[RH Photos] North Coast Festival 2013 Day 3
Photos By: Bobby Reys
Making it through the entirety of any festival is a workout at the least and a survival game for some, but by the end of my three-day adventure across Union Park I was in need of a pick me up. After taking in the tail end of an inspired performance and North Coast debut for local artist Psalm One, I found just that around two o'clock as the funky vibes of fellow Chicagoans whysowhite took the Coast stage for what may have been the best performance of the day had they not been competing with Wu Tang , Cherub and Gary Clark Jr.
Leading twins Charles and Davis Haines kept the crowd moving in the neon pants while Nick McMillan MC'd and danced his way into oblivion, sending the steadily-building crowd dancing well after the set ended in the early September heat. Next, it was off to Danny Brown, who performed on a similarly-placed stage to where Lil B performed a month earlier at Pitchfork Festival. It was a similar experience with the sea of fans bopping up and down to the squeaky vibe of Brown's vocals. It was Danny Brown as you would expect him although without his pants down onstage.
From there, a bit too worn on the EDM tip I took in Rebelution, who's jammy, soulful rock tunes were the perfect break from the scattering computers sounds of the DJs that dominated Day 2. Gary Clark Jr, festival king himself, picked up where Rebelution left off, keeping the easy, cool sounds coming, eventually handing the baton to Cherub whose falsetto 80's-inspired electro-pop kept listeners moving and criss-crossing their library.
All in all, though, the festival ended as it began. As headliners Wu Tang Clan and Lotus took the stage, drops of rain could be felt and a general groan could be felt across the park. Wu Tang ran through the classics with Cappadonna, U-God and RZA setting the pace for the rest of the present members while Lotus' Miller brothers gave the Last Stand Stage crowd all they could in a limited set. They played the hits, and got off the stage-twenty minutes early. I'm suggesting bubbles over music festivals in Chicago moving forward.
[RH Interview] North Coast Music Festival 2013: U-God
Photography by Geoff Henao
Like most anyone involved with hip-hop music or pop culture in general, I grew up listening to Wu-Tang Clan and vividly remember ODB crooning through the speakers of my Mom's Ford Explorer when I was a kid hijacking the radio. So, waiting on the elevator with two photographers to meet and interview U-God during North Coast was one of the crazier moments I've had in my life. The two of us said hello, settled in and enjoyed the view from the 29th floor of the Hard Rock Hotel, check out the conversation below.
Jake: Tell me a bit about coming to Chicago after being overseas for a minute.
U-God: Well man you know, Chicago's one of the hometowns that gave us our first little bit of love out here as Wu-Tang and shit so it's a good market for us you know what I'm saying? We had to do a lot to get in this market and it's a hard market to crack so back in the days we put our work in out here and it paid off man, people out here, they like us man.
Jake: What's the ride been like coming up with Wu-Tang?
U-God: Its been a roller coaster man. It's always been a roller coaster to me because I always feel like someone is trying to be our demise. I always feel like there's someone out there trying to stop us, some force or a hidden hand that's always trying to stop us or pull us apart or just some shit like that. But it feels awesome, after all this time we're still putting out good music-I put out a dope record this year, you know what I'm sayin'? I'm just happy to still be here you know? Still being able to tour, run around and still see people like y'all coming through to check me out.
[Video] Kids Use Hip-Hop As A Way To Understand Science
Dr. Christopher Edmin a professor of education at Columbia University's Teacher College has gone a different route in hopes of influencing public school children to learn about science through hip-hop. What Edmin ended up creating was a program called, "Science Genius which is part of a national push to try and influence minorities into taking interest in science." This program eventually in true hip-hop fashion birthed a competition where the kids battled it out on the mic with lyrics centering around the topic of science. Titled B.A.T.T.L.E.S. (Bring Attention to Transforming Teaching, Learning and Engagement in Science) the students performed to a panel of judges that included the Wu Tang Clan’s GZA. Looking back it just seems right to have a member of Wu Tang on the panel because there had to be at least one reference to science in every Wu track. It's refreshing to see alternative ways to teaching the youth of this country and if hip-hop can help do that I don't see why more educators wouldn't want to explore it as an option. Check out the video below and see what the kids learned and who took home the trophy.
[Via Frank151]
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Wu-Tang Clan: "Family Reunion"
Wu-Tang is set to return to the living world in the biggest way. While they have a few select tour dates this summer (including a headlining set at this year's North Coast Music Festival) and dropped a previously unreleased track, they're set to make things a little more official. To commemorate their 20th anniversary, the Wu has dropped a new record, "Family Reunion." With classic RZA production and vocals from Masta Killa, Method Man, and Ghostface Killah, the legendary group is ready to return for the new children of the world. This is all in preparation for a brand new album set to drop this fall.
Check out Wu-Tang's return below, including their confirmed summer tour dates. You can also pre-order the track on 7" on Soul Temple's bandcamp.
6/14/13 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Festival
7/5/13 - Quebec, Canada - Festival d'Ete International de Quebec
7/6/13 - 80/35 Festival 2013 - Des Moines, IA
7/7/13 - Ottawa, Canada - RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest
8/30/13 - 9/1/13 - Chicago, IL - North Coast Music Festival
[Video] De La Soul: "Get Away" (feat. The Spirit of Wu Tang)
De La Soul is back! Following their new motion to release a new song every month this year, "Get Away" gets the music video treatment. Featuring a Wu-Tang and RZA hook sample, the classic group delivers a statement on modern hip hop, opening the song with a strong proclamation: "And like the Wu, we bring it to you in the purest form/ We reside far away from the norms."
The video, which you can watch below, was directed by Lenny Bass and Kris Merc. The group is digital overlaid on a Rubik's Cube while they deliver their verses. There's some really good post-production here with the digital effects used with the Rubik's Cube, especially with how the concept matches the lyrical content. De La Soul's back, and they're ready to take their hip hop crowns back.
http://youtu.be/ZorwKAwqPnE
Wu-Tang Clan: "Execution in Autumn"
An unreleased Wu-Tang track has risen from the dungeons of rap! Released by Soul Temple as a "customer appreciation offering," the track is available for streaming and purchase on their official bandcamp. "Execution in Autumn" features production by Frank Dukes with verses by RZA, Raekwon, and U-God. Even better, Soul Temple is offering the track on vinyl for a price that listeners can set (with a minimum of $.50) + shipping fees. This is a great incentive for both Wu-Tang fans and record collectors/DJs.
Just as a reminder, you can listen to/buy the track here.
Coffee With The Rza
The opportunity to have coffee with a genius, one of Hip Hop's greatest minds, doesn't come around too often. That very opportunity fell into my lap a couple weeks ago, on a cold and rainy October morning in the windy city. Rza was in town promoting his new film, "The Man With The Iron Fist", and sat down with me at the People's Lounge before starting a press junket at the Double Door down the street.
"The Man With The Iron Fist" is Rza's directorial debut, and a story that goes all the way back to his childhood in "Shaolin". His love for Kung-Fu flicks, a love that found its way into the very core of the Wu-Tang Clan, served as a driving force behind his new film. And it was his experience leading the Wu-Tang Clan, and his own career in Hip Hop, that prepared him to take the director's seat. He explains in the video below.
Shot and Edited by Andrew Zeiter. Read more from the interview here... Don't tell Jim Jarmusch.
[Interview] Rza: The Passion
Two weeks ago, on a rainy and cold Saturday afternoon, I had the opportunity to sit down with the Rza and pick his brain about the Wu-Tang Clan and his upcoming film, "The Man With The Iron Fist". Over coffee in Wicker Park, Rza opened up about his abilities as a filmmaker, how being the leader of the Wu prepared him for his current endeavor, and his secret weapon: passion. Peep Rza insights below, and look for our video feature to debut next week along with the release of "The Man With The Iron Fist".
Passion as a secret weapon:
"I'm a capable person. I think I've proved that through my musical career and really starting from zero and being able to take not only myself, but a bunch of families with me. I proved my capability. When I'm passionate about something, I'm the first fan of it. I'm the first dedication and I think people know one thing, my passion definitely did help inspire them. It's been proven when I'm passionate about something, I bring it to life."
How Wu-Tang Clan prepared him for a film career:
"It was actually the best training I could ever have. I didn't know that. I wasn't conscious that all my trials and tribulations, good times and bad times with Wu-Tang would help me become this kind of psychiatrist of thinking towards other artists and talents. But also one of the biggest things that helped me is that I'm an artist. I understand the grind, the gripes. I understand right now we're getting out early in the rain to sit here and talk to you about a film instead of on the bus, curled up warm. I understand how it feels, so I appreciate what an artist does. As a director, I'm going to have compassion. There was a situation where we just had a problem, some of the producers were like, 'push through it, push through it, push through it.' I was like, 'no, no, no, no, no. You're not going to push through it. You're not going til he's ready."
Success was certain:
"I was sure that music was the savior of me, and my community, and my buddies... I don't need to be praised for nothing. There were days I would come to the neighborhood and be talking my mouth off about what we needed to do, what we were going to do, and how it's going to be. Sometimes they'd talk this way, talk that way, cause they weren't sure, but I was sure. I guess now that I think about it, I was passionate and my passion brought them along, and they agreed with me. It's a blessing. I knew musically it was going to succeed. I was very confident... The difference between me as a director and me as a Hip Hop artist is that I know that Wu-Tang and myself and this organization was the best! I knew I was the best. Now, in film I can't say that yet. I got a long way to go. But in a few years, if I really master this craft, I won't be shy to say, oh, I got the belt right now."