“Wu-Tang is 100% all natural; you know what I’m saying? No artificial ingredients.”

These are the words of a young RZA speaking directly to camera in the 1994 documentary Enter The Wu-Tang. You could see it in his eyes, even back then, he knew – the Wu Tang-Clan was changing history. Just one year previous, in 1993, their debut record 36 chambers was released and the impact it has had on the genre has been astronomical.

Jay-Z, Kanye, Joey Badass – there’s barely a rapper alive who hasn’t drawn influence from Wu-Tang either directly or indirectly through a secondary vessel. But just how did the Wu create such a storm in such a short amount of time? I’ll let RZA explain that one.

People caught onto us so fast ‘cause they was starving for some real hip hop, they was tired of all that wackness man. When they got a chance to hear fat lyrics AND fat tracks – that’s like getting… that’s like getting bananas in yo cereal.”

“When we get on stage it’s like going to the old school block party and they let you get on the mike. You get on, you represent, you take yours, and you get off man. We ain’t there to do no flips, you ain’t gonna see no magic tricks, no dancin’, no booty shakin’ – none of that man. Wu-Tang; you gon’ hear lyrics and hear fat tracks. You gon’ like it.”

The cool part about being a journalist besides the nervous breakdowns and shitty pay is that you occasionally get to meet some pretty awesome people, so naturally I jumped at the chance to interview the legendary rap group when I found out they were returning to Australia after a five year absence.

Beyond The Valley, the guys responsible for bringing Wu-Tang to Australia, are already quite familiar with me. Earlier this year I went to their music festival and traded my way up from a cigarette to a bag of cocaine. So when I asked if there was any chance of grabbing an interview their response was: “Wanna come on tour?”

White-Tang Clan, the five young men who brought Wu-Tang to Australia. Michael Christidis (far right) instructed me to call him when I arrived at the first show in Melbourne. Fast forward to a stinking hot Tuesday evening – show day – I’m standing at the front of Margaret Court Arena amidst the growing convoy of Wu fans not really sure what to expect. I called Mike. What happened next was nothing short of magical – an unexpected once in a lifetime occurrence.

We are whisked through a back door and given all access passes. “Hang in Nico’s room for a bit,” Mike says as he runs off towards Wu’s Change rooms. Mike never sits still; he’s always doing shit, top bloke though.

Nico Ghost already knew me from a previous interview. He paced around the room and his body seemed to be filled with some volatile hyper reactive concoction of energy about to explode at any minute, understandable, in just under half an hour he would be opening for Wu-Tang.

He was gazing intently into a full body mirror rapping silently to himself when I asked if he ever gets nervous. “Yeah man, really nervous but also excited”. Later that evening I ran into DJ Mathematics in the halls, I asked him the same question, “Nah son, just another day in the office. I miss the butterflies”.

After watching Nico mesmerize Melbourne I ducked into the artist car park for a quick smoke. There I found the girlfriends of Ivan Ooze, Juñor, and Nico Ghost – all of whom were opening for Wu-Tang. Three of these girls are dating cool as fuck rappers, one of them is stuck with me.

I wish I had more photos of the Melbourne show but security took my camera and I was pretty high. I also can’t remember most of it but here is a photo of me creeping out Raekwon from my Instagram.

Photo credit: Ben Townsend // Ivan Ooze. Baggage claim in Sydney the next morning. The eagle has landed.

Seywood, Nico Ghost, Ivan Ooze, and Juñor at hotel check-in in Sydney. Talented blokes, genuine as fuck human beings. I was meant to be rooming with Nico Ghost but ended up scoring RZA’s room after he left for a better hotel, because the one we were staying at was “like the projects”. Later that afternoon I got a call from Mike.

“Dave, are you gonna be in your room for the next half hour? A guy is gonna come deliver weed to you, can you bring it to Masta Killa’s room when you get it?”

Sure man.

When I dropped off the devil’s lettuce to Masta Killa he invited me in, made me vegan falafel, then poured me juice and spoke some crazy wisdom for like half an hour.

After passing a joint and talking about the universe I had to leave to shower. Sydney show was just a few hours away. Throughout the tour Masta Killa took on a almost mentor-type role for me, spilling out life advice in the form of abstract metaphors almost always out of nowhere.

Nico Ghost greeting fans just after performing in Sydney. The Ghost hypnotized the crowd with chilling renditions of his tracks ‘Night Terrors’ and ‘Silent’.

Sink piss It’s the Brooklyn way. Free alcohol is always fun. I thought I’d get over it after a week. I didn’t.

Josh Jackson joined Ivan on stage for all three shows. The guy was a freak of nature doing backflips and shit. I also bummed smokes form him the whole tour, pretty sure I owe the guy about 47 cigarettes.

Ivan Ooze cooling off after performing in Sydney. Maybe he’s born with it.

There was a bit of time before Wu were due to step on stage so we ducked out to smoke a spliff and eat fried chicken.

I really don’t remember why everyone was laughing in this photo.


The whole tour encapsulated in one photo.


Oh by the way, meet Seywood – Nico’s DJ. He couldn’t pose for this photo because he was too busy making high powered business deals with New York and Tokyo at the same time.

