Raekwon reflects on the enduring legacy of the Wu-Tang Clan and pays homage to the Old Bastard, who foresaw their global rise decades ago.
Earlier this year, the hip-hop veteran helped wrap up Wu-Tang’s “The Final Chamber” U.S. tour, marking the end of a decades-long process of reshaping the rap music landscape.
This tour is more than just a final bow, it’s a tribute. The organization honors the old Bastard, who died in 2004 at the age of 35 from an accidental drug overdose.
His son, Young Dirty Bastard, has performed in the band in recent years, continuing his father’s legacy.
Raekwon recalled ODB’s early confidence in the organization’s future in a recent interview with People magazine.
“When I go back to the ’90s and remember that Ol’ Dirty Bastard was around us and kind of predicted the future of the band, I think those times are always going to be important for our nostalgia,” he said.
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He also reflected on the uphill battle the organization faced in its early days, a journey filled with sacrifice.
“Writing a lot of rhymes, a lot of time away from the family to work. But we were also able to help our friends, put them in a good position, and then see it turn into a chain that helped everyone,” he said. “At the time, it was really difficult to get into this game, nine artists and claim this collective situation and turn it into a million-dollar franchise.”
Despite the success, the pain of losing ODB still lingers. “We’ve lost our brothers to what’s happening around the world,” Raekwon said. “People get into these situations. But I think he always said, ‘Yo, we’re gonna rock the world. We’re gonna rock the world.'”
Raekwon admits they weren’t entirely convinced at the time. “It was funny when he said it at the time, but we never took it for granted,” he said. “We were like, ‘Well, if you saw it before we saw it, then you saw it, because now if you saw it, then we all saw it. Now we’re going to let the world see it.'”
Thirty years after the Wu-Tang Clan was formed in 1992, Raekwon confirms that the group still retains the same passion that has driven them from the beginning.
“I think it’s a beautiful thing,” he explained. “It takes a strong person to understand your full potential and he definitely told us that before we thought it was actually going to happen.”
