He has also released solo albums under the alter-ego Bobby Digital. In addition to the Wu-Tang Clan and his solo releases, RZA was also a founding member of the rap group Gravediggaz where he used the name The Rzarector.
He has made cameos in several movies including Coffee and Cigarettes, American Gangster, Gospel Hill, Life Is Hot in Cracktown, Ghost Dog, Funny People, Repo Men. About.com named him 3rd on their list of best hip hop producers of all time
Born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, RZA spent time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a child, where his father had a convenience store in the Hill District.[1] A young RZA also spent many years living in North Carolina with his uncle. RZA began his hip hop career in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a member of the trio Force of the Imperial Master (which subsequently became known as the All in Together Now Crew after they had a successful underground single of that name). The group consisted of future Wu-Tang members and his cousins GZA (then known as the Genius) and Ol' Dirty Bastard (then known as Ason Unique, the Specialist, and the Professor).
Once this local band dissolved, both he and the GZA attempted to kick start solo careers. With the help of GZA's friend (then owner of Jamaica Records) they both secured single deals with album options at successful labels, GZA going to Cold Chillin and RZA to Tommy Boy. GZA ultimately released the Words from the Genius album, but RZA's stint at Tommy Boy ended with only the 1991 EP Ooh I Love You Rakeem to show for it when he went to jail soon after its release. GZA's album flopped, and the two cousins became determined to conquer the hip hop industry on their own terms. Throughout most of his youth he enjoyed watching various kung-fu movies and purchasing countless albums which he would later sample in most of his music
Fast Shadow
RZA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sayin, you-could-you could just come over top of that shit...
Did I hear it?
Nigga and bang your head, PUNK!!
[Ol' Dirty Bastard *in background repeating*]
SUCK A DICK!!! 6x
SUCK MY DICK!!!
[Method Man]
And it don't, it don't, it don't, it don't, it don't, it don't
It don't, it don't, it don't, it don't stop!
It all starts wit the pad and pen, shall we begin
To burn bush in this rap session, once again
On the run be the Black Stallion
Now you fuckin wit Ticallion, hmmm
Iron Lung, boy me can done, army of one, blaze yo' bun
I'ma get you none, accept challenge AHH!
Run a mile wit a racist, they iced it, I aced it
Placed it, right up in their face till they faced it
Hard to the dome like a chrome microphone
I'm ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-bad to the bone to the bone
Danger zone, that's my life and my song
Keep it movin, hop along little doggies!
[Ol' Dirty Bastard]
Uh uh uh, FUCK YOU!!!
Drive The Mack Cadillac
Dark shade the window all sunny and black
Pitch antenna back of the car
Inside is a TV, even a bar
Bulletproof down, safe and sound
Chauffeur in the FRONT just to drive the Lexus all around
Give ya, give ya, give ya body a ride, nice and warm inside
Come to the Dirt Dog as the tummy rise
[*Laughs*] Enter
[RZA]
Yo yo my Wu-Tang cliff'll make your atom split
The power of my brain, you can't fathom it
Whoever go against the will of the grain will get slain
Don't EVER say thy God name in vain
My third eye electronic dragonfly spiral observe
Can record your words
And your lies and approach you
And have my Dogs come and Ghost you
When it comes to the bread son, the heat will toast you
[U-God]
Music makes me lose control
This is not just rock and roll
Hip hop digs right to the soul
Music makes me lose control
Wu-Tang, now we on a roll
On a rise, now here we go
Guaranteed to flip the show
RZA beats is outta control
Outta control, outta control, outta control
Outta control, now here we go
[Masta Killa]
Yo who got that nigga gassed like he can't get skimasked
Abducted from his doorstep
Dufflebag his head for the price of nothin
He's a glutton
What I'm manifestin each day is a lesson
Ya'll faggots, came to the School of the 36 Chambers
Copied on papers of scholars that earn dollars
We trendsetters in Wu leathers, trendsetters in Wu leathers, whatever
[Chorus [U-God] 2x]
Music makes me lose control
This is not just rock and roll
Hip hop digs right to the soul
Music makes me lose control
Wu-Tang, now we on a roll
On a rise, now here we go
[*Skip next line on the second time of chorus*]
Music makes me lose control [2x]
Guaranteed to rip the show
RZA beats is outta control
Outta control, outta control, outta control
Now here we go
The song “Fast Shadow” is a collaborative effort from RZA and the Wu-Tang Clan. The song is an example of the group’s talent for creating raw, unfiltered music that speaks to their experiences of life in the streets. The song begins with a declaration from Method Man, encouraging listeners to come forward and embrace the beat. The lyrics contain various themes such as the never-ending pursuit of success in music, the struggle to break free from racism, and the state of being lost or out of control. The members of Wu-Tang Clan deliver their verses with an explosive energy, creating a dynamic, adrenaline-inducing sound.
