Name	RZA
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Robert Fitzgerald Diggs
Alias	Prince Rakeem, The Scientist (As member of Force of the Imperial Masters, later known as All in Together Now Crew) The Abbot (As member of Tommy Boy Records) , Rzarector (As a member of Gravediggaz) , Bobby Digital, Bobby Steels, Prince Dynamite, Prince Delight, Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah
Born	July 05, 1969Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York
Origin	Staten Island, New York, United States
Instrument	Rapping, guitar, piano, keyboards, zither, sampler
Genre	Hip hop
Occupation	Rapper, CEO, record producer, actor, screenwriter, author, director
Years active	1989–present
Label	Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. RecordsWu-Tang Records/Razor Sharp/Epic/36 Chambers Records/Wu Music Group/Wu-Tang International/SME RecordsVirgin/EMI RecordsKoch Records
Associated acts	Wu-Tang Clan, Gravediggaz, Easy Mo Bee, Kanye West, Eslam Jawaad, Kool G Rap
Notable instruments	E-mu SP-1200Roland MC-909Roland MV-8000Roland MV-8800Ensoniq-16 plus }}

Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA (; born July 5, 1969), is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the ''de facto'' leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost all of Wu-Tang Clan's albums as well as many Wu-Tang solo and affiliate projects. He is widely considered one of the most influential and landmark hip-hop producers of all time. He subsequently gained attention for his work scoring and then later acting in films. His revolutionary techniques of sampling, speeding up tracks to fit the beat laced, and his cinematic skits sprinkled throughout albums have greatly inspired other producers in the industry. He produced for a slew of Wu Tang solo albums as well as group albums that dominated not only commercially, but also thematically and artistically. His production from the mid 90's to the late 90's brought about one of the greatest 'bouts' or 'runs' of inspiration the industry has seen, creating various classics.

He has also released solo albums under the alter-ego Bobby Digital, along with executive producing credits for countless side projects. In addition to the Wu-Tang Clan and his solo releases, RZA was also a founding member of the horrorcore Hip Hop group Gravediggaz where he used the name The Rzarector. Furthermore, he has acted in several movies, including ''Coffee and Cigarettes'', ''American Gangster'', ''Gospel Hill'', ''Life Is Hot in Cracktown'', ''Ghost Dog'', ''Funny People'', ''Derailed'', ''Due Date'' and ''Repo Men''. He continues to build his acting and production work hand in hand.

In 2008, RZA was ranked #4 on About.com's list of the Top 50 Hip-Hop Producers, while ''The Source'' placed him on its list of the 20 greatest producers in the magazine's twenty-year history. He also made the "Elite 8" in the search for The Greatest Hip-Hop Producer of All Time by ''Vibe''.

Early life

Born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, RZA spent time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a child, where his father had a convenience store in the Hill District. From the ages of three to seven, RZA lived in North Carolina with his uncle, who always encouraged him to read and study.

He is named after Robert Kennedy and John Fitzgerald Kennedy. His mother greatly admired the Kennedys, the RZA has called his given name a "honorable" name, given the legacy of both brothers Robert and Jack.

Music career

1989-1991

RZA began his Hip Hop music career in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as a member of the trio Force of the Imperial Master (which subsequently became known as the All in Together Now Crew after they had a successful underground single of that name). The group consisted of future Wu-Tang members and his cousins GZA (then known as the Genius) and Ol' Dirty Bastard (then known as Ason Unique, the Specialist, and the Professor).

Once this local band dissolved, both he and the GZA attempted to kick start solo careers. With the help of GZA's friend (then owner of Jamaica Records) they both secured single deals with album options at successful labels, GZA going to Cold Chillin and RZA to Tommy Boy. GZA ultimately released the ''Words from the Genius'' album, but RZA's stint at Tommy Boy ended with only the EP ''Ooh I Love You Rakeem'' to show for it when he went to jail soon after its release. GZA's album flopped, and the two cousins became determined to conquer the hip hop industry on their own terms. Throughout most of his youth he enjoyed watching various kung-fu movies and purchasing countless albums which he would later sample in most of his music.

1992-1993: ''Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)''

From this determination came the Wu-Tang Clan (named after ''Shaolin and Wu Tang'', a kung fu movie), formed with GZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard as well as with six other rappers (Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, Method Man, Masta Killa, U-God and Ghostface Killah). With the Clan, Prince Rakeem started going by the name RZA (Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah).

After the single "Protect Ya Neck," which was driven by a raucous RZA-produced beat, made the group into underground sensations, the group released their debut LP ''Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)''. The album, which only cost $36K to produce, eventually went platinum, and was heralded by hip-hop fans as a classic. ''Enter the Wu-Tang'' revolutionized hip hop and helped bring the East Coast back into the spotlight after Dr. Dre's G-funk had come to dominate the rap scene, the resurgence in large part thanks to RZA's lean, gritty and very distinctive production style.

1994–1996: Gravediggaz and Wu-Tang solo projects: Round one

As each of the group's members embarked on solo careers, RZA continued to produce nearly everything Wu-Tang released during the period 1994–1996, producing in both the hip-hop producer sense (composing and arranging the instrumental tracks) and in the wider music producer sense (overseeing and directing the creative process as well as devising song concepts and structure in addition to being responsible for a recording's final sound). RZA's rule over the Clan at this time is described in 2004's ''Wu-Tang Manual'' book as "a dictatorship". Yet he still released a hit single of his own, in the form of ''Wu-Wear: The Garment Renaissance''. The song was featured on the ''High School High'' soundtrack, and was released to coincide with the Wu-Tang clothing brand. It peaked at #60 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #6 on the Hot Rap Singles chart.

His sound was to develop from the raw, minimalist sounds of Method Man's ''Tical'' and Ol' Dirty Bastard's ''Return to the 36 Chambers'' to more cinematic and expansive soundscapes driven by string sections or thick layers of synthesizer on Ghostface Killah's ''Ironman'', GZA's ''Liquid Swords'', and Raekwon's ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...''.

During this time, RZA also took part in the creation of a hip hop subgenre called horrorcore with the Gravediggaz, an off-and-on hip-hop supergroup including Frukwan of Stetsasonic, Too Poetic of The Brothers Grym, and Prince Paul who released the album ''6 Feet Deep'' in 1994. As part of the Gravediggaz, he went by the name The RZArecta. In reference to RZA's start with the group he mentions:

1997: ''Wu-Tang Forever''

The success of ''Wu-Tang Forever'', which hit number one on the charts after selling 600,000 in its first week, also marked the end of RZA's "five year plan"; at the group's inception, he promised the group if he had total dictatorial control of the Wu-Tang empire, it would conquer the hip hop world within five years.

After ''Forever'''s success, RZA ceased to oversee all aspects of Wu-Tang product as he had previously, delegating much of his existing role to associates such as Oli "Power" Grant and his brother Mitchell "Divine" Diggs, and giving each Clan member more individual control. This move was designed to enable the Wu-Tang empire to expand further and further into the fabric of the hip hop industry, and in accordance with this an extremely large amount of Wu-Tang music was to be released over the next two years.

This had already to some extent begun on ''Wu-Tang Forever'', which for the first time featured RZA delegating a small number of beatmaking duties to other producers in the Wu-Tang camp, such as his proteges True Master and 4th Disciple who are known as the Wu-Elements, and Clan member Inspectah Deck.

1998-1999: Gravediggaz and Wu-Tang solo projects: Round two

During the 1998–2000 period RZA ceased to produce every Wu-Tang solo album as he had done previously, but continued to contribute usually one or two songs on average to each record as well as receiving an Executive Producer credit.

''RZA as Bobby Digital in Stereo'' was an experimental concept album featuring him rapping as his hedonistic, fun-loving alter-ego Bobby Digital and showcasing a unique keyboard-driven sound RZA called "digital orchestra", receiving mixed reviews at best.

''The Cure'' album currently remains unreleased and incomplete, due to further work and development being continued into the new millennium. It is now said to be RZA's final solo album. Within the same year, a mixtape known as ''Formula For The Cure'' was compiled and released by Dreddy Kruger, without RZA's approval and consent. The mixtape was meant to be as a prequel of some sorts to the final solo album.

2000: ''The W''

After helming another Wu-Tang group album titled ''The W'' (his production on which received much praise) and providing narration to a Clan greatest hits album titled ''The RZA Hits'', RZA released another Bobby Digital album, 2001's ''Digital Bullet''. ''Digital Bullet'' was an attempt to develop Bobby Digital further, and the album followed a loose story arc which saw the character becoming more "enlightened" and more disillusioned with hedonism as the album went on.

2001-2004: Post ''The W'' solo projects

In 1999 the RZA moved into composing film scores. His first work, Jim Jarmusch's ''Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai'' (1999), earned praise; he also had brief cameo in the film itself, as a fellow samurai wearing camouflage. The experience was positive and, as he noted during an interview on National Public Radio's ''Fresh Air'', the work with traditional musicians gave him the desire to learn how to read and write music.

The critical success of the ''Ghost Dog'' soundtrack led to further work. RZA created and produced the original music for Quentin Tarantino's ''Kill Bill'' series, as well as ''Blade: Trinity'', and ''Soul Plane''. RZA was nominated for four different awards for the work he did on the ''Kill Bill'' vol. 1 and 2 soundtracks, winning one.

In the beginning of 2003 he also produced a few tracks for ''The Mindscape of Alan Moore''.

His third solo album is titled, ''Birth of a Prince'', which was released in 2003 under the name RZA, and spawned the single "We Pop". The album itself featured a mix of lighthearted Bobby Digital tracks and more lyrically highbrow RZA tracks. In 2003 he also released an album of collaborations with international rap and R&B; musicians (including the UK's Skinnyman, France's Saïan Supa Crew, Germany's Xavier Naidoo and Italy's Frankie Hi-NRG MC) entitled ''The World According to RZA''.

2005-Present: Solo projects: Round three

In 2005 RZA released the long-gestating book ''The Wu-Tang Manual'', an in-depth discussion of the Wu-Tang terms, Wu-Tang members, merchandise, movies and inspirations. RZA continued to act in and score movies such as ''Derailed'', ''Blood of a Champion'' and ''Miami Vice''. He also contributed two bonus tracks for the reissued soundtrack to the Luc Besson film ''Unleashed'', starring Jet Li. In 2006, as a producer, he contributed to five tracks on Method Man's latest album ''4:21... The Day After'' and also executive produced the project.

In late January 2007 he announced that he was working on a fourth album titled, ''Digi Snacks'', which continues the further adventures of Bobby Digital. The album was released on June 24, 2008. The albums first single, "You Can't Stop Me Now", featuring Inspectah Deck, was released in March 2008 in preparation for a planned release in Summer 2008.

He has also stated that the long-delayed ''The Cure'' album will now be his final solo album, for he will end his career as MC and move on with his movie directing career. The album will feature deeper lyrics and guests ranging from Zack de la Rocha to Isaac Hayes.

Before signing with SRC Records in early 2007, RZA was flooded with offers from Bad Boy Records, Aftermath Records, Interscope and Def Jam among others for the Wu-Tang Clan super-group.

In 2007, he did the score of the Japanese anime ''Afro Samurai'' starring Samuel L. Jackson. He recently and quietly released an instrumental album entitled, ''The RZA-Instrumental Experience'', and worked with Raekwon on his highly anticipated ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II''. Talks are on between System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian and RZA regarding a collaboration between the two artists called Achozen. RZA has stated in an interview that he is involved in the project. A self-titled album, ''Achozen'', was set to be finished in mid-January 2009 but as of late 2010 had not yet been released. The first single that came about was "Dueces".

RZA announced on September 10, 2008 that a partnership with global digital music group The Orchard will market Wu's extensive catalogue worldwide in digital and physical formats. The deal includes new material and 13 previous Clan releases that have been unavailable digitally from the Wu-Tang Clan, Wu-Syndicate, Shyheim, U-God, Black Knights, and West Coast Killa Beez and others. Wu-Tang's viral marketing began as a study of promoting an artist online globally. RZA explained that the deal was a natural progression needed to make sure that fans will have continued access to Wu's catalogue in the ever-changing music industry. Also being launched is the online video channel Wu Music Tube, a forum focused on allowing the artists to speak directly with their fans. In the ensuing months, Wu’s music and video catalogue will also be featured by various brands and ad agencies in marketing and promotion programs around the world. Wu Music Group’s catalogue will be available worldwide for downloads on September 23. RZA told AllHipHop.com:

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He has also confirmed that he will be solely-producing ''Liquid Swords II'' with GZA, which was tentatively due in Fall 2010, but the status of the album has not been updated since the release date passed. RZA also worked with Kanye West on the latter's fifth album, ''My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'', as well as Watch The Throne by Kanye and Jay-Z.

In a recent interview discussing the producer's new line of headphones, RZA revealed that he recently decided to clean out his beat machines of instrumentals he made for the Wu-Tang Clan that were never used; as a result, he has so far given away ten beats each to Nas, Busta Rhymes and Talib Kweli, as well as 20 beats for Kanye West, including the two that were used on the artist's most recent two albums.

