Willie The Kid : The Crowning Of A Prince Interview 

Picture, if you will, the future of street music. The coming of urban culture led by an artist who was born to do it. A messiah, of some sort, destine to recharge and accelerate the pulse of rap music. Inspired by the essence of the craft, Willie the Kid is that artist. Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, his is not the typical rappers tale. Located two hours West and East of Detroit and Chicago respectively, West Michigan didn't have much to offer in the early 1980s. Like many urban areas, it offered underprivileged African-American people nothing but the stark contrast between their lives and that of their upper class counterparts. With limited outlets for the urban youth, fast money became the common alternative.

Yet rather than fall prey to the convenient access to drugs and violence, Willie The Kid uses the bleak landscape of his childhood stomping grounds as inspiration for his music and motivation for his career. The son of a DJ who was down with the culture from its onset, Willie grew up in a home where Hip-Hop was the ideology of choice. My father never did anything else, he says, wasn't big on religion, wasn't big on sports. Wasn't big on anything, but the music. In my house, that's what we grew up to. We never got in trouble for throwing footballs in the house, we got in trouble for scratching a record, or playing a rap record and saying the cuss words.

The result was a 4-year-old who became king of the playground by memorizing Rakim and KRS-1 rhymes, knowing that none of his friends would have ever heard the music to which he was exposed at home. It was only a matter of time before Willie and his brother starting coming up with their own rhymes, making microphones from a pair of broken headphones, which they connected to a boom box. Around the age of 12, as his brother, La The Darkman, got his industry break through a deal with Wu Tang, Willie the Kid got his first notebook and truly started writing. This happened during the late 1980s, early 1990s, to which he refers as the Golden Age of rap music. With influences such as Nas, Wu Tang Clan, and Jay-Z, Willie the Kid is a true writer, a story teller whose word play and vivid descriptions put his listeners in a zone.

With the support of his Atlanta-based Aphilliates Crew, Willie the Kid continues to bypass the norm as he releases his music independently and build his very own brand--something which he has done since moving to Atlanta and linking with fellow Aphilliates member DJ Don Cannon. You can catch the young street visionary making apperances on every Aphilliates mixtape release from DJ Don Cannon's 28 Grams to DJ Drama's Gangsta Grillz series. The future is here, right now: Pay Attention as Wu-International chops it up with WTK, his humble beginnings, outlook on the game and his forth coming offering. Enjoy!!

[Please Click on picture or this link for full interview]

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   LÀ The Darkman: Heist Of A Life Time Interview 

The album moved about 300,000 units independently and served as a stepping

stone for Là, who quickly upgraded from his student's status and became agraduate, moved on to a master and constantly elevating to whatever level there is to achieve. Moving back and forth from New York to Atlanta, and emulating his once mentor The RZA (Wu-Tan Clan) Darkman took on many responsibilities, from an emcee, entrepreneur, executive producer, manager, C.E.O, mentor, and list goes on, he has managed to successfully build up a solid foundation with his label Aphilliates Music Group and secured major distributions from both Asylum/Atlantic and Universal respectively. It is evident the sky is the limit for La The Darkman, who has dabbled with the best the industry has got to offer from the likes of Outkast, to Pharrell, Bilal, The Clipse, T.I., Wu-Tang Clan members and many more. Teamed up with one of the best DJs and production team in the game while laying down the foundation for new lyricists such as his brother Willie The Kid.

In tribute of his hard work and inspirational journey as well as high demand from his fans, Wu-International caught up with Là to discuss about his long overdue Darkman II, his new enterprises, Wu-Tang ties, beefs and much much more. Enjoy!

[Please Click on picture or this link for full interview]

Method Man To Release A Graphic Novel

Wu-Tang Clan star Method Man is to add author to his resume - he's publishing a self-titled graphic novel. The book, co-authored by renowned comic writers Sanford Greene and David Atchison, is centered on a "murder priest" Mosley Paine, who battles an evil, sewer-dwelling giant named Leviathan.

