As a certified movie star and the de facto leader the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, few rappers embody hip-hop's transformational qualities quite like RZA. His rich production history, rhyme-slinging and Hollywood-mingling afford him the stature to analyze moments unfolding at the intersection hip-hop, politics and pop culture.
That's a power he puts to good use in the first episode the Whoolywood Shuffle, XXL's DJ Whoo Kid-hosted podcast bringing new, in depth conversations with rappers, actors and athletes with new episodes each week. RZA and Reno 911! actor Thomas Lennon serve as guests.
Over the course an hour, RZA touches on everything from Eminem's epic Trump diss, Wu-Tang's arguably forgotten penchant for speaking truth to power and the miracles a locked-in Method Man. He's also got a little nugget about originally producing one Wu-Tang's tracks with the intention including the great Aaliyah.
Speaking on "Gravel Pit," RZA reveals that he'd actually created that particular audio canvas with the singer in mind. "I made that beat and the concept for Aaliyah, to be on the hook, originally," RZA revealed. "And she had came to the studio and it was gonna happen, but, you know it didn't happen."