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
Sickness
RZA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, the great Digi
"What are you looking for?"
The World's greatest mind
Bob Digital
"Man with no mother"
[RZA]
Fresh mint, tight lint, you get trapped inside the monkey wrench
Ain't no man lover ever gonna silk the sealer
I'm blessed like the seed who sucked the milk from Mahalia
You wishin' Shaolin Island could be swallowed up by the sea
Gobbled up, like the lost city of Moore and Atlantis
But I'm fierce as the cyclone winds that blew through Kansas
Have your clan stranded on the enchanted land of Gumas Azubar
Gem blue star, razor blade scar
Who dare want to spar bar for bar? Allah you Akbar
I turn the most degenerate hood into a pop star
Bless the seed who prays the Most High, without askin' why
Flicks from ocean shore, kick like Marshall Law
I might strike with the eagle claw or tiger paw
On the shores of African beach, facin' the east
White sands stretched out as far as the eye can see
Found buried by the sea
The heat of Allah son will crack through Antarctica
We ride blue whales, you sell Nautica ships on the carpenter
We should send all these Devils back to Hell
You small as to die in my sentence, I speak with vengeance
Snatch up 17 million plus 2 million Indians
Your incorrect retrospect on the situation
You didn't know it was a Wu-Tang affiliation
Legs speak like twigs, you're forbidden like pig
You can't fuck with the Zig-Zag-Zig
[Break: RZA]
Raise your sword, and praise the Lord
Enrage the war on this wicked society
Raise your sword, and praise the Lord
Enrage the war on this wicked society
[RZA]
The village must be pillaged
The merciless, the Earth is damp from blood spillage
Cursed the ancestors and the seed of the assailant
Dissect his body like an alien
My seed must be spread
I bust sperm cells with Bobsleds
Then race to the egg and bring forth the
Arm-Leg-Leg-Arm-Head
All you niggas out there who got money
better watch out for the money hungry
Straight up...
The most beloved from a region undiscovered
I've been hovered over by black buzzard walkin' through public
Imagine the feelin' of growin' up, ten children
Stuffed inside a shack, in the project buildings
Women, infants and coupons, one stole camel soup on
Stressed out with four kids, aborter
Next door the dope fiend neighbour tryin' to sell his little daughter
Poisonous, heat from the oven
The only way we had to live was survivin' off mommy's lovin'
Dead bodies found in the incinerator
Lights Out, somebody fucked up the generator
Talkin' welfare, cheese, franks and beans
Mud stains on mock-neck shirts and tainted jeans
Twisted up, how the fuck we get bended up?
And ended up in this four block radius where they enslaved us
Sweatin' from cheese ravioli with tomato sauce and anchovie
Spoiled, ah shit, my blood boiled
But fuck that, I'm ready for open hand combat
It's the tomcat, and my thoughts are unlimited
Inflicted fatal wounds and I'm immune, see a evil society
[Break: RZA]
So praise the Lord and enrage the war
Against this wicked society, society
Praise the Lord and raise your sword
Against this wicked society, society
Praise the Lord and raise your sword
Against this wicked society
[RZA]
There was a legend of a +Liquid Sword+
That was +Only Built 4+ niggas with +Cuban Linx+
Who +Entered the 36th Chamber+
and keep the true links, inherit +The W+ emblem
Movin' the muscle changin' and bone tendon bendin'
Science of 25 thousand year millennium
The sinners from the men who exiled the Indians from India
Who's times can't be measured linear
In all tribes on Earth who can't find a friendlier group of people
who shunt all evil, treat all men equal
Even though we see through your wicked intentions
We gave you land to experiment with your inventions
But you strive for global lynchin', extension
But it's yourself that will become extinct
You inherit this power to think and build things
The free wills of love, not hate or kill things
And when you went astray, we sent prophets to reveal things
And left scriptures behind to fulfill things
But you still want to kill things, rob and steal things
So don't blame us when it's time to fulfill things and kill Kings
[Break: RZA]
Raise the sword and praise the Lord
On this wicked society, society
Raise your sword and praise the Lord
It's a wicked society, society
Praise the Lord and raise your sword
Against this wicked society
Rage the war
Against this wicked society
[Outro: RZA]
Yo, the +Sickness+
That's what I want
"What are you looking for?"
