Rza Biography and Information

Rza

RZA grew up in Staten Island, along with his cousins ODB and GZA
Before Wu-Tang came about RZA did have a few solo projects and he was also in a collective with GZA and ODB, though he never found success with either his solo projects or the joint venture with his cousins, (All in Together Now).
After the failure of the group RZA went his own way. His first solo release was a track titled "Ooh, I Love You Rakeem," on Tommy Boy. (At this time RZA was known as Prince Rakeem)
This was not a sign of things to come and the track did not sell at all. The follow up, "My Deadly Venom." suffered the same fate.
These experiences could actually have been an instrumental factor in the future rise and dominance of the Clan.The whole thing left a bitter taste in RZA's mouth and he realized what a filthy game he was playing in and what he needed to do to win.
RZA talents as a ground breaking producer are unquestionable, though dont be fooled into thinking he is ONLY a producer, he can and does step up to the mike when required.
When listening to RZA lyrics you get an idea of his intelligence a great example of this is in his verse on "Impossible". (perhaps my favourite verse of all time by anyone) He attacks the mike with depth and thought that most other MCs could not begin to even understand let alone emulate.
See Below:

Impossible (RZA's Verse)
Fusion of the five elements, to search for the higher intelligence
Women walk around celibate, livin irrelevant.
The most benelovent king, communicatin through your dreams
Mental pictures been painted, Allah's heard and seen
everywhere, throughout your surroundin atmosphere
Troposphere, thermosphere, stratosphere.
Can you imagine from one single idea, everything appeared here Understanding makes my truth, crystal clear.
Innocent black immigrants locked in housing tenemants
Eighty-Five percent tenants depend on welfare recipients.
Stapleton's been stamped as a concentration camp
At night I walk through, third eye is bright as a street lamp.
Electric microbes, robotic probes
Taking telescope pictures of globe, babies getting pierced with microchips
stuffed inside their earlobes, then examinated
Blood contaminated, vaccinated, lives fabricated
Exaggerated authorization, Food and Drug Administration Testin poison in prison population.
My occupation to stop the innauguration of Satan
Some claim that it was Reagan, so I come to slay men
like Bartholemew, cause every particle is physical article was diabolical to the last visible molecule.
A space night like Rom, consume planets like Unicron
Blasting photon bombs from the arm like Galvatron


Words cannot describe how much I personally felt that verse and it has to be said those lyrics keep speaking to you as you grow, spritually and mentally.
While being a main player within the group RZA also produced most of the tracks that the individuals released as solo projects, especially in the earlier days. Later on he took a back seat sometimes and let his protégés take over the mantle.
RZA however was and remains a vital ingredient in the recipe of the Wu's success story.