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Interview
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The most honorable
Iron Shiek - Is a producer who made his debut on the scene by
producing artist in the WU-TANG and INFAMOUS camp such as -
Killarmy - M.M.O. and others. He released a solo album called "Fire N Ice"
under the name ICE GRILLZ and that’s how he put his name on the
map as a respected underground M.C. Ice Grillz is just another
facet of Iron Shiek. The Iron Sheik is a Killah Queenz native
rep'n the realness of the streets through the eyes of an
intelligent thug "spit'n truth from the booth with a cup of
Henny". His first appearance was on a compilation album called
"Protect Ya
Neck Vol. 1"
Shiek is also a Wu Tang Management producer and C.E.O of his own
entertainment company called HONOR MANAGEMENT GROUP.
Iron Shiek was signed under Wu-Tang Management/Protect Ya Neck
as an MC as well as a producer, paid his dues and stepped out to
form his label and management, his own graphics and film company
as well. Because of his
dealings with the Wu he found shelter on Staten Island a.k.a
Shaolin he resided there for five years. the Shaolin sound which
gained popularity through the Rza's production skills. So in
essence with the combination of the sound of Queenz and the
sound of Staten Island a.k.a Shaolin you have the best of both
worlds Iron Shiek has worked with Infamous Mobb, Big Noyd,
Nature, Cappadonna and many more.
Long overdue
interview from the man himself, Iron Shiek finally sets the
record straight as he address his dealings and falling out with
a number of artists he has put on, his albums and upcoming
projects, his Wu-Tang Management days under Mook Gibbons,
managing Cappadonna, his dealings with all members of the Clan
and much more.. Enjoy!!! |
I like to say thanks first and foremost for
taking the time to answer these questions, highly
appreciated, and will also point out that nothing will be
altered, edited or changed when this is published online.
Wu-International: Hello Shiek, how are you?
Iron Shiek: P.E.A.C.E.
Dark Invader, I'm all wise and civilized
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Wu-International: We have been planning this
interview for a while now, so we are going to start from
your beginning to after PYN and so on, can you please
introduce yourself to everyone, and what you currently go
by, where you are located etc?
Iron Shiek: Indeed, I come in the name of the most
honourable Iron Shiek aka Honor, the CEO of Honor management
group aka Ice Grillz aka Sha’kwan Ra-sun allah, I hail from
the borough where stars are born and legends are paid Killah
Queenz. NYC. |
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Wu-International:
We learnt Bambi apparently got her music to Sophia Diggs who
passed it to the RZA and he passed it on to Mook who had
just set up PYN then, can you please tell us how you got
down with PYN/WTM?
Iron Shiek: Well Mook had PYN long before Bambi and I
were signed to his movement before us there were KGB, MMO.,
Clik Ja Pow, Shit Stain, Deadly Venoms, and a few others.
Bambi and I came on in ’97 however we were building with the
Clan since like 94. I met Bambi in '93, I was an inspiring
MC, going to the studio doing my songs, paying for studio
time like most cats were doing then feel me? and the studio
I was going to was right up the street from my rib, it was
called Suite Stuff studios {Laughs out Loud} word and like I
use to see this chick's picture hanging up in there and I
noticed her name was Bambi and I would ask my mans in the
studio (Ed Roc) by the way he is one of the cats that showed
me how to make beats, he is on facebook, shout out to my man
big brother “Ed Roc” he was like the Pete Rock of the hood
naah mean? and he told me about Bambi and I was like "Yo G I
wanna meet her" I wasn’t thinking about music either {Laughs
Out Loud} but anyway I came to the studio one day after work
cause the bus lets you off right in front of it and I
stopped in just to see what's pop’n, I had on my little DHL
uniform on, yeah that’s right I was delivering packages and
all that shit word, I'm the real king of Queens lol,
but anyway I stopped at the studio on my way home from work
and lo and behold who I see sitting there in the studio?
Bambi!! It just so happens it was pay day too I had on all
my chunky jewellery too.. yeah you read it right I was
wearing big shines at work too thunn don’t get it twisted. I
stay with the shines long before cats was talking about it I
just left the street life behind from fucking with my man
Black Justice of the Supreme Team after his little brother
who was my right hand got murdered in front of us on the
strip then justice got killed that was it for me right there
so I was on some legal hustle so back to Bambi we met and
hit it off right then and there and we started building.
Since then I was writing and producing her tracks and I
changed her name to Bambi the Iron Maiden and yes she was my
girl so we decided to keep it in the family feel me. From
there we did crazy shows with the likes of Keith Murray,
Foxy Brown, Jay-z, Redman, Lost Boyz etc.... We made our
rounds getting our weight up then Bambi asked me to move in
with her, she lived in Shaolin so I was like fuck it
lets go and we was like a factory making songs, photo
shoots, networking that lead to her meeting Rza’s sister
Sophia Diggs and from there we linked up with the Clan, at
the time she was doing mixtapes with Ron G and I decided it
would be a good idea to respond to LL’s verse on "I shot ya"
and we shot a video to it got it on video music box and bong
the calls started pouring in we shot it on Shaolin too so
people assumed it was a Wu-Tang thing, mind you we
never used the Wu logo on nothing it was just our swag
that’s all we had not like today where there are these Wu
groupies on the web fronting like they on the tree, Bambi
and I put in mega work back then. so we finally put a demo
together and being that Sophia just opened Wu nails on
Staten Island across the street from Wu wear, that was like
our meeting up spot where we plotted our whole movement, she
took the CD and gave it to RZA and Divine, but Rza wasn’t
sure if he was going to have time to devote to her and
divine liked my production at the time he was looking for a
producer for Remedy but I told Sophia we were a packaged
deal so she then passed the CD to Mook and it was history
after that.