Achozen

RZA has also formed a musical alliance with System of a Down's Shavo Odadjian, Kinetic 9 and the Reverend William Burke from Chicago for the band Achozen. Music from Achozen also appears on the major motion picture, ''Babylon A.D.'', on which Achozen song "Deuces" is heard blaring at the introduction of the film. The four principal members feel that their unique sound is not only spiritual in nature, but a new genre of "heavy hip hop", not "rap-metal". Achozen's first live show was at the Key Club in LA on December 1, 2006. On Friday, November 13, 2009 the second Achozen track "Salute/Sacrifice" was released exclusively as a free download on Odadjian's online art district and networking site, Ursession from the upcoming Achozen debut album. The Achozen album was anticipated to be released in mid-2010 but no firm release date had been scheduled by the end of 2010.

Various Wu-recording labels

Since the early 1990s, several 'various Wu recording labels' were established. The earlier labels are believed to be dissolved. The connection that RZA had to these labels were unknown.

Other record labels were later founded in the early 2000s, and are still active in the present. Very little is known about these labels, other that the fact that RZA produces music on them. It is unknown if RZA is CEO, or has high position within these labels, considering that he was never known to have a CEO position of any recording label.

Wu-Tang Records

Razor Sharp Records

36 Chambers Records and Wu Music Group

Wu-Tang International

Artistry

Production style and influence

He has stated that he uses "the sampler more like a painter's palette than a Xerox. Then again, I might use it as a Xerox if I find rare beats that nobody had in their crates yet". According to himself, RZA tries to have no more than 20 to 25% of the latter type of sampling on any given record, something starkly different from many other major hip hop groups. He played much of the piano himself, with Bill Evans and Thelonious Monk as major influences.

RZA has stated Ennio Morricone, Mark E. Smith, Syl Johnson, Marley Marl, Augustus Pablo and Danny Elfman as musicians he is fond of and has taken influence from. During the ''Enter the Wu-Tang'' period, RZA's production consisted mainly of stripped-down, frenetic piano loops and finger-snaps with heavy bass and drums, though he experimented with more melodic sounds on the album's "Method Man" and "C.R.E.A.M." He also began incorporating skits consisting of clips of old kung fu movies.

The next two solo albums from the Wu, Method Man's ''Tical'' and Ol' Dirty Bastard's ''Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version'', featured versions of the same style of production from the RZA; the former delved somewhat into old soul records and became somewhat bouncy rather than quite as gritty, while the latter was at times even more simplistic than the group's debut.

On Raekwon's ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx'' and GZA's ''Liquid Swords'', RZA would immerse his beats in dark, sinister soul sampling, pioneering the technique of speeding up or slowing down samples to fit the beat. He also fully realized the potential of the skit, using samples from John Woo's film ''The Killer'' to string the ''Cuban Linx'' album together into a loose storyline.

In 1997, Icelandic avant-pop star Björk commissioned RZA a remix for her song "Bachelorette". In addition, RZA was later featured on a TV biography about Björk called Inside Björk.

RZA's production technique, specifically the manner of chopping up and/or speeding or slowing soul samples to fit his beats, has been picked up by currently popular producers — most notably Kanye West and Just Blaze, the two main producers behind Roc-A-Fella Records. West's own take on RZA's style briefly flooded the rap market with what was dubbed "chipmunk soul," the speeding of a vocal sample to where it sounded as though the singer had inhaled helium. Several producers at the time copied the style, creating other offshoots. West has admitted that his style was distinctly influenced by the RZA's production,

Said by Kanye West:

In response, RZA himself has spoken quite positively of the comparisons:

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Subsequent Wu group albums saw RZA become even more experimental, usually with soul samples as well as the layers added his beats. Around 1997 he began tutoring 4th Disciple, True Master and Mathematics in production. The early-mid 2000's have seen him move more toward smoother and more tightly-assembled productions, where the melody, drums, bass and other elements play more off each other than they previously had in his beats.

His Bobby Digital albums introduced tweaked-out new age elements to his sound; these have incorporated themselves more fully into his beats on newer albums such as Method Man's ''4:21... The Day After''.

}}

The Beatles song being covered is "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" for the album ''8 Diagrams''. It was titled "The Heart Gently Weeps" and features Erykah Badu, John Frusciante, Dhani Harrison, Ghostface Killah, Method Man and Raekwon.

In a recent 2010 radio interview with UK hip hop station Conspiracy Worldwide Radio, RZA spoke in great detail about the homemade, candid ethos of much of his classic work, including the organic creation process behind ODB's debut album.

Mentality and leadership

According to ''The Wu-Tang Manual'', at the group's inception, RZA started what he called the "5 Year Plan" in which he asked the other 8 members of the Clan for 5 years of life, hard work and good lyrics. He promised the members that if he had total control of the Wu-Tang empire, he would "take them to the top", and conquer the hip-hop world within a dynastic cycle. Afterwards, he would then relinquish his total control. He described this five year period "as a dictatorship". RZA's five year "dictatorship" was completed after the successful release of ''Wu-Tang Forever''.

As each of the group's members embarked on solo careers, RZA continued to produce nearly everything Wu-Tang released during the period 1994–1996. He was in control of producing composing, arranging, overseeing, directing, and possibly naming songs. He oversaw the creative process as well as devising song concepts and structure, in addition to being responsible for a recording’s final sound. All of this was the majority of his "dictatorship". He began doing this on a reduced extent around the time that he relinquished his dictatorship, thus taking complete control of fewer solo projects between group releases.

}}

He has stated in several interviews that the challenges of maintaining the group are not egos, but rather timing and scheduling due to the fact that the members have families and side projects.

He has shown little or no concern about illegal downloading, for he feels that it has little impact on the music industry:

}}

In several interviews, in response to the phrase "hip hop is dead", he said, "How can hip hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever?" In regards of the southern dominance, rather than criticize the music, he instead spoke on the look and image of the southern artists themselves. He went on to say:

In the 1990s, the Wu-Tang Clan was one of the first hip hop acts to have a clothing line. However, throughout the following years to the 2000s, nearly every hip hop act has followed suit and created their own clothing line. In response, RZA spoke on his views on the oversaturation of the hip hop clothing market:

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Various names and aliases

RZA is known for having multiple aliases, for different lyrical styles and personalities: Prince Rakeem, The Abbot, Bobby Digital, Bobby Steels, the Scientist, Prince Delight, Prince Dynamite, Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah. During his time with the Gravediggaz, he went by the name the Rzarector, which is for waking up the mentally dead.

Film career

Acting

In addition to working behind the scenes on movie scores, RZA has been active on-screen as well. He has made cameo appearances as himself in numerous major motion pictures throughout the course of his career such as ''Be Cool'', ''Scary Movie 3'', ''Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood''. RZA has also made various cameo appearances in the films ''Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai'' and ''Rhyme & Reason''.

His acting career began to rise in the mid 2000s alongside fellow Wu-Tang member and cousin GZA in one segment of Jim Jarmusch's ''Coffee and Cigarettes'' opposite Bill Murray. He and GZA have also made appearances on ''Chappelle's Show'' and Upright Citizens Brigade.

He followed up with a big role in the hit 2005 film ''Derailed''. The same year, he served as the Artist in Residence for the Los Angeles Film Festival.

Rza was also given the duties of producing the soundtrack to the Afro Samurai series and movie.

Originally, he was offered the role of "Brown" in ''The Departed'' (2006), but turned it down because of scheduling conflicts.

His biggest acting role to date, is in ''American Gangster'' by Ridley Scott, as "Moses Jones" whose real-life name is "Edward V. Jones."

He performed cameo roles in ''Funny People'', ''Gospel Hill'', and ''Life Is Hot in Cracktown''. He was also said to be attached to friend Quentin Tarantino's ''Kill Bill'' project in one way or another, featuring as a solo artist on the soundtrack to ''Kill Bill 1'' and selecting some other songs for the soundtrack too. In 2010, RZA appeared in the science fiction action film ''Repo Men''.

In 2010, he appeared in the comedy film ''Due Date'' alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx, and directed by Todd Phillips.

RZA also appeared in the 2010 movie "The Next Three Days," starring Russell Crowe.

RZA appeared as a wrongly convicted felon in the pilot episode of NBC's ''Outlaw''.

RZA is set to appear in ''G.I. Joe: Retaliation'' as the character Blind Master.

RZA appeared in 2011's ''A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas'' and is set to appear as rapper Samurai Apocalypse on Showtimes' ''Californication''. He was recently cast in Quentin Tarantino's spaghetti-western film ''Django Unchained'', starring Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio, slated for release Christmas 2012.

Directing

RZA directed and starred in an unreleased Bobby Digital movie, saying of it:

He was once asked about directing:

Directors Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth are involved in the production of ''The Man with the Iron Fists'', according to several movie Web sites. In regards to the movie, Eli said:

He is also co-producing a movie remake of ''The Last Dragon'', with Samuel L. Jackson assuming the role of Sho'nuff. John Davis of Davis Entertainment and Gordy's son Kerry Gordy, along with RZA are set to produce. Penning the screenplay as well as producing is Dallas Jackson, who heads up the urban family label DJ Classicz with Davis. Rihanna is rumored to appear in the movie as Laura Charles.

Personal life

He was once affiliated with the Nation of Gods and Earths but has stated that he is no longer a member of any particular group. However, he usually wears the Five Percenter Universal Flag as a necklace, and still follows Five Percenter aspects, which include the Supreme Mathematics and the Supreme Alphabet. He also has taken on various aspects of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam, and Christianity as stated in his book ''The Wu-Tang Manual'' as well as Hinduism which he talks about thoroughly in ''The Tao of Wu'' in order to expand his spiritual growth. He has gone on to state that Qur'an, The Bible, and Lotus Sutra are three of his favorite books stating that each of the three contain enlightenment. One of his favorite hobbies consists of watching martial arts films, and he is considered to be an "encyclopedia of martial arts films", due to his vast knowledge of the genre. His second well-known hobby is chess, for he is a director of development, and champion of the Hip-Hop Chess Federation. He was once married, and believed to have children:

Along with a number of members in the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA is vegetarian.

Controversies

In 2000 the Village Voice ran a story about the FBI infiltrating the Wu-Tang Clan through a criminal-turned-informant named Michael Caruso, who got a job as the personal manager for Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna. Several other members of the group did not like Caruso, however his ties with Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna got him into the inner circles of the Wu. Due to Caruso's criminal past he was prohibited by law to associate with felons (which many members of the Clan are) or leave the state of New York, however these restrictions were lifted in return for providing information on the group. The federal government turned their head and allowed Caruso to tour around the country with Wu-Tang as long as he was kicking back info on their involvement in gunrunning and the Gambino crime family.

Caruso was subsequently fired from all duties regarding The Wu-Tang Clan's business when these allegations came to light. RZA forced Cappadonna to fire him as his manager, however Caruso still works with Ghostface and is on his new poker team. The report rules out the majority of Wu-Tang affiliated performers and focuses on those running the business aspect of the Wu empire, Oli "Power" Grant and Mitchell "Divine" Diggs (RZA's brother) and RZA himself.

Fox News reported that in mid-2007 RZA attended one of Hillary Clinton's parties and donated money to her 2008 campaign. Fox News criticized the fact that Clinton took money from RZA, claiming it was contradictory due to RZA's felony record, FBI investigation, ties to the Gambino family and his music lyrics. RZA referred to the investigation in one of his lyrics, "Plus, feds had one ad saying I gun traff' / I sold 20 million records bitch, some laugh."

In a recent interview with MTV he stated, in response to the beliefs that the group would dissolve:

Recently he was accused by several members that he mishandled money. While in the UK, when questioned by radio DJ Tim Westwood, concerning the group situation, RZA said, "It's really all good, it's just different directions... Everything is back peace already". RZA also rebutted claims that he owes group members any money. He yelled:

In a June 2008 interview with L.A. Record, RZA elaborated on the $20,000 bullet-proof suit, car and briefcase he mentions in the ''Wu-Tang Manual''.

