The Breakfast Club - Raekwon Interview

Episode Date: May 4, 2015

Raekwon stops through to chat with the Breakfast Club about his latest project Fly International Luxurious Art, a possible Wu Tang and much more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihear...tpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God.
Starting point is 00:00:16 What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. We need help! That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast
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Starting point is 00:02:30 We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other. So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Real people, real celebrities, real talk. Join the Breakfast Club. Weekday mornings, 6 to 10. real people real celebrities real talk join the breakfast club morning everybody it's dj envy angela yee charlamagne the guy we are the breakfast club special guests in the building ray quinn the god what up what up peace lord first of all congratulations this year is the 20-year anniversary of only book for cuban links which is a huge deal so we're getting the getting a concert, a Purple Tape concert? Oh, you already know, you know.
Starting point is 00:03:07 We got a whole 45-day layout getting ready to come up in July. So, we're going to pay homage and do that album. Are we being about the documentary? Yeah. Documentary's official. It's coming out dope. You have original footage from back when you were actually doing that album? Yeah,
Starting point is 00:03:25 we got some stuff though but the way we doing this one is like, it's different. It's more like us building it, y'all. It ain't like
Starting point is 00:03:34 accolades and all that. It's more like y'all talking to us. Mm-hmm. You know, from the beginning. Now,
Starting point is 00:03:40 when you crafted that album 20 years ago, did you think it would not only stand the test of time that it has but it was a hip-hop classic when you was doing it? I felt like that. I was in my prime When you crafted that album 20 years ago, did you think it would not only stand the test of time that it has, but it was a hip-hop classic when you was doing it? I felt like that.
Starting point is 00:03:49 I was in my prime. You know, when you're making your first album, you know that shit, that shit number one right there. So I was just giving y'all a reflection of what I was seeing coming up. And I felt good about it. After I made it, I was, you know, I didn't even want videos. I wanted a whole flick, you know, and they was like, they was thinking the brother was going too far dreaming,
Starting point is 00:04:12 you know, but I was just feeling like that because it was different, you know. I made it different. I wanted it to be different because I felt like, you know, everybody had their own style out there and I just wanted to come with something new. Did RZA do beats specifically for that album,
Starting point is 00:04:28 or did he just have stuff like that in his stash already? Nah, he definitely was doing a lot of things to it, you know, changing up beats. One thing about Rob, when he was making beats, it was like, you might have rhymed to this, and it came out to be something like that. So, you know, some of the beats like Glaciers of Ice, they was different.
Starting point is 00:04:47 It was different. Now let's talk about the new album, Fly International Luxurious Art. In particular, the song that you did with A$AP Rocky, I Got Money. You really brought him into your chamber. It's not like you tried to be, you know, do something that's not you.
Starting point is 00:05:01 It really was like an updated flavor for Raekwon from back in the day, but it's modern. But it's not like, oh like an updated flavor for Raekwon from back in the day, but it's modern. But it's not like, oh, this isn't no Raekwon track. It sounds like you really put A$AP Rocky on something that sounds like a Raekwon beat. Yeah, I mean, you know, I just get up in there and just do what I feel, and I felt like that beat catered to the young audience.
Starting point is 00:05:22 You know, I just felt like he could rock it. You know, of course, we had a relationship already in the past. I'm working on stuff, and I just felt like, you know, let me connect with the young, you know, and somebody from my town, you know. I like what he's doing. He's a thoroughbred, good person. You know, I'm like, yo, I think he could rock it. Now, you stayed independent on this one
Starting point is 00:05:45 Yeah Now you were probably one of the first Artists that went independent And that was successful going independent When you dropped the album So you're not going back to majors It's not gonna happen huh Not right now man
Starting point is 00:05:56 You know the control factor I can't even I can't even let nobody be my boss right now You gotta be cutting a big big Big horrific check. A scary one where I gotta make that decision. He was one of the first artists.