Wu-International: That's interesting, thanks for
sharing, we know of MMO, DV and others, can you please
give us the full roster of artists, groups and producers
that were part of PYN/WTM when you joined?
Iron Shiek: Well like I said earlier as far as
I can remember it was M.M.O, KGB, Venoms, Shyheim, Smoking
Joe, Russ Prez, Storm, Pearl Handles, Ben Frank, 7-Up aka Jaquin,
Rare Breed, Naisha, Bambi and myself.
Wu-International: Thanks, so were all the names you
mentioned all signed to both the management and label?
Iron Shiek: Yeah pretty much, Mook is the type
to be hands on with everything.
Wu-International: You were signed as a producer and
artists and featured on compilations but no solo project was
released, did you complete projects for PYN and was there
any reason it never came out?
Iron Shiek: Well yeah.. infact I was suppose
to come out after the PYN compilation vol. 1 it was gonna be
M.M.O. first but I was finished before they were done and it
was at the video shoot for “Stop playing games” the first
single off the Protect ya neck collection vol. 1 that I
played my album and Mook was on some Christian religion shit
and wasn’t feeling the fact that my album was coming from an
Islam (conscious) perspective, he gave me some BS excuse
about it was too hard lol I'm like "yo how can you say that
when the Clan was the hardest shit out next to Mobb Deep and
Dead Prez and that’s what's selling and its coming from the
“W” how can we loose?
Everybody was feeling the album and spoke up at the video
shoot that’s one of the reasons that video never came out, I
left the shoot and went back to the studio and re-recorded
some songs to take out certain things like PYN this and PYN
that, Wu-Tang management this and that you know big’n up the
movement that’s when Iron chamber was born but I didn’t go
all that hard with Ice yet it was still in development so to
speak.
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Wu-International: You released Fire 'N' Ice much
later independently, was this the same project that was
meant to come out of PYN or something entirely new?
Iron Shiek:
Indeed... like I said earlier it was slated to come
out after the compilation CD it had MMO, Bambi, and others
on the CD but I took them all off and just kept my team Iron
Eye and Triple Ironz (Verbal Harassment) and KTO on the CD.
Wu-International: Cool, Lets chat more about
your projects later, as I want to close up on your time with
PYN and WTM, are you still part of this collective, and if
not can you please let us know when and why you left?
Iron Shiek: Yo, 7 Invader, this is
crazy what I'm about to say however its all true,
first off I got much love for Mook, cant front, he helped me
make my presence known in the biz so much respect to him,
however he know what it is with me and I know what it is
with him, I don’t know if he considers me family it would
really be a shame if he don’t but I consider him like
family. To answer your question, No I'm not part of his team
at the moment but I'm cool with the real cats he got down
with his team like Justis, Jimmy Kang and that’s it, I don’t
know the rest of them though, oh yeah and Amar is cool too
the rest I cant speak on.
