Wu-Tang Clan on 50 years of hip-hop and Hong Kong kung fu cinema: RZA and co weigh in on John Woo, the movies that inspired Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) – and the OG MCs they really respect

Mar 12 , 2023

Listen to the youth – Wu-Tang Clan at Clockenflap in Hong Kong. Photo: Dickson Lee

Why are Wu-Tang Clan named after the obscure 1983 Hong Kong martial arts film Shaolin and Wu Tang, anyway? We asked leader RZA on the group’s first visit to the city

Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Cappadonna also weigh in on hip-hop’s ‘birthday’, practising martial arts, and the importance of listening to the youth and pursuing knowledge

It’s impossible to truly date the genesis of any musical movement, but just as Elvis was hailed for “inventing” rock ‘n’ roll in 1954, and James Brown laid down the “first” funk record – 1967’s “Cold Sweat” – hip-hop’s birth has been pinned to a birthday party in The Bronx, New York, on August 11, 1973.

Which means the world’s most popular music genre is having an almighty 50th birthday moment this year.

The subject was top of mind for the mighty Wu-Tang Clan when STYLE caught up with the group, backstage at Hong Kong’s recent Clockenflap festival. In ways, it was a monumental encounter – the collective’s first visit to the city behind all the classic kung fu films that inspired Wu-Tang Clan’s groundbreaking movie samples, spiritual philosophy, martial arts iconography – and even name.

Wu-tang Clan members U-God, RZA, Cappadonna, Masta Killa and Inspectah Deck line up for the cameras backstage at Hong Kong’s Clockenflap festival, on March 5. Photo: Dickson Lee

“That’s what Hong Kong means – homecoming,” quipped Cappadonna, as we sat down to chat. But it was MC, producer, filmmaker and de facto leader RZA who had the most to say.

Here’s what we learned from 15 frantic minutes in the company of five-ninths of the one and only Wu-tang Clan, before they stormed the stage, closed the festival, and finally brought “da ruckus” home to Hong Kong.

Celebrating hip-hop’s 50th birthday

Cappadonna: Hip-hop is a way of living, we live hip-hop, you look at everything we do, it’s natural.

RZA: It’s every expression – to the way we dress, the way we talk, the way we live – it’s the chi.

Cappadonna: This is what keeps us together, this is what keeps us grounded and keeps us wanting to do more for our culture. Wu-Tang is for the children and we hope there’s a lot of children out there [on whose lives] we can make a big impact.

Masta Killa: Hip-hop is a vibration like an earthquake that shook the entire world, everything.

Inspectah Deck: We’re trying to take it to hip-hop [at] 100.