With reporting by James Lacsina
For a while, it looked like Wu-Tang Clan’s upcoming album, A Better Tomorrow, would be released without Raekwon’s participation, as the Shaolin MC was butting heads with fellow Clansman RZA.
Thankfully, the two were able to put their issues in the past, and now the whole gang is on board for the album, which will be released through Warner Bros. on December 2.
“We did have a hard time seeing eye-to-eye,” RZA admitted to MTV News on Thursday. “And it was more like two strong generals not coming to the table.”
“I got off my high horse and I said, I’m gonna come to your studio. I brought him the outline of the album, with songs done, and some energy of where we at. Him and Ghostface were there. Me, GZA and Masta Killa. And then they started playing some chess while me and Raekwon had a meeting and I played the structure of the album. I think, that day, he understood the vision.”
“From there, it’s been a positive growth. Business was one thing which we had to get over, and settled our business differences, but once our creative differences was understood — I recall playing one of the songs and he was like, ‘OK, I see what you doing. You’re going different, but the difference is something good.’”
The two have had a number of public spats in recent years, with the producer asking Rae to “forget the money,” and the Chef saying the two had creative differences.
Now, that all appears to be in the past.
“To the world, it’s always looking like me and RZA going at it,” Raekwon said. “But it’s bigger than me and RZA. It’s the organization that, every now and then, you go through turbulence, because of what’s going on in the house of Wu. I’m protective of the brand, and I always want us to be feeling good about everything that we do and give to the world.”
This album is coming in addition to Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, the upcoming group album whose single copy could sell for $5 million. But A Better Tomorrow will have a unique rollout plan of its own: In addition to normal copies, a limited edition will be made available on speakers for purchase.
No matter how we get the music from the Wu, it’s a relief to hear that all the members will be involved.
“At the end of the day, we love each other,” Ghostface said. “We came in together on one big bus.”
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