The RZA Hits

The RZA Hits
Compilation album by Wu-Tang Clan
Released	June 22, 1999 (1999-06-22)
Recorded	1992–1998
Studio	Firehouse Studio (New York, NY) 36 Chambers (Staten Island, NY) Mystic Studios (Staten Island, NY)
Genre	Hip hop
Length	1:01:22
Label	Razor Sharp Epic
Producer	RZA Ol' Dirty Bastard True Master
RZA chronology
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (soundtrack) (1999) The RZA Hits (1999) Digital Bullet (2001)

The RZA Hits is a compilation album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, composed of songs featured on the first Wu-Tang album and its first round of solo albums. All songs were produced by member RZA, apart from "Brooklyn Zoo", which was produced by Ol' Dirty Bastard and True Master.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Pitchfork	6/10 [2]
RapReviews	7/10 [3]
Robert Christgau	A− [4]

• Entertainment Weekly (Spring 2000, p. 166) - Ranked #9 in EW's "Top 10 albums of the '90s"
• Q magazine (8/99, p. 134) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...a supremely populist selection...keeping the molten hit count high. If the consistency of these prime-time cuts was sustained, this would probably be the best rap compilation ever rather than merely one of the best."
• Muzik (8/99, p. 79) - 5 stars (out of 5) - "...singular brilliance....Greatest Hits is as effective an insight into [RZA's] unique Staten Island mayhem as the title suggests."
• Rap Pages (9/99, p. 182) - "...the perfect reference manual for [RZA's] importance to rap music....a must-listen for anyone who has ever uttered the word 'Hip-Hop'." - Rating: A

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Narration by the RZA"			1:03
2.	"Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit"	Clifford Smith Corey Woods Dennis Coles Gary Grice Jason Hunter Lamont Hawkins Robert Diggs Russell Jones	RZA Method Man (co.)	3:36
3.	"Protect Ya Neck"	Smith Woods Coles Grice Hunter Hawkins Diggs Jones	RZA	4:52
4.	"Shimmy Shimmy Ya"	Jones Diggs	RZA	2:41
5.	"Liquid Swords"	Grice Diggs Eddie Brigati Felix Cavaliere Joe Zawinul	RZA	3:01
6.	"Narration by the RZA"			1:20
7.	"Method Man"	Smith Woods Coles Grice Hunter Hawkins Diggs Jones	RZA	4:55
8.	"Incarcerated Scarfaces"	Woods Diggs	RZA	4:30
9.	"Ice Cream"	Woods Diggs	RZA	4:16
10.	"Narration by the RZA"			1:31
11.	"Bring the Pain"	Smith Diggs	RZA	3:15
12.	"Winter Warz"	Coles Woods Darryl Hill Hawkins Elgin Turner Diggs	RZA	4:41
13.	"Brooklyn Zoo"	Jones	Ol' Dirty Bastard True Master	3:40
14.	"All I Need"	Smith Diggs	RZA	3:16
15.	"C.R.E.A.M."	Smith Woods Coles Grice Hunter Hawkins Diggs Jones Isaac Hayes David Porter	RZA	4:12
16.	"All That I Got Is You"	Coles Mary Jane Blige Diggs Freddie Perren Alphonso Mizell Berry Gordy Deke Richards	RZA	5:00
17.	"Narration by the RZA"			1:40
18.	"Wu-Wear: The Garment Renaissance"	Diggs	RZA	3:53
Total length:				1:01:22

Sample credits

• Track 5 contains elements from "Groovin' on a Sunday Afternoon" written by Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere and a sample from "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" written by Joe Zawinul, both performed by Willie Mitchell.
• Track 15 contains excertps from "As Long As I've Got You" written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter and performed by the Charmels.
• Track 16 contains a sample from "Maybe Tomorrow" by The Jackson 5.

Notes

• Tracks 2, 3 and 15 are taken from Wu-Tang Clan's 1993 album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) .
• Tracks 4 and 13 are taken from Ol' Dirty Bastard's 1994 album Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version .
• Track 5 is taken from GZA's 1995 album Liquid Swords .
• Tracks 7, 11 and 14 are taken from Method Man's 1994 album Tical .
• Tracks 8 and 9 are taken from Raekwon's 1995 album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... .
• Tracks 12 and 16 are taken from Ghostface Killah's 1996 album Ironman .
• Track 18 is taken from the 1996 soundtrack album High School High .

Personnel

• Robert "RZA" Diggs – lyrics, vocals, programming, producer, arranger, mixing, executive producer
• Russell "Ol' Dirty Bastard" Jones – lyrics, vocals, producer
• Clifford "Method Man" Smith – lyrics, vocals, co-producer
• Gary "GZA" Grice – lyrics, vocals
• Jason "Inspectah Deck" Hunter – lyrics, vocals
• Lamont "U-God" Hawkins – lyrics, vocals
• Dennis "Ghostface Killah" Coles – lyrics, vocals
• Corey "Raekwon" Woods – lyrics, vocals
• Elgin "Masta Killa" Turner – lyrics, vocals
• Darryl "Cappadonna" Hill – lyrics, vocals
• Booster – additional vocals (track 11)
• Mary J. Blige – lyrics & vocals (track 16)
• Selwyn "4th Disciple" Bougard – scratches (tracks: 2, 7, 15)
• Derek "True Master" Harris – producer (track 13)
• Mitchell "Divine" Diggs – executive producer
• John Carr – art direction
• Will Kennedy – artwork
• Brian "B+" Cross – photography

Charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
UK Compilation Albums (OCC) [5]	100
US Billboard 200 [6]	61
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [7]	30

References

1. Huey, Steve. "The RZA Hits - RZA | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved November 16, 2024.
2. DiCrescenzo, Brent. "RZA: The RZA Hits: Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 2000-10-06 – via Wayback Machine.
3. Juon, Steve 'Flash' (October 29, 2024). "RZA :: The RZA Hits – RapReviews". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
4. Christgau, Robert (July 27, 1999). "Consumer Guide". www.robertchristgau.com. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
5. "Official Compilations Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
6. "The Billboard 200". Billboard . Vol. 111, no. 28. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 10, 1999. p. 98. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved November 16, 2024.
7. "Top R&B Albums". Billboard . Vol. 111, no. 28. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 10, 1999. p. 21. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved November 16, 2024.

External links

• The RZA Hits at Discogs (list of releases)