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Discography

''Bobby Digital in Stereo'' (1998)

''Digital Bullet'' (2001)

''Birth of a Prince'' (2003)

''Digi Snacks'' (2008)

References

External links

RZA and Don Hyun

RZA at Beatbuggy

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from New York City Category:African American rappers Category:American vegetarians Category:American writers Category:American hip hop record producers Category:Members of the Nation of Gods and Earths Category:Virgin Records artists Category:Epic Records artists Category:E1 Music artists Category:American film directors Category:American film actors Category:American screenwriters Category:Musicians from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Category:Rappers from New York City Category:People from Brooklyn Category:Wu-Tang Clan members Category:Horrorcore artists Category:Gravediggaz members

da:RZA de:Robert Diggs es:RZA fr:RZA gl:RZA ko:RZA hr:RZA it:RZA he:ריזה (ראפר) sw:RZA nl:RZA ja:RZA no:RZA pl:Robert Diggs pt:RZA ru:RZA simple:RZA sk:RZA sr:RZA sh:RZA fi:RZA sv:RZA tr:RZA uk:RZA

name

Bobby Digital in Stereo | Type Album | Artist RZA as Bobby Digital | Cover Bobby Digital is Stereo.jpg | Released November 24, 1998 | Recorded 1997–1998 | Genre Hip hop | Length 67:57 | Label Gee Street/V2/BMG Records 63881-32521 | Producer RZAInspectah DeckKing Tech | Chronology RZA | Last album ''Ooh I Love You Rakeem''(1991) | This album ''RZA as Bobby Digital in Stereo''(1998) | Next album ''Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (soundtrack)''(1999) | Misc }}

''Bobby Digital in Stereo'' is the solo debut album by the American hip hop artist RZA, a member of Wu-Tang Clan. It was released on November 24, 1998, and was certified Gold on February 5, 1999, by the RIAA. It is a well-received experimental album that is based on a story featuring him rhyming as a hedonistic, fun-loving alter-ego named Bobby Digital and showcasing a unique keyboard-driven sound (rather than samples) that the RZA called digital orchestra, receiving mostly positive, though somewhat mixed, reviews.

Origin of Bobby Digital

Music

Lyrical content

On the pseudonym and character of Bobby Digital, which dominated the album's lyrics, RZA later stated:

Consequently, the album's lyrics are considerably more aggressive compared to the spiritual, self-reflective, socially aware lyrics that the RZA has been known to rhyme on Wu-Tang group albums.

Production

The sound of the album is largely keyboard-driven, but there are still samples. On the sound of ''Bobby Digital'', RZA stated:

Track listing

All songs produced by The RZA unless otherwise stated. # "Intro" – 0:37 # "B.O.B.B.Y." – 5:23 # "Unspoken Word" – 4:44 # "Slow-Grind African"– 1:02 # "Airwaves" – 1:47 # "Love Jones" – 4:31 #* Producer: King Tech #* Chorus: Angel Cake #* Contains samples from "Star Children" By Mighty Ryeders #* Contains an interpolation of "Love Jones" by Brighter Side of Darkness # "N.Y.C. Everything" – 4:17 #* First verse: RZA #* Second verse: Method Man # "Mantis" – 3:33 #* First verse: RZA #* Second verse: Masta Killa #* Chorus: Tekitha # "Slow-Grind French" – 0:53 # "Holocaust (Silkworm)" – 5:14 #* First verse: Holocaust #* Second verse: RZA #* Third verse: Doc Doom #* Fourth verse: Ghostface Killah #* Chorus:Ms. Roxy # "Terrorist" – 3:25 #* First verse : Dom Pachino/P.R. Terrorist #* Second verse: Doc Doom #* Third verse: Killa Sin #* Fourth verse (Japanese version only) : Holocaust # "Bobby Did It (Spanish Fly)" – 4:22 #* First verse : Islord #* Second verse: Timbo King #* Third verse: RZA #* Fourth verse : Ghostface Killah #* Fifth verse : Jamie Sommers # "Handwriting on the Wall" – 1:39 #* First verse : Ras Kass #* Second verse: RZA # "Kiss of a Black Widow" – 2:47 #* First & third verses : RZA #* Second verse: Ol' Dirty Bastard #* Producer: Inspectah Deck #* Contains samples from "Over" by Portishead # "Slow-Grind Italian" 1:01 # "My Lovin' Is Digi" – 4:26 #* Intro: The Force M.D.s #* Chorus: Ms. Roxy #* Contains samples from "I'm Glad You're Mine" By Al Green #* Contains samples from "It Ain't Easy" by Syl Johnson # "Domestic Violence" – 5:18 #* Female : Jamie Sommers #* Dude on Phone : U-God # "Project Talk" – 1:51 #* With : Kinetic 9 # "Lab Drunk" – 3:34 # "Fuck What You Think" – 3:10 #* First verse & chorus : RZA #* Second verse: Islord #* Third verse : 9th Prince # "Daily Routine" – 4:23 #* First verse & chorus : RZA #* Second verse: Kinetic 9

Japanese release bonus track:

"Do You Hear the Bells?"

Personnel

Barney Chase – Engineer, Mixing

Gabe Chiesa – Engineer

Tom Coyne – Mastering

Inspectah – Producer

King Tech – Producer, Engineer, Mixing

Nolan "Dr. No" Moffitte – Engineer, Mixing

Carl Nappa – Mixing

Tony Prendatt – Engineer, Mixing

RZA – Producer, Engineer, Mixing

Miles Showell – Mastering, Assembly

Artwork

The cover art is by noted comic book artist Bill Sienkiewicz.

References

External links

RZA as Bobby Digital "Holocaust (Silkworm)" Video

RZA "Domestic Violence" Video

RZA featuring Beretta 9 "Daily Routine" Video

Category:1998 albums Category:RZA albums Category:Albums produced by RZA Category:Gee Street Records albums Category:Concept albums Category:English-language albums

pl:Bobby Digital in Stereo sv:RZA as Bobby Digital in Stereo

name	Travis Barker
background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
birth name	Travis Landon Barker
alias	The Baron von Tito (when with the Aquabats)
birth date	November 14, 1975
origin	Fontana, California, United States
instrument	Drums, percussion, bass, synthesizers, guitar
genre	Pop punk, hip hop, rap metal, rap rock, alternative rock, post-hardcore
occupation	Drummer, musician, songwriter, producer
years active	1993–present
label	Interscope, LaSalle/Atlantic, Geffen, Hellcat, MCA, Golden Voice Records, Goliath Artists
associated acts	Blink-182, +44, Box Car Racer, Transplants, Paul Wall, TRV$DJAM, The Aquabats, Expensive Taste, Game, Royce da 5'9, Slash, RZA, Raekwon, Kanye West, Lil Twist, Lil Wayne, Lupe Fiasco, Lil Jon, Kid Cudi , Tinie Tempah, Yelawolf
website	TravisBarker.com
notable instruments	Orange County Drum and PercussionRemo DrumheadsZildjian }}

Travis Landon Barker (born November 14, 1975) is an American musician, producer and entrepreneur, most noted as the drummer for the American pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the alternative rock band +44, the rap rock band The Transplants, and the alternative rock band Box Car Racer. He was a frequent collaborator with the late DJ AM, and together they formed TRV$DJAM.

After the split of his first band, Feeble, Barker began playing for The Aquabats in 1996 as The Baron Von Tito. He recorded one album with them, ''The Fury of The Aquabats!'', in 1997. His career took off when he joined up with pop punk band Blink-182 in 1998. Barker has since established himself as a versatile drummer, producing and making guest appearances in music projects of numerous music genres including hip hop, alternative rock, pop and country. He has gained significant acceptance within the hip-hop community in particular and often collaborates with artists to compose rock-tinged remixes to their songs.

He founded clothing company Famous Stars and Straps in 1999 and LaSalle Records in 2004. Companies such as DC Shoes and Zildjian cymbals have co-designed products in his name.

Barker collaborated with artists (including Game, Tom Morello, Slaughterhouse, Raekwon, RZA, Slash, and other musicians) for his solo debut album, ''Give the Drummer Some'', which was released on March 15, 2011.

Early life

Travis Barker was born to Randy and Gloria Barker in Fontana, California. Barker grew up in a high-crime area, where his father worked as a mechanic and his mother babysat for local kids. When Barker was four, his mother gave him his first drum kit, which was the only one he would have until he was fifteen. Barker began taking drum lessons at age five with jazz drummer Michael Mai, who would expose young Barker to many different playing styles. At this time, he also began taking trumpet lessons. In junior high, Barker learned to play the piano and briefly tried singing, joining the madrigals men and women's choir. In addition, Barker had non-musical aspirations; he also was interested in becoming a professional surfer and skateboarder. However, Barker states that "I always migrated back to drums, though. That was the one thing that kind of felt like I was connected to and I could kind of understand. I could express myself better through my drums than I could anything else."

His mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer three months earlier, died the day before he started high school. She told him to keep playing music and to follow his dreams. Barker attended Fontana High School, where he played in the jazz ensemble and marching band. He gained a lot of experience performing at regional competitions and festivals. During his senior year, he passed up drum corps tryouts to tour with a rock band. Barker gained a lot of experience performing with a few early rock bands. After Barker graduated from high school in 1993 he became a member of The Aquabats. He was nicknamed "Baron Von Tito." Barker did go back to drum corps for his age out year in 1996, to audition with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, but was ultimately cut and did not march.

Recording career

Blink-182 (1998–2005; 2009–present)

Blink-182 was formed in 1992 by Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge. After recruiting drummer Scott Raynor, the band recorded three early demos and two studio albums: ''Cheshire Cat'' (1994) and ''Dude Ranch'' (1997). Hoppus and DeLonge fired Raynor midway through a U.S. tour in 1998 after a drinking problem became far too prevalent. Hoppus and DeLonge asked drummer Barker of Blink-182's support band The Aquabats to fill in for Raynor for the remainder of the tour, and, after being impressed with Barker, asked him to join the band. Blink-182 released their breakthrough album ''Enema of the State'' in June 1999 to commercial success, fueled by successful singles "What's My Age Again", "All the Small Things", and "Adam's Song". After releasing live album ''The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!)'' in November 2000, the band entered the studio and recorded their fourth studio album ''Take Off Your Pants and Jacket'', released in June 2001. The album continued the band's commercial success and popularity.

After performing with Box Car Racer for much of 2002, DeLonge and Barker rejoined the band to record their eponymous fifth studio album, released in November 2003. The album continued the commercial success that previous albums had endured, as well as being critically acclaimed: ''Blink-182'' represented a more "mature" band than seen in the past, with the band infusing experimentalist elements into their usual pop punk sound, inspired by lifestyle changes (the band members all became fathers before the album was released) and side-projects (Box Car Racer and Transplants).

Tensions arose between the band members as DeLonge expressed his desire to cancel the tour and enter a half-year respite from touring in late 2004, and the band officially announced an "indefinite hiatus" in February 2005. DeLonge formed Angels & Airwaves while Hoppus and Barker continued playing music together in +44. In August 2008, the band's frequent producer Jerry Finn died of a cerebral hemorrhage, and Barker barely survived a plane crash, sustaining second and third degree burns on his lower body and torso. Both events would be catalysts for the band reuniting; in 2010, DeLonge reflected, "If that accident hadn't happened, we wouldn't be a band. Plain and simple. That was fate."

The band announced their reunion in February 2009 at the 51st Grammy Awards ceremony. A well-received reunion tour took place in mid-2009, with a European leg performed in summer 2010. Currently, the band is recording their sixth studio album, entitled Neighborhoods, which is planned to be released in September 2011.

Collaborations/Remixes (2002–present)

Barker has said he has always been interested in many genres of music outside rock, especially hip hop. In a 2002 interview with MTV he said, "I probably listen to more hip-hop and drum'n'bass than I do rock music.". Not being able to explore these interests within Blink-182, Barker participated in two hip hop related side projects during that the time: Transplants and Expensive Taste.

Box Car Racer is a side project begun by Tom DeLonge of Blink-182 in 2002. This project resulted in one self-titled album, which was released that year. DeLonge said he asked Barker to play drums so that he would not have to find and pay a session drummer to come in.

Transplants is a hip hop-induced punk band for which Barker partnered with Tim Armstrong of Rancid and Rob Aston (former roadie for Rancid). Transplants released two studio records as well as a remixed version of their second album, which was chopped and screwed by rapper and hip-hop artist, Paul Wall. The first album released by Transplants was their self-titled album in 2002. The second Transplants record, ''Haunted Cities'', was released by LaSalle Records in June 2005. After the Vans Warped Tour of 2005, the members decided to disband. This was confirmed by vocalist Rob Aston in January 2006 during an interview. In January 2010, Barker announced that the Transplants would reform for new material.

He was best friends with the late DJ AM, Adam Goldstein. Some of his first forays into other genres was on Bad Boy 4 Life by P. Diddy and Back In The Mudd by Bubba Sparxxx (who also toured with blink). Barker has produced or worked on albums with The Black Eyed Peas, Pink and Pharrell. He appears on Bun B's album, ''Trill'' (2005) with Skinhead Rob for the bonus track, "Late Night Creepin'". In 2006 he was a producer on T.I.'s fourth album, ''King''. Also in 2006 he played drums for several songs on Avril Lavigne's third album, "The Best Damn Thing". He also dueted with Rihanna on a remix of her hit "Umbrella", he also appeared in her video. Barker also had a remix with Eminem, on the song 3 A.M.

In late 2005 Barker started a new band, +44, with fellow Blink-182 member Mark Hoppus. +44 only released one studio album, ''When Your Heart Stops Beating''. They played several tour dates with Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday, and Cobra Starship.

