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
Walk the Dogs
Rza Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Curb ya dog
You could pay a penalty for that
Yo, sharp swords and rusty knives against dusty nines
You stink niggas with musky vibes
Battle cry, warrior stance, the black pearl harbor
Smell of revenge, worms in the air
Three-sixty roundhouse, I'm throwin' planets and stars
All I need is two pieces of fish and five loaves of bread
Watch me feed five thousand, power the hill
Out of the ville, zip code unlisted
Murder last night, the homicide, missed it
Blood for blood, gang turf
The way of the samurai sword, we bang first
Each your food, test your flesh, lock doors
Top dogs with paws obey god's laws
Claim your set, light reflects off water
My fam outta state sellin' quarters
Convicts with court orders
Shoot the gift out the barrel
Multiple gunshot wounds or poison arrows
Moon saw beats pharaoh, bloody apparell
The streets look safe, but they narrow
Modern day jes' james, rock trains, close range
Watches and chains, ear rings, everything
Corporate thugs move on business campaigns
Blaze, ignite the flame, I carry the torch
Walk through the valley of death and get scorched
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh!
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh!
Two shot lick out, a man get shot
Straight from the cannon, ass wouldn't know less
Just because of that, the whole block get hot
Police helicopter, a snipe 'pon de roof top
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh!
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh!
Two minute later, babylon catch spark
In the staircase with a rasclat glock
Never know, said them wouldn't come round back
Know him look like, said him youths can't talk
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh!
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh!
Darkman, came do my thing, the bee sting
Assassinate your whole team with the forty red beam
My sword gleam, sharpen my script as an arrow
Professional, la, my style, double barrell
I self-lord, master, natural disaster
Holy slang to splash ya, dark force to thrash ya
Blind eyes, puligiments, got four wives
Inside my square, rappers get buried alive
We never even, put you in the dirt still breathin
Perfection, gold mic touch, dunn, I'm blessin
Flames lick the flesh, shot at some of the best
When delf play me at my rest, stab the kid in his chest
Now I got respect, runnin through boroughs, hoods and towns
Niggas pull they pants down when I show the four pound
Verbally fantastic, cock my rhyme, blast it
Trapa gandhi, classic, gun talk, gymnastics
Rude boy, shoot, seek and destroy
My gold tech blast rappers from here to quebec
Yo, la's born, brooklyn raised
You niggas get more than grazed when I blaze my gauge
It's not an arcade, dunn, my gun is real as aids
I'm holyfield, rappers is tyson these days
Darkman, wu-tang clan, la the darkman
Wu-tang clan, the killah
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh!
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh!
Two shot lick out, a man get shot
Straight from the cannon, ass wouldn't know less
Just because of that, the whole block get hot
Police helicopter, a snipe 'pon de roof top
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh!
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh!
Two minute later, babylon catch spark
In the staircase with a rasclat glock
Never know, said them wouldn't come round back
Know him look like, said him youths can't talk
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh!
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh!
The song "The Walk" by RZA is a powerful and energetic rap that deals with themes of revenge, loyalty, power, and violence. The opening line "Why'all niggas shitting on my sidewalk, curb ya dog, you could pay a penalty for that" has a double meaning, as it is a metaphorical statement for people who are disrespecting him or his crew, and it's also a literal warning to dog owners in public spaces. The song generally has an aggressive tone, with sharp lyrics and fast-paced beats that seem to match the intensity of the topics being discussed.
RZA's rap style is unique and masterful, with metaphors and wordplay that provoke thought and demand attention. He uses vivid imagery to describe his battles, such as "sharp swords and rusty knives against dusty nines" and "spit like grandpa from down south." He also references biblical stories, such as the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with two pieces of fish and five loaves of bread, to emphasize his power and leadership.
The song also delves into the world of street gangs and the reality of gang turf wars. The chorus "wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh" is a sound effect of gunfire, and the lyrics speak of "shoot the gift out the barrel" and "moon saw beats pharaoh, bloody apparel." The final verse by La the Darkman adds another layer of darkness and danger through his references to guns and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Why'all niggas shittin' on my sidewalk
Warning to clean up after your dog or face a fine
Yo, sharp swords and rusty knives against dusty nines
Old weapons pitted against new
You stink niggas with musky vibes
People who lack a sense of cleanliness with unattractive personalities
Battle cry, warrior stance, the black pearl harbor
Prepare for battle, stand strong, and be ready for attack
Smell of revenge, worms in the air
The feeling of wanting revenge is in the air
Spit like grandpa from down south
Rap confidently, like grandparents share stories with pride about their heritage down south
Three-sixty roundhouse, I'm throwin' planets and stars
Performing incredible martial arts moves with great force
All I need is two pieces of fish and five loaves of bread
Remarkable feats can be performed with little resource when God is present
Watch me feed five thousand, power the hill
Illustrating immense power and ability through miraculous generosity
Out of the ville, zip code unlisted
Living outside of the urban area, avoiding referencing where you reside
Murder last night, the homicide, missed it
There was a murder, but no one was aware or took responsibility
Blood for blood, gang turf
As per gang customs, revenge will be fulfilled with violence
The way of the samurai sword, we bang first
Follow the code of the samurai, which includes striking first if necessary
Each your food, test your flesh, lock doors
Protect yourself and secure your food to prevent others from taking advantage
Top dogs with paws obey god's laws
Even the most dominant people must respect God's laws and authority
Claim your set, light reflects off water
Establish your territory and defend it well, being aware of those who seek to invade
My fam outta state sellin' quarters
My family is selling drugs in another state
Convicts with court orders
Criminals with legal documents
Shoot the gift out the barrel
The rap music is like a gift from a gun barrel
Multiple gunshot wounds or poison arrows
Death is delivered from various ways and sources
Moon saw beats pharaoh, bloody apparell
The moon rises over the defeated Pharaoh as battles leave bloody remains
The streets look safe, but they narrow
Looks can be deceiving, and danger may be lurking in unexpected places
Modern day jes' james, rock trains, close range
A contemporary version of the outlaw who robbed trains and was dangerous up close
Watches and chains, ear rings, everything
Casual celebrations of wealth and success through jewelry and other expensive items
Corporate thugs move on business campaigns
Powerful businesspeople or politicians use their influence to gain their advantages, sometimes at the expense of others.
