On January 27, the RZA’s newly-formed Wu Music Group heralds the return of Adult Swim fave Afro Samurai with a new soundtrack. Afro Samurai: Resurrection features appearances from Sly Stone (yes, from Sly & the Family Stone), Rah Digga, Shavo from System of a Down and Kool G. Rap. Wu-Tang members and affiliates such as Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck and Killah Priest also appear. Distribution for Wu Music Group is handled by the Orchard.

Here’s a bit from the press release:

Wu Music Group, the new label ran by the administrative mind of Mitchell “Divine” Diggs and the creative force of Wu-Tang Clan’s chief architect, “The RZA”, will release their second album, Afro Samurai: The Resurrection, on January 27th, 2009. The album is the soundtrack to season two of Spike TV’s critically lauded animated television show and DVD featuring the voice of Samuel L Jackson and is musically produced entirely by Wu Tang Clan’s The RZA. The soundtrack features unlikely collaborations and guest spots from legendary recording artists such as Sly Stone, members of the Wu-Tang Clan, Kool G Rap, Rah Digga, and a whole cast of RZA’s protégé’s, including the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s son – Boy Jones. …

Afro Samurai: Resurrection marks another milestone for Wu Music Group, which recently announced a comprehensive partnership with The Orchard, to distribute and market the label’s popular catalogue worldwide. The Orchard and Wu Music have digitally released the label’s entire catalogue of unreleased material, including important recordings from RZA and other Wu-Tang Clan members, and will be marketing and distributing future physical and digital releases, beginning with Afro Samurai: Resurrection, from current label acts and new signings. The saga will continue, as the Diggs brothers breathe new life into the legacy of the Wu-Tang Clan.

• 1. “Combat (Afro Season II Open Theme)” (feat. RZA & P. Dot)
• 2. “You Already Know” (feat. Kool G Rap, Inspectah Deck & Suga Bang)
• 3. “Blood Thicker Than Mud (Family Affair)” (feat. Reverend William Burke, Sly Stone & Stone Mecca)
• 4. “War” (feat. Kool G Rap, Ghostface Killah, Tash Mahogany & RZA)
• 5. “Girl Samurai Lullaby” (feat. Rah Digga & Stone Mecca)
• 6. “Fight for You” (feat. Thea Van Siejen)
• 7. “Bitch Gonna Get Ya” (feat. Rah Digga)
• 8. “Bloody Days Bloody Nights” (feat. Prodigal Sunn & Thea Van Siejen)
• 9. “Kill Kill Kill” (feat. Rugged Monk)
• 10. “Nappy Afro” (feat. Boy Jones)
• 11. “Bloody Samurai” (feat. Black Knights, Dexter Wiggles & Thea Van Siejen)
• 12. “Dead Birds” (feat. Killah Priest, Prodigal Sunn & Shavo)
• 13. “Arch Nemesis” (feat. Ace & Moe Rock)
• 14. “Brother’s Keeper” (feat. Reverend William Burke, RZA & Infinite)
• 15. “Yellow Jackets” (feat. Ace & Moe Rock)
• 16. “Take the Sword Pt. III” (feat. 60 Second Assassin, Leggezin, Crisi, Christ Bearer, Rugged Monk, Tré Irie, Kinetic, Reverend William Burks & Bobby Digital)
• 17. “Number One Samurai (Afro Season II Outro)” (feat. RZA & 9th Prince)

Wu-Tang Clan has embarked on a two-month tour. As usual, a bit of drama surrounds the group: Method Man will not be performing on some of the dates, as he’s currently on a tour with Redman. It’s unclear if Meth will rejoin the group once his tour wraps up.

The Wu-Tang lineup for this run is the RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Cappadonna.

