RZA, the creative mastermind behind Wu-Tang Clan, shares his artistic journey from producer to composer. He discusses the transformative impact of martial arts philosophy on his music and personal growth. RZA reveals the evolution of his alter ego, Bobby Digital, and the contrasting lyrical styles between them. He reflects on his ventures into film scoring and the innovative blend of hip-hop with classical elements in his new album. Listeners gain insight into RZA's unique storytelling through music and his mission to redefine boundaries in artistic expression.

RZA is a rapper, record producer, filmmaker, actor, writer, philosopher, and the mastermind of the legendary hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – ROKA: https://roka.com/ and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order – Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil – SimpliSafe: https://simplisafe.com/lex and use code LEX to get a free security camera – Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings – BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off EPISODE LINKS: RZA’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/RZA RZA’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rza Wu-Tang Clan Website: https://wutangclan.net PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (06:57) – Life and death (14:16) – Quincy Jones (19:39) – Quentin Tarantino (23:05) – Kung Fu (28:01) – Biggie (29:48) – Tupac (32:45) – Nas (35:48) – Favorite verse (39:46) – Who is God? (44:56) – Wu-Tang Clan (48:49) – Bruce Lee (55:40) – Godfather (1:01:36) – Veganism (1:06:27) – AI (1:10:41) – Chess (1:14:00) – American Gangster (1:19:55) – Creativity (1:26:24) – Advice for young people (1:29:47) – Meaning of life

RZA, the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan, shares his insights on leadership, creativity, and the group's legacy. He reflects on the making of the groundbreaking track "Protect Ya Neck," detailing the collaborative process and challenges they faced. The conversation ventures into how age has influenced his artistic purpose and the evolution of hip-hop culture. RZA also discusses the impact of technology, his recent classical album, and the blend of personal expression with socio-economic themes in the music industry.

RZA and Q-TIP discuss the 30-year anniversary of their albums, reminisce about hip-hop history, highlight the importance of collaboration, and express gratitude for the influence of hip hop. They also discuss their involvement in 'Poetic Justice' and talk about their busy schedules, recent interviews, and fashion choices.

Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA plays our game called, "Ooh, Tang!": three questions about NASA's favorite orange drink. He is joined by panelists Josh Gondelman, Negin Farsad and Emmy Blotnick.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy