Spotlight: RZA - Bringing the [Enlightened] Ruckus

Your daily deep dive into the topics and trends that are changing the world. www.ozy.com [OZY]() Your World. Bold & Bright [Daily Dose]( Sponsored by [Cariuma]( The newsletter to fuel — and thrill — your mind. Read for deep dives into the unmissable ideas and topics shaping our world. Apr 28, 2022 Today RZA is at peace at 52 years old. He’s the de facto leader of the legendary unorthodox hip hop group, Wu Tang Clan and three decades into the game, he’s found his calm. Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA, is on a quest for enlightenment. Statistics insist that he should not be where he is today given his rough upbringing on the streets of Staten Island, NYC. But RZA beat the odds and hasn’t looked back. He has produced most of the albums for the worldwide phenomenon in hip-hop culture and music over the years and he is now a respected rapper, actor, music producer, writer, entrepreneur and filmmaker. This institution in music history has evolved from an intrepid kid from the projects to a global icon in rap and hip hop. He’s also a successful solo artist in his own right. Along the way, RZA has learned some tough life lessons that have shaped him into a person full of gratitude, forgiveness and self-awareness, all the while fiercely changing the climate of hip hop. His journey to Wu-Tang Clan and beyond is a fascinating one. [Trust the numbers]( [Cariuma]( We’ve told you how good these shoes are, but if you don’t want to take our word for it, or the words of over 15 thousand 5-star reviewers… consider this. [Over 61 *thousand* people]( were on the wait list to get their hands on these, and they are now back in stock. (For now.) Take your choice of over ten colors, many of them new and bright for spring. And as a special [Bonus for the OZY family, take $15 off your pair.](Just use the code OZY2022. [Shop Now]( The Start Early Days Robert Diggs was born on July 5, 1969. As a young adult in the early 90s, RZA was on track for a life of mischief. With reportedly just $300, Wu-Tang Clan, with RZA producing and leading tracks, burst onto the hip hop scene with their first album in 1992 titled “Protect Ya Neck.” The irony is that Wu-Tang Clan boldly relayed exactly how they would be taking over the world in their tumultuous yet hypnotic music. A chaotic combination of kung-fu references, sped up soul samples and gutsy, coarse Staten Island lingo put them on the map as the hype that’s all the rage. Way Back When RZA chose his famous moniker based on a nickname he was given by loyal fans, “Rza Rza Rakeem,” which is an acronym for the title “Ruler, Zig-Zag-Zig, Allah'' in the Supreme Alphabet. Interpreting the name even further, it has significance in the Five-Percent Nation, a popular Black nationalist movement. The phenomenon was started by former student of Malcolm X, Clarence 13 X, after he split from the Nation of Islam. The name Wu-Tang Clan was an ingenious revelation by RZA, always fascinated by ancient Chinese martial arts, which wisely taught warriors mental and physical strength. Thus, the revolutionary group was born, and they remain one of the most influential hip hop groups of all time. Slums of Shaolin The members of Wu-Tang Clan all grew up in the projects of Staten Island, New York City. The Clan coined the phrase “Slums of Shaolin” in honor of their home and hood. The streets where RZA grew up weren’t exactly the most creativity-inspiring. However, he made it work. Writing songs in class and making up movies on his walk to school, RZA was the creative kid who was forever seeking an outlet for his ever-churning mind. Also, for RZA and his friends, witnessing racism and social inequities in their own neighborhood as kids was just “the way it was.” It was inevitable that their art reflected their rough upbringing. [What do supermodel Nina Adgel, comedian Pete Davidson, and actress Helen Mirren have in common?]( [Cariuma]( They've all been seen stepping out at A-list celebrity events like the Cannes Film Festival in comfy and stylish [Cariuma]( sneakers. It's no wonder, with bold and saturated colors that are fashion-first and Internet-famous, that these are the shoes of the moment. As a member of the in-crowd that is the OZY community, you get [$15 off by using the code OZY2022.]( [Shop Now]( The Mastermind 36 Rooms Released in 1993, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) masterpiece album represents the nine emcees of the group who each have four chambers of the heart. RZA has often spoken fondly of growing up in a big family, despite the struggles. Even as a child, he had a desire to provide for his family. As he puts it, the other eight members of the group were his buddies or cousins. It wasn’t a stretch at all for him to believe that, even with such a large group, they could successfully collaborate. And collaborate they did. The album is so much more than just gritty music. It symbolizes the restoration of hardcore rap and hip-hop pride in New York City, which at that time had been dominated by West Coast rap. Wu-Tang Clan’s uniquely distorted tone and even unexpected underlying punk veins have been sampled again and again over the years. They are, simply put, iconic and the group’s shelf-life is immortal. The