Review: Tao of Wu by RZA

There are many ways to wisdom but RZA has definitely found his own unique path. The wisdom of the Abbot, the founder of one of hip-hop's most enigmatic crews, Wu Tang Clan, is, well, bizarre. Perhaps that doesn't come as a surprise to many familiar with Wu Tang, who know their lyrics, their personalities and their worldview. As someone who has wondered about the numerology, the alter egos and what exactly those chambers represent, RZA's Tao of Wu is illuminating. Not only does he explain his spiritual world-view, but he also grounds it in his personal memories. This second part allows the Tao of Wu to be meaningful and to resonate with readers, Wu Tang fans or not.

The book is structured around seven chapters, which act as pillars of spiritual meaning. These chapters contain different explanations but also anecdotes from RZA's life. RZA draws his wisdom from many sources. He speaks of growing up in the projects of Staten Island with a big extended family. He travels constantly from Ohio, down south and always, back home to New York. Throughout there are various figures of great importance. RZA speaks of his Christian uncle who was the first "wise man" of his life, his Sensei from the Shaolin Temple in China, and his fellow Wu Tang members, most poignantly, ODB.

In what becomes a timeline of the projects in Staten Island, RZA writes of reading the entire Bible as a youth, the emergence of Nation of Islam as a teen, and the influence of Eastern Martial arts as he becomes an adult. He builds Christian wisdoms with the Divine Alphabet, Divine Numerology and the writings of Islam. This tempered with a love for Shaolin movies playing at a nearby adult-movie theater, all influenced a young RZA's spiritual view. He became a self-declared master, who taught other peers, and most importantly, he shared his wisdom with his friends and brothers who would later become Wu Tang.

The personal narrative that runs throughout RZA's somewhat bizarre explanations of religion and philosophy really ground the book. RZA speaks of why Shaolin appealed to him growing up in complete poverty; why the search for wisdom and a way out through any means necessary, religion, eastern culture or chess, was a matter of upmost importance. He writes of having nothing, to controlling a multi-million dollar group, and acknowledges his ever-transforming belief system as the one power that kept him stable through the transitions.

Although sometimes RZA seems very blinded by his own views, nothing he says is offensive or over-zealous. He marginalizes women sometimes, and views them as merely bodies of knowledge, not participants themselves. He also unquestionably believes in the divine, and god. For those and many other reasons, I caution the reader to keep an open mind, and an open heart. RZA is sharing his personal story with words of wisdom that he believes are right. And in a large part, the greater message is very strong and uplifting.

Most interestingly for me were the explanations of Wu Tang. Through his memoirs and explanations, RZA shows how so much of Wu Tang is based on this merging of philosophies and theisms. He explains so many lyrics, albums and personalities. The part that really stayed with me was when he began speaking of his five-year plan for his fellow Wu members. He laments about his flooded studio where he produced and recorded both Only Built for a Cuban Linx and Liquid Swords. He speaks of ODB's dangerous decline, and warns readers to always reach out to those they love. He jokes of saving Meth's life by asking him to join the group, and reminisces of rhyming with Ghostface and Raekwon. You can really see how much RZA loves his fellow Wu members, and how blessed he feels through everything. The Tao of Wu is about finding the way to wisdom, and for Wu fans, or not, RZA has really built a reflective and honest path.