Starting point is 00:06:10 He was one of the first ones to be successful as a rapper to do it. Have you ever heard of South Houston, maybe? No, I mean... Any Tech N9ne? He's 40. Yeah, he's 40. What are you talking about? From this side, I should say. From the New York side. Yeah, you're 40. What are you talking about? Oh, from this side, I should say.
Starting point is 00:06:25 From the New York side. Okay, okay. From the crime side. To really do it independent on his own and be very successful doing it. But you had a lot of guest appearances on this album as well. So how does that work? Do they just say, favor for favor? Or, you know, I know you got the budget that you opened up.
Starting point is 00:06:39 It's probably different when you got to spend your own money now. I mean, you know, definitely relationships is important. You know, a lot of dudes, they wouldn't even take my money. Right. You know, a lot of dudes, they call me. You know, I don't ask for money. It's like, you know, if your label call me, then yeah, I want some money. That's the pleasure of being independent.
Starting point is 00:06:58 I want some money if your label call me. But if you call me and me and you, you know, we cool like that, I might ask for a dollar. You know, yo, give me a dollar. Do you feel the need to, you said you had to beat that cater to the young folks. Do you feel the cater to the young crowd? You have to, you know, when you
Starting point is 00:07:15 doing business and you know that, you know, because we 90s dudes, so, you know, a lot of these dudes, they just heard of us. You know, they heard from their brothers or mothers or fathers or whatever but yeah you have to transition yourself a little bit to really adapt to what's going on you know in order to stay relevant rather is it hard do you have to dumb down a little bit or not i ain't dumbing down i'm just being me man i'm just giving them
Starting point is 00:07:42 what they know you know a lot of times dudes want to do something with us based on the fact of the reputation that we carry in the business. So if you ran across an artist that you know is very successful and you want to come up and you know he's still out there, you know dudes want to work with you. You know, they feel like it's an honor to do that. Who are some other people that you like now that's young? I know you guys like Drake,
Starting point is 00:08:05 because obviously Drake paid homage to Wu-Tang as well. But who are some other... Terrible record, though, by the way. He slowed his y'all down way too much. Can't turn his y'all into a love song. Rayquan like love songs, though. I haven't just said, you know, not his y'alls. You like love songs, soul music, all of that?
Starting point is 00:08:22 Oh, yeah, you know, I'm heavy on that. Yeah. I thought Wu-Wu would have sounded dope on Zero to 100. Yeah. I definitely said, I definitely, when I heard the beat, I was like, yo, it could be a little iller, though, you know? I heard. I felt like that.
Starting point is 00:08:36 But who else do you like now? Like, what new artists were you like, okay, I rock to that? Like, Chinks, you know? I think Chinks is a dope young G coming up, doing his thing. A couple of cats, you know. A few cats from all over. Dave East. Okay.
Starting point is 00:08:54 Dave East dope. Yeah. I think he's like one of the new top dudes coming out. You still have those artists from Toronto? From Canada? Do I still got some? Yeah, yeah. Because I remember one time he was in Canada.
Starting point is 00:09:05 I had to let a couple go, though. You know, they was lacking in certain departments. And I ain't in the force of nobody to, you know, to win. But he was lazy? You know how that be. You know, just, you know, you want to, you try to coach dudes and tell them they got to work real hard. Because, you know, hit records don't just come overnight, you know? And my thing is if you don't get it and you're not really ready to think like that
Starting point is 00:09:30 or network when I'm setting you up with these plays for you to get on it and you're not, you're showing me right there, you don't want it. You think it was harder when you were coming up because it required a lot more legwork to blow up. And a lot more talent. Yeah, a lot more talent, a lot more legwork, um it feels like it's a lot more oversaturated and i also feel like sometimes people think things come a lot quicker and easier because they just go online put out stuff they just think all they got to do is flood the internet go on twitter
Starting point is 00:09:57 you know go on instagram and all of that you think it was a lot harder um i think it was harder for us right for you guys easier right now for everybody it's just all about you know having content and just trying to be a net you know network you know everything is about networking you know a lot of times the artists come in and they think oh i just got a rhyme and that's it you know that ain't all you gotta do you know you gotta build relationships you gotta you know show me that you know it's like I guess I feel like that now because now I understand how the labels
Starting point is 00:10:30 was looking at us back then like you know and we just was doing whatever we wanted to do but it's important though when you want to win I think from the whole Wu clan I think you're probably the one that got it early cause you you're probably the one that's recognizable that goes Because you're probably the one that's recognizable,
Starting point is 00:10:46 that goes out every night, that I see all the time, that mingles. Them other dudes don't really like to go out. I see the guy ghost out too now. And let's be clear, Raza definitely was getting his money pretty early too. Ray is out. Ray is out in the young clubs.
