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
O Day
Rza Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sword still swing like Kenobi, ya'll cowards know me
With the strength of Samson, you still couldn't hold me
I got the rock stone from David's slingshot
Who could master the wisdom to which Rakeem got?
Watch for the cops, third eye like the Cyclops
Swingin? white tops on the block till 4 o'clock then hit IHOP's
Fiends in line like I Robot
Take a hit and transform like the GoBots
Tell my uncle that I know what he know not
Bank like Agent Cody, on the hunt like rapin? coyotes
Wild like forty Mexicans sippin' on Peyote
In an all black Toyota, W's on the grill, steerin? wheel and the motor
Out to get the mills till I'm paid like Bob DeNiro
With seven prime numbers that's followed by God zero's
MC epitome, but these ducka sucka muthafuckas tryin? to get rid of me
But if you decipher my lyrics, truthfully and not critically
You'll see I influence the world mentally as well as physically
Emotionally, promotionally, devotionally, socially
Speak the truth, and tell you how it's supposed to be
Zig Zag Zilla came, where's up the hilla man?
Rewind that shit
Sword still swing like Kenobi, ya'll cowards know me
With the strength of Samson, you still couldn't hold me
I got the rock stone from David's slingshot
Who could master the wisdom to which Rakeem got?
Watch for the cops, my third eye like the Cyclops
Red from the chronic, I don't need no eye drops
Swingin? white tops on the block 'til 4 o'clock then hit IHOP's
Fiends in line like I Robot
Take a hit and transform like the GoBots
Tell my uncle that I know what he know not
Bank like Agent Cody, on the hunt like rapin? coyotes
Wild like forty Mexicans sippin' on Peyote
In an all black Toyota, W's on the grill, wheel and the motor
Headin? to North Dakota
With the cocaine plus the bakin? soda
MC epitome but these savages tryin? to get rid of me
If you decipher my words, truthfully not critically
You'll see I influence the world mentally as well as physically
Emotionally, promotionally, devotionally, socially
Nigga, I tell you how it's supposed to be
Zig Zag Zilla came, where's up the hilla, man?
Y'all cowards know me
D for digital, I, irresistible
G be graphical, I, immeasurable
T come technical, A, analytical
L be that lyrical, who? Bobby Digital
D for digital, I, irresistible
G be graphical, I, incredible
T for technical, A, analytical
L for lyrical, who? Bobby Digital
Yeah, we gon' take it back RZA
Who the fuck stepped on the wire?
You stupid mutha
So you thought you was goin? to escape, didn't you?
You thought you could escape?
Aiyo, let the wolves in
Aiyo son, aiyo G, yo, let the wolves in
All the niggas in the back
All the wolves in the back come up front
We gon' get savage real quick
Fuck that
Aiyo, hold on, hold on, hold on, nigga
Man, get the fuck off my feet, man
What the fuck wrong with you, nigga
I'm tryin? to do my shit
Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho, Happy New Year, nigga
Merry Christmas, it's July
So the mad scientist continued to drink the Digital Elixir
Fightin? with the good and evil inside himself
Tryin? to be Bobby, tryin? to be RZA
Tryin? to be one, tryin? to be real
Tryin? to be unreal
Tryin? to be super real, nigga
Rest in peace to the ODB
Greatest MC of all time, greatest performer
One of the greatest performers of all times
Aiyo, O, yo, O, happy birthday, nigga
The song "O Day" by RZA is an example of his lyrical prowess and ability to create imaginative and intricate wordplay with ease. The lyrics describe RZA's strength and power, using references from various religions and cultures, such as Samson's strength, David's slingshot, and Kenobi's sword swing. RZA asserts that he influences the world both mentally and physically, and speaks the truth the way it is supposed to be.
The lyrics also touch upon societal issues, such as the presence of cops and drug addiction. RZA describes his experience with drug addicts lining up like robots, waiting for their next hit. He talks about transforming like the GoBots and the wildness of those sipping on Peyote.
The song concludes with a tribute to Ol' Dirty Bastard and RZA's struggles to find and maintain an identity as both Bobby and RZA, trying to be both real and unreal simultaneously.
Line by Line Meaning
Sword still swing like Kenobi, ya'll cowards know me
I am still a powerful force to be reckoned with, and those who try to challenge me will fail
With the strength of Samson, you still couldn't hold me
Even with incredible strength, no one can prevent me from succeeding
I got the rock stone from David's slingshot
I have the same kind of weapon that David used to defeat Goliath
Who could master the wisdom to which Rakeem got?
