The RZA -- rapper, "supreme abbot" and head production guru of the Wu-Tang Clan -- has signed an exclusive worldwide recording deal with Sanctuary Records Group. His solo debut as RZA, "Birth of a Prince," is due Oct. 7 on Wu Records/Sanctuary Records.
RZA has previously released solo albums under the moniker Bobby Digital -- 1998's "RZA as Bobby Digital in Stereo" (Gee Street/V2) and 2001's "Digital Bullet" (In The Paint/Koch). Earlier this year, he released internationally "The World According to RZA," an album that saw him recording with Sweden's Petter, France's Saian Supa Crew, Germany's Curse and singer Xavier Naidoo.
"Birth of a Prince" will feature guest stars including Wu-Tang members Dirt McGirt (aka Ol' Dirty Bastard) and Ghostface Killah. McGirt guests on first single "We Pop."
"I believe this to be some of the best work I have ever done and I am especially proud," RZA says in a statement. "Our plan is to launch a whole new wave of Wu-Tang fever and this record is the wick. For Sanctuary and Wu Records, this is a great opportunity to get into some meaningful hip-hop in a big way. By signing with Sanctuary, I have joined forces with a really artist-friendly label that also has the ability to deliver."
As previously reported, RZA is also contributing tracks to the Maverick Records soundtrack to the first volume of Quentin Tarantino's new movie, "Kill Bill." RZA contributes a song of his own, "Ode to Oren Ishii," and a collaboration with film scorer Charles Bernstein on the track "Crane"/"White Lightning" to the soundtrack, which is due Sept. 23.
