In terms of production, RZA was the driving force behind Wu-Tang Clan. Whether it was Wu’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and Wu-Tang Forever, or the solo material like Method Man’s Tical, Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, & GZA’s Liquid Swords, RZA had a hand in a bulk of the production. Or if not all. But that’s sort of where the buck stops.
RZA hasn’t produced much for other artists outside the Wu. He’s the poster boy for inhouse producers. Of course, that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it should be celebrated.
[“HipHop-Album-Debate, The Podcast!”]
Wu-Tang has solidified themselves as a bona fide group in Hip Hop and RZA was at the helm of the beats. But according to some, it was the artists’ lyrics that were more responsible. In fact, U-God, his fellow Wu brother, had some demented adjectives about RZA’s skills during an interview with VladTV, saying that the de factor’s production quality descended after the Wu Tang Forever album.
Whether the statement holds truth or not, one things for sure: if a song wasn’t created in a Capella, it had a producer. I don’t recall any of Wu Tang nor it’s artists having a Capella hits.
Where would you rank RZA as a producer?
[Polls Are Closed!]
Top 5 – 45%
Top 10 – 27%
Top 25 – 18%
Best of all time! – 9%
One of the worse of all time! – 0%