The reason I left is basically I got fed up with the mis-management and disrespect that went down, it started like
this; Mook requested that I be more hands on
with him like an assistant level, the office was in his
basement,my desk was right next to his so the first thing I
felt the company needed was a web presence
so I went searching for a web designer I was on the Nation
of Gods and Earths website and was about to email the web
admin of that site to ask him if he
can help us and I posted on his site and this dude who calls
himself Andy Allah hit me back saying he would be honoured if
he can do the site for us I was like
who is Andy Allah? lol sounded crazy but anyway we started
emailing each other back and forth chop’n it up and we
started to build and he showed me a
few designs so I went and informed Mook of what I found and
Mook was like how much he want I said he don’t want anything
he just want to rock with us so
we went ahead with him and that’s how the PYN website was
born and I did the intro track for the site, that was a joint
I was gonna use on my Fire'N'Ice
album so I added "Mr. Andy" to my team he was the first cat
down with me I gave him the name Iron Spear and we started
Iron Graffix together needless to
say he had a hidden agenda a little while later I find out
that Spear started hitting up Mook behind my back trying to
finesse his own situation Mook got
him a visa and had him to come to the States but before that
went down dude was acting all funny style naah meen? then the
truth came out I confronted
Mook on it and I confronted spear too but they both was
giving me the bullshit no one claimed their deception
towards me that was the final straw for me I
decided that I had to leave that situation alone all
together, so I spoke to Bambi and Divine (not Rza’s brother
but Bambi’s manager) they didn’t want to leave PYN
and mind you at the same time Mook wasn’t really checking
for Bambi either, that’s another reason why her material
never came out so I left on my own I
was kind of in a little slump for a few weeks then my
peoples hit me up and asked me if I wanted to do some shows
so boom.. I decided to start promoting
myself and my CD I booked myself a few shows and I asked
Bambi if she wanted to get on along with a few others like
Triple Ironz (Verbal Harassment) and Kto so we was about to hit the road and
Mook found out and
was tripping about it he thought I was trying to take Bambi
away from him lol and it started a
small beef with Ice and PYN and Iron Spear thought I wanted
to kill him lol so he was shook too but I wasn’t thinking
about none of that bullshit cause I knew
without me there was no Iron Maiden cause I was the driving
force behind her, Mook didn’t know that lol needless to say
we did the shows Bambi came too
lol and when I got home I had an interesting email waiting
for me from a cat named Riddler, he says that "Mr. Andy" aka
Iron Spear really wasn’t who he
claims to be and he wasn't the one who did all the websites and
graphics, in fact it was (Riddler) who was responsible for
all that work including the PYN website
and that spear had him doing all the work in hopes of being
paid or getting his name out there so he can, you know, get on
so to speak, learning that shit
blew my mind so I'm like "oh shit Mook got this nigga out here
on a work visa from Poland for nothing?" Hahahahahaaaaahahaaaa yo kharma is a mutha fuka!!!! After seeing all that shit transpire
I knew he wasn’t
going to last I confronted Mook and spear on that fact
needless to say they all were both shocked, Mook was cause he was under the impression he had his own
graff dude in his back pocket and Spear was shocked cause I
got the truth about him with that
being said I made it official and gave Mook my walking
papers and Riddler joined my team lol everything is 360 .
A few years later he asked me to come to Shaolin to have a
meeting with me, I asked G-Clef to accompany me there cause
at the time Clef and I was like Green Hornet and Kato so I
went and met with Mr. Gibbons he said he had a question for
me so I was like I wonder what he has to ask me I was kind
of clueless but I was very curious to find out so I linked
up with Sun and the question he had for me was a whopper too
I bet you cant guess what it was?
Wel...l he asked me to run Protect Ya Neck records. Me and
Clef looked at each other like what the fuck? He was like
yeah g I want you to run it you know I had to ask him, why
me with all the people you had with you why me? His reply
was you are trust worthy and I know you got a genuine love
for hip hop and the PYN brand plus I know you are focused I
said to him how you know this g? He said well for one you
don’t do drugs and you don’t drink so right there is major
points to me, I responded to him that well Mook this is all
overwhelming I need time to think about this can you give me
three days? He responded yeah I'll give you three days after
trying to get an answer from me right then and there feel
me? that was the longest ride back to Queens I ever had
cause I was just thinking not of myself but of the company
and of the affect my decision will have on me and hip-hop in
general.
The three days went by I called Mook and told him my
decision, and that decision was yes I'll do it cause there
will be new artist to come along after us and they would
need an outlet and a means to perpetuate the culture of
hip-hop in general, I also told Mook I have some conditions
and that he would have to “comply” in order for me to
execute this the right way. I told mook in order for this to
happen I need his total support and information I think once
he saw that I was gonna make certain changes it threw him
like I was gonna get rid of everyone he had just lingering
around from artist to so called representatives, I guess
they stated complaining and beefing he asked me to chill and
relax I was like Mook this needs to be done so we can start
fresh for example he was trying to start a gospel division
on PYN lol like what the fuck god? We gonna have Protect Ya
Neck gospel choir? Come on my g, once I saw resistance I
knew right away it wouldn’t have worked so I left that
madness alone. “I still love you Mook, you got a good
heart”.
Wu-International: Thanks for the insight, so
what is your current relationship with Mook Gibbons?
Iron Shiek:
Well
right now I got much love for Mook and respect,
we good right now we just don’t do business
together, like I told him I will always honor him as
my mentor. |
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Wu-International: You spoke about Iron Spear, I
remember some of the work he was credited for back
then, you said he was from Poland, where was Riddler
the actual person behind the work from?
Iron Shiek:
He too is also from Poland but a different part
though.
Wu-International: ok, you said you were the driving
force behind Bambi, you already told us how you met, can you
please tell us if you are still in touch with her?
Iron Shiek: she was my fiancée and my business
partner and my artist, I haven't seen her since ODB’s
funeral. However we recently linked back up via face book we
talk every week we might do something soon, she is and
always will be family like she was with me during the hard
times like when I lost my Ol' Earth or when I got locked up
she got the money up to bail me out she is a ride or die
chick for real.
Wu-International: Her shelved album “Breast fed” was
meant to be produced entirely by you, can you confirm this
and please tell us what happened to that album and if you
ever plan to put it some time soon due to fans request?
Iron Shiek: Well the album was never finished
due to all the bullshit that went on behind the scenes but
we back in touch now so I am ready when she is.
Wu-International: Did you have a track list and
features of that project and do you know if Bambi is still
making music?