Starting point is 00:10:58 Ray is out all the time. Ray still out smashing them young chicks. That's why. That's what that is. Ray is out. Ray will pop up on you. Ray just moving. Ray, Ray appreciate this lifestyle, you know?
Starting point is 00:11:13 We saw them talking about you on Divorce Court, you know? Breaking up happy homes. I'm talking about you. He wasn't talking about you. They said Wu-Tang clings to the whole clan. The whole, everybody. Now, to be clear, I did say this. When I saw that divorce court and she said she stayed out all night with the Wu-Tang, nothing happened.
Starting point is 00:11:30 I said, that's possible. I said, because they could have been talking politics. They could have been playing chess. You know, Raekwon could have been cooking up some steak. I mean, let me tell you something, man. Every time, you know, it's so crazy because, you know, we got all kind of fans and that, you know, it ain't always that. You know what I mean? Like, we just sit up and just have great conversation
Starting point is 00:11:50 just because they cool like that, you know. There have been times where, you know, dudes came with their girls and, you know, we're like, yo, bring it in. You want to hear, you know? And we just sometimes just chill with them, you know, just to see the reaction on their face, you know, and let them know, like, yo, we real people, you know, and we just sometimes just chill with them, you know, just to see the reaction on their face, you know, and let them know, like, yo, we real people, you know. I like to see fans, like,
Starting point is 00:12:10 you know, just be like, oh, I'm in the chef room right now. Boom, what's going on? And yeah, I'll give you like 10, 15 minutes, you know. And, um... We have heard Ghostface say you goddamn right, we f***ing fans. That too. Yeah, that too. But you***ing fans. That too. That too.
Starting point is 00:12:26 But you ain't chill till 7 a.m. Well, have you got calls like that before? Has a girl's man called y'all before, reached out to y'all before? Oh, of course. So what's happened before? Yo, I remember ill stories. I remember, yo, this kid was this little young white kid. You know, they had this girl on the bus, right?
Starting point is 00:12:45 Oh, boy. And, you know, it was so funny because it was like she was in the back nervous, like he's here, like, yo, he's here. So, you know, we like, all right, he's here, so what's the problem? Yo, my homeboy came on the bus looking for his girl. He didn't even get an invite. He just walked on. So, you know, I respected him after that.
Starting point is 00:13:06 You know what I mean? Usually dudes would be like, what? But automatically, you know, we just sat back and see how he was moving. And he came on the bus and, you know, he was arguing. We was like, yo, yo, yo, hold up, hold up. You know what I mean? Yo, he was really, yo, he was really like telling like the security dudes like, yo, nah, nah.
Starting point is 00:13:24 So they like had to throw him off the bus. But yo, he fought really, like, telling, like, the security dudes, like, yo, nah, nah. So they, like, had to throw him off the bus. But, yo, he fought his way off the bus, though. With his girl and his leave after that? Nah, you know, we let her leave after a while. We let her leave. Like, yo, nah, go get your man, though, you know what I mean? But it was funny, though, man. I respect a dude going after, you know.
Starting point is 00:13:42 I remember girls used to drive behind the tour bus, go from city to city, just following Wu-Tang. But that's all part of that road after, you know. I remember girls used to drive behind the tour bus, go from city to city just following Wu-Tang. But that's all part of that road life, you know. At that time. At that time. Does it bother you that? She trying to get. No, back then. I got her in the home with a happy house, man.