Awakening RZA confesses that when he was young, aspirations of being a rapper were fueled by the idea of being cool. He didn’t pay attention long enough to understand that with success comes the ability to share a message. He realized the power of words and that his lyrics could be used to empower and enlighten people. RZA has incorporated his thoughts on social injustice, inequity, oppression and brutality into his music and his words still resonate today. RZA remains an inspirational figure for those who aspire to be storytellers. He has innovatively and ingeniously found other mediums to share his fascinating tale, from film to literature. Bring on the Commotion Nine members in the Wu-Tang Clan who each had conflicting personalities and opinions could have made for chaos. According to RZA, the members didn’t trust each other but they did trust him. It was here that magic happened. The emcees were able to forge their own careers using the success of their debut collaborative album. However, in the early days, turmoil reigned on the street, which trickled into the group members’ lives. Drugs and alcohol were king. Arrests and incarcerations were common. After RZA was arrested and eventually acquitted for allegedly shooting a man in the leg in 1992, he had a moment of reckoning. Banking on the message of positivity, RZA took the advice of his mother to heed the luck of this second chance, and he never looked back. In the end, as RZA explains compellingly to Carlos, it’s the different personalities and the distinctively opposite flows that actually make it work. [TAKE OUR QUIZ]( The Peace Guru Living Authentically RZA counts everything from the Bible to Malcolm X to comic strips to the Holy Koran as his inspiration for his teachings. RZA believes that things happen for a reason, and he takes heed of this. As he says, it’s not just out of the blue that he is where he is today. His journey has been up and down. Wellness and wisdom are magical and beautiful, and he is always seeking to learn more. In the end, in the words of RZA, Wu-Tang has evolved into something you have. It’s a phenomenon similar to enlightenment. It’s a feeling, it’s powerful, and it’s everything. Bobby D RZA has had many names over the years. From Prince Rakeem as a kid to Bobby Digital as his alter-ego on his solo albums. He has even been known as The Scientist, a nod to his love of science and philosophy. He has a lifetime of serious study under his belt from Buddhism to Taoism and Confucianism. He still meditates daily, and self-reflection is an integral part of his personal growth. Hulu Nation Wu-Tang Clan’s story and impact on society has been immortalized through the Hulu series, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, co-created by Alex Tse and RZA in 2019. Hulu has announced that the successful show will run for its third and final season later this year. The series is a fictional account of the history and backstory as well as the triumphs and obstacles behind Wu-Tang Clan and the notorious group’s formation. The show touches on the fact that success was the only option for Wu-Tang Clan and their uniquely gritty yet plucky story. The Clan brand has even evolved into successful video games and a tenacious, streetwise clothing line, “Wu Wear.” WATCH RZA on [The Carlos Watson Show](, season 4! Life Lessons The Leader of the Pack Although he admits to being brash and unruly as a kid, once he got a taste of fame with Wu-Tang Clan, RZA evolved quickly into a savvy businessman. His roots were still what motivated him and despite the quick rise to fame, RZA maintained his initial focus and goal of providing. He managed to score unprecedented deals for the group that ensured the financial protection of each member of the group at the time. At the helm of the group, RZA encouraged a solid brand that soon permeated the music industry in the most unique ways and guaranteed protecting each emcee’s extraordinary skills, all the while promoting their collaborative evolution. Family Man These days, RZA likes nothing more than a quiet weekend with his family. He’s a sucker for a lazy morning in bed and self-introspection throughout a weekend day. His wife, Talani Rabb, clearly made an impression on him when they first met in 2009. As RZA puts it, “You know you love someone when they shrink you,” telling Carlos about the first time he met his wife. The COVID-19 pandemic has also taught him that being with family is his number one priority. Still Learning Despite growing up in the underserved neighborhoods of Staten Island, NY, RZA always had a love of learning. Even though he had a habit of notoriously skipping school to watch kung fu movies, he ironically still sought to learn on his own outside of school. To this day, he is a philomath at heart and the influence of martial arts and Asian culture have also been solidly part of his work since his youth. He’s incredibly proud of the diversity of Wu-Tang Clan’s fans and insists that it’s the “creative connection” of The Clan that has allowed this empowering, inclusive evolution over the years. [TAKE OUR QUIZ]( Community Corner Do you know someone with an unlikely success story ... maybe even yourself? We'd love to hear about it! 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