Barker made a very well received remix of Soulja Boy's "Crank That". In a similar fashion to the Soulja Boy remix, he has also remixed Flo Rida's single "Low" that was later included within the deluxe version of Flo Rida's debut album. Barker is a playable character in ''Guitar Hero: World Tour'' and his remix of "Low" is available as downloadable content. Barker is also featured on The Game's latest album, ''L.A.X.'', drumming on the song "Dope Boys".

He was the drummer for all of the performers at the MTV Video Music Awards of 2008, including Kid Cudi and LL Cool J.

In November 2009, Barker made a remix with hip-hop artist Drake's song "Forever", featuring Eminem, Lil Wayne and Kanye West.

On April 22, 2010, Barker performed "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin on ''American Idol'' along with Mary J. Blige, Orianthi, Steve Vai and Randy Jackson.

On March 1, 2011, Ourstage, Guitar Center and Travis Barker team up to create the unsigned artist discovery program Guitar Center Presents Your Next Record With Travis Barker. The winner gets a 3-song ep produced by Travis Barker at Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles, Travis Barker appears on the winning artists single, $10,000 in new gear from Guitar Center and Worldwide distribution of the winners music through TuneCore.

Business ventures

Barker owns and contributes to several businesses in addition to his musical interests. He founded an accessory/apparel company called Famous Stars and Straps in 1999, which sells street/skate style clothing and gear. Barker has said the brand's trademark "F" for the logo was chosen for its resemblance to a car logo but mainly for the fact that it can stand on its own. Barker is also business partners with famous skateboarder Rob Dyrdek and together they are part of the team that own the clothing label named Rogue Status, and in 2009 another label called DTA.

He co-founded LaSalle Records, a record company to which his band, Transplants, are signed. He has dabbled in the restaurant industry, opening a Wahoo's Fish Taco restaurant in Norco, California.

Barker has developed a shoe for DC Shoe Company called the "Alias Remix" and is endorsed by Orange County Drum and Percussion and Zildjian. He also has his own line of drumming products, sponsored by Zildjian.

Personal life

Relationships

Barker has been married twice. He first married his long time girlfriend, Melissa Kennedy, on September 22, 2001. The couple divorced August 6, 2002, after eleven months of marriage.

Barker married actress and First Runner Up Miss USA 1995 Shanna Moakler on October 30, 2004. The couple had a Gothic-style ceremony inspired by the Tim Burton film, ''The Nightmare Before Christmas,'' which was held on the eve of Halloween. Barker and Moakler have two children together, Landon Asher (born October 9, 2003) and Alabama Luella (born December 24, 2005). Atiana Cecilia de la Hoya (born March 29, 1999) is Moakler's daughter with former boyfriend Oscar de la Hoya. The family appeared in a reality television series, ''Meet the Barkers'', which aired on MTV from 2005 to 2006.

On August 8, 2006, Barker filed for divorce from Moakler after nearly two years of marriage. The couple's divorce was made public as each used their MySpace pages to air their feelings on the matter. During their separation, Barker had a brief fling with Paris Hilton in September 2006.

Despite their pending divorce, reports surfaced in early 2007 that Barker and Moakler were "quietly trying to give it another go" as they were reportedly seen autographing a fan's book, with a heart around their names.

In March 2007, Moakler revealed to ''People'' magazine that she and Barker (still married) were back together, but denied that she was pregnant. This admission came after the couple were publicly affectionate at a surprise birthday Barker threw for his wife in Miami. People.com later reported that the couple had separated again. No reason was given for the split. Barker and Moakler were seen together at the 2007 Video Music Awards kissing and holding hands. However, as of February 11, 2008, the couple's divorce had been finalized.

Barker and Moakler were together during a DJ set Barker was playing with DJ AM in Las Vegas on January 7, 2009. The couple attempted to rekindle their relationship in early 2009 but announced that they were no longer together on April 1, 2009, amid reports that police had been called to their home after a fight; no charges were filed against either party.

Plane crash

On September 19, 2008, Barker was injured when the Learjet 60, which he boarded, crashed outside Columbia, South Carolina. The jet was headed for Van Nuys, California. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane was departing the airport when air traffic controllers saw sparks emanating from the plane. It went off the runway, smashed through a fence, crossed a nearby road, slammed into an embankment and caught fire. Barker had performed the night before at an event with Jane's Addiction singer Perry Farrell, Gavin DeGraw and DJ AM. Barker and DJ AM were transported to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia, where they were both listed in critical condition. Four others were killed in the crash, three males and one female. With autopsies being performed to identify the bodies, two of the deceased were crew members, and two were passengers, including Chris Baker, Barker's personal assistant who often appeared in ''Meet The Barkers'', and Charles Still, Barker's security guard. On September 21, Dr. Fred Mullins, medical director of the Burn Center reported that Barker sustained second and third degree burns on his lower body and torso and was expected to fully recover within a year. Barker stopped his vegetarian diet and began eating meat to increase his protein intake and possibly speed up healing of his burns.

Barker survived the incident, enabling him to return to the recording studio in November 2008 with long time friend and Keys to the Cadillac drummer Mike Barbalaci. On his first television interview since the crash, he said to MTV, "I'm already playing my drums again, and I'm already back in the studio". Elaborating by stating that the return to the studio "was like riding a bike. It was really exciting to know I still have my chops. It still felt good... I still can make it around the kit. Everything felt right, so I'm thankful to be able to play."

Barker sued the plane's owners, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., and an airplane maintenance company on November 21, 2008. He sought more than $25,000 in damages "for pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of earnings, and medical and legal expenses", claiming that the companies had "improperly operated and maintained the Learjet". The lawsuit claims the Learjet's pilots were "improperly trained and should have tried to take off rather than continue down the runway." The mother of Barker's bodyguard, Charles Monroe Still Jr., who was killed in the crash, joined the lawsuit. She sued the companies for "damages including grief and sorrow, funeral expenses and loss of earnings." The court case was settled in December 2009, with lawyer William L. Robinson, who represented some of the companies, saying the terms of the settlement are confidential.

On December 1, 2008, ''TV Guide'' reported that Barker would make his first appearance with DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) since the two survived the plane crash. The duo performed at New Year's Nation's Los Angeles New Year's Eve Party at The Wiltern. Their performance was streamed live on the Internet via New Year's Nation's official site, and broadcast at other New Year's Nation parties across the U.S. Of the gig, Barker told press, "I'm ready to get back onstage with AM and continue to rock the house. I'm very excited to bring in the New Year in my hometown of L.A." DJ AM died on August 28, 2009, of an accidental drug overdose in his New York City apartment.

Equipment

Zildjian (Cymbals) A Series 21" Sweet Ride, 18" A Custom Crash, 14" Master Sound Hi-Hats, 21" K Crash Ride, 18" Oriental China Trash, 10" A Custom Splash,

Orange County Drums and Percussion or OCDP (Drums) 22" x 20" kick drum, 12" x 9" mounted tom, 16" x 14" floor tom, 14" x 7" snare drum, 10" x 6" side snare,

Remo Emperor x (snare) Remo Smooth White Emperor (Batter toms) Remo Smooth White Ambassador(toms reso) Remo Hazy Ambassador (snare side) Smooth White Remo Powerstroke 3 (bass batter) Smooth white Remo powerstroke 3 (Bass reso) Travis Barker Signature Drumsticks. Roland electronic drums/triggers.

Barker is currently sponsored by Orange County Drum and Percussion and Zildjian.

Discography

Album appearances

; Solo albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions
! style="width:3em;font-size:75%"	! style="width:3em;font-size:75%"	! style="width:3em;font-size:75%"	!style="width:3em;font-size:75%"	! style="width:3em;font-size:75%"	! style="width:3em;font-size:75%"	! style="width:3em;font-size:75%"
		* Released: March 15, 2011	Interscope Records>Interscope (B0015394)	* Format: Compact Disc

; With [[Blink-182

''Enema of the State'' (1999)

''The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!)'' (2000)

''Take Off Your Pants and Jacket'' (2001)

''Blink-182'' (2003)

''Greatest Hits'' (2005)

''Neighborhoods'' (2011)

; With Transplants

''Transplants'' (2002)

''Haunted Cities'' (2005)

; With +44

''When Your Heart Stops Beating'' (2006)

; With TRV$DJAM

''Fix Your Face'' (mixtape) (2008)

''Fix Your Face, Vol 2: Coachella'' (mixtape) (2009)

; With The Aquabats

''The Fury of the Aquabats!'' (1997)

; With Box Car Racer

''Box Car Racer'' (2002)

; With Expensive Taste

''DJ Skee Presents: Expensive Taste'' (2007)

Solo singles

! Year	! Song	! style="width:3em;font-size:75%"	! Album
	"Can a Drummer Get Some?" (featuring Lil Wayne, Rick Ross (rapper)	Rick Ross, Swizz Beatz & Game)	—
	119
"Saturday Night" (featuring Transplants (band)	Transplants & Slash)	—
	—

Guest appearances

"In Search Of..." (by N.E.R.D) (2001) – drums on the track "Provider"

"Elephunk" (by The Black Eyed Peas) (2003) – drums on the track "Rock My Shit"

"Try This" (by Pink) (2003) – drums on the track "Unwind"

"Trill" (by Bun B) (2005) – drums on "Late Night Creepin"

"King" (by T.I.) (2006) – co-production on "You Know Who"

"Wolves" (by Idiot Pilot) (2007) – drums on "Elephant"

"I Don't Have to Try" / "Alone" / "Runaway" / "I Can Do Better" (by Avril Lavigne) (2007) – drums

"Get Money, Stay True" (by Paul Wall with Expensive Taste) (2007) – drums and production on "Slidin' on That Oil"

"Hardcore 4 Life" (by Danny Diablo (2007) – Drums On "Livin' By The Gun" & "Jersey White Trash"

"The Way It Is" (by Blestenation) (2007) – drums

"It's Whateva" (by the Federation) (2007) – drums on "Black Rosez"

"Dope Boys" (by Game) (2008) – drums, production and vocals contribution

"Goodbye" (by The Centerfolds) (2008) – drums

"OG'z" (by Wale) (2008) – drums

"The G Files" (by Warren G) (2009) – drums on "Let's Get High"

"Stronger with Each Tear" (by Mary J. Blige) (2009) – drums on "Stairway to Heaven"

"Drop the World/Forever" (by Drake, Lil Wayne & Eminem) (2010) – drums and percussion on Live Performance

"Rebirth" (by Lil Wayne) (2010) – production on "One Way Trip"

"Rockstar 101" (by Rihanna with Slash) (2010) – drums on music video

"Outta Control" (by Mams Taylor featuring Jacoby Shaddix) (2010) – Drums and Production

"Electric Gigolo" (by Mickey Avalon) (2010) – Drums on track "Fast Life"

"Heart of a Champion" (by Paul Wall) (2010) – Drums and production on tracks "Take Notes", "Im'ma Get It", "Live It", "Not My Friend" and "Heart Of A Hustler"

"31 Minutes to Takeoff" (by Mike Posner) (2010) – Drums on track "Gone In September"

"Passion, Pain & Pleasure" (by Trey Songz) (2010) – Drums on track "Blind"

"Piece Of Mind" (by Eddie Rap Life) (2010) – Drums and production on tracks "Rock N Roll Memorabilia", "Invisible Ingredients", "Oh Lord" and "Waitin' For The Moment"

"I Am Not a Human Being" (by Lil Wayne) (2010) – Drums and percussion on track "I Am Not A Human Being"

"You Need This Music" (by Nottz) (2010) – Drums and percussion on track "Intro"

"Bad Season" (by Tech N9ne featuring Krizz Kaliko, Nesto & Tonesha Sanders) (2010) – Producer on track "Hard Liquor"

"Femme Fatale" (by Britney Spears) (2011) - Drums on track "Don't Keep Me Waiting"

"Simply Unstoppable (YES remix)" (by Tinie Tempah) (2011) - Drums on remix of the song from the album Disc-Overy used on Lucozade Sport advertising featuring Travis, Tinie Tempah and boxer Katie Taylor.

"Boarding Pass Mixtape" (by Lax Boyz) (2011) - Drums and production on track "Eye Of The Tiger"

"Haute Living" (by Swizz Beatz featuring Lil Wayne & Lenny Kravitz) (2011) - Drums on track "Rock 'N' Roll"

"Success Is Certain" (by Royce da 5'9") (2011) - Drums on track "Legendary"

"When Fish Ride Bicycles" (by The Cool Kids) (2011) - Drums on track "Sour Apples"

"808's" (by Traxamillion) (2011) - Drums on single

"ESPN MLB Theme" (2011) - Drums on Remix to track

"Check Out My Swag" (by Young Dro) (2011) - Drums and percussion on track

Film and television

Travis has appeared in numerous films and television shows, most notably his own reality show, ''Meet the Barkers'', with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler, which debuted in 2005. However, Barker can be found in a brief scene with Blink-182 in the teen movie, ''American Pie''. In 2003, he appeared in an episode of MTV's ''Punk'd'', a ''Candid Camera''-esque television show, in which he took part in a set-up bareknuckle boxing match; he also appeared and spoke alongside Linkin Park-vocalist Chester Bennington on MTV's ''Icon'' show honoring heavy metal band Metallica in May of that year.

