He is one of hip-hop's most influential voices, mastermind of the groundbreaking Wu-Tang Clan collective - as well as a solo star, producer, filmmaker and actor. Now, US rapper RZA is turning his hand to classical with a symphonic ballet. He began working on the record during the pandemic, inspired by the discovery of an old Tommy Hilfiger book bag stuffed with notebooks he had filled over five years from the age of 14; lyrics on life and love as a teenage Robert Diggs, who grew up in the housing projects of Brownsville, in Brooklyn, New York, and later Staten Island.
There was a story to be told, he felt. The obvious thing to do would be to turn the words into rap, the music he is best known for. But it evolved into something new.
"I started reading through these lyrics and I'm recalling all the young love, the young exploration. The first time you had a drink or smoke. All this is written in my lyrics, like a lyrical diary.
.. at first I thought I should rap it, right.
Because I'm known as a rapper. But then I said, no, I should just write music to it." Starting at his piano, the project became A Ballet Through Mud, a coming-of-age story told through music that delves into the complexities of love and the bonds of friendship - very different to the music most of RZA's fans will know him for.
It was performed to a standing ovation by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and dancers from the Alvin Ailey dance theatre school on stage in Denver 2023. Now, RZA is releasing the score a.