Iron Shiek: from what I understand she is coming
out with a book called the "Bride of Iron" she has a trailer
on youtube look it up its hot.
Wu-International: Last question on Bambi, she was
rumoured to be part Deadly Venoms at some point when in PYN,
did you know anything about this and were you close to the
venoms?
Iron Shiek: Yeah
I heard about it, she tried to get at me to help her but I
was too busy to devote time to that project though..
Wu-International: Thanks Shiek, so you established
Iron Chamber Ent. When you left PYN and you signed up some
artists, can you please tell us who was/is down with Iron
Chamberz?
Iron Shiek: First Triple Ironz, Iron Eye, Deadly
Strangah, Lord Subliminal, Dlah his wife Conscious Fear
Wu-International: Is Iron Chamber Entertainment
(I.C.E.) still functioning as a label?
Iron Shiek:
Not as a label more like a production company where we do
production and film work aka Iron Chamber filmz.
Wu-International: Speaking of Dlah and
Hellkeydoe, I remember a public fallout between your camp
and his whilst he was with you, can you please shed some
light to what happened then and your current relationship
with Dlah?
Iron Shiek: Wow..l
where do I begin? Hmmmm... well I had a soundclick page
years ago and he hit me up on there and started building and
I wanted to help my people like I always do I put thunn down
with me by that time I was building with Deadly Strangah and
Lord Subliminal and I was grooming them for my master plan
to have an all star line up and I want to make this
perfectly clear man most of these rappers come to me for
guidance and direction cause they don’t have it and I call
myself being a peace god by giving my time and energy by
doing that so when these cats don’t understand how the
business go they get super emotional and start tripping as
far as Dlah he hit me up on soundclick stating that he is
trying to get his name up and he wanted to collab with me so
I checked out his production and he came out to NY from Ohio
to meet up with me and G-Clef from there I put him in charge
of production of the whole camp since he claimed that he can
handle it and has done it before with his previous situation
we set up a few projects, Subliminal went out to Ohio to
record with Dlah, Deadly was a producer too and he added on
as well at that time.
I was still
working on True Grind and I decided to use Trax that we did
as the soundtrack to the DVD that way it would be an
introduction of the team and we decided to get some shirts
made up to promote the DVD so I tried to get some shirts
done and the team contributed to that and they didn’t get
done correctly however I didn’t even see them. Subliminal
was delegated to pick the shirts up and check the quality of
the work but they came out wack according to him and we lost
the money on that so instead of us looking for a better way
to get the shirts done Dlah and Subliminal started bugging
out over that shit saying that I owe them money for the
shirt lol, I'm like what? I invested money in them too I'm
not looking to repay myself the money I spent on them it was
a bad investment so with him getting all emotional I can
tell he doesn't understand what comes along in business
sometimes you take losses besides it was chump change he
only invested $150.00 now if anyone who knows about getting
merchandise $150.00 to get 4 dozen heat press shirts is
impossible so I just saw it as some other shit going on..
now meanwhile Subliminal was trying to move here from
Chattanooga Tenn. I let the brother stay at my rib and I fed
him too cause I thought he was my man feel me? needless to
say things got out of hand all them dudes started bugging
out Dlah convinced them or however way it went that they can
be successful by rolling with Mr. Dlah, Sun got real crazy I
decided to leave him and all them dudes alone they started
making weird songs I just wished the best for them cause I
knew it wouldn’t last and as I'm sure yall all seen, Dlah
made a spectacle out of the whole ordeal lol I thought it
was funny myself cause the brother could have handled it
much differently and righteously anyway he and I are good he
apologized and we are peace now.
Wu-International: Thanks for that, around
that time you were also working close with G-Clef and
Chambermusik, i remember your CD being taken out of the
store, was there any fall out with you and G-Clef at some
point also? If so, do you mind sharing that with us?
Iron Shiek: I mean Clef is a cool dude
I worked with the kid on a few things, any disagreement he
and I ever had will never see the light of day cause its
behind us and there is no need to build on it all I can say
is that Clef is my man, word... shout out to Clef,
Mowie K, and the ChamberMusik staff much love and respect.
Wu-International: Thanks, So you did put
"Fire ‘n Ice" as well as "Dezert Music" initially via
ChamberMusik, since its no longer there, where else can they
be bought?
Iron Shiek: Fire 'n Ice is still for sale in
my reverbnation store
http://www.reverbnation.com/store/index/artist_1083833
Desert Muzik I think I might drop a part 2 to that.
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Wu-International: We know you still
produce but do you still make music or record as an
artist/mc and if so when can we get another Iron Shiek’s
solo project?
Iron Shiek: Yes I do still produce
music for artist I do have beats for sale you can peep them
right here
www.reverbnation.com/ironshiek
now the last album I worked on was Verbal Harassment
“Graffiti on the Wall” featuring Infamous Mobb, Nature, Blaq
Poet, Papoose, Noyd, Capone, Popa Wu, Imam Thug and me ..
yup you read it right I'm rhyming on there too the first
single is available on iTunes and CDbaby now
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/verbalharassment
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plus I'm producing a mixtape with Curt Digga of
Verbal Harassment called “Queens Clientele” that’s real dope
drop’n soon you can peep joints here
www.reverbnation.com/curtdiggamuzik
, I'm also doing an album with Popa wu with multiple
features and I'm doing an album with 7th 7ign, that’s right
he is back in the chamber.