Blaze, ignite the flame, I carry the torch
Light up the fire and carry the responsibility for it to inspire others.
Walk through the valley of death and get scorched
Put yourself in dangerous situations and suffer the consequences.
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa bluh!
Sound effects similar to gunshots, sirens, or other loud noises in the background.
Two shot lick out, a man get shot
Two gunshots are fired in quick succession, and a person is hit.
Straight from the cannon, ass wouldn't know less
The gunshots come from a firearm and would take a tremendous amount of force to cause more damage.
Just because of that, the whole block get hot
The whole area becomes tense and filled with activity because of the shooting.
Police helicopter, a snipe 'pon de roof top
The police respond to the shooting and search for a sniping suspect on a rooftop.
Two minute later, babylon catch spark
The police quickly respond and begin making arrests to handle the situation.
In the staircase with a rasclat glock
The shooter is hiding in the staircase with a powerful gun, a glock.
Never know, said them wouldn't come round back
They said they would never return, but in reality they did
Know him look like, said him youths can't talk
They claim not to know a person's identity but also say that their children can't talk to him/her.
Darkman, came do my thing, the bee sting
The rapper Darkman is doing what he does best, and it will have a powerful effect.
Assassinate your whole team with the forty red beam
Darkman has a powerful firearm with a red beam sight that allows him to kill an entire group.
My sword gleam, sharpen my script as an arrow
His lyrics are sharp like a sword and when delivered correctly they are deadly.
Professional, la, my style, double barrell
His style of rapping is polished and precise, and it is metaphorically like several barrels firing together.
I self-lord, master, natural disaster
He is a self-proclaimed master of his artform, able to cause damage beyond his control.
Holy slang to splash ya, dark force to thrash ya
His style of rap is so powerful that it can affect people to feel holy emotions and violent reactions.
Blind eyes, puligiments, got four wives
He is unaware of his surroundings and some aspects of his life are confusing and complicated.
Inside my square, rappers get buried alive
When they battle him in his arena, he always comes out on top.
We never even, put you in the dirt still breathin
He has a unique ability to hurt people very badly, but not kill them.
Perfection, gold mic touch, dunn, I'm blessin
He is very confident in his abilities and feels blessed to be able to do what he does.
Flames lick the flesh, shot at some of the best
His skills are so fierce that they can consume and destroy other great artists.
When delf play me at my rest, stab the kid in his chest
Any person who disrespects him is likely to face dire consequences.
Now I got respect, runnin through boroughs, hoods and towns
Because of his skills, he has established a level of respect and can travel wherever he wants without being harmed.
Niggas pull they pants down when I show the four pound
His reputation is so powerful that people tremble in fear when they see his weapon.
Verbally fantastic, cock my rhyme, blast it
His rapping skills are simply amazing, and he has the ability to aggressively deliver powerful verses.
Trapa gandhi, classic, gun talk, gymnastics
He is unlike any artist before him, making his driving force, style and technique unique
Rude boy, shoot, seek, and destroy
His violent tendencies are in his nature, seeking to inflict damage and destroy those that oppose him.
My gold tech blast rappers from here to Quebec
His powerful microphone and voice disarm and humiliate singers and rappers all over the world.
Yo, la's born, brooklyn raised
The rapper is from LA but grew up in Brooklyn
You niggas get more than grazed when I blaze my gauge
He is easily provoked and will overreact when his weapon is drawn
It's not an arcade, dunn, my gun is real as aids
This is not a childish game; his weapon is dangerous and deadly.
I'm holyfield, rappers is tyson these days
He is like a legendary boxer in his ability, and modern rappers are like fighters with anger issues.
Wu-tang clan, the killah
A reference to the Wu-Tang Clan, one of the most dangerous rap groups of all time.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROYAL FAM, ROBERT F. DIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind