I try to make myself as available as I can. I won’t deny; I’m a busy man.”
RZA first spoke to Raekwon’s claim that he was a “bold-faced liar” when the producer said, “I haven’t had a chance to really talk to him about why [he’s not involved with the album].” The original interview, he said, was shot before he spoke to Raekwon, but aired after the two had discussed the Wu’s future plans.
“We did speak six, seven days ago and he gave me his demands, which we presented to the company,” said RZA. “If they can be reached, they can be reached. If they can’t, they can’t. And if they can’t, then we have to reevaluate what we’re going to do. But there was no lying there.”
Asked by host Peter Rosenberg if Raekwon was still an important piece of Wu-Tang Clan, RZA immediately agreed. “When you form Voltron, you need every piece,” said the Wu producer. “We need him there. I want him there. I ask him over and over to be there. Let’s just come together. Put some time together and make some music and see what comes out of it.”
Raekwon told Rolling Stone last week that Wu-Tang’s latest song, “Keep Watch” was “mediocre shit” and that RZA was too removed from the music world. “As far as the RZA, I respect him, I love him – the love ain’t gonna go anywhere – but you’re not in the music world no more,” the rapper said. “So to me, you need to take a backseat and respect the n—as that is playing the game. I’m always out in the field and finding out what’s going on with the new. Period.
RZA’s the type of dude where, in the Nineties, he ruled. Now it’s a new day. You’re not attached no more. It’s like being a coach and you won rings back in the day, but now your team is in ninth place. It’s time for a new fucking game plan.”
