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RZA

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For other uses, seeRza (disambiguation).

RZA
RZA at the 2018San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs

(1969-07-05)July 5, 1969(age 55)
New York City,U.S.
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • actor
  • filmmaker
  • record producer
  • record executive
Years active1984–present[1][2]
Spouses
  • Eboni Mills
    ​
    ​
    (m.2000;div.2006)​
    [3]
  • Talani Rabb
    ​
    (m.2009)​
    [3]
Children10
Musical career
Also known as
  • Prince Rakeem
  • The Scientist
  • Bobby Steels
  • Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah
  • Prince Delight
  • (The) Abbott
  • Bobby Digital
  • Bobby Dynamite
  • RZArector
  • Bobby Boulders
GenresHip hop
Discography
Labels
Member ofWu-Tang Clan
Formerly ofAchozen,Banks & Steelz,Gravediggaz

Robert Fitzgerald Diggs(born July 5, 1969), better known by his stage nameRZA(/ˈrɪzə/RIZ-ə), is an American rapper, record producer, composer, actor, and filmmaker. He is thede factoleader of the hip hop groupWu-Tang Clan,[4]having produced most albums for the group and its respective members. He is a cousin of two other original Wu-Tang Clan members:GZAandOl' Dirty Bastard.He has also released solo albums under the alter-egoBobby Digital,along with executive producing credits for side projects. After forming the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA was a founding member of thehorrorcoregroupGravediggaz,since 1992, where he went by the nameThe RZArector.

RZA has been heavily involved in filmmaking since the late 90s. He has scored a number of films, most notablyKill Bill: Volume 1(2003) andKill Bill: Volume 2(2004). He has written and directed in film and television, starting with his directorial debut,The Man with the Iron Fists,in 2012. He has also acted in numerous films and TV series, including the filmsAmerican GangsterandBrick Mansions,and the TV seriesGang RelatedandCalifornication.

He is especially known for his music production, with a style that includes the use ofsoulsamples and sparse beats that has proved highly influential. The magazineThe Sourceplaced him on its list of the 20 greatest producers in the magazine's twenty-year history.[5]Vibelisted him among the top 8 greatest hip-hop producers of all time,[6]andNMEplaced him on their list of the 50 Greatest Producers Ever.[7]

Early life[edit]

Diggs was born on July 5, 1969, inBrownsville, Brooklyn.He was named after the Kennedy brothersRobertandJohn Fitzgerald,both of whom his mother greatly admired.[8]Diggs has called his given name an "honorable" name, given the legacy of both Robert and John. Diggs has a younger brother, Terrance Hamlin, better known as the rapper9th Prince,and an older brother named Mitchell “Divine” Diggs.

From ages three to seven, Diggs spent summers inNorth Carolinawith his uncle, who encouraged him to read and study.[9]Diggs was introduced tohip hop musicat the age of nine, and by eleven, was competing inrap battles.He relocated toSteubenville, Ohio,in 1990, to live with his mother. He spent weekends inPittsburgh,Pennsylvania, where his father ran a convenience store in the city'sHill District.[10]

Diggs got involved with petty crime and drug-dealing, and was charged with attempted murder while in Steubenville. He was acquitted of the charge, giving him what he has called a "second chance".[11]

Music career[edit]

Before the Wu-Tang Clan[edit]

Diggs first became interested in making his own hip-hop music in 1979 when a friend of his introduced him toRapper's DelightbyThe Sugarhill Gangand in 1984, Diggs formed a rap group with his cousinsRussell Jones,then known as The Specialist, andGary Grice,then known as Allah Justice, called "Force of the Imperial Master", which they soon after renamed as"All in Together Now"in 1985. Around this time Diggs formed the DMD Posse which consisted of RZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God,Inspectah Deck,4th Disciple andMethod Man.[1]Diggs and Grice then signed with Jamaica Records for management purposes and Jamaica convincedTommy Boy Recordsto sign Diggs as a solo artist in 1989 under the namePrince Rakeem.[1]He released the originalOoh I Love You Rakeempromotion version of the EP, but was forced to remix and rerelease the single when Tommy Boy failed to acquire the rights to the original sample. The rereleased version underperformed commercially, and Diggs was subsequently dropped by Tommy Boy.[1]

