RZA (pronounce Riz-ah) or whatever nickname that you recognize him by (i.e. Bobby Digital, The Abbott, Prince Rakeem) is making a name for himself outside the Wu-Tang Clan and his music life and into the Hollywood scene. RZA is in the new movie Derailed with Jennifer Anniston and Clive Owen.
The State Press (SP): What's it like transitioning from music to movies?
RZA: Well, I never left the music side, but I made a bridge between both worlds together. I started with scoring my first film, Ghost Dog. In both the music and television world, most people don't get along with one another, and I didn't want to fight but bring them together.
SP: Did you provide any of your music to Derailed?
RZA: The soundtrack is release on my label.
SP: Who would you like to work with in the future?
RZA: The list goes on. I want to work with Don Cheadle, and if I get to work with Robert de Niro and he shoots me, I don't even care if Robert de Niro shoots me.
SP: Are you receiving many different roles as your making your own path in Hollywood?
RZA: I have a good agent and I'm trying to avoid a Hollywood type cast. I'm the guy that happens to be black, not just the black guy in the film. Kind of like Will Smith.
SP: What does RZA mean and what is its origin?
RZA: It's the complete title with myself. I put the Z in because the S doesn't mean shit to me. It's about me. I went all of these different ways.
SP: Are you just going to concentrate on movies now, or are you going to still concentrate on music?
RZA: My best hip hop album is coming out this year.
SP: Is there any advice that you would like to give?
RZA: Keep it real used to be my slogan but it isn't any more, because it's always real. But with TV and radio, if it's real, it's banned.
