RZA

Wu-Tang Clan mastermind Robert Diggs, best known as the RZA (among several other pseudonyms), is one of hip-hop's most revered, influential producers. With the group's classic 1993 debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), he established their widely imitated core sound, consisting of stark, booming beats and chilling samples (heavily drawing from vintage soul records as well as kung fu movies), setting the backdrop for the crew's gritty, violent narratives. Following the album's trailblazing success, Diggs produced the first wave of solo releases by his fellow Wu-Tang members plus the gold-selling 1998 debut by his alter ego Bobby Digital. He also ventured into film and television work, writing the score for Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai and making his directorial debut with The Man with the Iron Fists. In 2024, RZA teamed with the Colorado Symphony for the release of his first classical work, A Ballet Through Mud.