The music producer/ artist that I will be discussing on the topic of Electronic Music Innovations is none other than the producer of Wu-Tang Clan, aka RZA. He is well known and respected as one of the greatest producers in the Hip- Hop genre for his unique style and creative innovations in that sound. Now Rza is originally known for his gritty sounds of production, from frenetic piano loops, heavy bass and drums, with the experimentation of more melodic sounds as well. RZA's style varies from chopping up and speeding or slowing down soul and electronic samples to fit his beats, which have left impacts on other notable producers styles such as Kanye West and Just Blaze. Towards the mid 2000’s, Rza became more experimental towards smoother and tightly assembled productions and elements that play off of each other than in his previous beats.
Far as his influence and innovation, with Reakwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx album and GZA’s Liquid Swords, RZA went on to immerse these sounds in dark, soul samples pioneering the technique of speeding up and slowing down samples to fit a beat. He realized the potential of the skit, using samples from John Woo films and stringing them together to form a loose story line within the albums he produced. This sound and style of production in later years would go on to be the backbone of the sound of Rocafella records with their heavy soul sampled hip-hop beats. With Kanye being the forefront producer for Rocafella he has stated that he pulled a lot of influence from Rza’s style, and in response RZA explains it as being more of a passing of the torch type of situation that Kayne must fulfill now on.
Rza was always one of my favorite producers, with me being a Wu-tang Clan fan growing up I always appreciated the uniqueness and individuality that this group has brought to the genre of hip-hop with Rza being the main player behind that direction.
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