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
Yakuza Oren 1
RZA Lyrics
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ABBA
Intermezzo No. 1
This tune is instrumental
The opening lines of RZA's "Yakuza Oren 1" pay homage to the Swedish pop group ABBA and their 1980 hit song "Intermezzo No. 1". The repetition of "ABBA" and "Intermezzo No. 1" at the beginning emphasizes the instrumental nature of RZA's track. The reference to ABBA also functions as a nod to the global reach of music, as RZA draws inspiration from a group with roots far from his own.
While the title "Yakuza Oren 1" suggests a connection to Japanese organized crime, RZA's lyrics seem to explore broader themes of power, loyalty, and betrayal - common themes in organized crime narratives. Lines like "I need a killer on the rise / I need someone I can trust" suggest the importance of finding allies in a dangerous world, while later lines like "Money can't buy loyalty" speak to the constant threat of betrayal and the precarious nature of criminal alliances.
Line by Line Meaning
ABBA
Repetition of the word ABBA
ABBA
Repetition of the word ABBA
Intermezzo No. 1
The title of the song, indicating that it is an instrumental piece
Contributed by Jacob W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.