Fuck the lockout laws.

Photo credit: Sam Cooke // Seywood

I watched most of the Sydney show perched in this little corner, occasionally I’d creep out on to the stage for just a few seconds. I could see half the patrons of an almost sold out arena, the other half blinded by bright lasers and flashing lights. Dj Mathematics word’s echoed in my mind. “Just another day in the office son.”

I was about four steps away from touching Raekwon’s back sweat. Amazing.


After the show, food was delivered straight to the Wu change rooms. Contrary to some reports, there was no sushi. Also, GZA REALLYYYY didn’t like photos, so I decided to see how many sneaky photos of him I could get before being punched in the face. Also this shit – this shit right here – is the best fried chicken I’ve ever had in my life.


Seriously. Ghostface. Dude. You gotta try this chicken.

Ghostface didn’t talk much and when he did his short sentences were tinged with a deep raspiness. He seemed happier to observe than engage and that’s what he always seemed to be doing. He was sharp, always knew what was going on.

At one point after the Sydney show he was sat on his own with a piece of fried chicken in his hand, quietly surveying the commotion caused by the 40 odd people in the room around him, not reacting, not judging, just observing. I wouldn’t say the guy seemed happy, rather, he seemed satisfied – the kind of satisfaction that comes with knowing you’ve made an impact on your craft and the world, spawning a legacy that will live on for generations after you’ve passed.

At the after party I found out RZA, much like John Howard, DJs like a mad cunt. And man did he look smooth doing it. The guy exuded an effortless mixture of class and cool. He could steal your wallet and your girl with one hand a pour your oblivious ass a glass of cabernet with the other.

While RZA did his thing I went back and chilled in the VIP section with these blokes.


Photo credit: Seany Foster

Where I passed a joint with Ghostface Killa and shared champagne with Raekwon. And teachers said I’d never be shit.


Mike and Nico talking about some important shit. I think. I dunno man we were all fucked by this point.

Seywood was pretty popular.

Photo credit: Ben Townsend // Ivan Ooze. 

The next day we flew to Brisbane for the final leg of the tour. We stopped at Chur Burger which was fucking amazing. Seriously if you’re ever in Fortitude Valley stop by, grab a burger, and say hey to Riley who works there he’s a mad dog.


Photo credit: Michael Christidis

So essentially, Mr Ghostface, that’s why I’m CONVINCED aliens built the pyramids.


Photo credit: Michael Christidis

Think about it. That’s all I’m saying.

Photo credit: Michael Christidis

That night we ate Thai food. Food of the gods.

Later we ended up in some Salsa club in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley that night because Ghostface said it looked “real nice”. When Ghostface tells you he wants to go to a salsa club you take him to a salsa club.

I was leaning over this balcony thing talking to RZA when a girl came up to me asking if it was true that Wu-Tang was in the club. I looked around and looked at RZA then looked back at her and said “Nah.”

She left. RZA fist bumped me. “Respect son. If she don’t know the face she ain’t deserve it.”

I don’t remember how I got back to the hotel that night, but I do remember being woken up by a text from Nico before dawn the next morning. There was a room mix up which resulted in Nico Ghost and Masta Killa being placed in the same room. When Masta Killa walked into his room after leaving the club he found Nico sleeping in his bed.

The next day Ivan Ooze and Ghostface Killa shot a music video for their upcoming collaboration track “Bills,” scheduled to be released later this year.


Photo credit: Kevin Hoang

Whilst shooting, Ghostface left half of his cheeseburger unguarded so I ate it in the hopes of gaining some of his rap powers. It didn’t work.

The calm before the storm. Nico Ghost sits on stage pre-show in Brisbane.

Photo credit: Jacob Pedersen // Alter Ego Visuals
Ivan Ooze. Not only a decent rapper but a top human as well. The guy killed it holding his own supporting what is arguably the most influential hip hop group in history.

The catering, as always throughout the tour, was fucking amazing. Tom Caw, Christian Serrao, and Michael Christidis of Beyond The Valley sit above stage engaged in conversation while Joshua Dowdle of Gold Coast band Lastlings looks slyly at the camera. “Don’t touch my food cunt.”

Somehow I ended up on stage for the Brisbane show.

Wu-Tang motherfuckerrrrrrr.


At the end of the Brisbane show RZA called up the boys from Beyond The Valley to join him on stage. I jumped down from the stage and snapped this pic.

RZA: “Hey son, get back up here – get a picture of us with the crowd in it.

It’s been over two decades since the release of 36 Chambers and throughout the tour I found myself subconsciously examining each of the Wu-Tang Clan members for any signs that they were over it.

The hype is nowhere near what it was back then, and understandably so. They were stopped for autographs and the odd photo every now and then, but never mobbed by the public.

At restaurants they just seemed like ordinary middle aged men. They sat in nightclub VIP areas with a slight air of weariness, as if tired of the whole game. Yet the fire in their performances reigns strong, on stage they were ageless. When the lights shone and the crowd roared, the Wu-Tang Clan well and truly brought the Ruckus.

This is the fucking life. If you didn’t see any more articles from me it’s because I’ve quit writing and started a rap career. Check out my mixtape.

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine