RZA
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Netflix will make a movie about Martin Shkreli's rare Wu-Tang album purchase
The story behind Martin Shkreli's $2 million purchase of Wu-Tang Clan's 'Once Upon a Time in Shaolin' is coming to Netflix.
RZA's advice for starting out in music production
After a performance with electronic music duo Parisi here at CES, we sat down with RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan to chat about Roli Blocks. The modular touch-sensitive pieces of tech snap together to create a user-friendly way to start making music in minutes. They're a fun option for beginners and pros alike, and the hip hop producer offered advice for people looking to dive into music for the first time, what makes Blocks unique and the types of sounds you can expect from the gear.
RZA teams up with Atari on a new video game-inspired album
RZA already made one big announcement this summer, and the member of the Wu-Tang Clan doesn't appear to be done yet. The rapper/producer announced this week that he's teaming up with Atari on a new album that takes inspiration from the audio in the company's video games. "I'm so excited to work on these iconic games to deliver what I believe will be one of my best albums," RZA told Billboard.
Wu-Tang's RZA on making digital music more physical
Back in October, the news broke that Wu-Tang Clan's A Better Tomorrow would initially be released preloaded on a limited-edition Bluetooth speaker. RZA worked with Boombotix to iron out the details on the special version of the Boombot Rex. A second edition of the gadget is now on the way for those who missed out the first time, allowing fans to once again possess the music like we did in the days of buying physical albums. What's more, his work with Boombotix is ongoing, with new products (like the just-announced Rex+) and more artist collaborations in the works. RZA stopped by to chat with us about the unique distribution system, why he's drawn to these compact speakers, and the process of recording that new album.
RZA on why the Wu-Tang Clan put its new album inside a speaker
Back in October, RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan revealed that the group's upcoming album A Better Tomorrow (no, not that one) would be released ahead of its official December 2nd date on a Bluetooth speaker. Of course, that early option was limited to a few thousand units from Boombotix and emblazoned with the iconic W branding. But why a speaker? Box sets and the like are popular options for die-hard fans to shell out a little extra dough on a new release, but this is certainly a rather unique undertaking. RZA knows this, and he explained late last week why he did it.
Wu-Tang fans hope to liberate 'Shaolin' for $5 million but have a ways to go (updated)
When you have the cultural cachet of someone like the Wu-Tang Clan, there are a handful of luxuries afforded to you that few others have. Like selling the only copy of your upcoming album for $5 million, for instance. But in an effort to free Once Upon a Time in Shaolin's music to less-than-rich listeners, two fans have launched a Kickstarter in an attempt raise enough cash so everyone can hear the exclusive double album. The Staten Island rap group's original idea for the release was to sell it as an ultra-limited edition package after it completes a world-tour where fans could pay between $30 and $50 apiece to listen to it once, in a single sitting, in a museum. Update: This Kickstarter bid -- ambitious as it may be -- likely violates the Kickstarter guidelines. We've reached out to Kickstarter for the official word. Update 2: Of the potential violations we cited (from this page under "What is not allowed," the first, third and sixth), a Kickstarter rep says this project is in the clear.
RZA unveils branded headphone line, hopes you don't leave Shaolin without them
The other rappers probably spend a lot of time making fun of you when you don't have your own line of headphones. The Wu Tang's RZA can thankfully breathe a sigh of relief as he becomes a member of the not so inclusive club that already contains the likes of Dr. Dre, Ludacris, and 50 Cent. The Gravedigga sometimes known as Bobby Digital is teaming up with WESC to bring the world Chambers, a line of over-ear headphones with flashing LEDs that light up in time with your music. Chambers will come in two versions -- one targeted at consumers and another aimed at pros. The line is set to launch on August 26th. It's not quite as awesome as that $500 Ghostface Killah doll from a few years back, but it's a start.