Starting point is 00:13:57 Yeah, you know, you trying to have dudes on the streets. Wu-Tang, y'all still tour a lot, though, right? Yeah, I mean, you know, yeah, dudes is always moving, man. You just did Coachella, which was huge. Yeah, Chef just did that,
Starting point is 00:14:11 me and Ghost, 85,000. Mm. They said, more the heat. Why do you think hip-hop can't have the same thing that like rock and roll has
Starting point is 00:14:19 where the Rolling Stones can still go out there and tour? I mean, we could. I mean, it's just all about, you know, making sure everything is organized. You know, that'd be dope to see that.
Starting point is 00:14:30 You know, I always believe that it's possible. You know, it's just all about connecting with the artists. It's like when y'all do big shows, you know, y'all tally them up. It's like, you need to see more of that. Why wait? Why only do it once a year? Right, I think hip-hop is younger than rock and roll, too.
Starting point is 00:14:46 So we'll get to that point where, you know, 20 years since Only Built for Cuban Links, and it's still something that you could go out and do and do 45 shows off of. It's difficult, though, because some of the originators can't go out there and tour. It's very difficult for them. Very difficult for them.
Starting point is 00:15:00 I don't think we support ourselves. And I think in our genre, if we get older, it's get older it's like all they whack you know I feel like if it ain't this area that doesn't ain't gonna happen if it ain't Wu-Tang that can do it Nas they can do it yep you know Hov still does it but it's like if this era can't do it I don't see I don't see it happening you know the music it's all about the music though if the music is timeless to people you know I guess for us you know we could still tour for our first album. You know, I made a lot of money just singing the joints
Starting point is 00:15:29 that everybody want to hear, you know? And sometimes I be like, yo, I'm tired of doing them. I want to do new stuff, but this is what they request. You know, you can't go to a Keith Sweat joint and don't think that you ain't going to hear I want to. You know, you want twisted. You know, you want those records. So we just, we just have to give the fans what they want. You know, you said you feel, well, I read somewhere where you said you feel better
Starting point is 00:15:52 now than you did 20 years ago. Word. Yeah. Just, you know, just mentally, physically, you know, it's just all about knowing, knowing your craft. Now I get it. I understand my brand. You know, you couldn't feel a certain kind of way if you didn't have a brand. Me knowing how internationally this brand is, it's like I'm just trying to go out there and do what I'm supposed to do, you know? I don't just do this for me. I do this for, you know, the flagship or the crew, you know, because I know that it can
Starting point is 00:16:21 help all of us. You know, as long as they just know somebody moving, it's like Wu-Tang is always going to be in the air. Right. What made you realize you had to be an entrepreneur? Like, was there a point when you were like, okay, this is ridiculous. I'm not getting this that I'm supposed to get. This should be happening. I need to know what's going on with my business.
Starting point is 00:16:39 Was there a point in time when you just realized it and said, okay, I need to get this in order, this in order, this in order? Yeah. I mean, you know, just feeling like at some point you're getting jerked in the business, you wake up. You know, you're like, yo, hold on, let me focus and really pay attention to what's going on. You know, that might have been for me back in like 98, 98, 99, my second album, you know, because once Loud did whatever it did and diminished, it was
Starting point is 00:17:06 like I went to another set over there by Universal. And, you know, they was kind of scared of me because they didn't know what I was thinking. You know, so with me trying to still be humble and, you know, let them dictate what they may think is right, it's like I failed. You know, so now it's like I can't even really, I got to go with what I feel right now. Is that the reason the Mobility was so different from Only Built for Cumulon?
Starting point is 00:17:30 I wanted it to be different. I want every album to be different. I don't ever want it to be like, you know, you're going to keep getting the same style from me, you know? I guess that's how I always want every album to be. Even from this one, this one is like, this one ain't built on a concept. This one is just lifestyle right here.
Starting point is 00:17:48 Just you seeing me 20 years later still giving y'all great music. You know, still keeping it where y'all would expect me to keep it. And, you know, still intertwining with the new. So it has nothing to do with the sneaker, the feeler? Nah, this ain't got nothing to do with them. They ain't come with the right bag. I'm keeping it 100. I ain't got nothing against them.
Starting point is 00:18:09 You know, I thought it would have been a dope move. But, you know, my thing is if you want support, you go out and ask for it. You got to let support show you how it works. Right. You know, you can't try to act like you want support, but then you know everything. It's like, then what you want support for? Right. You know, you can't try to act like you want support but then you know everything. It's like,
Starting point is 00:18:25 then what you want support for? Right, right, right. You know, and we talked about, we talked about some different stuff, you know, doing some lines and all.
Starting point is 00:18:33 I guess they just ain't really get it yet. They ain't understand. Now what about that last Wu-Tang album that, actually Angela Yee, Angela Yee hosted an event.
Starting point is 00:18:42 Well, I didn't host it. You know what's so funny? I bought a better tomorrow when it came out and I literally just started listening to it like two weeks ago I don't know why I was like what the why I ain't never listened to a better tomorrow and I was surprised it was really dope like really dope and it was surprising because I ain't hear people talking to talking about it it was different though I mean you know it was it had a lot of positive messages in it you
Starting point is 00:19:05 know which that's what rizzo wanted to do but um you know it was just something that he wanted to do how involved were you with that project a little bit you know we were still going through our little thing me and me and wu-tang management you know um is everything cool now? I mean, you know. That means not really. Like the numbers still ain't right, you know what I mean? But it's cool. But we talking. Conversation is open.
Starting point is 00:19:35 I mean, these are my brothers, man, at the end of the day. You know, I don't never look at them like the enemy, you know, regardless of what we go through. I think it's just more like we don't understand each other fully yet. Business-wise, maybe you don't connect. Yeah, business-wise, we don't. You ever think that maybe y'all have grown apart, but y'all still try to keep it together just because it's the wool?
Starting point is 00:19:56 It be like that. I mean, it's hard for me to walk away from something that made me. You know, I wasn't cut from that cloth to just not acknowledge that. You know, one thing about us, it's like we argue, we, you know, go all the way there, but we won't physically take it there because, you know, if it becomes that, then it's like it won't never come back. No turning back, yeah. You know, because we ain't those type of dudes. It's like it's always going to haunt us.
Starting point is 00:20:23 It's like, yo, we got it in, so I would never respect you no more. But, you know, at the end of the day, it's brotherhood, man. It's like, you know, for somebody who got a big family, brothers and sisters, you know, sometimes you love your family from distance. You're like, yo, stay over there. I'm going to stay over here. You know, but we don't wish each other you
Starting point is 00:20:46 know i don't wish you know i ain't down for that i don't you know because i know when you go get a bag you go home to your you know my nephews you know cats and the crew got names after you know they name their seeds after everybody's family's really tight with each other so it's like you can't just yeah you can't just walk away from that right you know we that's one thing about us we ain't gonna never let money you know i'm the type of dude like this if you if you take something from me and it's on some money and i love you it's like i look at that was a way for me to you know see who you are so it's like if the money was the issue i know who you are now you know some people just get addicted to, you know,
Starting point is 00:21:27 feeling like that's how they got to handle each other is by robbing your friends. You know what I mean? Like if that's what you got to do, bro, then yo, I guess the money, you know, I ain't letting money, I ain't letting money overcome who I am as a person, you know. But I ain't going to do business with you if the money is like. Yeah, you know, shame on, shame on you the first time, you know, I go, shame on me the next. It's better like, yo, let's just stop doing business
Starting point is 00:21:50 so we can remain friends. I prefer that sometimes. Even doing business today, it's like, you know, I let a dude know, like, if you feel like the business is going to mess up the friendship, then, yo, just keep it moving. Because I can't work with somebody, you know. I don't like you, and we get money.