1992–1993: Forming the Wu-Tang Clan[edit]

After a shoot-out in Ohio in 1992, he faced eight years in jail. "When they said 'not guilty', my face stuck in a smile for three days," he recalled. "I was just walking around town, thinking about my daughter and my wife. Right then I said goodbye to anything that would put me in that situation again. I was up on trial on anattempted murdercharge. I was a motherfucking fool, with all that knowledge in my head and ending up there. "[12] In 1992, Diggs formed a new group with his two cousins and five other childhood friends. They named the groupWu-Tang Clan,after the 1983kung fufilmShaolin and Wu Tang.As part of the group's formation, each member chose a new nickname for themselves. Diggs chose "RZA", based on a nickname he had been given by fans of his music, "Rza Rza Rakeem", which in turn was based on a song by All in Together Now, "Pza Pza Pumpin", as well as Diggs'graffiti tag,"Razor". He created abackronymfor "RZA", stating that the name stood for "Ruler, Zig-Zag-Zig, Allah" which further translated into "Ruler, Knowledge-Wisdom-Understanding, Allah" when using theSupreme Alphabet.[13]

Wu-Tang Clan released its first single, "Protect Ya Neck",in December 1992.Masta Killathen joined the group in 1993, becoming its ninth member. They released their debut album,Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)in November 1993.[14]RZA operated as Wu-Tang Clan's de facto leader, producing the group's songs and deciding who would get placed on which tracks.

1994–1996: Gravediggaz and Wu-Tang solo projects: Round one[edit]

As each of the group's members embarked on solo careers, RZA continued to produce nearly everything Wu-Tang released during the period 1994–1996, which included both composing and arranging the instrumental tracks as well as overseeing and directing the creative process. RZA's rule over the Clan at this time is described in 2004'sWu-Tang Manualbook as "a dictatorship". He also released a hit single of his own, in the form of "Wu-Wear: The Garment Renaissance".The song was featured on theHigh School Highsoundtrack, and was released to promote the Wu-Tang clothing brand, also called "Wu-Wear".It peaked at #60 on theBillboardHot 100,and #6 on theHot Rap Singleschart.[15]

When it came time for the Gravediggaz,Prince Paulwas thinking about putting a group together. He wanted to get some good MCs.Poeticwas another dope MC who was underrated out onLong Island.He had one single out on Tommy Boy that didn't take off, but he was a dope MC. As the Grym Reaper, you know how many dope lyrics he dropped. Frukwan, one of the top lyricists out ofStetsasonic.He and Paul were friends already. He told him about me. He said, "I know this one guy who is super-dope." At the same time, I was also trying to do Wu-Tang. I was trying to start my own company and stuff, so when Paul called me up and invited me to his crib on Long Island and told me his idea for forming this group, I thought it would be an honor to be in a group with him. But I told him, "I'm also producing a group, and I'm also part of a family that I'm building." He said, "Yo, that's crazy." We would talk a lot of times. [Ol' Dirty Bastard] came to his house a lot of times with me. [Method Man], too. We all would just go there and try to find ways to get out of the streets. Me, I was trying to get out of the ghetto. Paul had a lot of respect for me, so he helped me break out of it. I think he liked that I was so dark, but I didn't know I was dark.[16]

1997:Wu-Tang Forever[edit]

1997 saw the release ofWu-Tang Forever,the Wu-Tang Clan's highly anticipated second album. The album for the first time featured RZA delegating a small number of beat-making duties to other producers in the Wu-Tang camp, such as his protégésMathematics,True Masterand4th Disciplewho are known as the originalWu-Elements,and Clan memberInspectah Deck.[17]

1998–1999: Gravediggaz and Wu-Tang solo projects: Round two[edit]

During the 1998–2000 period RZA ceased to produce every Wu-Tang solo album as he had done previously, but continued to contribute usually one or two songs on average to each record as well as receiving an Executive Producer credit.