Who is capable of attaining the same level of wisdom as me?
Watch for the cops, third eye like the Cyclops
Stay alert and aware of potential danger, and trust your instincts like the mythical creature Cyclops
Red from the chronic, don't need no eye drops
My eyes are red from smoking marijuana, but I don't need eye drops
Swingin? white tops on the block till 4 o'clock then hit IHOP's
I am selling drugs until 4am, then going to IHOP for breakfast
Fiends in line like I Robot
Drug addicts are lining up to buy my drugs like robots who can't resist my product
Take a hit and transform like the GoBots
One hit of drugs can transform a person's behavior like a GoBot toy transforming into a different shape
Tell my uncle that I know what he know not
I am more knowledgeable than my uncle, who doesn't know everything
Bank like Agent Cody, on the hunt like rapin? coyotes
I am making a lot of money like the character Agent Cody Banks, and also hunting like coyotes, known for their aggressive behavior
Wild like forty Mexicans sippin' on Peyote
I am as wild and unpredictable as a group of forty people taking a hallucinogenic drug
In an all black Toyota, W's on the grill, steerin? wheel and the motor
I am driving a black Toyota car with W's on the grill, steering wheel and the motor
Out to get the mills till I'm paid like Bob DeNiro
I am working hard to make money until I am as rich as the actor Robert DeNiro
With seven prime numbers that's followed by God zero's
I have a lot of money, represented metaphorically by prime numbers followed by zeros that represent the power of God
MC epitome, but these ducka sucka muthafuckas tryin? to get rid of me
I am the best MC, but others are trying to displace me from this position by any means necessary
But if you decipher my lyrics, truthfully and not critically
If you analyze my lyrics carefully and honestly, you will understand what I am saying
You'll see I influence the world mentally as well as physically
I have the power to affect people's thoughts and beliefs, as well as their actions and behaviors
Emotionally, promotionally, devotionally, socially
I am able to influence people's feelings, promote messages and ideas, inspire devotion and affect society at large
Speak the truth, and tell you how it's supposed to be
I am telling the truth and giving you my perspective on how things should be
Zig Zag Zilla came, where's up the hilla man? Rewind that shit
I am asking the DJ to rewind the record, and referencing a fictional character named Zig Zag Zilla
D for digital, I, irresistible G be graphical, I, immeasurable T come technical, A, analytical L be that lyrical, who? Bobby Digital
I am describing myself as an irresistible digital artist, whose work is both graphical and technical, with superior analytical and lyrical skills; this is how I am known as Bobby Digital
Yeah, we gon' take it back RZA Who the fuck stepped on the wire?
I am introducing the next part of the song, and questioning who messed up the sound
So you thought you was goin? to escape, didn't you? You thought you could escape? Aiyo, let the wolves in
I am addressing an unnamed person, who thought they could avoid my wrath, but now calling on my associates to attack them
Aiyo son, aiyo G, yo, let the wolves in
I am calling my associates to join me in attacking the target
All the niggas in the back All the wolves in the back come up front
I am calling on the people in the back to join us in the front and participate in the action
We gon' get savage real quick Fuck that
We are going to become violent and aggressive quickly, and we don't care about any consequences
Aiyo, hold on, hold on, hold on, nigga Man, get the fuck off my feet, man What the fuck wrong with you, nigga I'm tryin? to do my shit
I am frustrated with someone who is disrupting my work and asking them to stop interfering
Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho, Happy New Year, nigga Merry Christmas, it's July So the mad scientist continued to drink the Digital Elixir Fightin? with the good and evil inside himself
I am jokingly offering greetings for multiple occasions, but then referring to myself as a 'mad scientist' who struggles with internal conflicts
Tryin? to be Bobby, tryin? to be RZA Tryin? to be one, tryin? to be real Tryin? to be unreal Tryin? to be super real, nigga
I am struggling to find my own identity and be both authentic and unique, while also reaching new artistic and creative heights
Rest in peace to the ODB Greatest MC of all time, greatest performer One of the greatest performers of all times Aiyo, O, yo, O, happy birthday, nigga
I am paying tribute to Ol' Dirty Bastard, who was a legendary MC and performer, and wishing him a happy birthday posthumously
Contributed by Aaliyah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
stixHC
RZA always sharp as a razor! Respect!
KLABNIF
RZA the only dude in the studio from 2.42 onwards
EpsilonEridani
ZIG ZAG ZILLA KANE
Fetchon
Beretta 9 it's me.