Starting point is 00:22:07 But it's hard because people want to hear the music. They want to hear, they want to see the clan together. Like, they want to see it, so it's hard, you know, because I know you got people, fans coming to you every day, like when y'all doing another album, when y'all going on the road again, you know. And not to mention the other guys in the group, I'm sure for some people,
Starting point is 00:22:21 they are dependent on the whole entire group coming together because, you know, definitely certain members sold more records and have more recognition than others. So it kind of helps other people out in the group if you're like, okay, let's go do this together. It hurts when certain members aren't going to do it. Yeah, I mean, but, you know, it's all about organizing. You know, you can't put somebody in a situation that we don't know what's going on. That's like, you know, it's like you over there, Envy, you got something going on.
Starting point is 00:22:49 But collectively, y'all used to rolling with each other, but it ain't them days no more. So now when you over there doing what you're doing, you know, yeah, something come to the table where they know that it can happen, but at the end of the day, you don't even know what's going on. You know, and then you got to make sure that it fits your criteria where you at. You can't just be forced in it
Starting point is 00:23:10 because y'all at breakfast. Right, right. You know, I'm not going to do that. It's like, at least give me the benefit of the doubt of knowing what you're doing, you know, and then come back to me. You know, we've been plenty of times where we all sacrifice, you know,
Starting point is 00:23:23 just to make sure we all eat. Right. But, you know, that can only go but so far sometimes. It's hard with a team, man. Yeah. As long as you understand nobody's bigger than the team, that's the best way. But like you said, it's difficult because Charlamagne go one way, Ye go one way, I go one way. And, you know, we all have families that we got to support. We busy.
Starting point is 00:23:41 Yeah, we are busy. What about this album that's not supposed to be released for another 75 years or something like that i can't even really i can't elaborate on that have you heard it um nah oh so you're not on yeah no i'm on it you know these are these are records that was dusted off from me back in the day but um you know nah i ain't really hear it like that you and the original y'all y'all seem to clash musically. Was it always like this? Nah, it wasn't, you know.
Starting point is 00:24:10 But then again, it was, though. We always was collectively down with the production side, because we could feel a great record when we hear it. That's my thing. I would sit in the classroom and look at RZA like the teacher, but you still got to say something to the teacher sometimes if you ain't feeling it. Right.
Starting point is 00:24:30 And I think that he was just at the level where he felt like he was making everything that was new and improving. We was like, nah, homie, that ain't it. And I just was the one, the outspoken one, because I believe that any MC that's nice, nah homie that ain't it you know and i just was the one that outspoken one because you know i believe that you know when any mc that's nice he gonna always be nice you know but if he get the proper production he could be he could be around you know more and that's my thing you know when everybody look at the woo they know we capable of i just wanted to have the records that had the
Starting point is 00:25:02 energy you know the you know the the fight music that everybody want. Not saying that it can't be rounded, I mean, of course, but let's still give them something that we all feel good about, not just one dude. Because I always think about that, because like Derriza always said that he had full control, but none of the Wu-Tang Projects sounded the same. Like, Dirty Album didn't sound like yours.
Starting point is 00:25:22 Yours didn't sound like Mef. Mef didn't sound like Jizz. Yeah. I mean, you know, at that time, everybody was really hands-on and being hands-on with their project. You know, nowadays, with that particular project, it was just racing for, you know, racing to get something out there when really that ain't how we normally do things.
Starting point is 00:25:44 It's probably different if you're in the studio together working on something locked in. Yeah, that's the best way. Than it is when you're sending stuff through email. When you a group like Wu-Tang Clan, you got to take time and do it together. It's different when you're doing your own thing because then you can do it the way you want to. Because everybody want to make sure that you know we like the music you know if it's something that i made or whatever
Starting point is 00:26:09 that's on the record and um you know i want to know how they all feel i don't want it to just be up there because it's like me and rizzo felt like that now i need to know how you feel about you might say yo that ain't nick or yo you know, yo, you know, I could take it. Right. So you know how it go. You know, it's just all about everybody being there at one time and just getting it in. Now I'm waiting for this Wu-Tang biopic or something to happen because you see they have the NWA one coming out. Oh, man.