In 2006 Barker starred in a Boost Mobile commercial, which was detailed in an episode of ''Meet the Barkers''. He's also played a few guest starring roles such as a rapper on the popular crime drama, ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation''. In 2001, he appeared with Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge in the skit "Leave it to Blink-182", a parody of "Leave It to Beaver", on the late night TV show MADtv.

In a slight departure from his usual genres, he made an appearance on the 41st annual CMA Awards in 2006, performing a medley of songs by country icon Buck Owens with a group of artists including Dwight Yoakam, ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, and former Byrds bass player Chris Hillman.

; Filmography

Video games

Travis appears as a secret, playable character in ''Tony Hawk's Project 8''.

Travis appears as a playable character in ''Guitar Hero: World Tour''.

Videos

In addition to his own work with Blink-182, Box Car Racer, Transplants, and +44, Barker has made numerous guest appearances. In 2001, Barker appeared, playing drums, in P. Diddy's video, "Bad Boy for Life". In 2003 he played the drums in Bubba Sparxxx's video for "Back in the Mud".

He was featured in the opening sequence of the Dem Franchise Boys music video, "Ridin Rims," in 2006. Travis appeared in Xzibit's music video "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)", T.I.'s video "What You Know", Ice Cube's "Go to Church", New Found Glory's "My Friends Over You", Three 6 Mafia's "Side 2 Side (Remix)" and "Doe Boy Fresh" videos. He was also featured on the Outkast music video "Morris Brown" and can be seen playing drums in The Game's AOL Session.

; Videography

!Year	!Song	!Band	!Notes
1998	"Super Rad"	The Aquabats
	"All the Small Things"	Blink-182
"What's My Age Again?"	Blink-182
"Ziplock"
		Blink-182
"Adam's Song"	Blink-182
		Blink-182
"Stay Together for the Kids"	Blink-182
"The Rock Show"	Blink-182
"Bad Boy 4 Life"
	N.E.R.D.
	"I Feel So"	Box Car Racer
"There Is"	Box Car Racer
"My Friends Over You"	New Found Glory	Appears with the Transplants
	"Feeling This"	Blink-182
"Back in the Mud"	Bubba Sparxxx
"Diamonds and Guns"
"D.J. D.J."
"Violence"	Blink-182	Enhanced CD Version
"Feeling This"	Blink-182	Enhanced CD Version
"Obvious"	Blink-182	Enhanced CD Version
"The Fallen Interlude"	Blink-182	Enhanced CD Version
"Stockholm Syndrome"	Blink-182	Enhanced CD Version
	Blink-182	Enhanced CD Version
"What's Your Number"	Cypress Hill
	The Black Eyed Peas
		Blink-182
	Blink-182
	Blink-182
"Hey Now (Mean Muggin')"	Xzibit featuring Keri Hilson
	"What I Can't Describe"
"Not Now"	Blink-182
"Gangsters & Thugs"
	Blink-182
	"What You Know"	T.I.
"When Your Heart Stops Beating"
"Chapter 13"
"God's Gonna Cut You Down"	Johnny Cash
"Ridin' Rims"	Dem Franchize Boyz
"Side 2 Side"	Three 6 Mafia
	Outkast
"It's OK (One Blood)"		AOL Sessions
		AOL Sessions
"Too Much"		AOL Sessions
		AOL Sessions
"Baby Come On"		AOL Sessions
"When Your Heart Stops Beating"		AOL Sessions
"Cliff Diving"		AOL Sessions
"Lycanthrope"		AOL Sessions
	"Doe Boy Fresh"	Three Six Mafia featuring Chamillionaire
	Rihanna
"Can U Werk With Dat"	QUIK & AMG (The Fixxers)
"I'm Throwed"	Paul Wall
"Crank That (Soulja Boy)"	Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
"155"
	"Dope Boys"
	Flo Rida featuring T-Pain
"Fix Your Face"	TRV$ & DJAM
	"Day 'n' Nite"	Kid Cudi
"Rockstar 101"
	"Jump Down"	Himself featuring The Cool Kids
"Carry It"	Himself featuring Tom Morello, RZA and Raekwon
	"Can a Drummer Get Some?"
"Saturday Night"
"Misfits"	Himself featuring Steve Aoki
"Rock 'N' Roll"	Swizz Beatz featuring Lil wayne, Travis Barker & Lenny Kravitz
"Let's Go"	Himself featuring Yelawolf, Twista, Busta Rhymes & Lil Jon
"Up All Night"	Blink-182

Notes

A. "Let's Go" was not released as a single; it charted due to digital downloads. B. "Let's Go" peaked outside of the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, therefore it is listed on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

References

External links

Travis Barker's Official Website Official Website

Cymbal configuration at Zildjian.com

Category:1975 births Category:American punk rock drummers Category:Blink-182 members Category:Car collectors Category:Living people Category:Musicians from California Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:People from Corona, California Category:People from Fontana, California Category:Survivors of aviation accidents or incidents Category:The Aquabats members

an:Travis Barker bs:Travis Barker ca:Travis Barker cs:Travis Barker da:Travis Barker de:Travis Barker et:Travis Barker es:Travis Barker fr:Travis Barker id:Travis Barker it:Travis Barker he:טראוויס בארקר lv:Treviss Bārkers hu:Travis Barker nl:Travis Barker no:Travis Barker pl:Travis Barker pt:Travis Barker ru:Баркер, Трэвис simple:Travis Barker sk:Travis Barker sl:Travis Landon Barker fi:Travis Barker sv:Travis Barker uk:Тревіс Баркер vls:Travis Barker

name	Tom Morello
background	solo_singer
birth name	Thomas Baptiste Morello
born	May 30, 1964 Harlem, New York
alias	The Nightwatchman
genre	Alternative metal, rap metal, funk metal, alternative rock, folk rock, hard rock
occupation	Musician, songwriter, activist, actor
instrument	Guitar, vocals, harmonica, mandolin, bass guitar, drums, piano, banjo
associated acts	Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchman, Street Sweeper Social Club, Lock Up, Class of '99, Cypress Hill, Axis of Justice, Electric Sheep, Travis Barker
label	SonyBMG, Epic, Interscope
years active	1979–present
notable instruments	"Arm the Homeless"'' - Custom guitar with a Kramer neck and custom performance body.''"Soul Power" - Custom Fender Stratocaster"Sendero Luminoso" - Fender Telecaster "Burnt Budweiser" - Gibson Les Paul "Whatever It Takes" - Ibanez classical acoustic ''Ibanez Artstar Hollowbody (Custom)''. }}

Thomas Baptiste "Tom" Morello (born May 30, 1964) is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist best known for his tenure with the bands Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, his acoustic solo act ''The Nightwatchman'', and his newest group, Street Sweeper Social Club. Tom is also the co-founder (along with Serj Tankian) of the non-profit political activist organization, Axis of Justice, which airs monthly on KPFK 90.7FM in Los Angeles. He is best-known for his unique and creative guitar playing style, which incorporates feedback noises, unconventional picking and tapping as well as heavy use of guitar effects. He was ranked #26 in ''Rolling Stone's'' list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."

Early life

Tom Morello was born on May 30, 1964, in Harlem, New York, to Ngethe Njoroge and Mary Morello. He is of Irish and Italian descent on his maternal side, and Kikuyu Kenyan descent on his paternal side. His mother was a schoolteacher from Marseilles, Illinois, who earned a Master of Arts at Loyola University, Chicago and travelled to Germany, Spain, Japan, and Kenya as an English language teacher between 1977 to 1983. His father was a Kenyan participant in the Mau Mau Uprising, and served as Kenya's first ambassador to the United Nations. Morello's paternal uncle, Jomo Kenyatta, was the first elected president in Kenyan history. His parents met in August 1963, while attending a pro-democracy protest in Nairobi, Kenya, and Morello was conceived the first night they made love in a hut. After discovering her pregnancy, Mary returned to the United States with Njoroge in November, and married in New York City.

When Morello was 16 months old, Njoroge returned to his native Kenya, and denied his paternity of his son. Morello was raised solely by his mother in Libertyville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. There he attended Libertyville High School, where his mother was a U.S. history teacher. She was the homeroom teacher for Tom's classmate and fellow guitarist Adam Jones, of the band Tool, while teaching at Libertyville. Tom sang in the school choir and was active in speech and drama club; a prominent role was Oberon in ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''.

Morello developed leftist political leanings early, and has described himself as having been "the only anarchist in a conservative high school", and has since identified as a nonsectarian socialist. In the 1980 mock elections at Libertyville, he campaigned for a fictitious anarchist "candidate" named Hubie Maxwell, who came in fourth place in the election. He also wrote a piece headlined "South Africa: Racist Fascism That We Support" for the school alternative newspaper ''The Student Pulse''.

Morello graduated from high school with honors in June 1982, and enrolled at Harvard University as a political science student that autumn. He was the first student at his high school to be accepted at Harvard, and was in fact the first person from Libertyville, Illinois ever to enroll there. Morello graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies from Harvard. He moved to Los Angeles, where he first supported himself by working as an exotic male stripper.

"When I graduated from Harvard and moved to Hollywood, I was unemployable. I was literally starving, so I had to work menial labour and, at one point, I even worked as an exotic dancer. 'Brick House' (by The Commodores) was my jam! I did bachlorette parties and I'd go down to my boxer shorts. Would I go further? All I can say is thank God it was in the time before YouTube! You could make decent money doing that job – people do what they have to do. "

Adam Jones moved to Los Angeles as well; Morello introduced Jones and Maynard James Keenan to Danny Carey, who would come to form the band Tool.

From 1987 to 1988, Morello worked in the office of California Democratic Senator Alan Cranston; however, this proved to be a negative experience for Morello, who decided never to pursue a career in politics.

"I never had any real desire to work in politics but if there was any ember burning in me, it was extinguished working in that job because of two things: one of them was the fact that 80 per cent of the time I spent with the Senator, he was on the phone asking rich people for money. It just made me understand that the whole business was dirty. He had to compromise his entire being every day. The other was the time a woman phoned up to the office and wanted to complain that there were Mexicans moving into her neighborhood. I said to her, 'Ma'am, you're a damn racist,' and she was indignant. I thought I was representing our cause well, but I got yelled at for a week by everyone for saying that! I thought to myself that if I'm in a job where I can't call a damn racist a damn racist, then it's not for me. "

Musical influences

At age 13, Morello joined his first band; a Led Zeppelin cover band as the lead singer. At this same age, Morello purchased his first guitar. Around 1984, Morello first started studying the guitar seriously. He had formed a band in the same year called the Electric Sheep which featured future Tool guitarist Adam Jones on bass. The band wrote original material that included politically charged lyrics. None of the songs composed by the Sheep contained solos; soloing was a skill that Morello began learning in college.

At the time, Morello's musical tastes lay in the direction of hard rock and heavy metal, particularly Kiss, Iron Maiden. As he stated in Flight 666 he is a huge fan of Piece of Mind, Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. Morello developed his own unique sound through the electric guitar. Later, his musical style and politics were greatly influenced by punk rock bands like The Clash, The Sex Pistols, and Devo.

Recording career

Rage Against the Machine (1991–2000; 2007–present)

In 1991 Tom was looking to form an old band after Lock Up disbanded. Tom was impressed by Zack de la Rocha's freestyle rapping and asked him to join his band. He also drafted drummer Brad Wilk, who he knew from his band Lock Up, where Wilk unsuccessfully auditioned for a drumming spot. The band's lineup was completed when Zack convinced his childhood friend Tim Commerford to play bass. After frequenting the L.A. club circuit, Rage Against the Machine signed a record deal with Epic Records in 1992. That same year, the band released their self titled debut. They achieved a considerable amount of mainstream success and released three more studio albums.

In August 2000 in Los Angeles during the Democratic National Convention, Rage Against the Machine performed outside the Staples Center to a large crowd numbering in the thousands while the Convention took place inside. After several audience members began to throw rocks, the Los Angeles Police Department turned off the power and ordered the audience to disperse, firing rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd.

In late 2000, after Commerford's stunt at the VMA's, the disgruntled de la Rocha quit the band. On September 13, 2000, Rage Against the Machine performed their last concert at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. After the band disbanded, their fourth studio album, ''Renegades'', became a collection of cover songs from artists such as Bob Dylan, MC5, Bruce Springsteen and Cypress Hill. 2003 saw the release of their last album, titled ''Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium'', an edited recording of the band's final two concerts on September 12 and 13, 2000 at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. It was accompanied by an expanded DVD release of the last show and included a previously unreleased music video for "Bombtrack".