"I had to put outBobby Digitalinstead ofThe Curebecause if I didn't do that I would've suffered two things. First, I would have revealed where I was musically too soon. Wu-Tang is the perfect medium to expose anything new because I got the most people coming together to buy it. For me to expose it for my own self, I don't think that would've been a wise thing for me to do. I might've caught more people than Bobby Digital caught, but I still wouldn't catch the magnitude of what the Wu-Tang could catch. Maybe this year or next year the game may be different.The Cureis so intimate in writing that you gotta live that Cure shit. I was living like Bobby Digital in '98, '99 na'mean? So if I put "The Cure" out, then I wouldn't even be able to get on stage and perform it for ya'll cause I'd be lying. "

2001–2004: PostThe Wsolo projects[edit]

In 1999 the RZA moved into composing film scores. His first work,Jim Jarmusch'sGhost Dog: The Way of the Samurai(1999), earned praise; he also had a brief cameo in the film itself, as a fellow samurai wearing camouflage. The experience was positive and, as he noted during an interview onNational Public Radio'sFresh Air,the work with traditional musicians gave him the desire to learn how to read and write music.[18]In 2004, he co-scoredDavid S. Goyer's"Blade: Trinity"with composerRamin Djawadi.

RZA in the Studio withU-GodandProdigal Sunn(2002)

This is one of my biggest adventures, and one of my [best] feelings. We watchedKill BillinManhattan.At the premiere, that happened, but you know, that's Hollywood. But in Manhattan, a theater, just a bunch of kids coming from wherever New York, inside a movie theater and the movie's coming on. They don't even know that I'm the man with the music, and when it said, "Original Music by The RZA", we hear the audience clapping. And they didn't clap for nothing else, because the movie's just coming on. I was like, 'Wow, what the fuck is that about?' That's different. It actually might be something special. You never care who did that... Once you see who stars in the shit, you don't read "edited", you don't read all that. You be eating your popcorn and it go right by you. But, for somebody to see that and then clap, that's a different thing right there. That felt pretty pleasing.

2005–present: Solo projects: Round three[edit]

RZA at the 2007Eurockéennes

He has also stated that the long-delayedThe Curealbum will be his final solo album, so that he can devote more time to his movie directing career.[19]

Before signing withSRC Recordsin 2007, RZA was flooded with offers fromBad Boy Records,Aftermath Records,InterscopeandDef Jamamong others for the Wu-Tang Clan super-group.[20]

In 2007, he produced thescoreof the Japanese animeAfro SamuraistarringSamuel L. Jackson.In 2007 he released the little-publicized instrumental albumThe RZA-Instrumental Experience,and worked with Raekwon on his highly anticipatedOnly Built 4 Cuban Linx II.From 2005 to 2008 he collaborated withSystem of a DownbassistShavo Odadjianon the projectAchozen[21]The group released two singles, one of which, "Deuces", was included in the 2009 filmBabylon A.D.The group also recorded an album that has remained unreleased, although eight of the songs were released in 2015.

RZA performing with Wu-Tang at the Virgin Music Festival

"The time is right to bring some older material to the masses digitally. Our fans have been dedicated and patient, and they're hungry to hear the music that has set us apart from so many others.Hip-hopis alive inWu Music,and with The Orchard, we've got a solid partner that understands our audience and is committed to doing all they can to help us reach the fans. I'm definitely looking forward to working with them to see what else we all come up with. There's much more to come. "[22]

In 2010 he worked on what was intended as a solo album for GZA,Liquid Swords II,[23]but the album remains unreleased. RZA also worked withKanye Weston the latter's fifth album,My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,[24]as well asWatch the Throneby Kanye and Jay-Z.

In a 2011 interview, RZA revealed that he had recently decided to clean out his beat machines of instrumentals he made for the Wu-Tang Clan that were never used; as a result, he gave away ten beats each toNas,Busta RhymesandTalib Kweli,as well as 20 beats for Kanye West, including two that were used on West's previous two albums.[25]RZA produced UK artistJosh Osho's 2012 debut albumL.I.F.E.