Also Ty Nitty of Infamous Mobb and myself plan on completing
Infamous Quran that’s 2012 now my pet project is a
3-D anime Kung Fu movie called “The Iron Boxer” now
I a joint venture with Mr. Robert Mathis or Sword Saint
came together to do this of many projects for the
simple fact is that we wanted to add something new
to the entertainment arena it’s a first of its kind
really we |
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wanted to create something that will grasp the
audience from the first scene being that Saint and I
are both fans of Asian Kung fu cinema like "Shaw
Brothers" and "Golden Harvest" we wanted to recapture the feel of how the
Shaw brothers movies use to come on Saturdays at 3pm on
channel 5 back in the day with the blend of hip hop realness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dguuukzy8a with voice
characters from Popa Wu – and Pro formally of the Watchmen,
the sound track is gonna be crazy too feat. Infamous Mobb,
Capone, Ty Nitty, Nature, Tragedy Khadafi, Noyd, Verbal
Harassment, 7th 7ign, Acetik, Pro, Ice Grillz, Sword Saint.
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I also have my group Ill Resistance from Indiana, we
got a mixtape called "Gutta muzik" feat HBO of Verbal Harassment
just like the Queens Clientele we did Mobb Deep's "Murda
Muzik" over to pay homage to classic hip hop albums to keep
the realness alive cause of all this skinny jean rap that’s
floating around. Also check out my man's Lotto
http://www.reverbnation.com/mclotto
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Wu-International: Interesting projects, lets talk
about some of them in details, first you mentioned you will
be producing a full Popa Wu album? were you responsible for
the Dlah and Popa Wu's situation with the project they put
out, and can you also tell us more about this album you are
producing for Popa Wu?
Iron Shiek: No I wasn’t involved in that project even
though Popa Wu wanted me to get down with him on that album
however it wasn’t in the universe for me to be part of that,
however last summer I was in the process of working on
Verbal Harassments album and I invited Popa Wu to the studio
to get on their album so when the god came through and heard
the fire I had he was immediately inspired to say to me that
he wanted me to produce his album needless to say I was
honoured, he is leaving it up to me to produce it so far we
getting it in.
Wu-International: Another project was the Holy Quran
with Ty Nitty and Cappadonna, whats going on with this
project? is this project still going to happen?
Iron Shiek: Yes its still gonna happen however
we gonna expand the album a little bit though with some
surprises on it.
Wu-International: You also mentioned that 7th 7ign
was back in the chamber, we know he was once a student of
yours, how did you both meet?
Iron Shiek: I met 7th while I was living in
Florida, he hit me on MySpace and I checked out his songs I
thought he had great potential so I linked up with him just
so happens he lived in Florida also actually I met up with
him and Prox, good dude I decided to work with them and I
told him I was in the process of going on tour and I asked
if they wanted to go of course 7th agreed right away lol but
Prox couldn’t make it so we went to New York and I
introduced him to Cappa, I told cap "Yo this kid right here
is the future g you need to peep him" I said if you feel him
or not I'm working with him so 7th dropped some crazy darts
and it was a wrap after that I also introduced him to DJ
Allah Mathematics one day he came by my house and he saw 7th
dedication and drive and was like "Yo Shiek he's a good dude
do ya thang with him fam", so I took 7th on the road with
Cappadonna and Cap was feeling the kid so much he gave
him his own slot on Cap's show everywhere we went so it
turned into a Cap and 7th tour lol.
Wu-International:
Next was him joining The Watchmen, there were talks about
the both of you falling out online, can you please confirm
this and let the fans know what happened if at all it is
true?
Iron Shiek: Well
we had a small issue its based on whets going on now really
to keep it short its like this; I started the campaign to
promote him I was in the process of having his MySpace done
and the graff artist put a Wu logo on his page I told him to
take it down 7th got upset about that because at the time he
really didn’t understand how serious that is and i foreseen
the drama that would come behind that so he took offense to
that as if I'm trying to stop his popularity when in reality
I wanted him to avoid all the shit he is dealing with right
now with the Watchmen, feel me? It took some time for him to
see that now he do so the god saw the truth he humbled
himself and spoke to me as a man now he back in the line up
he was always my lil big g word.
Wu-International: Thanks for clearing that up, so
what is your current relationship with the rest of the
watchmen?
Iron Shiek: Like I said earlier 7th is my
nephew naah meen? but the rest of the Watchmen? Well Pro is
my man and Mask... he aiight too, he just need guidance.
Prox that’s my man too all day. The other two I don’t know
them I guess the are afraid to introduce themselves to me
lol.
Wu-International: That leads me to ask you this
as you were once part of Wu-Tang management, and mentor to
7th 7ign, their affiliation has been in questions
recently, especially with our last interview with Mook, and
the fans not really accepting them, what are your views with
them being Wu?