After disbanding, Morello, Wilk and Commerford went on to form Audioslave with former Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell, and released three albums as well as a DVD from the band's concert in Cuba. De la Rocha started working on a solo album collaboration with DJ Shadow, Company Flow, and The Roots' Questlove, but the project was dropped in favor of working with Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor. Recording was completed, but the album will probably never be released. So far, only one track has been released: "We Want It All" was featured on "Songs and Artists that Inspired Fahrenheit 9/11".

On April 29, 2007, Rage Against the Machine reunited at the Coachella Music Festival. The band played in front of an EZLN backdrop to the largest crowds of the festival. The performance was initially thought to be a one-off, but this turned out not to be the case. The band played 7 more shows in the United States in 2007 (including their first non-festival concert in 7 years at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in East Troy, Wisconsin), and in January 2008, they played their first shows outside the US since re-forming as part of the Big Day Out Festival in Australia and New Zealand. In August 2008 they headlined nights at the Reading and Leeds festivals.

The band has since continued to tour around the world, headlining many large festivals in Europe and the United States, including Lollapalooza in Chicago. In 2008 the band also played shows in Denver, Colorado and Minneapolis, Minnesota to coincide with the Democratic National Convention and Republican National Convention, respectively. Though they played together for these events, they do not play together regularly.

Audioslave (2001–2007)

After de la Rocha left Rage Against the Machine, the remaining band mates began collaborating with former Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell at the suggestion of producer Rick Rubin. The new group was first rumored to be called The Civilian Project, but the name Audioslave was confirmed before their first album was released.

The band released their eponymous debut album on November 19, 2002. It was a critical and commercial success, attaining triple-platinum status.

The band released their second album, ''Out of Exile'', on May 24, 2005. It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard charts and attained platinum status. In the same year, they released a DVD documenting their trip as the first American rock band to play a free show in Cuba. The band's third album, ''Revelations'', was released in the fall of 2006. As of February 15, 2007, Audioslave have broken up as a result of frontman Cornell's departure due to "irresolvable personality conflicts". The band reunited with Zack de la Rocha and resumed their previous band, Rage Against the Machine.

The Nightwatchman (2003–present)

Morello is less known for his folk music, which he plays under the alias The Nightwatchman. He has explained:

In November 2003 The Nightwatchman joined artists Billy Bragg, Lester Chambers of The Chambers Brothers, Steve Earle, Jill Sobule, Boots Riley of The Coup and Mike Mills of R.E.M. on the Tell Us the Truth Tour. The thirteen-city tour was supported by unions, environmental and media reform groups including Common Cause, Free Press and A.F.L.-C.I.O. with the ultimate goal of "informing music fans, and exposing and challenging the failures of the major media outlets in the United States." Tom Morello explained:

"Media consolidation needs smashing and globalization needs unmasking. When presidents and politicians lie, it is the job of the press to expose those lies. When the press fails, the gangstas come out from hiding. The lie becomes the law. The point of the Tell Us the Truth Tour is to help others make connections, and to show them that activism can change the policies of this country."

One of his many songs, "No One Left", which compares the aftermath of September 11 to that of a U.S. attack on Iraq, appears on the album ''Songs and Artists that Inspired Fahrenheit 9/11''.

The Nightwatchman also appeared on the album/DVD ''Axis Of Justice: Concert Series Volume 1'', contributing the songs "Until the End", "The Road I Must Travel", and "Union Song".

Morello, as The Nightwatchman, released his debut solo album, ''One Man Revolution'', on April 24, 2007.

The Nightwatchman joined the Dave Matthews Band for its short European tour in May 2007. As well as opening for the Dave Matthews Band, he was invited to guest on a couple of songs each night. The last night of this Morello/DMB arrangement was May 30, 2007 at Wembley Arena in London, on Tom's birthday.

The Nightwatchman is currently supporting Ben Harper on tour. During this tour, Morello has been joining Harper onstage for a cover of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War", on which he plays the electric guitar in the style for which he's best known.

Morello has presided over a Hotel Café residency in L.A. since November 2007, which has featured many of his musical cohorts, including Serj Tankian, Perry Farrell, Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, Shooter Jennings, Nuno Bettencourt, Sen Dog of Cypress Hill, Jill Sobule, Boots Riley, Alexi Murdoch, Wayne Kramer of MC5 and others.

On October 10, 2008, The Nightwatchman appeared on ''The Late Late Show'' with Craig Ferguson as a musical guest, promoting his new album ''The Fabled City''.

Street Sweeper Social Club (2006–present)

Following Audioslave's breakup in 2007, Morello met up with Boots Riley of The Coup, suggesting that they start a band which Morello had named Street Sweeper. After giving Riley a tape of various songs to write to, the two created the duo Street Sweeper Social Club.

Street Sweeper Social Club opened for Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction in May 2009.

Other side projects (1994–present)

Morello has played with a great number of artists. Some of the more notable contributions are listed below.

Morello and RATM bandmate Brad Wilk joined with Maynard James Keenan of Tool and Billy Gould of Faith No More to record the song "Calling Dr. Love" for the 1994 Kiss tribute album ''Kiss My Ass''. The lineup was billed as Shandi's Addiction.

In 1995 Morello formed a short-lived project called Weatherman with former Articles of Faith frontman Vic Bondi. They recorded demos in September 1995. Bondi wrote all the lyrics, while Morello wrote all the music. One track, "Enola Gay", was recorded by Brett Eliason in fall 1996.

Morello played lead guitar and produced on three tracks of Primus' 1999 studio album ''Antipop''.

Morello played the guitar on ''The Faculty'' soundtrack, featured with Class of '99 for their cover of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall (pt. 2)".

Morello worked with The Crystal Method on their 2001 album ''Tweekend''. He co-produced and played guitars on the smash single "Name of the Game" and "Wild, Sweet and Cool".

Morello recorded guitars along with country legend Johnny Cash during his late career with American Recordings, which was released on the Unearthed.

Morello has worked with the punk band Anti-Flag on numerous occasions: he produced their 2003 album ''The Terror State'', recorded the guitar solo on "Depleted Uranium is a War Crime" on their 2006 album ''For Blood & Empire'', and has played at some of their concerts.

Morello played guitar in the single "One Man Army" by The Prodigy, which appears on the Spawn Soundtrack and on the "Smack My Bitch Up" single as an instrumental version.

Morello played guitar on the Atari Teenage Riot song Rage.

Morello played a short solo on the Benny Mason band song Exodus IV.

As The Nightwatchman, Morello has often performed alongside Boots Riley, frontman of The Coup; also, he produced and performed on a track for The Coup's 2006 release ''Pick a Bigger Weapon''. In July 2006, it was reported that Morello and Riley were to collaborate on a project called Street Sweepers (see section above).

Morello sat in with the Dave Matthews Band featuring Butch Taylor and Rashawn Ross for multiple dates on the band's May 2007 stint in Europe. He performed on "#41", "American Baby Intro" and "Satellite" at various dates on the brief tour.

Morello appears in ''Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock'' as a "guitar boss" (the first of 3 in the career mode of the game) in a night club. Beating him in a one-on-one battle (playing an original composition he recorded for the game) will unlock him as a playable character and will result in the player and Tom playing the master track of "Bulls on Parade" as an encore immediately following the battle. Morello's original composition features many of his trademark guitar effects like those heard in songs such as Audioslave's "Cochise" and "Doesn't Remind Me" and Rage Against the Machine's "Bulls on Parade" and "Sleep Now in the Fire".

In April 2006, Morello produced two tracks for the group Outernational; on the band's website, it states that Morello will be producing their debut album.

In April 2008, Morello made two guest appearances with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at the Anaheim Pond. They performed an extended electric version, featuring guitar solos, of "The Ghost of Tom Joad" (which had been previously covered by Rage Against the Machine on ''Renegades''). One of these performance was included on Springsteen's ''Magic Tour Highlights'' EP as an audio track or video download.

On October 29, 2009 Morello performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden. He performed "The Ghost of Tom Joad", "London Calling", "Badlands" and "Higher and Higher" with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Morello performed on Steve Earle's track, "Lungs," on Earle's Townes Van Zandt tribute album, Townes (album).

On February 23, 2010 Cypress Hill released the second single, "Rise Up", from their album Rise Up featuring Tom Morello on guitar. He is also featured on the track "Shut 'Em Down" from the same album.

Morello performed with the rockabilly supergroup ''Fistful of Mercy'' on the November 10, 2010 edition of ''Conan''.

Morello performed on Serj Tankian's "Goodbye - Gate 21".

Appearances in films

Morello played on a number of soundtracks, including ''Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby'' (2006), ''Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story'', ''Spider-Man'', and most recently ''The A-Team''. He was an "Additional Electric Guitar" in the 2008 superhero movie ''Iron Man'' and played a terrorist. He also stars in the movie ''Berkeley'' (2005) and in ''Star Trek: Insurrection''. He also collaborated with John Debney for the score for ''Iron Man 2''

Additionally, Morello has appeared as himself in an array of documentary films; such as ''Sounds Like a Revolution'', ''Iron Maiden: Flight 666'', about heavy metal band Iron Maiden's Somewhere Back in Time World Tour, and in ''Chevolution'', an exposé about the famous ''Guerrillero Heroico'' photo of Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara.

Guitar playing technique

Morello is famed for his guitar style, which consists of heavy metal/punk hybrid riffs and hip hop-inspired sounds. Matthew Bellamy of the British band Muse has cited Morello as an influence, which can be heard in his use of pitch-shifting in solos.

To produce his alien guitar sounds, Morello chooses various effects pedals. During his tenure in RATM, he used a Dunlop Cry Baby, a Digitech WH-1 Whammy, a Boss DD-2 Digital Delay, a DOD EQ pedal (set flat and just used to boost the volume during guitar solos or particular rocking moments), and an Ibanez DFL Flanger. Around the time of ''The Battle of Los Angeles'' he added a Boss TR-2 Tremolo pedal (which can be heard on "Guerrilla Radio"). For Audioslave, Morello replaced the Ibanez Flanger with a MXR Phase 90. His amplifier of choice has always been a 50-watt Marshall JCM 800 2205 and a Peavey 4x12 cabinet. Though the Marshall is his amp of choice with Rage Against the Machine, he used a Vox AC30 combo amplifier for multiple overdubs on Audioslave's album ''Revelations''. While the Marshall amplifier has two channels, he only uses the overdrive channel, and simply turns down the volume on his guitar to get cleaner sounds.

In the studio, Morello uses the same setup for the bulk of the guitar tracks. For ''The Battle of Los Angeles'', he also used a few other amps, such as a Line 6 as heard on the clean, spacey intro of "Mic Check", plus a Pignose mini-amp and a MusicMan "Twin" style amp. During the recording of Audioslave's last album, ''Revelations'', Morello experimented with different amplifier setups. For the title track's solo he split his signal to his standard Marshall 2205 head and Peavey cabinet and a 100 watt Fender Bassman head and an Orange cabinet. With delay sent to one while the other is unaffected the sound is being "ping-ponged" between the two amplifiers. He also borrowed a VOX AC30 amplifier from producer Brendan O’Brien for some tracks.

Morello's unique technique and talent led to him being voted the fifth greatest guitarist of the past 30 years in a 2010 BBC poll.

Politics

Activism

On August 27, 2008 Morello performed in Denver, Colorado at the Open The Debates rally in opposition to the Commission on Presidential Debates exclusion of third party candidates from the nationally televised debates. He performed "This Land is Your Land" as The Nightwatchman and endorsed Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader. Sean Penn, Jello Biafra, Brooke Smith and Cindy Sheehan were also part of the rally.

In October 2009, Morello, among a number of musicians, sued the US government for the declassification of all documents relating to the use of music in interrogations at Guantanamo Bay. He stated, "Guantanamo is known around the world as one of the places where human beings have been tortured -- from waterboarding to stripping, hooding and forcing detainees into humiliating sexual acts -- playing music for 72 hours in a row at volumes just below that to shatter the eardrums. Guantanamo may be Dick Cheney's idea of America, but it's not mine. The fact that music I helped create was used in crimes against humanity sickens me."

On February 21, 2011 Morello organized and performed an acoustic concert in support of the protests over collective bargaining rights in Madison, WI. The concert also featured The MC5's Wayne Kramer and Boston punk band Street Dogs. He wrote an article in ''Rolling Stone'' about his experience.

Axis of Justice

Morello and Serj Tankian of System of a Down are the co-founders of Axis of Justice, a political group whose declared purpose is "to bring together musicians, fans of music, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice together." They "aim to build a bridge between fans of music around the world and local political organizations to effectively organize around issues of peace, human rights, and economic justice." The group has worked for such causes as immigrant rights and death-penalty abolition. Its recommended book list includes such authors as Noam Chomsky, Karl Marx, Che Guevara, George Orwell, Mumia Abu-Jamal and Grant Morrison.

Morello and Tankian, together with a handful of other artists, including Maynard James Keenan, Wayne Kramer of the MC5, the hip hop group Jurassic 5, and Michael "Flea" Balzary of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, released a live recording of covers and original songs, titled ''The Axis of Justice Concert Series Volume 1''.

