It's no secret that Raekwon and RZA have not seen eye to eye on the direction of the Wu-Tang Clan for a while now. However, it seems that the rift between the two rappers has only deepened with time, with talk of Raekwon's alleged opposition to the new album contributing to its setbacks.
Raekwon has now gone on record with his feelings about the upcoming record, A Better Tomorrow, and the current direction of the Wu-Tang, speaking with Rolling Stone. The rapper explained that he is essentially "on strike" from the group, and that he will more than likely not appear on the new album at all.
Read some excerpts from the interview below.
On his disappointment with the new album: The bottom line: I’m not happy with that. I’m not happy with the direction of the music and I’m not happy with how dudes is treating dudes’ business. What are we giving the fans? What are we giving the people that help us be here? If it don’t feel right, I can’t be fake. And I’m not the only one who feels like that. Fans want the best and I have to sit here and work that hard to give them the best. Period.
On being "on strike" from Wu: It’s the same as being an athlete. I don’t give a fuck if it’s Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant. They will not touch the floor if their managers or lawyers are saying, "Listen, shit ain’t right." So therefore, I’m in a limbo situation. So yeah, you’re right. I am on strike. It ain’t the fact that I don’t want to be there. Because of course I want to be there. But if we’re there, we gotta do the best everything. We gotta work 10 times harder, because that’s what I’m signing in for. I’m not about listening to somebody that’s not an artist telling me what the fuck they think is hot.
On creative differences with RZA: RZA’s the type of dude where, in the 90s, he ruled. Now it’s a new day. You’re not attached no more. It’s like being a coach and you won rings back in the day, but now your team is in ninth place. It’s time for a new fucking game plan. I sit here with integrity all the time. When it comes to my music. When it comes to my business. When it comes to the fans. I’m always going to give them the best of me. And I know the Wu-Tang Clan is built like that, but if they’re sitting there listening to one man, ain’t no "I" in "Team."
On whether he'd consider leaving: [Pauses] I would never leave the group. Before, I would say to myself, "It can be fixed." We’ve done so much work together as a family that I would never turn my back on that. But if my business ain’t right, then it’s causing me to do what my heart is telling me to do.
On the chances he'll be on 'A Better Tomorrow': We at a two [out of 10] right now. It’s like climbing up a fuckin' mountain if you got on slippers. It’s sad. It hurts. It’s all about the fans. It’s all about them saying, "This is my favorite fuckin' hip-hop group in the world." I have a job to do for them. And I would never let my fans down and make something I feel is mediocre just to say I made it. That’s not Raekwon.