Starting point is 00:26:34 I know y'all have got to talk about it. Oh, man. This is something that is a must. Yo, and, you know, that's something that I'm looking forward to too. You know, it's a mean story behind us, man. I guess, you know, I guess it'll happen when it's time. You know, when I think about the NWA story, like it almost took them like 25 years to really,
Starting point is 00:26:55 really tell it the way they want to tell it. You know, I think it's important to have a great director, you know, that really is willing to look in because I tell anybody, B, like, when we came together, it was like putting something together that wasn't meant to happen, but it was meant to happen. You know, imagine, you know, it's like I tell dudes, you know, when RZA started calling everybody like, you, you, you, you, yo, come to the studio. You know, we wasn't even rappers like that.
Starting point is 00:27:25 We just loved, we loved the art of it. You know, we wasn't even rappers like that. We just loved the art of it. We grew up in it. So it was like I might have had a little bit of skill, but I had a lot of hip-hop in me. You know, and he knew my potential. He knew certain dudes. You know, certain dudes that was just around dudes got put on. You know, Master Killer, you know, that's my brother.
Starting point is 00:27:42 He was with JZA. You know, we loved him so much. It was like, yeah, come in. You know what I mean? His heart was where it's supposed to be. And it's like I never seen a group made like this before. And U-Guard was locked up, right, when you guys first started? Yeah, U-Guard was locked up.
Starting point is 00:27:58 He just came home. That's when he had eight balls? He only had like eight balls in the first step. Nah, he always had heat, though. I mean, you know, it's just that he was away. You know, he came out, he was fresh, he had the afro, you know. You know, he just had only a little bit of time to make it happen, and that's what it was.
Starting point is 00:28:14 Do you feel like the artists like Wu-Tang and yourself set the bar too high for New York, that nobody's been able to reach it? Like the next era just could not do what Wu-Tang did, what Nas did, what Jay did, what Boot Camp Click did. They just couldn't. Some things just ain't going to be duplicated, you know, and I think that we one of them type of groups that already,
Starting point is 00:28:33 you're not going to get one of those. Forget it, you know. It's the same way I look at it. You're not going to get a Run-DMC, you know. You're not going to get a nod like that, you know. You know, it's just all about your heritage, what you come from. You know, if you come from music the way we come from it and you understand what it's about, you know,
Starting point is 00:28:56 that's why I respect documentaries because documentaries from great artists, you know, it kind of like puts you in perspective to see what they're going through. Right. You know, like I was chilling yesterday. I was with Ice-T. I was at his crib. He got this podcast thing he do, so you know the legend out there. He doing what he doing and surrounding his fan base next to him.
Starting point is 00:29:16 We was going back and forth in stories, and a lot of stories that he was saying was like I was familiar with it. Damn, it seemed like he telling my life. To me, it's just so important though you know because you really see the greatness in an artist when you can see his story right and you talked about bringing Nas to Staten Island for the first time to to record for the album and everything yeah I'm sure y'all had a lot of people coming to Staten Island nah not really though nah. Really? Staten Island was hot. Nobody wanted to get on the ferry or what would happen?
Starting point is 00:29:47 Nobody wanted to get to Staten Island. You don't want to be in Staten Island. Staten Island is another type of place. Some cats came through, of course, though. Smith and Wesson, dudes that really relate to the streets, but we never really wanted to bring dudes around.
Starting point is 00:30:07 One time one of my homeboys got locked up, and they threw him in a cell with feces and all that in there. They was playing him, like, because they knew he wasn't from there. So I don't recommend dudes to go out there like that. Even now still? It's probably worse right now. Damn. Why do you think nobody else came out of Staten Island? Huh? Why do you think nobody else came out of Staten Island?
Starting point is 00:30:25 Huh? Why do you think nobody else came out of Staten Island? Like no other rappers? There was a couple. Yeah, you know, a couple of cats tried, though, but it's just all about the work ethic, man, you know? Mack Wiles, ain't he from Staten Island? Mack Wiles?