On April 6, 2006, Tom Morello was honored with the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award for his support of worker's rights and for his AOJ work. Tom has worked on numerous labor campaigns: the Guess sweatshop boycott, the LA janitors strike, the Taco Bell boycott, the southern California grocery workers strike and lockout, and others.

Morello was a strong supporter of the Immigrants Reform Rally and protest around the US. He feels that there's enough room for everyone in the United States, whether those people want to work or not. Morello played as The Nightwatchman at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles and has featured many articles on AOJ. On September 28, 2006, Morello was one of 400 protesters arrested protesting in support of immigrant hotel workers' rights, in what organizers called "the largest act of civil disobedience in the history of the Los Angeles". Morello knew he was going to be arrested; he wore bright yellow signs, and gave the LAPD his driver's license number a few days before the march. Morello told MTV:

Personal life

Tom Morello has a son called Rhodes Morello, he stated this on one of his "The NightWatchman Speaks" videos on his YouTube channel. Morello is a vegetarian for both health and ethical reasons.

Equipment

Guitars

Morello uses heavily modified guitars from various manufacturers, but he has never had an official endorsement deal with any company.

Mongrel Custom "Arm The Homeless" - Morello's most famous guitar, and his main guitar for standard tuning since 1991. The original guitar was made by ''Performance Guitar USA'' for Morello to his exact specifications. It featured a Stratocaster body with a Performance Corsair neck, 2 Seymour Duncan JB pickups and A chrome original Floyd Rose tremolo system. However, when he got the guitar he hated everything about it and completely reassembled it. Since then just about everything has been changed countless times. The only thing that remains from the original guitar is the body. The body is blue with the words "Arm the Homeless" written on it in black and red. It has a 3-way toggle switch (pickup selector) mounted on the lower horn, 2 volume knobs and 1 tone knob, 4 Hippos (painted) on the front, one large hippo (upside down) painted on the back, and a hammer and sickle symbol sticker. The neck is a 22 fret Performance guitar neck with a rosewood board and a "banana" headstock. It also has Gotoh Crownhead tuners. It has an EMG 81/EMG H set of pickups and a Ibanez Edge Floyd Rose Tremolo. The guitar is tuned to standard E. This guitar is available in the video game Guitar Hero 3:Legends of Rock.

Fender Stratocaster "Soul Power" - Originally made as a Factory Special Run for Guitar Center, Morello found it on the rack and really liked the look of it. It has a black finish with white binding and a color-matched headstock. It also has a mirror pickguard, Ibanez Edge Floyd Rose Tremolo, a 2-way on/off toggle switch wired as a kill switch, a Seymour Duncan Hotrails pickup in the bridge and Fender Noiseless pickups in the middle and neck positions. It has the words "Soul Power" on the top of the body in silver paint and is his main guitar in Audioslave for songs that are in standard E tuning.

Fender Telecaster, "Sendero Luminoso" - A black stock 1982 Standard Telecaster, his main guitar for use in drop-D in Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave and Street Sweeper Social Club. He got this guitar in a trade with his roommate. The guitar has various stickers on its body, most notably the words "sendero luminoso" in white and red.

Fender telecaster 2. Black with white binding, mirror pickguard and toggle switch on the lower horn. Tom used this guitar when he played with Fistful of mercy on Conan.

Ibanez Artstar Hollowbody (Custom) - Made especially for Morello. Based on an old Vox Ultrasonic, it contains several on-board effects (wah, echo, dist, treble/bass boost) and is painted red and black paint. Used live on the song "Guerrilla Radio" by Rage Against the Machine but rarely seen anywhere else, until it was used in the video clip for Cypress Hill's "Rise Up".

Goya Rangemaster de Greco, "St. George Creamy" - Bought by Morello at a Canadian pawnshop for $60. It was modified with a Seymour Duncan hotrails pickup in the bridge position. A toggle switch was also added that is dead in the middle position, resulting in a "hummingbird chirp" when toggled. Used as a drop D guitar for some songs on the Rage Against The Machine record Evil Empire. Used in Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave.

Ibanez Talman (Custom) - Has 3 single coil "lipstick" pickups, an Ibanez Lo-Pro Edge tremolo, and a killswitch. It has a custom Kenyan flag finish and was used on "Revolver", "How I Could Just Kill a Man", and "Pistol Grip Pump" for Rage Against the Machine and "Exploder" for Audioslave. The guitar has a faulty internal pickup which makes odd feedback noises, which Tom adjusts by tweaking the tone knob and using the guitars tremolo. This technique can be heard at the beginning of Rage Against the Machine's "Revolver", Audioslave's "Exploder", and the live version of Street Sweeper Social Club's Promenade. Tom owns a second Talman, in a white finish, with two humbuckers.

Gibson EDS-1275 (Double Neck SG) - Tuned to drop-D on the 6-string neck, and only seen used live on "The Ghost of Tom Joad".

Ovation Breadwinner - Tuned to standard E, used for "Ashes in the Fall" for Rage Against the Machine. Also used with a MusicMan amp and Tone Bender pedal to capture the Korean radio station audio heard at the end of "Sleep Now in the Fire".He owns 2 others and confines them to the studio because he thinks they look ugly. Morello used one of these guitars in the video for Travis Barker's "Carry It", which he is featured in.

Gibson "Budweiser" Les Paul - Used during the recording of Audioslave's third album, ''Revelations''. Originally bearing an orange Budweiser logo that Morello hated and burned off with a lighter. He liked the new appearance and modified the guitar with DiMarzio pickups. Drop-D tuning.

Gibson Les Paul Standard, #1 - orange burst finish. Tuned to drop-B for use in Audioslave and Street sweeper social club.

James Trussart Steelcaster - A Telecaster style guitar with a body made in steel, finished with a red star graphic over a holey front. Has Seymour Duncan pickups ( Alnico pro II in neck and a Hot rails in bridge). Seen occasionally on the Rage Against the Machine reunion tour, Tom also owns one with polished finish that was used on early tours.

Ibanez roadstar- Tom's backup guitar for arm the homeless. It has all the same specs as arm the homeless (light blue finish, edge trem, toggle switch on the bottom horn, emg pickups etc.) but has several small hippo stickers instead of the 4 larger ones seen on the original guitar. This guitar can be seen briefly in the "sleep now in the fire" music video.

"Whatever It Takes" guitar - A custom Ibanez Galvador classical acoustic guitar he uses during concerts as The Nightwatchman. Plain body with 'Whatever It Takes ((star))' left of the bridge.

Tanglewood Acoustic Guitar.

Note: The drop B tuning used by Tom is different to normal drop B. Tom uses the guitar in standard tuning but drops the low E down to a B.

Effects and amplifiers

Morello's amplifier and effects setup has been practically the same throughout his career in Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave and Street Sweeper Social Club.

;Pedalboard:

DigiTech Whammy WH-1

Dunlop Cry Baby (from the mid 80's)

Boss DD-2 Digital Delay

Boss TR-2 Tremolo

DOD FX40b Equalizer

Ibanez DFL Flanger

MXR Phase 90 (Replaced the Ibanez Flanger for Audioslave)

;Amplification:

Marshall JCM800 2205 50-watt head (with the Marshall logo blocked out to avoid endorsment proposals)

Peavey 4x12 Cabinet

Selected discography

The Nightwatchman is the alter ego of Tom Morello, guitarist with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. While Morello is best known for his bracing mix of hard rock fury with hip-hop accents, as the Nightwatchman he performs as a solo acoustic singer and songwriter, playing self-penned songs that reflect his leftist political beliefs. Born in New York City in 1964 and raised in Libertyville, IL, by his mother (a longtime political activist), Morello taught himself to play guitar while he was a student at Harvard University, where he received a degree in political science. After graduating, Morello moved to Los Angeles and joined a hard rock band called Lock Up, which scored a deal with Geffen Records; however, Lock Up's sole album, released in 1989, sank without a trace and they soon broke up.

Morello had much better luck with his next project — Rage Against the Machine, which fused hip-hop rhythms and fractured heavy metal guitar sounds alongside Zack de la Rocha's agitprop lyrics. RATM released their first album in 1992, and became one of the most influential bands of the 1990s, blazing the trail for the rap-metal movement and confirming that there was still room for firebrand politics in mainstream rock & roll. Rage Against the Machine split up suddenly in 2000 following the release of their album Renegades, and Morello and his bandmates Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk soldiered on as Audioslave with former Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell.

In 2003, inspired by Bob Dylan's early work and Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska and outraged by the administration of George W. Bush, Morello began writing topical songs and singing them at informal shows in California coffeehouses. Calling himself the Nightwatchman, Morello admits to having severe stage fright during his first appearances as a vocalist, but before long he gained confidence and in 2004 the Nightwatchman took part in the Tell Us the Truth tour, a series of concerts (also featuring Billy Bragg, Steve Earle, and Boots Riley of the Coup) staged to raise awareness during the 2004 presidential campaign; an album was released from the tour's recordings, featuring two songs from Morello.

A few months later, the Nightwatchman emerged again on Axis of Justice: Concert Series, Vol. 1, another live album drawn from a series of benefit concerts for Axis of Justice, a political activist group founded by Morello and Serj Tankian of System of a Down. Morello continued performing as the Nightwatchman when not busy with Audioslave, and in 2006 he recorded the Nightwatchman's first album, One Man Revolution, produced by Brendan O'Brien and released in April 2007. Lock Up

''Something Bitchin' This Way Comes'' (1989)

Rage Against the Machine

''Rage Against the Machine'' (1992) US 3x Platinum

''Evil Empire'' (1996) US 3x Platinum

''Live & Rare'' (1998)

''The Battle of Los Angeles'', (1999) US 2x Platinum

''Renegades'' (2000) US Platinum

''Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium'' (2003)

Audioslave

''Audioslave'' (2002) US 3x Platinum

''Out of Exile'' (2005) US Platinum

''Revelations'' (2006) US Gold

The Nightwatchman

''One Man Revolution'' (2007)

''The Fabled City'' (2008)

''Union Town'' (2011)

''World Wide Rebel Songs'' (2011)

Street Sweeper Social Club

''Street Sweeper Social Club'' (2009)

''The Ghetto Blaster EP'' (2010)

Filmography

''Saturday Night Live'' (Episode #21.17, 1996) .... Musical Guest (Rage Against the Machine)

''Star Trek: Insurrection'' (1998) (uncredited) .... Son'a officer

''Star Trek: Voyager'' (Season 6, Episode 20, 2000, "Good Shepherd") .... Crewman Mitchell

''Made'' (2001) .... Best Man

''Berkeley'' (2005) .... Blue

''Metal: A Headbanger's Journey'' (2005) ... As Himself

''Iron Man'' (2008) .... Insurgent #5

''Chevolution'' (2008)... As Himself

''Iron Maiden: Flight 666'' (2009) .... As Himself

''Iron Man 2'' (2010) .... Insurgent #5

References

External links

The Nightwatchman

Sandmonkey Lives (!)

Axis of Justice

Video of Tom Morello's network TV debut of "House Gone Up in Flames"

"The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time", ''Rolling Stone'', August 27, 2003. Accessed May 30, 2011.

Listen online: Tom Morello On Corporate Imperialism

Performing live at SXSW 2007 on 89.3 The Current

Tom Morello on The Hour

It’s Guitarist Tom Morello - video report by ''Democracy Now!''

Category:1964 births Category:African American guitarists Category:African American rock musicians Category:American activists Category:American socialists Category:American anti–Iraq War activists Category:American heavy metal guitarists Category:American rock guitarists Category:American television actors Category:American vegetarians Category:Harvard University alumni Category:American musicians of Irish descent Category:American musicians of Italian descent Category:American people of Kenyan descent Category:Living people Category:Musicians from New York Category:People from Manhattan Category:People from Libertyville, Illinois Category:Rap metal musicians Category:Rage Against the Machine members Category:Audioslave members Category:Lead guitarists Category:American Marxists

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name	Inspectah Deck
background	solo_singer
birth name	Jason Hunter
birth date	July 06, 1970
birth place	The Bronx, New York City, New York
origin	Staten Island, New York
genre	Hip Hop
occupation	Rapper, Producer, actor
years active	1991–present
label	Loud, Relativity, Koch, Urban Icon, Traffic
associated acts	Wu-Tang Clan, The Housegang, Kurupt, Gang Starr, Big Pun
notable instruments	}}

Jason Hunter, (born July 6, 1970) better known by his stage name Inspectah Deck, is an American rapper, producer, and member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Although he has not gained the same level of mainstream success in his solo career as some of his Wu-Tang counterparts (such as Ghostface Killah or Method Man), he has acquired critical praise for his intricate lyricism, and for his verses on many of the group's most revered songs.