Iron Shiek: I don’t know why I'm being
attached to the Watchmen, let me state this for the record
“I am not responsible for the watchmen!!!!” I was busy with
Cappadonna for 5 ½ years I never worked with the Watchmen.
From what I know that’s Mooks group at one time however I
knew Pro and 7th before that Watchmen thing existed anyway,
when I came home from jail last year I saw them calling
themselves Wu Watchmen and yes I called Mook and asked him
about them he told me they were not Wu Watchmen, that they
were just the Watchmen period. However to me.. Personally I
do not see them as affiliates, they are just a group of
artist that had some dealings with WTM, they did business,
some with Wu artist to make good music for the masses that’s
how I see it, they're peace with me I have no problem with
them. I was signed to PYN and WTM in '98, I didn’t meet 7th
till '09, I don’t know how you connect dots with the
Watchmen and me or 7th being signed to WTM at the same time
Invader, don’t get it twisted.. I'm a boss thunn 7th is on
my team.
Wu-International: LOL.. maybe I should have rephrased
that questions, the reason I asked was mainly because you
used to be with WTM, i didnt know if you are still part of
PYN or not and also 7th being your student, who is also part
of the Watchmen especially in light of Mook's recent
interview. thanks for adding on that subject though, no more
Watchmen questions.. so how can any talented artists out
there get down with your production company or team? What is
needed, what are the requirements and are you looking for
artists?
Iron Shiek: Well I'm not taking on any artist
I'm keeping my team tight right now however if you need
beats and or features from certain artist like Infamous Mobb,
Big Noyd, Papoose, 7th 7ign, verbal harassment, Ill
Resistance, Styles P, Sheek Louch, Rakim, Nature, Capone,
M.O.P. and the list goes on, holla at the god my face book
is
www.facebook.com/ironshiekwu,
www.twitter.com/ironshiekwu - or if you wanna hear
some joints check my reverb page here
www.reverbnation.com/ironshiek .
Wu-International: So who are on your management
roster?
Iron Shiek: Well I'm working with Verbal
Harassment, 7th 7ign, Ill Resistance and Trevlar.
Wu-International: How and why did Honor
management come about?
Iron Shiek:
Well with the Future Chamber soap opera and the PYN
movie I wanted to take a pause from the Wu tree, I just wanted
a fresh start and a fresh team so I dropped everyone and
started fucking with my Infamous thunnz.
 |
Wu-International: Yes, even though you are
affiliated to the Wu, you have also been closely linked to
the Infamous Mobb camp, not a number of people know you are
between both camps?
Iron Shiek:
Yo
infamous is family, Prodigy is my man, Infamous Mobb those
my g times 3 right there, Noyd that’s my g too, yo we
connected for life, Dragon on my right hand for life. |
Wu-International: Was it because you were from
Queens, knew them personally or due to business?
Iron Shiek:
All of the above, Ty Nitty bought me in, Godfather and
Noyd gave me the blessing to get the Dragon tattoo. |
 |
Wu-International: So have you had a chance to
record with Havoc or Pee yet?
Iron Shiek:
Naah not yet, no doubt I'm Infamous to the death we
still all good things are a little crazy with Prodigy and
his book but you know love is love.
Wu-International: Speaking of affiliations,
with so many people who once were part of Wu no longer
claiming it, and few not part of it claiming it, do you
still see yourself as a Wu-Tang killa bee or whatever the
term might be these days and why?
Iron Shiek: Well the way Mook says it that an
affiliate is a glorified fan lol that’s funny when Bambi and
I got signed to PYN and WTM he was the one saying “to
got to the studio Rza and them is there go network and
represent “ or “yo I got yall on the guest list here the
Clan is performing go represent the fam” Bambi and I moved
to Atlanta, Mook tells us to represent the "W" in Atlanta in
fact Bambi reminded me the other day that we brought
Killarmy to ATL for a show that they did with her its like
Mook just side stepped us on that interview like we never
existed that’s crazy its like "yo g you bugging out remember
in 2003 I left my family and my ceeds in Allahs garden
(Atlanta) you called me to come back to New York to help you
with the PYN compilation album, I'm on the cover, I'm on the
lead single I got songs on the album and I produced songs on
the album plus I'm on the PYN website as the only producer
on the site but you talk about Russ Prez and Storm, and yo
that’s crazy yo to keep it 100% karate with all the readers
of this interview, I'm no no fucking fan groupie or any of
that shit, I'm god get it straight everything I touch I turn
to gold real talk from my beats to working with Cappadonna
on down I got the utmost respect for RZA and the Clan, I
don’t consider myself no Killa Bee or a so called Wu
affiliate my fans gave me that attribute I love all the fans
and i honour them I love my Wu-Tang brothers, I love my
Killarmy, Sunz of Man, Theodore Unit, House Gang, tenth
Chamber, Brooklyn Zu, the whole tree, the root and the seed,
and for the most part my relationship is bigger than music
with the Clan I builds with Masta Killa on 120 lessons
that’s my man no doubt I builds with the gods Popa Wu is
like my uncle I took him on the road with Cappa and he was
our mentor I shot cappas video lifes a gamble in Raekwon's
house in Cali, Rae is my brother, karrim his brother is my
man I made money with the god, Ghost is my g times 3 too his
born-day is may 7 mine is may 3 he my man always his manager
Mike Caruso taught me how to be a better manager come on man
niggas need to know my Quran before they speak on shit. Not
only that I fucks with Rakim, EPMD, Lord Jamar, Papoose,
CNN, Mobb Deep and more they all know me now I'll say this,
Mook put me in a position to make all this possible he gave
me the gumption and confidence to show and prove my
existence and I will always love him and honour him for that
word bond but Mook just need to reflect on things first
before he is confronted with a question on our past before
he build.
