For The Love Or Money? Wu-Tang 20Yr Reunion Album Hangs In The Balance…

It’s been 20 years since “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” was released by one of hip hop’s most influential rap groups. Wu-Tang’s affect on the culture made labels, music lovers, and corporations realize the potential rap had from a production, lyrical, and merchandising standpoint. In the mist of their 20 year anniversary comeback, their highly anticipated new album (unfortunately) hangs in a balance.

See, the group’s head RZA recently revealed that the process in making their new album “A Better Tomorrow” has been difficult.  He told the Associated Press…

“When you’re a young man, you’re hustling and you’ve got 12 hours a day to dedicate to music. It might be more than that,” said the rapper, whose real name is Robert Diggs, in a phone interview. “The energy that’s important is constantly pouring out. But when you’ve got to go seek for the energy, it becomes a little more difficult. Wu-Tang is forever, I’ll never take back that statement. But we haven’t recorded a lot of studio albums. This is the first album we’ve recorded in seven years, actually. And we can’t wait seven years for another album.”

 

RZA foresees a future where the spirit of the Wu-Tang Clan lives on in the children of the original nine members of the New York-based collective and in the untold scores of rappers, producers and entrepreneurs influenced by the group – folks like Drake, whose “Wu-Tang Forever” drew a lot of attention earlier this year. He’s had trouble wrapping up the collective’s plans in the now, though.

Although RZA estimates the album will be finished by the top of the 2014, the recording process has also been a drag because of the lack of participation by Raekwon.  The riff between the two has been made public, but many fans are confused as to why Raekwon isn’t so enthused by the new project.

In an interview with RapFix, Raekwon expressed that there’s a disconnect with the group’s individual opinions about the album and their approach at this historical reunion.

“The bottom line is: Of course I want to see a Wu-Tang reunion. Of course. Who wouldn’t? I just want everything to be right, the business. When we made a lot of our great music, it was because we were in harmony. You cannot put guys together if there is no harmony, and on top of it, we’re doing business. As a man with children, I have to always look at that. It’s bigger than sometimes just the thought of it, the fact of it, it just gotta make sense.”

Is there money issues still brewing between the members?   In the past, there were rumors that the dismantle of the group was due to RZA’s control over the business.  We wonder if Raekwon still feel some type of way about it.  Regardless, the fans are waiting patiently on “A Better Tomorrow”.  Wu-Tang, as an entire unit, would give her legacy another great look if they can come together on this project. If the album is released without Raekwon, it just wouldn’t be right.

Hopefully, the guys will iron out their differences soon.