RZA (also
Prince Rakeem,
Bobby Steels,
the Abbott,
the Rzarector,
Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig-Allah b. Robert Diggs
July 5,
1960s - exact year unknown) is the
record producer and a leader in the
rap group[?] the Wu-Tang Clan. He got his start in the late
1980s and early
1990s as a member of
All in Together Now along with future Wu-Tang members
GZA and
Ol' Dirty Bastard. Once this acclaimed local band dissolved, then-Prince Rakeem started going by RZA (pronounced "the rizza") and joined the Wu-Tang Clan for their debut,
Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers. The album was incredibly successful, revolutionizing
hip hop; one of the major reasons was RZA's sparse, lean production that made the sound distinctive. While continuing with the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA produced many of their solo albums, for
Ghostface Killah,
GZA,
Ol' Dirty Bastard and
Method Man. He also took part in the
Gravediggaz, a short-term rap
supergroup. In
1998, RZA released
As Bobby Digital in Stereo[?], his first solo effort, to mixed reviews. this was followed by
2001's
Digital Bullet[?].