Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA has always been a prolific musician. With the vision to steer his group into the hip-hop history books, the Staten Island bred creator helped shift the culture and push boundaries with his visions of the Wu. After crafting two group albums for the Clan — the producer released his first solo album, Bobby Digital In Stereo in 1998.
The project was a druggy, almost psychedelic movie that introduced the world to another side of RZA. The Kung Fu master was transformed into a futuristic superhero with a penchant for fast women and mind altering substances. Bobby Digital earned him a gold plaque and established another creative success for the mastermind. Exactly 16 years after it was released on Nov 24. 1998, VIBE talked to the leader of the Wu about his very first solo venture and its hazy creation.
On Venturing Out Musically On His First Solo Album:
“Hip-Hop was so sample heavy at the time, and I wanted to make my music have more of an orchestra sound. I started making music off synths without a lot of samples and breakbeats. But more than anything, Bobby Digital came to me after one of those long nights of inspiration. Smoking on your leaves and your brain starts seeing the future [Laughs].”
The Bobby Digital Character Being His Alter Ego:
“I think people knew it was just a character because I strove to make it clear. Just like Robert De Niro plays all these different characters, Bobby Digital was just a character. That’s how I felt about it. I guess at the time, my acting bug was generating inside of me. “
Secret Bobby Digital Formula:
“Digi is actually a formula. It’s not just a bag of dust. It’s a 3 drug mixture that makes it what it is. I don’t do drugs no more so I can’t give away the formula. My brother loves it, though [Laughs]. I’ve actually been drug free for a while now, expect a little alcohol. I wanted to have a clear mind for the movies. A lot of fans don’t know this but even with Wu’s musical projects I would usually only get a little stimulated in the beginning stages but then when I know I had to be that dude – when I have to be the one, I knew I needed to have a clear mind for that.”
On Doing Another Bobby Digital Album:
“There’s some songs I’ve written in the Bobby Digital mind. One is called “Same As My Brothers Do.” I don’t know if I’ll ever put them out, though. When it comes to music – it’s about vibes. You don’t know when that inspiration will hit you. So I’ll never say I hat I’ll never do another Bobby Digital album.”