When asked how it felt to have the next generation of cultural icons carry his moniker, RZA was visibly moved. “It’s a blessing, it’s an honour,” he told Semtex. “It’s a great honour, right? Because A$AP is an icon in hip hop and fashion, and Rihanna is an icon in music, hip hop, fashion and culture.”
For RZA, the tribute goes deeper than just a name; it represents a spiritual baton being passed. “To know that there’s some inspiration for the Wu to enter their hearts and have them name their child after The Abbot, that’s a blessing, bro, and I was honoured by it,” he shared. He further explained that the name functions as a title of leadership: “I always say that the RZA is not just a name, it’s also a title… the letter R, it stands for ‘rule’ and ‘ruler.’” Offering a wish for the young RZA’s future, he added, “He’ll be able to measure every step of his path… and I’m rooting for him.”
The conversation also turned to the Wu-Tang Clan’s continued sonic influence, specifically the “Shimmy Ya” interpolation by UK heavyweight Dave and Tems on their hit “Raindance.” RZA credited this “crazy impact” to the fearless nature of the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
“ODB is and was a unique talent, a very rare talent to walk on our planet,” RZA remarked. “It is a testament when other new great artists continue to reference him. I think at the time, [he was] the bravest hip hop artist ever.” RZA noted that ODB’s willingness to experiment—whether through erratic vocals or technical risks—paved the way for modern stars. “He wasn’t scared to do that… his bravery, you know, his youthism, continues to resonate with other artists when they hear it and they’re able to say, ‘You know what, put a little ODB sprinkle on my music.’”
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