Wu Tang Clan is revered as one hip hop’s most influential and respectable rap groups of all time. Their climb to success had more to do with their music, but their their oversized clothing aka ‘baggy attire’ [which included hoodie wear] not only launched the group’s profitable fashion line launch that exists to this very day but contributed significantly to the urban fashion trend.
Wu Tang Clan frontman, RZA got himself in a huge back lash following some comments he made during an interview with Bloomberg politics.
RZA was asked about his stance on the black lives matter movement and the intense climate of police brutality amongst black youth.
Here’s the question thats RZA asks :
Is The Image That We Portray [One] That Would Invoke A Fear In A White Officer, Or To Any Officer?
And, here’s his accompanied response:
Of course Black Lives Matter. All Lives Matter. I stopped eating meat because their lives matter to me. I don’t think its necessary for us to grow a cow to kill it.
…………….
I love what the police do for our society, I love the idea of it, to serve and protect. Those who are upholding that idea, then they are beneficial to society. But those who lose that focus, whether they lose it through fear, through stress, or through not being properly trained-and they are allowed to go out on the streets – how can you enforce law if you don’t understand law?
When you think about some of the brothers who are being brutalized by the police, you also got to have them take a look, in the mirror, at the image that we portray. If I’m a cop and every time I see a young black youth, whether they’re not looking properly dressed, properly refined, you know, crying himself, conducting himself proper hours of the day – things that a man does, you’re going somewhere, you don’t have to wear a hoodie, but you know, we live in New York, so as hoodie and all that is all good.
But sometimes, you know, button up your shirt, clean up. Look like young man, your not a little kid. I think that’s another big issue we got to pay attention to. The image that we portray that would invoke a fear in a white officer or to any officer.
Critics fired back at RZA for his controversial remarks; calling him a ‘hyprocite’ at best and misinformed about about the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement. Images of young black youth who were ‘properly dressed’ filled twitter’s timeline reminding RZA to choose his words carefully and take a look in the mirror. Here’s a few popular tweets.
I wonder if #Rza is aware that Blacks wore suit & ties, and were getting a water hose, a German Sheppard and were getting killed by police?
— For_The_Masses (@For_The_Masses) January 7, 2016
#RZA Lets build God pic.twitter.com/220ZkiUK9N
— Right & Exact Ent (@RightExactEnt) January 8, 2016
Somebody give a memo to media: just because a person raps doesn’t mean they’re qualified to speak on the black community #RZA
— Benjamin Dixon (@TheBpDShow) January 7, 2016
RZA fired back, but the damage had already been done.
“Of course Black lives matter.. All lives matter”
— RZA! (@RZA) January 8, 2016
Yea yea mon. Enough Rza badgering for the day. Add a button up shirt to your wardrobe.
— RZA! (@RZA) January 8, 2016
I’m not condemning the kids for their garments. We live we should learn and evolve. When are we men at 21 or 41?
— RZA! (@RZA) January 8, 2016
I don’t expect agreement with everything I say. I speak honestly from my own perspective &evaluation from my space time experience.
— RZA! (@RZA) January 8, 2016
How can a original black man be a coon &sell out? You best look deep into my words &make an assessment. Do you still think pork is healthy?
— RZA! (@RZA) January 8, 2016
It’s safe to say that RZA’s two million dollar payout from Martin Shkrelli may have clouded his judgement during this interview. Afterall, wu tang fashion line does not include any tie’s or button up shirts, but they still have hoodies for $68.00 for sale. Hmm!
One Love PLUMS!