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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 5 sepTember 2019
In new Hulu series, RZA dives deep into the Wu-Tang ‘Saga’
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. The Wu-Tang mastermind
Associated Press and producer dives deep
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — into the maturation of the
RZA could have created a Clan in the upcoming Hulu
Wu-Tang Clan biopic like drama series “Wu-Tang: An
the NWA-based “Straight American Saga ,” which
Outta Compton” film, will premiere the first three
but felt the nine-member episodes Sept. 4. Seven
rap group needed more more episodes will arrive in
room to tell their story. That the weeks that follow.
meant heading to televi- The series delves into how
sion and finding the right the New York-based col- inform, entertain and in-
actors to reenact the influ- lective straddled between
ential group’s rise and rap the music and crime life
as them. during the crack cocaine
epidemic in the 1990s.
“The Wu-Tang story is vast
and you really couldn’t
contain it in a two or three
hour movie,” said RZA,
who created the series
with screenwriter Alex Tse.
“Now, in a serial form, we
can take our time and tell
our story. The high and low
nuances of it. Hopefully, it’ll
spire.”
Wu-Tang went from being
a group of local rappers in
Staten Island, New York, to This July 26, 2019 photo shows Wu-Tang Clan member RZA,
become one of the most an executive producer of the Hulu miniseries “Wu-Tang: An
American Saga,” posing for a portrait during the 2019 Television
prominent hip-hop troupes Critics Association Summer Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton in
after releasing their critical- Beverly Hills, Calif.
ly-acclaimed 1993 debut Associated Press
album “Enter the Wu-Tang Sanders as RZA and rap- built a global brand that’s
(36 Chambers).” The group pers Dave East and TJ At- still relevant.
included RZA, GZA, Meth- oms as Method Man and “It’s one of the most unusu-
od Man, Ghostface Killah, O.D.B, respectively. It also al and unlikely American
Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, stars newcomers Siddiq success stories, ever,” said
U-God, Masta Killa, the late Saunderson as Ghostface Tse, who co-wrote the su-
Ol’ Dirty Bastard and long- Killah and Johnell Young as perhero film “Watchmen”
time collaborator Cappa- GZA. RZA said the template and 2018’s “Superfly.” ‘’It
donna. Some of the mem- for the 10-episode series couldn’t really happen
bers branched out into solo was inspired by the books anywhere else. I don’t think
careers through Wu-Tang’s he co-wrote, “The Wu- nine dudes from the U.K.
success. Raekwon, GZA, Tang Manual” and “Tao of could come together and
O.D.B., Ghostface Killah Wu.” A four-part Showtime call themselves Wu-Tang.
and Method Man released docuseries called “Wu- That’s the only stuff that
successful solo studio al- Tang: Of Mics and Men” happens in America.”
bums while RZA continued aired a few months ago, RZA said he enjoyed
to make a name for himself but he says the new Hulu watching the actors por-
as a producer, actor and series will highlight certain tray himself and his friends.
director. members’ backstories be- He said the filming process
The series stars Shameik fore their collective rise to took him down memory
Moore as Raekwon, Ashton fame. Tse said Wu-Tang lane. q
Whitney create poignant, bittersweet album
By RAGAN CLARK Ehrlich’s distinctive cooing
Associated Press falsetto paired with horns
Whitney, “Forever Turned on songs like “Giving Up”
Around,” (Secretly Cana- and “Friend of Mine” gives
dian) their sound its youthful feel,
Indie-rock duo Whitney while lines such as “I don’t
may have a light, easy feel alive but I’ve been liv-
sound, but that isn’t an in- ing” ground the album in
dication of the themes they reality.
touch on or emotions they The lyrics are both vulnera-
evoke. The pair peaked in- ble and resolute, with cho-
terest in their debut album ruses that are often aston- This cover image released
by Secretly Canadian shows
“Light Upon the Lake,” ishingly simple— the rep- “Forever Turned Around,” a
and with “Forever Turned etition of two to five words release by Whitney.
Around,” they’ve proved sung gently by Ehrlich. Associated Press
that the success of their first Simple words follow poi- The title track is a shining
wasn’t a fluke. gnant lines such as in “Val- example of what Whitney
Comprised of Julien Eh- leys (My Love)” when a is capable of, allowing the
rlich and Max Kakacek, chorus of “my love” echoes listener to drink in the bit-
the mid-20-year-olds write after Ehrlich sings, “I feel like tersweet sound of a song
well beyond their years. I’m holding on/To a place that is both beautiful in
The 10-track sophomore in your heart that’s long composition and wary in
album is one that is both gone.” tone. “The highs keep fall-
melancholy and hopeful, The album is full of sound, ing back down/But it gets
contemplating the imper- coloring cozy guitar riffs no better thinking about/
manence of both love and and twinkling keys with The way forever turned
being. strings and brass. around.”q