RZA also contributed vocals to three songs onJohn Frusciante's 2012 EPLetur-Lefrand in 2013 he contributed vocals to one song onKid Cudi's 2013 albumIndicud.In August 2012 RZA founded a new record label,Soul Temple Records,with a distribution deal fromRED Distribution.On September 28, 2012, he hosted one episode of the web seriesEquals Three,substituting for regular hostRay William Johnson.He appeared onEarl Sweatshirt's albumDoris,contributing a verse on the track "Molasses". Despite artistic disagreements withRaekwon,RZA and The Wu-Tang Clan released their sixth albumA Better Tomorrowin 2014.

In 2013, RZA andPaul Banksbegan to collaborate asBanks & Steelzfor what became the 2016 albumAnything But Words.[26][27]Guest appearances include Kool Keith, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Masta Killa.[27]Two singles were released from the album, "Love + War"and" Giant ".[27]RZA collaborated withRamin Djawadi,with whom he co-scored Blade Trinity and Blake Perlman for the song "Drift"for theGuillermo del Torofilm"Pacific Rim".

In June 2020, ice cream companyGood Humorapproached RZA to create a new jingle forice cream trucksto play,[28]to replace the tune "Turkey in the Straw",long associated withminstrel showsthat often featured racist lyrics. (Good Humor does not directly operate any trucks, but the company wanted to encourage ice cream truck drivers to not play the song.)[29]RZA's resulting composition was released in August 2020.[30]

In a recent 2020 interview, RZA discussed how being stuck at home during theCOVIDglobal crisisresulted in him resuming work on his long-unreleasedThe Curealbum.[31]

Wu-Recording labels[edit]

Since the early 1990s, variousWu Tang Clan-affiliated recording labelswere established. The earlier labels are believed to be dissolved. The connection that RZA had to these labels is unknown.

Other record labels were later founded in the early 2000s, and are still active in the present. Very little is known about these labels, other than the fact that RZA produces music on them. It is unknown if RZA is CEO, or has high position within these labels, considering that he was never known to have a CEO position of any recording label.

Artistry[edit]

RZA's production technique, specifically the manner of chopping up and/or speeding or slowing soul samples to fit his beats, has been imitated by hip hop producers includingKanye WestandJust Blaze.West's own take on RZA's style[32]briefly flooded the rap market with what was dubbed "chipmunk soul," the speeding of a vocal sample to where it sounded as though the singer had inhaled helium. Several producers at the time copied the style, creating other offshoots. West has admitted that his style was distinctly influenced by the RZA's production, saying[33]

"Wu-Tang? Me and my friends talk about this all the time... We think Wu-Tang had one of the biggest impacts as far as a movement. From slang to style of dress, skits, the samples. Similar to the [production] style I use, RZA has been doing that."[34]

In response, RZA himself has spoken quite positively of the comparisons:

"All good. I got super respect for Kanye. He came up to me about a year or two ago. He gave me mad praising and blessings... For people to say Wu-Tang inspire Kanye, Kanye is one of the biggest artists in the world. That goes back to what we say: 'Wu-Tang is forever.' Kanye is going to inspire people to be like him."[35]

After hearing Kanye's work onThe Blueprint,RZA claimed that a torch-passing had occurred between him and West, saying, "The shoes gotta be filled. If you ain't gonna do it, somebody else is gonna do it. That's how I feel about rap today."[35]

His Bobby Digital albums introduced tweaked-outnew ageelements to his sound; these have incorporated themselves more fully into his beats on newer albums such as Method Man's4:21... The Day After.

"The way I produce now is I produce more like a musician", RZA said. "In the old days, I produced more like a DJ. I didn't understandmusic theoryat all. Now that I do understand music theory, I make my music more playable, meaning not only could you listen to it, you could get someone else to play it. Before, you couldn't even write down Wu-Tang music. I think almost 80 percent of this record can be duplicated by a band, which is important for music, because that means 10 years from now, somebody can make a whole song out of it and cover it like how I'm coveringThe Beatlessong. "[36]

In a 2010 radio interview with UK hip hop station Conspiracy Worldwide Radio, RZA spoke in great detail about the homemade, candid ethos of much of his work, including the organic creation process behind ODB's debut album.[37]

Alter egos[edit]

RZA is known for having multiplealiases,for different lyrical styles and personalities: Prince Rakeem, The Abbot, Bobby Digital, Bobby Steels, the Scientist, Prince Delight, Prince Dynamite, Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah.[38]During his time with theGravediggaz,he went by the name the RZArector, which is for waking up the mentally dead.[39]

Film career[edit]

Acting[edit]

RZA has hadcameo appearancesin films includingFunny People,Due Date,Gospel Hill,Ghost Dog,Life Is Hot in CracktownandPopstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.