Now I'm going to leave it up to all the readers of this
build do I sound like I'm some fucking glorified fan or
groupie or am I a branch on the Wu family tree?
Wu-International: Nah, Shiek, think you got it wrong,
in mook's defence, my understanding of what he defined as
affiliates from the interview was that the likes of Shyheim,
Childs, Black Knights etc were not mere affiliates as
everybody saw but family, Wu-tang family, he doesn’t see
them as affiliates but part of Wu-Tang as family. His
definition of affiliates were for those fans who were not
really part of the Killa Beez but rep or claim it,
those are the ones he called "Glorified fans" so it doesn't
seems like that definition of glorified fan applied to you,
I went on to further ask him about his previous roster which
included you, MMO, Deadly Venoms etc etc and he said
all those artists were not just artists signed under WTM but
were also part of PYN and they were considered Wu family as
were around from beginning and paid dues, so how do you feel
about all this in light of this definition?
Iron Shiek: I hear you Invader, Well in fact I
was on the phone with my student 7th 7ign building on the
knowledge and he interrupted the build to tell me he just
got tagged with Mooks interview so I jumped off the jack
just to read it and once I read it I'm thinking he was gonna
clear everything up with all the who is Wu and who aint Wu
and fans groupie issues etc and then I get to the part where
you asked him specifically about Bambi, MMO, Deadly Venoms
and myself, Its like he side stepped me and my contribution
to his company and the Wu history period so once I finished
reading I called him directly and express my position and I
had to remind him of a few things so at the end of the
turnpike he bore witness to my points of light, mind you I
have never disrespected Mr. John Gibbons publically for the
simple fact I don’t have to cause if I had an issue I can
just call him or go to Staten Island besides as of recently
he never gave me a reason to feel any other way its been
peace with us for a while now. In any case he apologised
that he spoke that way and I accept so we peace, as far as
the glorified fan thing I don’t think that applied to me nor
was he directing that to me so in reality that’s not even on
my planet. That’s for the people who aren't official as all
my real thunns know I am official.
Wu-International: So lets move on to the final parts
of the interview, during that Iron Chamber period you had 2
promising projects Iron Chamber filmz which was meant to
release "Enter the Iron Chamber: Diary of a rap star" DVD,
any reason for the overdue delay and do you still plan on
putting it out?
Iron Shiek: Well, that was the original title
of the true grind DVD as far as the delay, well the
cat that edited my DVD is the same dude that put out that
Wu-Tang saga DVD. First and foremost he is a fucking fan
groupie, its like if you look up the word groupie you will
see this niggas face there word. He is a fucking thief he
has no rights to put that DVD out for the simple fact that
all that footage was stolen, he got that footage because of
me cause I was managing Cappa at the time and I was on the
road with the Clan and I brought him along as my camera man
cause we was doing a DVD on Cappa and he used some of my
footage to do that DVD that’s some real bootleg shit right
there see this is my point... these bitch ass niggas holla
at me and I give these niggas a shot and put them in
positions and look at what they do feel me? I spoke to
Divine (RZA's brother) he told me himself that he gave the
word on that DVD and its not official; and not to come out
its copyright infringement that dude Jermy Mack is a clown,
its moves like that is where the Wu affiliate / groupie gets
blurry. But I do have a deal for the DVD though, I'm just
weighing my options right now.
Wu-International: Thanks, let’s talk about your new
group verbal harassment, and please tell us who they are and
your role within or outside the group if a member?
Iron Shiek: No doubt
Verbal Harassment
is family the group consist of Curt Digga, Lotto, H.B.O. We
go back like 20 years they from Southside Jamaica Queen the
same hood 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks is from, they all know
each other, they came up with G-unit you will be hearing a
lot from them soon.
Wu-International: We know they dropped a mixtape, you
also told us about the guests for the album but can you shed
more light as in working title, and date of
release please?
Iron Shiek: Indeed the mixtape is on dat piff
http://www.datpiff.com/verbal-harassment-verbal-war-mixtape.182226.html
the album is called "Graffiti on the wall" with production
by me and Lotto, I hollered at some of my people to jump on
the album with my VH team those names i already listed from
Papoose, Nature, Capone, Infamous Mobb, Noyd, Popa Wu to Mr
Cheeks from The Lost Boys, Blaq Poet, Imam Thug and me I did
90% of the production on the album should be dropping this
summer or late 2011 not sure about a release date yet but
its definitely a banger.
Wu-International: Any other groups or projects you
are currently working on that has not been covered already?
Iron Shiek: I built on it already, Iron boxer –
Queens Clientele – Graffiti on the Wall – Infamous Quran and
I got a track on the new QB finest album, twin just told me
that jewel and Godfather told me I got a track or two on the
new Infamous Mobb album too and 7th 7ign and I are doing an
album together, I am thinking about calling it the 7th
Samurai.
Wu-International: All these listings with no mention
of a solo project, would it be safe to assume you are
working on a solo album as its been a while?
Iron Shiek: Nah, no solo albums, I doubt
it.
Wu-International: If yes please give us more details
as in titles, features, dates etc and if no, any reasons why
you don’t want to put out any more solo projects?
Iron Shiek: Well I have evolved from being an
artist to a producer to a boss a made man feel me I make
stars.
Wu-International: True indeed, so as an MC/Producer,
to CEO/Manager, which would you say is more you?
Iron Shiek: I am more of a producer and would
rather be considered that.
Wu-International: You have gone from Ice Grillz, to
Iron Shiek and now Honor, which is your current name and
what’s with the constant change?
Iron Shiek: First off let me start out with
this; my attribute has always been “The Most Honorable Iron
Shiek” when I took a break from the Iron Chamber I just
dropped Iron Shiek and kept Honor from honorable, Ice Grillz
is when I am in the booth simple as that.
Wu-International: Thanks, can you then tell us the
meaning of these names or what they represent for you?
Iron Shiek: Iron Shiek is the producer side of
me – Honor is the management and Ice Grillz is the rhyme
slayer.
Wu-International: Iron Shiek is also a name shared by
you and Killah Priest, how did yours come about and
how do you feel about people who say you copied the name
from Priest?
Iron Shiek: This is funny too ok in 93-94 I was
living in Shaolin and I was on the ferry coming from Queens
I use to see Priest on the late ferry he saw my universal
flag and he approached me and we would build I didn't know
he was a rapper or anything like that we would build on
science and mathematics he told me his name was Killah
Priest he gave me his math he said he was a rapper and he is
on his way to the studio I was like that’s peace next thing
I know I'm home working on tracks I look up and I see the
god on BET I was like "yo that’s Sun from the ferry that’s
crazy".
I had Iron Shiek long before I met Priest, I'm not saying I
had it before him however I had this name since 91 the way I
got the name was from my man Ed Roc he is the one of my
mentors who taught me how to make beats and run a studio I
was making an ill beat in the studio he came in and said to
me damn god ya beats is slammin shit to the mat like Iron
Sheik, we all laughed he was like I'm serious g, that’s ya
new name and that’s how I got that name, also Priest is my
man we call ourselves brothers from another mother he is on
my DVD speaking on that fact also if anyone doubts me. Or
you can ask him. Much love respect to my brother priest.
|
Wu-International: Last question, a lot of people want
to be down with the Wu, others that’s been there prefer to
do their own thing away from the "W", what has your
experience been like being affilaited with the Wu?
Iron Shiek: A crazy ride but I wouldn’t trade
it in for anything in the world. |
 |
Wu-International: Thanks very much Honor, this is the
end of the interview, anything else that you would like to
touch on that has not already been covered, shout outs, etc?
Iron Shiek: Yo all I have to say is I know
there are plenty of people claiming to be Wu affiliate,
Killa Bees or whatever I think it’s a little bit out of hand
because of the internet I'm just saying being an
artist is more than recording in your house and posting on
sound cloud or reverbnation and grafting the Wu logo on your
CD covers its all about respect for the art and those that
put in work and are still putting in work to establishing a
world wide brand and sound I remember Allah Math and I was
building on this same subject he says that the only way you
are official is only a general can make you official
bottom-line, he asked me yo Shiek how did you get down I
said via Mook, Cappa, Popa Wu, he said see.. that’s it
right there plus you put in work with us it’s the same thing
with the Gods and Earths how did you get knowledge? and can
you trace your lineage back to Allah the father? Yes indeed
I can emphatically he said on its all the same.
Bong!!!!!!!!!
Also I have some mixtapes about to drop too Curt Diggas
"Queens clientele"
www.reverbnation.com/curtdiggamusik and Ill
Resistance joint "Gutta Muzik" dropping this summer here are
some joints right here
www.reverbnation.com/verbalgodz
Peace and love to Dark Invader, Wu international staff and
all the hip hop fans all over the world also if you are
interested in building with the Gods and Earths please feel
free to call the Allah school in Mecca (Harlem, New York)
212-665-4175 speak to my uncle Allah B so yall can do it the
right way instead of getting fake lessons off the web, peace
to all of the human family of the planet earth!!!!!
Keep up to date with
Iron Shiek aka Honor
www.facebook.com/ironshiekwu
www.twitter.com/ironshiekwu
www.reverbnation.com/ironshiek
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