Starting point is 00:30:41 Yeah, Mack Wiles. Yeah. I mean, I guess it's just because they wasn't really putting it all the way down. You know, this is the one thing about this sport right here. You got to be out there. You know, I tell anybody and everybody from Staten Island that I love, y'all got to go out. People got to see y'all more, you know. You know, the music, you just got to make what it takes to show everybody
Starting point is 00:31:05 what it is I tell anybody if you make if you come out of Staten Island you do so much and I feel like it's enough for me
Starting point is 00:31:11 to support I'm gonna support you so it's like I give dudes that card like just show me what you can do show me you know what I mean
Starting point is 00:31:18 if you can make it up to the radio station and bow bow bow yeah nine times out of ten I'm backing you up just because you from Staten now, just because I want to
Starting point is 00:31:27 see that happen because we need it, you know, and I know it's a lot of talent out there, you know, but it's about that work. I just feel like you're doing the right thing with the Purple Tape, man. You got the documentary coming out this year. You just dropped a new album. Like, I feel like the ball was dropped from the 36 Chambers into the
Starting point is 00:31:43 Wu-Tang when it was that 20-year one. was no doc about that yeah you know i mean it's just you know like i said dealing with it with a with a franchise team b everybody gotta be in sync you gotta have the right coaches and the right people making sure we all on the same page you know because it's so many of us you know you can't talk though half of us and then expect the other half to understand and we not around each other every day it's not like that you know we one thing we always told y'all from the beginning and nobody in this room good fun on that we said yo when we come in we're gonna come in this way and then everybody would eventually do their own thing that's what's going on you. You know, everybody made a lot of money.
Starting point is 00:32:26 You know, what you did with your money is what you did. Where your career's at is where it's at. You know, I can say that for myself. I blew a lot of cash. You know, and right now I'm just still fortunate to be able to go out there and capitalize. You know, I ain't in nobody's way. You know, I ain't stopping you from doing your one, too.
Starting point is 00:32:44 Don't stop me from doing mine. You know, and when it's time's way. You know, I ain't stopping you from doing your one, too. Don't stop me from doing mine. You know, and when it's time to come back together and do chores, we always can do that. Wu-Tang is going to always be here to go get millions of dollars every year. Right. You know, it's just all about the scheduling and the business. Do the whole team still care about the W or is it just the money thing? Nah, I think, you know,
Starting point is 00:33:06 the care is always the W though. But, you know, the money is just something that, you know, don't play with nobody's money. Be fair. Be fair, you know, don't...
Starting point is 00:33:16 And straight up, be straight up. There you go. World. All right. Well, Ray, we appreciate you joining us. Real Rap.
Starting point is 00:33:23 New album is out now. Fly International Luxurious Arts. Shout out to all them super features on there, you know. I know. You got more features than regular. Y'all know this is my first time doing a record with this many features. I know. You got a lot of features on here.
Starting point is 00:33:36 You got French Montana. Rose French, ASAP. Of course, Ghostface. Yeah, you know. Bustin' Melanie Fiona, that's Charlamagne's boo. Melanie fine as a mother. Rick Ross. Yeah, you know, Buster, Melanie, Fiona, that's Charlamagne's boo. Melanie's fine as a mother. Rick Ross. Yeah, you know, everybody showed up for me.
Starting point is 00:33:50 You watch Empire? Nah, I don't even be watching that though. Wow. All right. It's the Breakfast Club. It's Rick. Salute, salute. Had enough of this country?
Starting point is 00:34:01 Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete, or maybe not.
Starting point is 00:34:12 No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God. What is that? Listen to escape from Zaka Stan. That's escape from Z A Q is Stan on the I heart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going.
Starting point is 00:34:44 That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, my undeadly darlings. It's Teresa, your resident ghost host.
Starting point is 00:35:42 And do I have a treat for you. Haunting is crawling out from the shadows, and it's going to be devilishly good. We've got chills, thrills, and stories that'll make you wish the lights stayed on. So join me, won't you? Let's dive into the eerie unknown together. Sleep tight, if you can. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha.
Starting point is 00:36:10 And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show Civic Cipher. That's right. We discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle. We're going to learn how to become better allies to each
Starting point is 00:36:32 other, so join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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