Method Man is slated for release on July 23rd via Grand Central Publishing, while the rapper's Wu-Tang Clan band mates Ghostface Killah and GZA/Genius are also reportedly in talks with the same firm to release graphic novels in the near future.

Along with his novel, Method Man has also reunited with partner Red Man and are working on their second group effort titled "Blackout 2." Both artist seem pretty excited to be back in the studio together, and are at work to put out good music.

Blackout 2 should be out by this summer

Hell Razah & Shabazz The Disciple Team Up As T.H.U.G Angelz To Release Album "Welcome To Red Hook Houses" On Babygrande Records For July 8th, 2008.

Veteran New York-based and Wu-Tang Clan affiliated emcees Hell Razah and Shabazz The Disciple have teamed up under the “T.H.U.G. Angelz” moniker to unveil their July 8th debut release “Welcome To Red Hook Houses” on
renowned indie Babygrande Records.

Best known for their deeply rooted history with The Wu-Tang Clan, including their membership in the seminal Wu-affiliated Sunz of Man, Razah and Shabazz have since appeared on RZA's classic Gravediggaz LP while 2007 saw Razah’s solo debut with the critically acclaimed “Renaissance Child.”

Now, assuming the roles of tour guides, Razah and Shabazz commit to shining a light on the Red Hook housing projects that served as a creative breeding ground for them and many other independent emcees, and in so doing, the duo illuminate the significance of Brooklyn’s famed Red Hook Houses in the development of early/mid nineties’ "golden age" hip-hop.

For more information, tracks and the embeddable widget, please visit:

www.crackspace.com/hellrazah
www.babygrande.com


HELL RAZAH & SHABAZZ ARE… T.H.U.G. ANGELZ
“WELCOME TO RED HOOK HOUSES” In Stores July 8th, 2008!!!!


 

Chambermusik Records Inks Deal With Koch Entertainment

Chambermusik Records has entered into a deal to be distributed by Koch Distribution as part of a label group also containing The 16 Chapel Records and Mixtape Kings.

Internationally renowned underground Hip-Hop website Chambermusik.Com has been building a movement since it opened its internet doors in October 2004. The goal of which was to resurrect a part of the Hip-Hop Entertainment market they call "Underground Hard". Founder and CEO Joseph "G-Clef" Cavaseno took note in 2004 that the typically "artsy" backpack/underground rap market was becoming quietly successful, with some artists like Atmosphere approaching sales numbers like that of major label artists, yet little or no support was being established for Underground Hardcore Hip-Hop. G-Clef, an artist/producer in his own right says, "The grittier, more streetwise vein of Underground Rap Music has countless fans around the globe that have been previously counted out of the market, but with Chambermusik, we sought to galvanize them online, and since 2004 that's exactly what we have done."

Since 2004, Chambermusik.Com has featured exclusive products, selling thousands of independently pressed units by a myriad of artists, many of whom were loosely associated with the "Wu-Tang" movement, past and present. Chambermusik also features an interactive forum where fans can post questions for their favorite artists, which are then answered in audio interviews recorded and broadcasted live in their studios. With features such as their own radio station, download section, store, and lyrics database, Chambermusik.Com has become a virtual Mecca for fans of Underground Hardcore Hip-Hop Music, and has served as a bridge between the streets and the internet for fans all across the world.

Releases on Chambermusik Records will include various "catalog" items as well as brand new artists’ releases. Catalog reissues will involve products that have been previously sold via Chambermusik.Com but never before available in stores. Their new artist releases will include various exciting established artists, as well as "The Chambersquad", an army of new artists fully dedicated to the sound and variety that has made Chambermusik famous. Upcoming releases include artists Cappadonna (Wu-Tang Clan), Inspectah Deck (Wu-Tang Clan) presents Fes Taylor (G-Unit), Northstar (West Coast Killabeez), as well as brand new supergroup Thug Angelz (Shabazz & Hell-Razah of Sunz of Man).
 

Selima Interview: Enter The 36 Secluded Chambers Of Wu-Tang

There has always been more to the Wu-Tang Clan as a movement that meets the eyes and this is common knowledge between the die hard fans. So much so that there is always a quest for more knowledge, truth and music from the Clan members, Killa Beez, the movement and anything else that is lurking at the background that is not known to the public or yet to be known.

Ever since Wu-Tang burst onto the scene and captured the world, some elements of the Wu have also remained a mystery regardless of their commercial success and this is one of Wu-tang’s many attractive traits, regardless of how long they have been in the game, something new is always getting discovered year in and year out, be it a new addition to the movement, drama within the members or a blast from the past, the movement is forever exciting and elevating.

Background in art can be seen as the part of the scene that appears to be farthest from the viewers, the background is always there and has always been there but is usually oblivious to the audience and only when you take a closer look do you realize that the background is an integral part of the whole picture or in this case the movement that makes it complete. So many names and voices within the Wu has stayed and remained at the background for years, some will never be known or heard of and very few will be made manifest with time. 

One of these voices that the fans might be familiar with but know nothing of is Selima. This song writer, singer and emcee has been described by The RZA as "a talented writer who’s lyrics flow like water" and legendary producers such as Pete Rock, DJ Scratch (EPMD fame) and Swizz Beats have gone on to express interest in working with her. While most Wu fans will be familiar with songs such as Wu-Revolution off the classic album “Wu-Tang Forever”, not many know who was going back and forth with Blue Raspberry on the background to that song, not many know the original vocals used for “Tragedy” by The RZA on the Rhyme and Reason soundtrack and in fact how that was supposed to be a Gravediggaz song, and what about the songs that never made it to “Wu-Tang Killa Beez: The Sting” compilation? While songs like “Scrilla” off Ol’ Dirty Bastards still unreleased project “A Son Unique” and many others remain shelved or pending it will be difficult to recognise some of the elements that have been contributing to the movement since day one.

Selima born in Brooklyn, New York to a Southern mother and a West Indian father from the small island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, She spent many years enjoying the freedom of her youth in Tennessee and also lived in East Point, College Park, Georgia before returning home to Brooklyn. She desired to be a singer/artist since she was able to talk and after an immobilizing car accident which left her hospitalized at age 5, she became even more determined to see her dreams become a reality. As a teenager she formed a group called "Euphoria" with a combination of friends and this is what lead them to capture the attention of Ghostface Killah and eventually The RZA from The Wu-Tang Clan and the rest they say is history.

After sitting quietly behind the scenes, Selima has emerged to capture the masses, with a hot single “Asking U2 Stay” produced by Wu Element’s own Bronze Nazareth and its  currently tearing up the internet and radio stations, Selima is now ready to take on the whole music industry. Wu-International caught up with her to find out what she has been up to,  her views on music, the good old days of 36 chambers records, and many many more… welcome to the 36 secluded chambers of Wu-Tang… Enjoy! [Click on picture or this link for full interview]

Remedy Takes On The "Return Of The Swarm" Project  

The fans who have been crying out for another Wu-Tang Killa Beez compilation that The RZA normally puts out would be delighted to know that a third part is in works. RZA introduced the world to the Wu Killa Beez on compilations such as "The Swarm" and later "The Sting" and since then nothing of similar nature has been put out by The RZA, probably due to his busy schedules and numerous projects he is always working on especially with The 3rd instalment of Bobby Digital series planned for release this year.

In steps Remedy, One of the first Killa Beez signed by RZa and introduced on

"The Swarm" compilation. Remedy is said to be in the studio currently putting together a new Wu Classic "Return Of The Swarm". The album will have all the fans favorite WU-All Stars as well as some fresh new talent that the fans have been waiting for. The RZA himself put Remedy in command on this project and it is already hailed to be a classic record without a doubt. Speaking from his myspace page Remedy has instructed the fans to "Make sure you go pick up the first Swarm album if you haven't already. Wu fans...Hip Hop fans....This ones going to be special." The Saga continues.....