"Man with no mother"
That's what I want
"What are you looking for?"
"Man with no mother"
In "Sickness," RZA as Bobby Digital tries to cross-reference his epic preference and displays his philosophical and lyrical prowess by weaving complex wordplay and biting socio-political commentary. The song's opening lines, "Fresh mint, tight lint, you get trapped inside the monkey wrench," metaphorically describe the way that one's thoughts can get trapped or stuck in confusion, much like how lint can get caught in a wrench. He also uses biblical references, such as the phrase "Arm-Leg-Leg-Arm-Head," which is a nod to the phrase "Allah" in Arabic script. He delves into themes of oppression, poverty, and alienation while alluding to African mythology and the idea of the apocalypse.
RZA's emotive and intense delivery creates a sense of urgency that reflects the dire circumstances in which he is speaking from. With lines like "Next door the dope fiend neighbour tryin' to sell his little daughter" and "Talkin' welfare, cheese, franks and beans Mud stains on mock-neck shirts and tainted jeans," RZA provides a lens into the struggles that characterize many black and brown communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, try to cross reference, my epic preference
My tastes are complex and diverse
Fresh mint, tight lint, you get trapped inside the monkey wrench
My style is tight and original, be careful not to get caught up in it
Ain't no man lover ever gonna silk the sealer
No one can deceive or trick me
I'm blessed like the seed who sucked the milk from Mahalia
I'm blessed and have been given great gifts
You wishin' Shaolin Island could be swallowed up by the sea
You wish for harm to others, but it won't happen
Gobbled up, like the lost city of Moore and Atlantis
I can overcome anything and nothing can hold me back
But I'm fierce as the cyclone winds that blew through Kansas
I'm strong and powerful and won't be defeated
Have your clan stranded on the enchanted land of Gumas Azubar
I can defeat anyone and leave them without refuge
Gem blue star, razor blade scar
I'm sharp and clear, others will be hurt if they challenge me
Who dare want to spar bar for bar? Allah you Akbar
Who thinks they can compete with me? I'm blessed by God
I turn the most degenerate hood into a pop star
I can turn anyone's life around and make them successful
Bless the seed who prays the Most High, without askin' why
I respect and encourage those who believe in a higher power
Flicks from ocean shore, kick like Marshall Law
My power is intense and unstoppable
I might strike with the eagle claw or tiger paw
I'm skilled and can attack in multiple ways
On the shores of African beach, facin' the east
I'm at peace and in control of my surroundings
White sands stretched out as far as the eye can see
The world is vast and beautiful
Found buried by the sea
Discovering new things is exciting
The heat of Allah son will crack through Antarctica
My power will reach even the coldest places on Earth
We ride blue whales, you sell Nautica ships on the carpenter
My power is greater than anything you could imagine
We should send all these Devils back to Hell
Evil should be destroyed
You small as to die in my sentence, I speak with vengeance
My words are powerful and can bring harm to those who cross me
Snatch up 17 million plus 2 million Indians
I can conquer great numbers of people
Your incorrect retrospect on the situation
You don't understand the situation correctly
You didn't know it was a Wu-Tang affiliation
You didn't realize who you were dealing with
Legs speak like twigs, you're forbidden like pig
You're weak and inferior
You can't fuck with the Zig-Zag-Zig
You can't compete with me and my unique style
Raise your sword, and praise the Lord
Have faith and prepare for battle
Enrage the war on this wicked society
Fight against the evils of the world
The village must be pillaged
Destroy those who are corrupt and harmful
Cursed the ancestors and the seed of the assailant
The source of evil must be destroyed
Dissect his body like an alien
Examine and understand evil before destroying it
My seed must be spread
My legacy must continue
I bust sperm cells with Bobsleds
I'm powerful and can impregnate many women
Then race to the egg and bring forth the Arm-Leg-Leg-Arm-Head
