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Wu-Tang Clan members open up about the group as they mark 30 years since debut album
As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, one group stands out for its monumental influence on the genre: the Wu-Tang Clan. This month marks 30 years since the release of their debut album, “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers),” which critics say is one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever.
Founding member Robert Diggs, also known as RZA, was the driving force behind the group’s formation and early success. The group’s members included iconic names like The GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Method Man, U-God, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon the Chef and Masta Killa.
Armed with a unique name inspired by kung fu films of the 1970s, Wu-Tang‘s style is a blend of gritty lyrics and philosophical themes, which in the 1990s was a stark contrast to the prevailing hip-hop trends.
RZA said the group was influenced by films members saw on New York City’s 42nd Street, where instead of going to school, they spent their days in theaters.
“We’re talking, like, 13-, 14-year-old men absorbing three of these movies a day,” said RZA.
RZA said the parallels between their music style and love of the martial arts can be found in their lyrics.
“Within those films, it was always philosophy, right? It was brotherhood, right? It was training yourself to be the best you can be…Discipline… Sacrifice… And so all those things, of course it shows up in our music,” said RZA.
The group faced challenges typical of young Black men in America, including encounters with law enforcement, even amid their growing success. Their song “C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)” became a poignant expression of their struggles and triumphs.
Tragedy struck in 2004 with the untimely death of founding member Ol’ Dirty Bastard at the age of 35 due to an accidental drug overdose. His legacy continues through his eldest son, Bar-Sun Jones, known as Young Dirty Bastard, who now performs with the group, keeping his father’s spirit alive on stage.
Jones recalled that after a show at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the group sat down and had a “family dinner.”
“It’s, like, two sides of the family. It’s, like, the dirty side [Jones’ family] and it’s the Diggs [RZA’s family]. No matter what, how high we climb the Wu Mountain,” Jones said.
“And you know, that just brings us back to who we are, as people deeply rooted into each other. And I don’t think nobody can change the dirt,” said Jones.
The Wu-Tang Clan remains a dynamic presence in hip-hop, with more than three decades of music and seven studio albums. As hip-hop continues to evolve, RZA sees a bright future:
“I always say that hip-hop is a mountain. And I think 50 years only marks the base of the mountain. So I think we got a long way to go. And it’s gonna keep evolving,” he said.
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CBS News
Kamala Harris will speak with “60 Minutes” tomorrow. Here’s what to know for the interview.
Voters will get the chance to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday as she presents her case for why she should be president in a “60 Minutes” election special.
For decades, “60 Minutes” has featured both Republican and Democratic nominees for presidents, but this year, former President Donald Trump backed out after previously indicating he would be on the show. Correspondent Scott Pelley, who’d been set to interview Trump, will instead travel to Arizona’s Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of Arizona’s voters and a critical battleground in a key swing state.
One thing is certain about the election; with the U.S. deeply involved in both the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, whoever wins on Nov. 5 will become a wartime president.
What Harris will discuss
Israel’s war started one year ago after Hamas launched a surprise terror attack and correspondent Bill Whitaker will discuss the ongoing war with Harris.
Harris will also discuss the economy, immigration, her record as vice president and the differences between herself and Trump.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz will also appear.
Whitaker joined the Democratic ticket on the campaign trail this week to gain insight into their platform’s priorities and values, and what the candidates believe voters should know.
Why Trump pulled out of the “60 Minutes” interview
Leading up to the candidate hour, Trump, through campaign spokespeople, was the first candidate to accept the “60 Minutes” request to be interviewed for the special, according to CBS News. It had been agreed that both candidates would receive equal time during the broadcast.
Trump last sat down with 60 Minutes in 2020. He walked out during the interview with Lesley Stahl. Trump referenced the incident on Tuesday night at a Milwaukee press conference when asked about his decision not to participate in the Oct. 7 “60 Minutes” election special.
“Well, right now, I went to – they came to me and would like me to do an interview, but first I want to get an apology, because the last time I did an interview with them, if you remember, they challenged me on the computer,” Trump said. “They said the ‘laptop from hell’ was from Russia, and I said it wasn’t from Russia. It was from Hunter, and I never got an apology, so I’m sort of waiting. I’d love to do ’60 Minutes.’ I do everything.”
The Republican nominee for president emphasized that he felt he was owed an apology from “60 Minutes.”
“Let’s see if they do it. I wouldn’t mind doing 60,” Trump continued. “I’ve done ’60 Minutes’ a lot.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said that Trump’s team had not agreed to an interview.
“Fake News,” Cheung said in a post on X. “60 Minutes begged for an interview, even after they were caught lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop back in 2020. There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in. They also insisted on doing live fact checking, which is unprecedented.”
Previous Trump, Harris appearances on 60 Minutes
Trump previously sat down with “60 Minutes'” Mike Wallace in 1985, Pelley in 2015 and Lesley Stahl twice in 2016, first in July of that year and then again in November of 2016. He also spoke with Stahl again in 2018 and 2020.
Harris previously sat down with Whitaker last year. She also was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell, “CBS Evening News” anchor and “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent, in 2020.