• 11/29: Roseland Ballroom, Portland, OR
• 11/30: Knitting Factory, Boise, ID
• 12/01: Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA
• 12/03: Grand Ballroom, San Francisco, CA
• 12/04: House of Blues, Los Angeles, CA
• 12/05: House of Blues, San Diego, CA
• 12/06: House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
• 12/07: Marquee Theater, Tempe, AZ
• 12/08: Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ
• 12/10: Ogden Theater, Denver, CO
• 12/11: Aggie Theatre, Fort Collins, CO
• 12/14: House of Blues, Chicago, IL
• 12/15: First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
• 12/17: House of Blues, Cleveland, OH
• 12/18: Main Street Armory, Rochester, NY (canceled)
• 12/19: Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
• 12/20: Toad’s Place, New Haven, CT
• 12/21: Starland Ballroom, Sayerville, NJ
• 12/23: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY
• 12/26: Mr. Smalls, Pittsburgh, PA
• 12/27: Chameleon Club, Lancaster, PA
• 12/28: Northern Lights, Clifton Park, NY
• 12/31: Sonar, Baltimore, MD
• 1/01: 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
• 1/02: Lupo’s, Providence, RI
• 1/03: White Cap Base Lodge, Newbury, MA
• 1/04: Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
• 1/05: Pickle Barrel, Killington, VT
• 1/07: Norva, Norfolk, VA
• 1/08: National Theater, Richmond, VA
• 1/09: N Club, Greensboro, NC
• 1/10: Music Farm, Charleston, SC
• 1/11: Amos’ South End, Charlotte, NC
• 1/12: Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC
• 1/13: Club Level, Columbia, SC
• 1/15: Plush, Jacksonville, FL
• 1/16: Jannus Landing, Tampa, FL

When we last heard about the RZA, dude was getting reamed by his Wu-Tang mates for supposedly ruining their reunion album, 8 Diagrams. Ghostface and Raekwon talked shit about him in the press, and U-God filed a lawsuit against Wu Music Group, claiming that he’s owed back royalties. The eight members even launched a tour of the States — without the Abbott.

But while the Clan’s aging rhyme warriors drop their little mixtapes and sing the oldies, RZA is launching new and innovative projects. He’ll issue his latest Bobby Digital epic, Digi Snax, via Koch Records on July 1. (July 11 update: The release date has been changed to June 24.) Like his recent creative decisions with the Wu, the RZA’s Bobby Digital project has drawn criticism — I remember how disappointed some were when 1998′s Bobby Digital in Stereo didn’t have more “conscious” lyrics. (Ah, those were the days.)

The RZA has also formed Achozen, a new supergroup with Shavo Odadjian from System of a Down, Chicago rapper the Reverend William Burke and onetime Killarmy member Kinetic 9. They finished a debut album that comes out this summer on Odadjian’s digital label urSession. Scheduled guests on the disc include George Clinton, John Frusciante from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Killah Priest, the GZA and Sick Jacken from the Psycho Realm.

Other endeavors include a chess site (WuChess.com), a few acting gigs (Life is Hot in Cracktown and Repossession Mambo), and continued work on the new season of Afro Samurai. (Thanks to Allhiphop.com for the additional info.)

With all that going on, all the RZA needs to do now is remind people that he’s more than just the Wu. So he’s heading on tour in June with Stone Mecca, a backing band that appears on Digi Snax. The dates are below.

• 6/10: Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
• 6/11: Emo’s, Austin, TX
• 6/12: Palladium Ballroom, Dallas, TX
• 6/14: Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver, CO
• 6/15: Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City, UT
• 6/17: Rialto Theater, Tucson, AZ
• 6/18: Brickhouse Theater, Phoenix, AZ
• 6/20: Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles, CA
• 6/21: 1015 Folsom, San Francisco, CA
• 6/23: Hawthorne Theater, Portland, OR
• 6/24: Showbox, Seattle, WA
• 6/25: Richards on Richards, Vancouver, BC
• 6/27: Sled Island Music Festival, Calgary, AB
• 6/30: First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
• 7/01: House Of Blues, Chicago, IL
• 7/02: Crofoot Ballroom, Pontiac, MI
• 7/03: Metropolis, Montreal, QC
• 7/04: New Capital Music Hall, Ottawa, ON
• 7/05: Webster Hall, New York, NY
• 7/07: Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
• 7/08: 9:30 Club, Washington, DC

6/10-7/08: w/Stone Mecca

www.myspace.com/therza
www.wutang-corp.com

For the past several months, bloggers have twittered and gossipped about the mighty Wu-Tang Clan. When Raekwon and Ghostface Killah called out the RZA and said 8 Diagrams is garbage, the Internet went nuts. And when the track listing for 8 Diagrams mysteriously appeared on some foreign retail sites, everyone jumped in and posted the list as if it were the official U.S. version.

It’s become a common occurence: the Internet creates its own reality, and then tries to pass it off as fact. I’m not going to name any names, but it’s the same dudes who posted the wrong track listing for Kanye West’s Graduation before that album came out. But hey, it’s all promotion and marketing when it comes to music, right? All of the buzz, real and fake, only ensures that the mighty Wu will land a top 10 debut when 8 Diagrams hits stores via SRC/Universal on December 11.