My offspring will be strong and successful
All you niggas out there who got money, better watch out for the money hungry
Be careful of those who want to take what you have
The most beloved from a region undiscovered
I'm respected and admired despite being from an unknown place
I've been hovered over by black buzzard walkin' through public
I've faced danger and death but remain strong
Imagine the feelin' of growin' up, ten children
Growing up is tough, especially with many siblings
Stuffed inside a shack, in the project buildings
Living conditions can be unbearable
Women, infants and coupons, one stole camel soup on
People will do anything to survive
Stressed out with four kids, aborter
Life can be overwhelming and difficult
Next door the dope fiend neighbour tryin' to sell his little daughter
Evil exists everywhere, even in your own community
Poisonous, heat from the oven
Life can be dangerous and harmful
The only way we had to live was survivin' off mommy's lovin'
Love is powerful and can help us survive difficult situations
Dead bodies found in the incinerator
Death and violence are all around us
Lights Out, somebody fucked up the generator
Things can go wrong and life can be unpredictable
Talkin' welfare, cheese, franks and beans
Life can be tough and we may need help to get by
Mud stains on mock-neck shirts and tainted jeans
Living in poverty can be physically and emotionally dirty
Twisted up, how the fuck we get bended up?
Life can be confusing and difficult to understand
And ended up in this four block radius where they enslaved us
Life can be cruel and restrictive
Sweatin' from cheese ravioli with tomato sauce and anchovie
Even small pleasures can bring comfort and happiness
Spoiled, ah shit, my blood boiled
Life can be frustrating and unfair
But fuck that, I'm ready for open hand combat
I'm strong and ready to face any challenge
It's the tomcat, and my thoughts are unlimited
I'm skilled and powerful
Inflicted fatal wounds and I'm immune, see a evil society
I'm strong and can defeat anything, even a corrupt society
So praise the Lord and enrage the war against this wicked society, society
Have faith and fight against the wrongs of the world
There was a legend of a Liquid Sword
There are stories and myths about powerful weapons
That was Only Built 4 niggas with Cuban Linx
These weapons were only meant for the strongest and most skilled
Who Entered the 36th Chamber and keep the true links, inherit The W emblem
Only the best of the best can be part of my legacy
Movin' the muscle changin' and bone tendon bendin'
My strength and power are unmatched
Science of 25 thousand year millennium
My power has been developed over millennia
The sinners from the men who exiled the Indians from India
There are those who have done great evil in history
Who's times can't be measured linear
Some things can't be understood or measured easily
In all tribes on Earth who can't find a friendlier group of people who shunt all evil, treat all men equal
There are good people in the world who fight against injustice and hate
Even though we see through your wicked intentions
We understand your evil goals
We gave you land to experiment with your inventions
We allowed you to explore and create
But you strive for global lynchin', extension
You want to harm and control the world
But it's yourself that will become extinct
Your evil ways will ultimately lead to your own downfall
You inherit this power to think and build things
We have given you many gifts and opportunities
The free wills of love, not hate or kill things
Use these gifts for good, not evil
And when you went astray, we sent prophets to reveal things
When you have lost your way, we try to guide you back
And left scriptures behind to fulfill things
We have given you guidance and wisdom to follow
But you still want to kill things, rob and steal things
You still choose to do evil and harm others
So don't blame us when it's time to fulfill things and kill Kings
When justice is served, don't act surprised
Rage the war
Fighting against evil is necessary to create a better world
Yo, the Sickness, That's what I want
I desire power and control over the world to defeat evil
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT F. DIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind