Recently RZA sat down with Karmaloop TV to offer his razor sharp insight into what makes his Chambers by RZA headphones from WeSC stand out from their competitors. No. 1 is “the look” — as RZA explains, “Headphones are now becoming a fashion statement.” The Chambers headset was designed with that element in mind, which accounts for the overall presentation and different color choices. The second factor is sound quality, a major component of which is the noise-canceling foam used in the ear cups. Click through for video of RZA’s breakdown of his new line of signature headphones, as well as extended footage from the official product launch party in Los Angeles.
What could be more appropriate from Bobby Digital, aka RZA, than his own app for the iPhone or iPad? RZA has gotten together with Charisma Apps to introduce RZA’s World, something that will give fans a glimpse into the world of the rapper/producer/actor/composer. RZA’s World is broken down into four chambers: Soundtrack to Your Life, in which RZA provides original beats and worldly advice; RZA’s Chess Chamber, which offers 3D gameplay (remember, a game of chess is like a sword fight); The Vault, where one can find archival content including two Bobby Digital films; and finally, What’s News — the latest news on the man himself. Click through for video of RZA discussing the features of his app, then head over to iTunes to purchase.
RZA, the producer, rapper and founding member of seminal hip hop collective the Wu-Tang Clan, entered into a partnership earlier this year with Swedish fashion label WeSC on his own line of headphones, dubbed the Chambers by RZA and available in two models, the Premium and Street. December 1st saw the official launch party for the headsets at L.A.’s Trousdale club. Presented by RZA and hosted by Mike Epps, the event featured a live performance by Talib Kweli, as well as DJ sets from Paul Banks of Interpol, and “WeActivitsts” Lady Tigra, Pase Rock and Eddie House of Steed Lord. Among the famous names in attendance that evening were Marilyn Manson, Russel Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Eli Roth, Victor Rasuk, Fergie and Josh Duhamel. Check out a teaser video and multiple images from the evening after the click.
For the last few weeks, Kanye West has released a track from his cadre of G.O.O.D. Music comrades, and this week’s release, “So Appaled,” marks the track with the most guest spots. Yet again, Jay-Z makes an appearance (as he has on “Monster” and the “Power” Remix), along with the RZA, The Clipse’s Pusha-T (who appeared on “Runaway“),Swizz Beatz, and Cychi the Prynce. As the push towards Kanye’s album grows, we’ve seen a lot of new tracks, and though they are extremely varied in their respective approaches, one thing is clear–he’s doing a lot of collaborating. Check out the track below on our Freshness Soundcloud account and download it if you like it. Keep checking for more new Fresh Music tracks in the future.
The Wu-Tang Clan’s mastermind, The Rza seems to never run out of aliases. The following is a list of known pseudonyms: Prince Rakeem, The Abbot, Bobby Steels, the Scientist, Prince Delight, Prince Dynamite, and Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah. Another is Bobby Digital, his best known nom de plume, under which he recorded the album “Bobby Digital in Stereo” in 1998. Twelve years later, at the age of 41, he’s released another single with Kinetic, called “You Must Be Dreaming” which returns to the keyboard and synth-heavy sound that permeated the 1998 album. Check out the video after the jump.
Nike 6.0 has been known for roping in the big guns to help with their advertising and marketing efforts. For instance, Nike’s action sports division had brought Todd Selby on board to create a campaign around their riders and athletes, creating an interesting visual diary which gave the world a look into the lives and spaces of these Nike stars. This season, Nike 6.0 departed from the visual route and went sonic with the help of Grammy award winning producer, author and de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA. RZA has remixed some tracks catering to each specific rider for their clips for the commercial, and each note is supposed to be a pitch perfect reflection of what RZA thinks of the riders. Thus far, the videos debuted includes ones for Ryan Dungey, Garrette Reynolds and Kolohe Andino.
Thoughtful and articulate, Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, best known as RZA of Wu-Tang Clan fame, sat down with Andre Torres of Wax Poetics Magazine in an one-to-one interview as part of Supreme‘s video project. Here is the brief clip provided by videographer Jake Davis as RZA explained the responsibilities of a civilized person in today’s society….
Among the most influential hip-hop Groups in recent memory, the Wu-Tang Clan has enjoyed a recent resurgence in music with the recent release of Raekwon’s Only Built for Cuban Linx II (which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Charts) and the upcoming Ghostface Killah album Ghostdini: The Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City releasing today. The RZA, the mastermind behind the signature sound of the landmark debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and four solo albums, now ventures into the publishing world with the release of The Tao of Wu, a chronicle of what Penguin describes as “a nonfiction Siddhartha for the hip-hop generation —an engaging, seeking book that will enlighten, entertain, and inspire.”
The first book by the RZA, The Wu-Tang Manual, was an attempt to summarize the origins and facts about the group. This second release, however, is far from a simple biography, as the book delves into the spiritual side of the RZA, whose beliefs are fashioned by a philosophy informed by “a unique blend of Eastern spirituality, Christianity, numerology, science, and hard-earned street wisdom.” Though this may appear to be a sort of ideological mash-up, the book fuses together the life, experiences, and thoughts of the mad genius behind the Wu-Tang Clan.
Written by Yu-Ming Wu
Photos by Yu-Ming Wu
The Boroughs project from Timberland and artists from each of the NYC Boroughs has turned out great boots to represent each of the Boroughs. I am a Brooklyn native but quickly attached myself to the Staten Island boot after seeing what the RZA designed. Sorry Jeff but I think the RZA boots are the best of the entire pack. The RZA boot features black denim and atomic yellow stitching on the upper. Atomic yellow gum and natural gum are used in the midsole and out sole of the boot creating incredible contrast in the boot.
The Timberland Boroughs Project should drop at the end of February so make sure to rep your Borough.
Take a closer look at the RZA x Timberland boots below…
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