Below you’ll find the real track listing for 8 Diagrams that was taken from both Universal Music’s official media site and Amazon.com. You’ll also find an itinerary for the Wu’s upcoming tour, which begins December 15. Be warned, though: Ghostface told Billboard.com that all the members may not appear at every show. You’ve gotta love the drama.

• 1. “Campfire”
• 2. “Take It Back”
• 3. “Get Them Out Ya Way Pa”
• 4. “Face the Problems”
• 5. “The Heart Gently Weeps” (feat. Erykah Badu, Dhani Harrison & John Frusciante)
• 6. “Skit”
• 7. “Wolves” (feat. George Clinton)
• 8. “Gun Will Go” (feat. Sunny Valentine)
• 9. “Sunlight”
• 10. “Skit” (feat. Robin Harris)
• 11. “Stick Me for My Riches” (feat. Gerald Alston)
• 12. “Windmill”
• 13. “Weak Spot”
• 14. “Life Changes”
• 15. “Starter” (feat. Sunny Valentine & Tash Mahogany)
• 16. “You Can’t Stop Me Now”
• 17. “Watch Your Mouth”

And here are the tour dates:

• 12/15: Metro, Chicago, IL
• 12/16: First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
• 12/20: Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO
• 12/23: House of Blues, Hollywood, CA
• 12/30: Showbox, Seattle, WA
• 01/03: House Of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
• 01/05: Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, NM
• 01/09: Rams Head Live!, Baltimore, MD
• 01/10: Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
• 01/12: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY
• 01/13: Toad’s Place, New Haven, CT
• 01/14: Higher Ground, South Burlington, VT
• 01/15: Higher Ground, South Burlington, VT
• 01/16: Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI
• 01/17: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY
• 01/18: Toad’s Place, Richmond, VA
• 01/19: Norva, Norfolk, VA
• 01/20: Amos’ South End, Charlotte, NC
• 01/21: Music Farm, Charleston, SC
• 01/23: Soul Kitchen Music Hall, Mobile, AL
• 01/24: The Club at Firestone, Orlando, FL
• 01/25: Jackie Gleason Theater, Miami Beach, FL
• 01/26: Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, FL

www.wutang-corp.com
www.myspace.com/wutang

On December 22, Street Records Corporation CEO and rap industry legend Steve Rifkind cooly announced that he signed Wu-Tang Clan to a one-album deal. “I just got off the phone from Divine and RZA from Wu-Tang. We are joining forces for one more album,” he said in a memorable YouTube video. “Wu-Tang and Steve Rifkind are back in business together.”

A month later, plans are solidifying for the fabled Clan’s fifth album, 8 Diagrams. “People want something that gives them an adrenaline rush,” said RZA in a press release. “We’re here to supply that fix. How could hip-hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever? We’re here to revive the spirit and the economics and bring in a wave of energy that has lately dissipated.”

Wu-Tang Clan is the preeminent act to emerge from Rifkind’s Loud Records, an imprint that yielded Mobb Deep, the Alkaholiks, Xzibit and Big Pun during the 90s. Iron Flag was the last hit from Loud before Sony Music liquidated the company. The Clan were temporarily signed to Sanctuary Records, issuing the live DVD and CD Disciples of the 36 Chambers in 2004. Memorably, the group helmed the Rock the Bells festival in August 2004; it turned out to be Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s final performance with them before he passed away on November 13. Disciples of the 36 Chambers captured that final show.

Now with 8 Diagrams, Wu-Tang is reuniting with Rifkind, whose SRC imprint is soaring with artists like Akon, David Banner and Pharoahe Monch. “The mind state is the 36,” Rifkind told Allhiphop.com. He says a tour will follow — a particular treat, since Wu-Tang are an amazing live act.

8 Diagrams is tentatively scheduled for a summer release on SRC, which is distributed by Universal Music Group.

In the meantime, producer and longtime Wu associate Mathematics assembled a compilation of rarities, Wu-Tang Clan and Friends: Unreleased, for Nature Sounds. Also, the RZA created a soundtrack to the Spike TV cartoon Afro Samurai for Koch. The former comes out today, while Wu-Tang Clan and Friends streets on February 6. Raekwon is working on an album for Aftermath/Interscope; and GZA’s album for Babygrande should be out soon.

www.wutangcorp.com
www.myspace.com/wutangcorp