WU Tang new material

• 15th Feb 2005

Wu-Tang Clan are set to release their first new material in over three years in tribute to the late rapper and bandmate Ol' Dirty Bastard .

The rap collective were planning to record all new material together after they regrouped for a live show in New Jersey last year (November 12).

ODB missed out on the show because he arrived too late and the next day (November 13) collapsed in a Manhattan recording studio and died of an accidental drug overdose.

Talking about the tragedy, Wu-Tang Clan member RZA has said: “What happened was, I wanted to do (the album). I had everybody in. Dirty was right there, you know what I mean? But now that he's not in like that, it's going to take some time.”

The surviving members have now recorded a new track, set to be included on Ol' Dirty Bastard's last solo album, due out in the US on March 22.

RZA has described the track 'I Go Through Life' as the group speaking “about what happened, what we feel about it, who ODB is, what he meant to us.”

The song features the lyric, “I go through life pretending/ That time will change the ending.”

“What's done is done,” RZA told MTV News. “Nothing won't change it. What's done can't be undone. We all love ODB, we're all going to miss him. ODB lives on, because Wu-Tang is forever. This song is a tribute to his cause, his life. It feels good.”

According to the rapper, the “very emotional” track has caught the attention of some very high profile celebrities too. He said: “I played it to Quentin (Tarantino) two weeks ago, he was in the studio, and he went, 'Man!' He caught tingles up his spine.”

“I played it to him again, at the same location, and he caught the same tingles!” he added. “He had a lot of friends here, and they were all feeling the vibe. Some people are saying that Method Man has probably the strongest verse on there. He gave a nice pullout.”

Recorded through sessions in separate studios and over the internet, the project saw Method Man record his parts in California, with Masta Killa, GZA and Raekwon getting together in New York. Other members, including Cappadonna in Miami, were in different cities and emailed their vocals to RZA.

RZA has also revealed that although it may take a bit longer than once hoped for the Wu-Tang Clan to get back together, fans may be treated to a reunion album later in the year once a few solo projects have been completed.

Busta Rhymes is set to produce the new Raekwon album, with RZA turning his skills to Method Man's new LP.

Pink is also set to get involved with RZA, with the rapper revealing: “I don't want to blow the whistle but me and Pink have been hanging together the past four days, working on her stuff. She's bringing me in for my particular element; I'm bringing the grunge. She's cool; she's got it rocking. It's epic. You're going to enjoy it. So it's going to be one of those years. A lot of product is going to come.