Background

Early career

Born July 6, 1970, Hunter routinely mentions the Park Hill Projects in Clifton, Staten Island, where he grew up, going to school with the future Method Man, Raekwon, and Ghostface Killah. Coming from a musical family, his father died when he was six years old, and seeing his mother support the family contributed to his laid-back, quiet mentality; this led to his stage name, as he decided to play a low-key counterbalance to the antics of Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and RZA. This is also referenced by Method Man at the end of the track "Can it Be All So Simple?" on Wu-Tang's debut album ''Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)'' :

Despite this inconspicuous persona, Inspectah Deck maintained a relatively high profile, as he was the second most featured member on the album, and provided highly acclaimed verses for the singles "C.R.E.A.M.," "Protect Ya Neck," "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta Fuck Wit," and "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'." In the years following, Hunter would appear on several Wu members' solo projects, including Method Man's ''Tical'' (1994), Raekwon's ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…'' (1995), GZA's ''Liquid Swords'' (1995), and Ghostface Killah's ''Ironman'' (1996). On Wu-Tang's second group album, ''Wu-Tang Forever'' (1997), Deck produced the track "Visionz" and contributed a solo track, "The City." He would also provide production for some of his Wu cohorts, including "Elements" and "Spazzola" for Method Man's ''Tical 2000: Judgement Day'' (1998), "Kiss of a Black Widow" for RZA's ''RZA as Bobby Digital in Stereo'' (1998), and the title track for GZA's ''Beneath the Surface'' (1999).

Solo career

Inspectah Deck's debut album ''Uncontrolled Substance'' was initially set for a late 1997 release, however, this experienced several delays due to a flood in producer RZA's basement studio, which destroyed over one hundred beats, including those made for the album. Wu-Tang affiliate Cilvaringz stated in a 2010 interview "Recently Deck pulled out some disks from the flood and they worked again and he used one for his upcoming album on Koch." In September 1999, ''Uncontrolled Substance'' was released, and featured more of Deck's own production, and appearances from several lesser known affiliates. The album received generally favorable reviews from music critics, but failed to garner the reception attained by earlier Wu-Tang solo projects. Shortly after this release, Deck returned to the Wu-Tang fold for the group albums ''The W'' (2000), and ''Iron Flag'' (2001).

In 2003, Inspectah Deck released his second studio album, ''The Movement'' (for which he would later state did not live up to his expectations), and in 2006, he released ''The Resident Patient'', intended as a precursor to ''The Movement''. In 2007, the rapper reconvened with the Wu-Tang Clan to record the group album ''8 Diagrams''. Along with Raekwon, and Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck partook in the controversy, sparked when several group members disparaged RZA's tight artistic control of the album, championing Ghost's album ''The Big Doe Rehab''. In regards to these disagreements, Deck stated in an interview:

Around this time, the rapper announced his up-coming project ''The Rebellion'', confirming production from RZA and the Wu-Elements; it is now set to come after ''The Resident Patient II'', and will reportedly be his final album as a solo artist.

On March 23, 2010, Inspectah Deck released his fourth solo album ''The Manifesto'', which features guest-appearances from Raekwon, Cormega, Termanology, Planet Asia, Cappadonna, Kurupt, and M.O.P.'s Billy Danze. In 2008, a mixtape entitled ''The Resident Patient II'' was leaked on to the internet; this features some original material, as well as freestyles over other artists' songs. Inspectah Deck stated in an interview that ''The Manifesto'' was meant to be the originally announced full-length sequel, ''Resident Patient II''.

Since early 2010, Inspectah Deck has begun work on the ''The Rebellion'', and has expressed his interest in working with several Wu-Tang members, as well as Snoop Dogg, E-40, Nas & Jadakiss on the album. He had mentioned in an interview with Conspiracy Radio that he will only retire from solo albums if the fans don't show support for ''The Manifesto'' and ''The Rebellion''. He has also mentioned his plans to release an instrumental album of his own production, entitled 'The Bodyrock Volume 1', which is inspired by the instrumental albums released by Alchemist, Ayatollah, and Pete Rock. He has recently confirmed Fall 2011 as the release for ''The Rebellion''.

Discography

Albums

{|class="wikitable" |- !rowspan="2"| Year !rowspan="2"| Title !colspan="2"| Chart positions |- !width="40"|U.S. Hot 100 !width="40"|U.S. R&B; |- |1999 |''Uncontrolled Substance'' Released: September 7, 1999

Label: Relativity Records

| style="text-align:center;"|19 | style="text-align:center;"|3 |- |2003 |''The Movement''

Released: May 20, 2003

Label: Koch Records

| style="text-align:center;"|137 | style="text-align:center;"|29 |- |2006 |''The Resident Patient''

Released: June 25, 2006

Label: Urban Icon Records

| style="text-align:center;"|- | style="text-align:center;"|- |- |2010 |''Manifesto''

Released: March 23, 2010

Label: Traffic Entertainment

| style="text-align:center;"|- | style="text-align:center;"|69 |- |2011 |''The Rebellion''

Released: Fall, 2011

Label: Traffic Entertainment

| style="text-align:center;"|TBA | style="text-align:center;"|TBA |}

Singles and EPs

1995 "Let Me At Em"

1996 "Semi-Automatic Rap Full Metal Jacket"

1998 "REC Room"

1999 "Forget Me Not"

1999 "Show N Prove (Power of God)"

1999 "Word on the Street" b/w "Movas & Shakers"

2000 "Thundercats Freestyle"

2003 "The Movement" b/w "City High"

2003 "He's a Rebel" b/w "Big City"

2003 "Bump & Grind" b/w "Vendetta"

2010 "The Champion"

Appears on

style="text-align:center;"	Year	Appearance
	1994	align="left"	"Mr. Sandman"	Tical (album)>Tical''	Method Man, RZA, Wu-Tang Clan affiliates#Streetlife>Street Life, Carlton Fisk, Blue Raspberry
		* Album: ''Liquid Swords''	* Other Artist(s): GZA
	* Album: ''Liquid Swords''	* Other Artist(s): GZA, Ol'Dirty Bastard Masta Killa
	* Album: ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx''	* Other Artist(s): Raekwon, GZA, Ghostface Killah
		Ironman (album)>Ironman''	* Other Artist(s): RZA, Raekwon, Masta Killa
	* Album: ''High School High Soundtrack''	* Other Artist(s): U-God, Street Life
		* Album: ''60 Minutes of Funk Vol. III''	* Other Artist(s): Raekwon, Harlem Hoodz, Killa Sin, Method Man
	* Album: ''Antidote''	* Other Artist(s): Deadly Venoms, GZA, Method Man, Street Life, Cappadonna
	Capital Punishment (album)>Capital Punishment''	Big Pun, Prodigy (rapper)>Prodigy
	* Album: ''Heavy Mental''	* Other Artist(s): Killah Priest, GZA
	Moment of Truth (Gang Starr album)>Moment of Truth''	* Other Artist(s): Gang Starr
	* Album: ''Wu-Tang Killa Bees: The Swarm''	* Other Artist(s): Street Life
	* Album: ''Soul Survivor''	* Other Artist(s): Pete Rock, Kurupt
	* Album: ''Tical 2000: Judgement Day''	* Other Artist(s): Method Man, Hell Razah, Mobb Deep, Street Life
	* Album: ''Tical 2000: Judgement Day''	* Other Artist(s): Method Man, Masta Killa, Street Life, Killa Sin, Raekwon
		* Album: ''Golden Arms Redemption''	* Other Artist(s): U-God, Method Man
	* Album: (single)	* Other Artist(s): I.G.T.
	* Album: (single)	* Other Artist(s): N/A
		* Album: (single)	* Other Artist(s): Ruthless Bastards
	* Album: ''The Last Shall Be First''	Cella Dwellas>The Dwellas
	2001	align="left"	"Speaking Real Words"	* Album: ''The Soul Purpose''	* Other Artist(s): 7L & Esoteric
		* Album: ''Built From Scratch''	* Other Artist(s): X-Ecutioners, Pharoahe Monch, Skillz, Xzibit
	* Album: ''Legend of the Liquid Sword''	* Other Artist(s): GZA
	* Album: ''Wu-Tang Killa Beez: The Sting''	* Other Artist(s): RZA, U-God, Suga Bang Bang, Blue Raspberry
	The Struggle (album)>The Struggle''	* Other Artist(s): Cappadonna
	* Album: ''Party Breaks''	* Other Artist(s): Fat Man Scoop
	* Album: ''Love, Hell or Right''	Mathematics (producer)>Mathematics
		White Sunday (album)>White Sunday''	* Other Artist(s): Mareko
	* Album: ''No Said Date''	* Other Artist(s): Masta Killa, GZA
		* Album: ''Street Education''	* Other Artist(s): Street Life
	* Album: ''Around the World''	* Other Artist(s): YOR123 & Skandaali
	* Album: ''Tale #10''	* Other Artist(s): Mos Def
	The Problem (album)>The Problem''	Mathematics (producer)>Mathematics, Ghostface Killah, RZA
	* Album: ''The Problem''	* Other Artist(s): Mathematics, Method Man, U-God, Cappadonna
		* Album: (single)	* Other Artist(s): Cappadonna, Joe Young
	* Album: ''4:21... The Day After''	* Other Artist(s): Method Man, Street Life
	* Album: ''Fishscale''	* Other Artist(s): Wu-Tang Clan
	* Album: ''Made in Brooklyn''	* Other Artist(s): Masta Killa, GZA
		* Album: ''Freakshow Vol 1 : Tales of The Travelling Tunes''	* Other Artist(s): Pop Shuvit
	* Album: ''Gorilla Street Gang''	* Other Artist(s): Joe Young
	* Album: ''Wu-Tang Clan & Friends: Unreleased''	* Other Artist(s): Raekwon
	2008		* Album: ''Digi Snacks''	* Other Artist(s): RZA
		* Album: ''The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai Resurrection OST''	* Other Artist(s): Kool G. Rap, Suga Bang Bang
	* Album: ''Wu-Tang Chamber Music''	* Other Artist(s): U-God, Masta Ace
	* Album: ''Wu-Tang Chamber Music''	AZ (rapper)>AZ
	* Album: ''Wu-Tang Chamber Music''	* Other Artist(s): Sadat X, U-God
	* Album: ''The Symphony''	* Other Artist(s): Phil Anastasia
	* Other Artist(s): D. Dermz
	* Album: ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II''	* Other Artist(s): Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man & GZA
	* Album: ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II''	* Other Artist(s): Raekwon
	* Album: ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II''	* Other Artist(s): Raekwon, Ghostface Killah & Suga Bang Bang
	* Album: ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II''	* Other Artist(s): Raekwon, Masta Killa
	* Album: ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II''	* Other Artist(s): Raekwon, GZA
2010		* Album: ''Wu-Massacre''	Sun God (rapper)>Sun God
		* Album: ''Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang''	* Other Artist(s): Raekwon
	* Album: ''Legendary Weapons''	* Other Artist(s): U-God & Tre Williams
	* Album: ''School For The Blindman''	* Other Artist(s): Masta Killa, Bronze Nazareth

Production Credits

1995

Wu-Tang Clan - ''Tales from the Hood The Soundtrack''

"Let Me at Them"

1997

Wu-Tang Clan - ''Wu-Tang Forever''

"Visionz"

1998

Inspectah Deck (ft. Streetlife) - ''Wu-Tang Killa Bees: The Swarm''

"S.O.S."

Method Man - ''Tical 2000: Judgement Day''

"Spazzola"

"Elements"

RZA - ''Bobby Digital In Stereo''

"Kiss Of A Black Widow"

1999

GZA - ''Beneath The Surface''

"Beneath The Surface"

Inspectah Deck - ''Uncontrolled Substance''

"Femme Fatale"

"Word on the Street"

"Elevation"

"Hyperdermix"

"The Cause"

U-God - ''Golden Arms Redemption''

"Glide"

2000

Ghostface Killah - ''Supreme Clientele''

"Stay True"

2001

Cappadonna - ''The Yin and the Yang''

"Revenge"

2005

Streetlife - ''Street Education''

"A Star Is Born"

2006

Inspectah Deck - ''The Resident Patient''

"Get Ya Weight Up"

"My Style"

2009

Fes Taylor - ''Flight 10304 (T-2 Fly)''

"Show Something"

"CMG Salutes La Banga"

2010

Inspectah Deck - ''Manifesto''

"Luv Letter"

"T.R.U.E."

"We Get Down"

"9th Chamber Part II"

"Really Real"

2011

Masta Killa - ''Loyalty Is Royalty''

"Are You Listening?"

References

Category:African American rappers Category:Hip hop record producers Category:People from the Bronx Category:Members of the Nation of Gods and Earths Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:Wu-Tang Clan members Category:Rappers from New York City Category:People from New York City Category:People from Staten Island

de:Inspectah Deck et:Inspectah Deck es:Inspectah Deck fr:Inspectah Deck it:Inspectah Deck sw:Inspectah Deck ja:インスペクター・デック pl:Inspectah Deck pt:Inspectah Deck fi:Inspectah Deck sv:Inspectah Deck tr:Inspectah Deck