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
Ode to O-Ren Ishii
RZA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aiyo, I wanna dedicate this song right here to O-Ren Ishii
Half Chinese/Half Japane-see, Half American and yo
Oh what a specie, a feminine perfection
She got the sinister cat eyes and little freckles on her complexion
Cheaper than Yakuza, but she's wicked like Medusa
And she got Crazy 88 killers that'll slice right through ya
Quick to chop a head off then wipe the blood off
You got a minute to pray and a second to die
You can see the image of the devil reflectin' inside her eye
But since she was a little girl, yo, she never would cry
She seen so much tragedy, let me explain to you why
She grew up on the military base, where she had to face
The brutality of her mother and her father being erased
The blood drops from her tear drops, on her face you see the smear spots
In this song, RZA pays homage to one of the most intriguing characters from Quentin Tarantino's classic film "Kill Bill". The song is dedicated to O-Ren Ishii, a half-Chinese, half-Japanese female assassin, who is also part-American. RZA describes her as a woman of "feminine perfection", with "sinister cat eyes" and "little freckles on her complexion". He acknowledges her prowess as a killer with her Crazy 88 disciples - a violent gang that never hesitates to slice through anyone in their way.
RZA also delves deeper into her backstory, revealing her difficult childhood growing up on a military base. He explains how she witnessed the brutalities of her mother and father being "erased" and the tragedy that ensued. Despite everything she went through, O-Ren refuses to shed a tear, instead becoming a stoic and formidable figure in the world of organized crime.
Line by Line Meaning
Aiyo, I wanna dedicate this song right here to O-Ren Ishii
I want to dedicate this song to O-Ren Ishii.
Half Chinese/Half Japane-see, Half American and yo
O-Ren Ishii is of mixed ethnic heritage - Chinese, Japanese, and American.
Oh what a specie, a feminine perfection
She is a rare and exquisite example of femininity.
She got the sinister cat eyes and little freckles on her complexion
She has striking eyes and small beauty marks on her skin.
Cheaper than Yakuza, but she's wicked like Medusa
She may be less expensive than the Yakuza but just as dangerous as Medusa.
And she got Crazy 88 killers that'll slice right through ya
She employs a group of ruthless assassins who are skilled in killing quickly and efficiently.
Quick to chop a head off then wipe the blood off
She is skilled in beheading her enemies and does not hesitate to do so.
A long range sniper shot she bust, never let a dud off
She is a skilled sniper and never misses a shot.
You got a minute to pray and a second to die
Once she has decided to kill you, your time is running out quickly.
You can see the image of the devil reflectin' inside her eye
She has a cold, menacing stare that suggests she might be possessed by the devil.
But since she was a little girl, yo, she never would cry
Despite facing many hardships as a child, she never shed a tear.
She seen so much tragedy, let me explain to you why
O-Ren Ishii has experienced a great deal of pain and suffering throughout her life.
She grew up on the military base, where she had to face
She spent her childhood on a military base, enduring many challenges.
The brutality of her mother and her father being erased
Her mother and father were killed in a violent and cruel manner.
The blood drops from her tear drops, on her face you see the smear spots
She still bears the emotional scars of her past, as evidenced by the tears that leave blood stains on her face.
Contributed by Samuel S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.