Sayre loves Outkast & Raekwon

lifted from HoodHype.com

So there is an earlier version of this piece running around. I sent that version to Oliver Wang (soul-sides.com) he sent back a critique that has lead to this revised version of “The RZA Blog.”

On Tuesday Dec. 11 2007 I opened for The Rza.

In the days leading up to this gig I was filled with unprecedented anticipation and anxiety, a combination that I imagine is only found when standing directly in the shadow of one’s predominant influence. More than any other artist The Rza shaped my “definition of dope.” His work as the leader and producer of The Wu-Tang Clan is responsible for the aesthetic that I attempt to honor in my own music.

In the two months since the gig I have made a handful of attempts to write about my experience. The thrill of sharing a marquee with an artist that I can safely call a hero should supply enough material for me give you a decent read. However, each time I have sat down to collect the details of the night into a narrative it has snowballed into something much bigger. A simple recounting of one of the more exciting nights in my rap career has become a study in artistic procreation. It has led me to examine how I fit into hip-hop’s lineage through the lenses of history, appropriation, inheritance and influence. (more…)