The
Rza
has just wrapped up shooting for the Wu’s latestvideo, "I Can’t Go To Sleep." The
video depicts the social climate in the Black community. Making
claims that the climate hasn’t changed too much from then and
now, the video uses footage from the civil rights era. There’s
a piece that shows American flags waving while John F. Kennedy
travels on a motorcade in Dallas right before he is assassinated.
As news clips race across the screen, it also shows Malcolm X
being interviewed, civil rights marches, and footage from Martin
Luther King’s assassination.
Isaac Hayes AKA Black Moses graces
"I Can’t Go To Sleep" with chords and vocals from his
critically acclaimed release of "Walk On By." He also
appears in the video for the song. Isaac Hayes sings "Don’t
kill your brother let’s love each other, don’t get mad cause it
ain’t that bad, remember who you are, you’ve come to far, it’s
in your hands just be a man."
On the track Ghostface states "Somebody
raped our women, murdered our babies in the streets with crack
and guns in the early 80’s, for those who murdered me shall stand
before God to fall at the hands of fate and out comes the rod…Fed’s
jumping out their jeeps – I cant go to sleep, Babies with flies
on their cheeks – It’s hard to go to sleep."
Long before the party-hearty playaz
ruled the rap game, presenting a portrait of life that’s nothing
but women and money, Wu-Tang, created beats and rhymes that held
more meaning than that of an average rapper. With "I Can’t
Go To Sleep" their formula still holds true today.
RZA explains, "The song was
originally Ghostface’s idea. We came to the conclusion that no
one in hip hop has been giving homage to our many great fallen
heroes who paved the way in this society making it possible for
brothers like myself and others to become successful black men
getting a fair shot at the American dream. We also made the song
because of current events: because of what’s happening to some
of our communities prominent politicians, entertainers, and sports
personalities we realize that we can’t go to sleep, we can’t shut
our eyes or the gains made by the previous generations will be
reversed and the opportunities for the next generations will be
snuffed out."
RZA was recently in the studio
creating a version of the song to be synced up to the video.
Wu-Tang’s third release The W,
has recently been certified platinum. The video for "I Can’t
Go To Sleep" is currently receiving a good amount of airplay
on BET. Wu is currently in the studio readying a new release for
the fall of this year, as well as many members working on solo
projects for release.