Fuck, man. Racket. Wu Tang. Not two things you would normally put together, but here it is: The Emperor and Masta Killa of Wu Tang Clan.
Masta Killa: Peace peace peace!
Racket Jonathan: What’s up, man?
Masta Killa: Oh, you know, I can’t complain, man. There’s a lot of goods things, you hear?
Racket Jonathan: Sounds like an exciting time to be alive, man.
MK: Thats always, that’s an always thing.
RJ: Well, man, I’ve been hearing a lot on this question and wanted to get your input on it: is hip hop dead?
MK: Man, you know hip hop can’t be dead if Wu Tang is forever!
RJ: What’s your definition of hip hop?
MK: Hip hop is expression. It’s your expression from the rawest point, from the uncut truth. It’s raw. Hip hop is the heart.
RJ: Huh. What was the toughest point in your career with Wu Tang?
MK: Believe it or not, the toughest part came in the later years, ‘cause it was harder to catch the same magic from when you were a kid versus being a grown man and having the responsibilities of a man.
RJ: Did you choose the name Masta Killa or did the name choose you?
MK: It chose me. You know Masta Killa is a famous kung fu movie, and at the time Wu Tang was forming Masta Killa was the last one to be formed of the eight. He was the last pupil of all the styles that were born. I didn’t come from Shaolin, I came from Brooklyn. I studied at Shaolin and brought it back and made it my own. It kind of chose me. I was myself, that style just came together, and my brothers said “He’s Masta Killa, man,” and…hey.
RJ: What have you found to be the worst word to rhyme?
MK: I don’t think about rhyming when I write, I just write. I don’t get stuck on a word when I’m writing, I get stuck when I don’t receive the right thoughts. If it rhymes or don’t rhyme, if it’s a thought, it should be heard.
RJ: What’s your favorite insult or threat?
MK: What’s my favorite?
RJ: Yea, mine’s “I’m going to set you on fire.”
MK: You can’t do any of that, man! This is serious, these are serious times. A lot of things, a lot of politics, you make a threat to someone you could be called a terrorist, and you don’t want that on your body. I don’t threaten people!
RJ: Did you happen to see Britney Spear’s amazingly bad performance at the VMA’s?
MK: Oh, Britney, Britney, Britney! Britney!!! She is who she is already, she shouldn’t be rushed back. Just spend the time perfecting your craft. She could have done better if she put more time in.
RJ: She was dancing like I dance, and I can’t dance.
MK: Yea, it seemed very last minute, like “Hey, we need you to do this” and she did it. She could have worked harder and killed it, been a little stronger.
RJ: Does Masta Killa listen to Metal?
MK: Well, I don’t know if System of a Down is metal. I don’t know if what Rage does is metal, I think it’s considered rock. You know, I used to listen to a little Kiss back in the day, something about it attracted me. I don’t know if it’s metal or rock or what, I just know when I like something, know what I’m saying?
RJ: How was sharing the stage with Rage again?
MK: You know, that’s always legendary. Rock the Bells is legendary itself, bringing so much power under one umbrella. It’s like an educational type of thing for hip hop, bringing these legendary hip hop performers, these are the people chosen to uphold the spirit, the very soul of the hip hop movement. We represented: Public [Enemy,] EPMD, Cypress [Hill,] Nas, there were so many different groups. They brought a good time when they came to uphold this whole thing. Kids got to see people they probably never saw and get to see the history of where things come from. It was very educational for hip hop, it’s healthy, you know. I definitely give Rock the Bells my support.
RJ: You guys have done RTB quite a few times now, you big fans or what?
MK: Definitely, my man Chang [Weisberg, head of Guerilla Union, founder of Rock the Bells,] nothing but respect for Chang. He had a vision, wanted to see something, we wanted to see something, and I respect him for creating something that powerful. He brought a lot of great people together. It was a good thing.
RJ: Do you prefer blunts or pipes?
MK: I don’t smoke pipes that much. I love them blunts, though.
RJ: What was the ugliest car you’ve ever had?
MK: I had everything, man. All kinds of old Hoodies. Man, they were some ugly cars. One was my uncle’s, and I don’t even remember. If it got me there, I was in it.
RJ: How much have you changed since the beginning of Wu?
MK: I don’t know if I’ve changed. I’ve grown, as a man and in knowledge. I’ve taken on a lot more responsibility. You’re not a child, you’re a grown man, but you can have a child’s heart. You grow up, you see things they way they are, and you become the person your parents may have wanted to see you be, and that’s a good thing.
RJ: Speaking of a child’s heart, what is funnier: Family Guy or the Simpsons?
MK: I couldn’t even tell you, man. I’d have to call my children and have them tell you. I don’t watch shows like that, man.
RJ: What do you watch?
MK: When I do get a chance to watch TV, I’m a sports dude. Sports or an old classic type of movie. I couldn’t tell you what’s going on in The Wire, my brother’s all in that. I don’t get the chance to support what he’s doing. I love that he’s doing it and respect it, but I just don’t get the chance.
RJ: Alright, man.
MK: Alright, homie, good speaking to you.
– Interview and scientifically proven graph by the Emperor. Photo courtesy of Google image search.