Biography
Man of many aliases and more talents. He is the heart, soul, and brains behind rap’s only true supergoup, the Wu-Tang Clan. In 1993 RZA single-handedly changed the face of hip-hop with the explosive release of “Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers”. His raw and dirty beats influenced virtually every producer that followed in his roaring wake. His talents were requested by everyone from Snoop Doggy Dogg to U2 to Bjork.
He also created a precedent for the industry, signing the group to a deal that allowed each member to pursue solo deals on other labels. The group’s second album, Wu-Tang Forever, sold over 600,000 copies in its first week. RZA’s business savvy was heralded on the front page of a The New York Times’ Business section, as he has diversified his business interests: a clothing line, a studio and a film production company to name a few.
In 2000, director Jim Jarmusch reached out to RZA to score Ghost Dog, a modern samurai film. While many other hip-hop producers may have simply thrown samples and breakbeats at the picture, RZA did his due diligence. The result was something only he could have achieved: an ethereal soundscape that subtly wove together the ancient Eastern with the modern Western warrior sensibility.
To RZA fans, the Ghost Dog score was no surprise because RZA’s music is filmic in its nature. You don’t just hear a Wu-Tang song, you see it. So it’s natural that RZA, as a movie buff and a fanatic of martial arts flicks in particular, would turn his eye to directing. Starting with music videos, such as “Tragedy,” a mini kung fu movie shot in Hong Kong, he moved on to directing three films entitled Bobby Digital: Bobby Did It, Bobby Digital: Digital Bullet, - both centered around his alter-ego, and Domestic Violence, a moving look at the phenomenon. In 2002 he produced a full-length kung fu movie called Z Chronicles bringing in talent from Taiwan and Hong Kong to add to is authenticity.
In 2003 RZA scored Kill BillVol.1 for Quentin Tarantino, for which he got a BAFTA nomination. In addition, RZA participated in the scoring of Barbershop 2, Soul Plane, Kill Bill Volume 2, Blade: Trinity and Unleashed. RZA has appeared in Ghost Dog, Scary Movie 3. Most recently, RZA appeared in Jim Jarmusch’s ensemble episodic film Coffee and Cigarettes, in a segment co-starring Bill Murray and The Gza. He has performed on “Mad TV” and twice on “The Chappelle Show.” RZA is also the author of The Wu-Tang Manual: Enter the 36 Chambers, Volume One.
The Weinstein Company
Composer
Movies | |
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2018 |
Thriller |
2017 |
Roxanne Roxanne |
2016 |
Meet the Blacks |
2015 |
The Man with the Iron Fists 2 |
2012 |
The Man with the Iron Fists |
2009 |
Afro Samurai: Resurrection (TV movie) |
2005 |
Blood of a Champion |
2004 |
Blade: Trinity |
Soul Plane |
|
2003 |
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 |
1999 |
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai |
Series | ||
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2023 |
Wu-Tang: An American Saga |
|
Triumph (S03E10) |
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After the Smoke Is Clear (S03E09) |
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Liquid Swords (S03E08) |
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more episodes (7) | ||
2021 |
Wu-Tang: An American Saga |
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As High as Wu-Tang Gets (S02E10) |
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C.R.E.A.M. (S02E09) |
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Saturday Nite (S02E08) |
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more episodes (7) | ||
2019 |
Wu-Tang: An American Saga |
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Assassination Day (S01E10) |
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I Declare War (S01E09) |
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Labels (S01E08) |
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more episodes (7) | ||
2007 |
Afro Samurai |
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Justice (E05) |
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Duel (E04) |
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The Empty Seven Clan (E03) |
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more episodes (2) |
Documentaries | |
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2023 |
A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre |
Blue Carbon - Die Superkraft der Natur (TV movie) |
|
2003 |
The Mindscape of Alan Moore |
Music videos | |
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2017 |
Jason Derulo feat. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign - Swalla |
Short | |
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2010 |
The Killers |
Actor
Movies | |
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2023 |
Problemista |
2022 |
Minions: The Rise of Gru |
Poker Face |
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2021 |
Clean |
Nobody |
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2020 |
Hard Luck Love Song |
Life in a Year |
|
2019 |
The Dead Don't Die |
2018 |
Thriller |
2016 |
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping |
2015 |
AWOL-72 |
Mr. Right |
|
The Man with the Iron Fists 2 |
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2014 |
Brick Mansions |
2013 |
G.I. Joe: Retaliation |
The Protector 2 |
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2012 |
The Man with the Iron Fists |
The Trouble with Cali |
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2011 |
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas |
2010 |
Due Date |
The Next Three Days |
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2009 |
Afro Samurai: Resurrection (TV movie) |
Funny People |
|
Life Is Hot in Cracktown |
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2008 |
Gospel Hill |
2007 |
American Gangster |
The Box |
|
2006 |
The Lather Effect |
2005 |
Be Cool |
Derailed |
|
2004 |
TV's Illest Minority Moments Presented by Ego Trip (TV movie) |
2003 |
Coffee and Cigarettes |
Scary Movie 3 |
|
1999 |
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai |
1996 |
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood |
Series | ||
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2022 |
The Tiny Chef Show |
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2019 |
Daybreak |
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Homecoming Redux or My So Called Stunt Double Life (E05) |
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2018 |
Wu-Tang In Space Eating Impossible Sliders |
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2017 |
Snowfall |
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Cracking (S01E07) |
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The Simpsons |
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The Great Phatsby: Part Two (S28E13) |
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The Great Phatsby: Part One (S28E12) |
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2014 |
Gang Related |
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Malandros (E13) |
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Almadena (E12) |
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La Luz Verde (E11) |
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more episodes (10) | ||
2013 |
Robot Chicken |
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Botched Jewel Heist (S06E17) |
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2012 |
Californication |
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Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be (S05E12) |
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The Party (S05E11) |
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At the Movies (S05E09) |
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more episodes (6) | ||
2010 |
Outlaw |
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2003 |
Chappelle's Show |
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1998 |
Upright Citizens Brigade |
Video compilation | |
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2002 |
Hype Williams: The Videos, Vol. 1 |
2000 |
And Ya Don't Stop: Hip Hop's Greatest Videos |
Short | |
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2010 |
The Killers |
Director
Movies | |
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2020 |
Cut Throat City |
2017 |
Love Beats Rhymes |
2012 |
The Man with the Iron Fists |
Series | |
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2023 |
Wu-Tang: An American Saga |
Triumph (S03E10) |
|
Liquid Swords (S03E08) |
|
2017 |
Iron Fist |
Immortal Emerges from Cave (S01E06) |
Documentaries | |
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2023 |
A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre |
Music videos | |
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1997 |
Gravediggaz: The Day the Earth Died |
Screenwriter
Movies | |
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2015 |
The Man with the Iron Fists 2 |
2012 |
The Man with the Iron Fists |
Series | |
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2023 |
Wu-Tang: An American Saga |
Liquid Swords (S03E08) |
|
2021 |
Wu-Tang: An American Saga |
Little Ghetto Boys (S02E01) |
Creator
Series | ||
---|---|---|
2023 |
Wu-Tang: An American Saga |
|
Triumph (S03E10) |
||
After the Smoke Is Clear (S03E09) |
||
Liquid Swords (S03E08) |
||
more episodes (7) | ||
2021 |
Wu-Tang: An American Saga |
|
As High as Wu-Tang Gets (S02E10) |
||
C.R.E.A.M. (S02E09) |
||
Saturday Nite (S02E08) |
||
more episodes (7) | ||
2019 |
Wu-Tang: An American Saga |
|
Assassination Day (S01E10) |
||
I Declare War (S01E09) |
||
Labels (S01E08) |
||
more episodes (7) |
Performer
Shows | |
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2022 |
BET Hip Hop Awards |
2020 |
Movies That Changed My Life |
2019 |
The Kelly Clarkson Show |
2017 |
Hollywood First Look |
IMDb on the Scene - Interviews |
|
2016 |
Guys Choice Awards 2016 |
2015 |
Hot Ones |
2011 |
GGN: Double G News Network |
2010 |
Conan |
2009 |
The Joe Rogan Experience |
2006 |
3rd Annual VH1 Hip-Hop Honors |
2005 |
SBC Blue Room |
2004 |
Tavis Smiley |
2002 |
Last Call with Carson Daly |
1997 |
1997 MTV Video Music Awards |
Tracks |
|
1996 |
The Daily Show |
1987 |
It's Showtime at the Apollo |
Fans
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