RZA appeared inDerailed,Coffee and Cigarettes,andAmerican Gangster.He appeared inG.I. Joe: Retaliation,as the characterBlind Master.[40]In 2010, RZA appeared in the science fiction action filmRepo Men.[41]In 2014, RZA took on the role of Tremaine Alexander in the filmBrick MansionsoppositePaul WalkerandDavid Belle,a remake ofDistrict 13.He played "Mr. L.C.", the main antagonist, in theThaimartial arts filmTom Yum Goong 2.

RZA directed and starred inThe Man with the Iron Fists(2012).

In 2013, RZA provided guest voices in thesixth seasonepisode ofRobot Chicken."Botched Jewel Heist", in three sketches. His first role is an anthropomorphic strawberry who is shot dead in a mob hit, causing his jelly blood to splatter onto a large slice of bread below (which was covered in the peanut-butter blood ofMr. Peanut,who was killed the same way moments before). In his second role, he plays himself, and raps about being apescetarian,although RZA had shifted from a pescetarian diet to avegandiet in 1997. His third role was as the Halloween Road Warrior in a sketch where in a post-apocalyptic world, a family is pursued by road warriors representing forgotten holidays, who aim to kidnap their two children.

RZA played the role of Samurai Apocalypse in the television seriesCalifornicationin 9 episodes.[42]

RZA played the supporting role of Shotgun Steve in theromanticaction comedymovieMr. RightwithSam RockwellandAnna Kendrick.[43]

RZA portrayed Dean in 2019 filmThe Dead Don't Die.[44]

RZA narrates a character, known as Wesley, on the 2019 Netflix original seriesDay Breakin Season 1, episode 5 named "Homecoming Redux or My So Called Stunt Double Life". [45]

RZA portrayed Harry Mansell, brother of the protagonist, in the 2021action comedyfilmNobodywithBob OdenkirkandConnie Nielsen.

Filmmaking[edit]

RZA atThe New Yorker Festivalin 2005

I made my albums like movies, you know what I mean? I wanted people to be able to listen to a movie in their car while they was driving. "I want to start off making movies where people will know they're at a movie. Like my man Tarantino, he did that moviePulp Fiction– classic movie, man. Every time it comes on TV or cable, I have to stop and watch it. And it's based on nothing, really. There's only a few people out there that are able to do that, where it comes from nothing but the vision and imagination of the artist.[46]

In the late 1990s, RZA began production of a feature-length film based on "Bobby Digital", an alias he used on various albums. Though the film was never completed, he continued shooting music videos for his side projects and solo tracks.

RZA directed his first feature film,The Man with the Iron Fists,in 2011, from a script he wrote the previous year. DirectorsQuentin TarantinoandEli Rothwere involved in production, writing, and casting according to several movie websites.[47][48][49]The film was released in fall 2012.

Personal life[edit]

RZA is aFive Percenterand is usually seen wearing the5% Nation's flag necklace around his neck. He actively extols the 5% culture (which include theSupreme Mathematicsand theSupreme Alphabet). He has also embraced various aspects ofBuddhism,Taoism,Confucianism,Islam, and Christianity, as he describes in his two books,The Wu-Tang ManualandThe Tao of Wu.He has described theQuran,The Bible,and theLotus Sutraas three of his favorite books, stating that each contains enlightenment. RZA provided the afterword toSee You at San Diego: An Oral History of Comic-Con, Fandom, and the Triumph of Geek Culture.[50]