RZA confirmed playable in DJ Hero 2, contributes pair of mixes
Activision today officially welcomed RZA to the cast of DJ Hero 2. The legendary Wu-Tang leader's inclusion as a playable character was first hinted at when RZA shared a few images of his mocap costume for an unnamed Activision game back in April. RZA, who often performs as alter-ego Bobby Digital, said of his digitization, "Now, I actually exist in a digital world, yo." Additionally, RZA mixed two tracks for the DJ Hero 2 soundtrack. The first blends LL Cool J's "I Can't Live Without My Radio" with Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's "The Message," and the second mixes Damian Marley's "Welcome To Jamrock" with Walter Murphy's "A Fifth of Beethoven." (RZA is also featured in the "Dollaz & Sense" Blackroc track licensed for the game; see the complete track listing here.) Catch RZA wax poetic on his journey from paperboy to DJ Hero 2 in the video after the break. "Bong bong!" %Gallery-101145%
RZA wraps up mocap for Activision game
Bobby Digital has been fully digitized, as hip-hop icon RZA recently tweeted about motion-capture work he completed for an unnamed Activision game. Additionally, RZA posted two images from the session on his Facebook page (one pictured above) and gave props to Activision -- and specifically the development team he worked with -- for showing a true appreciation for hip-hop and "our work" (perhaps an allusion to Wu-Tang's extensive catalog of music and a possible hint as to the scope of the mystery game). The vague tease from RZA leaves us with few other clues. One reasonable guess is that RZA was mo-capped for inclusion in the next or some future iteration of the DJ Hero franchise, but he's not known as a "DJ" per se and is more accurately credited as a producer, among other creative roles. Roughly a decade ago, RZA was one of the Wu-Tang characters featured in the Activision-published Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style fighting game for PS1. [Via MTV Multiplayer]
Joystiq visits: The Afro Samurai launch party in Los Angeles
Namco Bandai, er ... we mean Surge rented out the Geisha House in Hollywood last night in order to throw a party for the launch of Afro Samurai, and Joystiq tagged along to check things out. The best thing about the night? Plenty of stations to play the game on both PS3s and Xbox 360s. Sadly, the sound was so loud in the place that you couldn't hear the hacking and slashing from the samurai with the gigantic hairdo. Also puzzling was the fact that Samuel L. Jackson was listed as a co-host of this party and was a no show. That was a real surprise, since he provides both the voices of Afro Samurai and his sidekick Ninja Ninja and is a co-producer of the series. Either he didn't show at all, or he really does have ninja-esque skills and we just missed him. Update: he actually did show up, we just missed him. Plus he was dressed for freezing weather.Check out the gallery below, and highlights after the break including a video performance by an afro-bedecked The RZA, who provides music both on the show and in the game.%Gallery-43362%
Check out the star-studded Afro Samurai trailer
There are three things in this world for which we possess an unbridled, white-hot love: The warriors of feudal Japan, outrageously large disco hairstyles, and Samuel L. Jackson. As you can imagine, we've been fans of Afro Samurai since it made its American debut on SpikeTV in 2007 -- though we've been somewhat apprehensive towards the Namco brawler based on the stylish mini-series, which we got our first look at during last year's VGAs. However, the trailer posted above hits all the right notes -- amazing voice actors, attractive visuals, wicked acrobatic maneuvers, and a soundtrack by the Wu Tang Clan's RZA. With this latest trailer, and our brief time with the game at E3, we feel comfortable giving Afro Samurai the Joystiq Seal of Certified Freshness.
Afro Samurai hip-hops onto 360, PS3 this Fall
"Hip hop infused action adventure" news now, with Namco Bandai announcing a Fall 2008 release window for Afro Samurai, a video game adaptation of the popular animated series starring Mr. Samuel L. Jackson. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game follows the acrobatic Afro as he seeks revenge for the murder of his father and "fights to become the number one warrior." The game will stick to the storyline established in the series, while adding material and background that's sure to be appreciated by fans.Of course, Samuel L. Jackson returns to provide dialogue, as well as the myriad of grunts sure to emanate as he kills enemies who are "affected by the beat of the musical score produced by RZA of Wu-Tang Clan fame." Lucky them.%Gallery-20741%