In his verse, RZA displays his lyrical prowess as he references the power of his mind, cautioning others not to misuse the name of God. He mentions his ability to record the words of naysayers and liars, calling on his allies to come and “Ghost” them. U-God brings home the theme of the power of music, hinting at the irresistible force that flows through the group’s genre-defining sound. Masta Killa’s verse touches on the harsh realities of street life, referencing a man who gets kidnapped and beaten up by hoodlums. The chorus is a cacophony of voices, with U-God providing the lead as the group rallies around the power of music to move and motivate them.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sayin, you-could-you could just come over top of that shit...
I suggest that you could rap on top of this instrumental beat
Did I hear it?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Nigga and bang your head, PUNK!!
Listen to the music and move your head, fool!
SUCK A DICK!!! 6x
Insult, repeated six times.
SUCK MY DICK!!!
Insult.
It all starts wit the pad and pen, shall we begin
The creation of rap music through writing lyrics on paper
To burn bush in this rap session, once again
To showcase rhyming and wordplay skills.
On the run be the Black Stallion
Movement and activity of the rapper.
Now you fuckin wit Ticallion, hmmm
Now you're facing a challenge of excellence.
Iron Lung, boy me can done, army of one, blaze yo' bun
A skilled rapper who can overcome any obstacle with ease.
I'ma get you none, accept challenge AHH!
I will not fail, I accept any challenge presented to me.
Run a mile wit a racist, they iced it, I aced it
Facing opposition and thriving in adversity.
Placed it, right up in their face till they faced it
Standing up to and intimidating the opposition.
Hard to the dome like a chrome microphone
Powerful like a microphone, with the ability to influence and control the masses.
I'm ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-bad to the bone to the bone
I have incredible talent and skill that cannot be matched.
Danger zone, that's my life and my song
My life is an adventure that is full of danger and excitement, like my music.
Keep it movin, hop along little doggies!
Keep the momentum going, let's continue the journey.
Uh uh uh, FUCK YOU!!!
Rage and insult.
Drive The Mack Cadillac
Riding in style in a high-end car.
Dark shade the window all sunny and black
The windows are tinted to provide privacy from the sun and spectators.
Pitch antenna back of the car
There is a radio antenna on the back of the car for better reception.
Inside is a TV, even a bar
Luxurious accommodations inside the car, including television and minibar.
Bulletproof down, safe and sound
The car is protected from bullets and secure.
Chauffeur in the FRONT just to drive the Lexus all around
The driver is seated in the front to operate the car and take passengers anywhere.
Give ya, give ya, give ya body a ride, nice and warm inside
The car provides a comfortable, cozy ride.
Come to the Dirt Dog as the tummy rise [*Laughs*] Enter
Inviting guests to come to a place called Dirt Dog while laughing.
Yo yo my Wu-Tang cliff'll make your atom split
My music is explosive and powerful.
The power of my brain, you can't fathom it
My brain is incredibly intelligent and talented.
Whoever go against the will of the grain will get slain
Those who oppose us will be defeated.
Don't EVER say thy God name in vain
Respect God, and never use his name in a disrespectful or meaningless way.
My third eye electronic dragonfly spiral observe
A reference to an inner eye that can perceive things beyond our physical senses.
Can record your words
Capturing and recalling conversations.
And your lies and approach you
We will confront those who say false things about us.
And have my Dogs come and Ghost you
Our followers or gang members will intimidate and scare you away.
When it comes to the bread son, the heat will toast you
When dealing with financial transactions, the competition will be eliminated.
Music makes me lose control
The power of music to affect emotions and influence us.
This is not just rock and roll
The genre of music is not merely rock and roll, but a unique style of hip hop.
Hip hop digs right to the soul
Hip hop music touches the deepest parts of our being.
Wu-Tang, now we on a roll
The Wu-Tang Clan is experiencing success and momentum.
On a rise, now here we go
We are gaining more popularity and success.
Guaranteed to flip the show
We promise to put on an exciting and impressive performance.
RZA beats is outta control
The beats and music created by RZA are incredibly powerful and influential.
Outta control, outta control, outta control
The energy and power of the music is uncontainable and overwhelming.
Yo who got that nigga gassed like he can't get skimasked
Who is hyping this person up and making them think they are immune to danger?
Abducted from his doorstep
Kidnapped from his own house.
Dufflebag his head for the price of nothin
Can be kidnapped or killed for free.
He's a glutton
He is taking unnecessary risks for minimal gain.
What I'm manifestin each day is a lesson
I am growing and learning every day through my experiences.
Ya'll faggots, came to the School of the 36 Chambers
Insulting the people listening to the song, deriding them as weak.
Copied on papers of scholars that earn dollars
People are trying to imitate the Wu-Tang Clan's style and success.
We trendsetters in Wu leathers, trendsetters in Wu leathers, whatever
We are the originators of this unique and original style of hip hop music.
Guaranteed to rip the show
We promise to put on an incredible performance that will impress and excite the audience.
Outta control, outta control, outta control
The energy and power of the music cannot be contained or controlled.
Now here we go
We are about to embark on an exciting and successful journey.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: CLIFFORD SMITH, COREY WOODS, DENNIS DAVID COLES, GARY E. GRICE, JASON HUNTER, LAMONT HAWKINS, ROBERT F. DIGGS, RUSSELL T. JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind