The enigmatic RZA has been a large thread in the tapestry of Hip-Hop for almost twenty years. Whether on the mic, behind the boards, or recently in front of a camera, the Abbot has always managed to let his inner creativity shine like the edge of a Hartori Hanzo blade. Along with that creativity comes a certain elusiveness and Robert Diggs has certainly mastered the art of not being overexposed.
We managed to catch up with the RZA as he was promoting a work of art in conjunction with Sway and King Tech’s When Art Immitates Life project, in which a person with a significantly high cool quotient is chosen to visualize the illest concepts which are then made into reality on canvas by the sharpest designers. The RZA, in celebrating his 20th year in the business has completed his piece entitled Victory or Death. We managed to get off five shots. This is the result.
Planet Ill: How do you measure victory
RZA: Victory is to achieve your goal. Simple as that. Whatever you set out to do. And in some cases you have to risk your life to achieve the goal.
Planet Ill: What if your conflict is internal?
RZA: If your conflict is internal, it’s still victory or death, because the death don’t mean a physical death then. That’s why the Buddhists say you have to escape the wheel of life and death. He’s saying that when you find yourself, be yourself, don’t ever lose yourself again. If you lose yourself, you’d rather die than go back through the pain over and over.
The Koran says that every night when a man lays to rest his soul is taken from him – dead, in a way. You don’t know what’s happening when you’re knocked out. To come back as the same man you were yesterday, it means your life is continuous. But to die and come back as a pig or cow or animal, that means you have lost a level of yourself. So when the conflict is internal, it’s still giving you the chance of victory or death. Do you want to lose yourself? Nah. You want to defeat anything that’s conflict in you so you can be at peace with yourself.
Planet Ill: How important is the spirit in fortifying your inner struggle?
RZA: The spirit is very important. The spirit is like a flame. A fire not only gives off heat but it also gives off light, just like light doesn’t only give off light, it also radiates heat. Those are spiritual energies right there. So keep your spirit strong. Keep that heat burning.
Planet Ill: If your greatest beat were converted to fine art, what would it look like?
RZA: The Sistine Chapel.
Planet Ill: What place does art art have in the creation of your work?
RZA: I’m an artist, so my life is art. Most of my artistic nature has been given over to my daughter, who draws something every day. She has hundreds of drawings that one day I may use for some kind of comic book line or art direction for a movie or something.
Interview facilitated by James of Dunn Deal Pr. For more info about Victory or Death, visit http://www.whenartimitateslife.com
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