His hobbies include watchingmartial arts films,and he is considered an "encyclopedia of martial arts films" due to his knowledge of the genre.[49]RZA met and befriended Shaolin MonkShi Yan Mingafter being introduced by Ol' Dirty Bastard's managerSophia Chang.[51][52]His favorite movies includeFive Deadly Venoms,[53]The 36th Chamber of Shaolin,[53]Ninja Scroll[54]andFist of the North Star.[54]His second well-known hobby ischess.He is a Director of Development and champion of theHip-Hop Chess Federation.[55][56][57][58]

RZA isvegan[59]and has promoted the vegan lifestyle and compassion for animals on behalf ofPETA.[60][61]Until 1997, he was apescetarian;"I tell you one thing I did use to like: the fish and chips," he stated. "But I stopped eating fish this year. One day I just felt the death in it."[62]

RZA is a resident ofMillstone Township, New Jersey.[63]

Discography[edit]

Main articles:Wu-Tang Clan discography,RZA discography,andproduction discography

Studio albums[edit]

Collaboration albums[edit]

Filmography[edit]

Films[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Rhyme & Reason Himself
1999 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai Samurai in Camouflage
2003 Coffee and Cigarettes RZA
2005 Derailed Winston Boyko
2006 Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops Himself[64]
The Lather Effect Danny's Friend
Rock the Bells Himself
2007 American Gangster Moses Jones
The Box Duece
2008 Gospel Hill Lonnie
2009 Funny People Chuck
Life Is Hot in Cracktown Samy
2010 Repo Men T-Bone
Due Date Airline Screening Marshall
The Next Three Days Mouss
2011 A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Lamar
2012 The Man with the Iron Fists Blacksmith Lead actor, director, and co-writer
2013 G.I. Joe: Retaliation Blind Master
Tom Yum Goong 2 Mr. LC The Protector2
2014 Brick Mansions Tremaine Alexander
2015 The Man with the Iron Fists 2 Blacksmith Lead actor and co-writer
Mr. Right Steven
AWOL-72 Det.Adams
2016 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Himself
2017 Love Beats Rhymes Director
2018 Thriller Principal Hurd Lead actor, executive producer and composer
Mutafukaz Shakespeare Voice actor
2019 The Dead Don't Die Dean
2020 Cut Throat City Director
Life in a Year Ron
Hard Luck Love Song Louis
2021 Nobody Harry Mansell Jr.
Clean Pawn Shop Kurtis
King of Cool Himself
2022 Minions: The Rise of Gru Biker Voice actor
Poker Face
2023 Problemista Bobby
TBA One Spoon of Chocolate — Director and writer
Blood Brothers — Director and writer
Not an Artist
Me and My Girlfriend Marceo
The Prophet Sees

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2004 America's Next Top Model Himself Season 2, Episode 7
2009 Afro Samurai: Resurrection DJ Voice over
2010 Outlaw Greg Beals Episode: "Pilot"
2012 Californication Samurai Apocalypse Featured role (nine episodes)
2013 Robot Chicken Himself/Strawberry/Halloween Road Warrior Voice role (Episode: "Botched Jewel Heist" )
2014 Gang Related DEA Agent Cassius Green Main cast
2017 The Simpsons Himself Voice role (Episode: "The Great Phatsby: Part 2")
Marvel's Iron Fist Director (Episode: "Immortal Emerges from Cave" )
Snowfall Swim Episode: "Cracking"
2018 Fresh Off the Boat Himself Cameo (Episode: "Measure Twice, Cut Once" )
2019 Daybreak Himself Voice role (Episode: "Homecoming Redux or My So Called Stunt Double Life" )
Wu-Tang: An American Saga Executive Producer
2022 The Tiny Chef Show Himself Episode: "Lemonade"

Video games[edit]

Year FilmC Role Notes
1999 Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style Himself Voice over
2005 Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure Stake Voice over

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1996[65] Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version Grammy Award for Best Rap Album Nominated
1998[65] Wu-Tang Forever Nominated
2004[66] Kill Bill: Volume 1 BAFTA Award for Best Original Music Nominated
2008[67] American Gangster Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
2020[68] Wu-Tang: An American Saga Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music Nominated

Bibliography[edit]

References[edit]

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External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=RZA&oldid=1231361238"