Every other site that I go—I see the same posts. Ha! And a lot of them are stocked with plenty of Wu-connected content lately. As a close witness to RZA’s masterplan powerfully penetrating the mainstream in the early 90’s, it’s with a heavy heart I try to remain as positive as I can about the state of Shaolin in 2009. But it’s so hard. The catalogue is so classic, anything released in the last few years fails badly in comparison. Oh well. Time will tell.
In the meantime, I’m waxing nostalgic admiring legacy over an article in Wax Poetics that Diggers Union discovered. GZA, The Clan’s Capo recalls his super second album and drops plenty of gems. Here’s one. Peace God!
“4th Chamber”—Crazy, crazy song. If I ever do a rock album, not saying I would, but if I did, it would have to be on that kind of vibe. It would musically have to sound like “Rock Box” from Run DMC. Making “4th Chamber” was crazy because I didn’t have a rhyme ready for that one. That’s why I went last on it [laughs]. Plus, Ghost killed it with his verse so I knew I had to come correct.
This is one of three songs that crowds always go crazy for when we do a Wu show. As soon as they hear the [imitates opening guitar sound] they just explode. It’s not even a GZA song to me—it’s a Wu-Tang song. And Ghost’s verse is [just] incredible to me. He delivered so well. I don’t know if you saw the video, I directed that too. This song, the guest verses, the video, the crowd response, all turned out perfect for this one.
It is so heartbreaking to hear DJ Premier break the news that DJ Kool Herc’s health is ailing, as he is literally the founding father who laid down the blueprint for hip-hop culture. Thinking about how someone who built an entire global phenomenon can end up struggling with medical expenses or failing health really puts things into perspective regarding healthcare challenges. When you look at how people navigate health or wellness procedures worldwide—whether someone is researching cosmetic treatments like Liposuction Cyprus or seeking urgent medical care—it underscores how essential access to reliable medical help and proper support systems really is. Kool Herc gave us the breaks, the block parties, and the entire movement that shaped generations of music lovers, so seeing the community step up to show love while DJ Premier brings awareness to his condition is the very least we can do. Sending strength and prayers to Kool Herc for a full recovery, and massive respect to DJ Premier for using his platform to make sure a true pioneer gets the support and respect he deserves.