|
Interview
|
Did the Wu fall
off after "Wu-Tang Forever"? Most fans still argue about the
direction Wu took after “Wu Tang Forever” nailed artistic and
commercial triumph. Ego’s / visions collided and a series of
disappointing, mediocre albums followed. All things go in
cycles, and regardless of the fall from mainstream, Wu has
managed to maintain its cult following as diehard fans have
stuck with them through out the public fall out, disappointing
or shelved albums. Optimism began creeping in with the release
of Masta Killa's "No said date", hailed as a classic and the
return of Wu, this indie album must have been the spark of it
all as it served as an indication that sooner or later the Wu
would get things back together, sharpen their swords and show
the hip-hop world who really held the crown. Masta Killa kept it
simple, used the same ingredient that the Wu have been using
with a modern twist to it, Family affairs or rather "Fam members
only", NSD boasted mostly and solely in house production and
featured members.
Last two years fans and artists alike started using the term “Wu
Renaissance” especially with a solid release from GZA/Genius (Protools)
the highly anticipated “Only built for Cuban linx “ by Reakwon
and a list of others from Ghostface, Inspectah Deck, Wu-Massacre
and surprisingly U-God astonished most sceptic fans with Dopium.
One component that‘s been mostly lacking in this exultant return
to form is the legendary Wu Elements. For the non Wu fans or Wu
comers (New comers) who have never heard this term before, The
Wu-Elements were the constant production team responsible for
the bulk if not all of all the Wu releases since they started
out in the game. The elements were the backbone of the Wu
movement, Fronted by The RZA, the elements had 4th Disciple,
True Master, Allah Mathematics, Inspectah Deck (Yes he makes
beats too, or used to), and the latest and last additions
Cilvaringz, Moongod Allah and Bronze Nazareth.
The RZA has been scoring movies, self producing and still
contributing to countless Wu-tang Clan and Killa Beez projects.
Off course DJ and producer of the Wu, Mathematics has also been
active with his compilations as well as dishing out darts for
his Wu brethren’s projects.
Probably the busiest of them all next to RZA is Bronze Nazareth,
last 2 years has seen this beat specialist contributing to some
of the greatest records and albums made within the Clan and
outside…. but where are the rest?
4th Disciple has inspired a host of new breed of producers and
has contributed maybe 10 songs since his duo album with Hell Razah,
few of his releases have been from his archives as far as new
materials have been concerned...
True Master, who had a very solid but rather small input
throughout the Wu catalogue, provided even less material last
decade, (some songs for Masta Killa and one for GZA) with rumours
of him doing a full collabo album with the legendary KRS-One as
well a solo album that has been completed but not released to
date...
What ever happened to Moongod Allah, the producer from
Cilvaringz camp or was it Ringz that was from Moonlight camp?
Either way this once disciple of GZA and The RZA made waves with
internet releases and sharp beats that gained him a lot of fans
quick and just like that vanished off the face of the earth
apparently.. . Fans all over the world been wondering where he
is…
The Rebel INS has not produced to our knowledge for almost 6-8
years now, but seems to have gotten back to it with the release
of his latest album “Manifesto”,
Last but not least, Cilvaringz, who dropped a stellar debut
album, getting critical acclaim amongst Wu fans but that has
already been 3 years now and no sign of a follow-up, with
rumours of him retiring on the mic and maybe focusing on just
productions?
For a team of producers that should be in the lime light along
side the likes of Kanye West, Just Blaze and co, these elements
have been pretty passive apart from the few mentioned above,
Wu-international decided to get a Wu elements interview series
going and search and find (those possible) on what they have been
up to, current work and the whole nine yard.
Who else better to
set this series off with other than the harder to find and
highly sort after legendary Dutch producer “Moongod”. Last known
of his whereabouts was that he has quite the rap game and no
amount of money would bring him back and he was settled in a
country side or so.
Lots of fans loved his refreshing production style on albums
from Cilvaringz “I” to Most High Brothers, Lin Brotherz, the
Henchmen and his own 2 cult “Tiger” classics . Was “The return
of the ten tigers” indeed his last album in 2002 ? Has he
stopped making music ? Where is he now and why is he so silent??
Why don’t we find that out from the horse’s mouth? Yes,
Wu-International dug deep and caught up with the actual Dutch
master and he has not only answered all the fan’s questions, he
has been kind enough to leak an exclusive unreleased song from
the Iron Empire project to
Wu-International featuring Tekitha, Cilvaringz, Ganz and Magpie from the
Moonlight days. Enjoy the read … and be on the lookout for the
next instalment of our Wu Elements interview Series!! |
I like to say thanks first and foremost for
taking the time to answer these questions, highly
appreciated, and will also point out that nothing will be
altered, edited or changed when this is published online.
Wu-International: Peace Moon, how are you?
Moongod:
I’m doing great! Thanks for asking.
Wu-International: It’s going to be a long interview
as the fans have been reaching out for you for almost 7 - 10
years now, wondering where you were . So where are you
currently located?
Moongod: I reside @ Breda (Noord Brabant,
Netherlands).
Wu-International:
Word is that you quit the music game to work at the rock
School at Tilburg. Ringz has said in an interview that even
if anyone paid you a huge amount of money you will still not
come back to music, how true is this and why?
Moongod: {Laughs} I saw Ringz recently @ the Method
Man concerts, and I’ve asked him about his statement. He
never said anything like this he told me. But to answer your
question, I will never stop making music. And I do work at
the Rock academy. I’ve been given the chance to develop the
1st Bachelor Degree for an mc. As a RZA disciple this was a
golden opportunity. We’ve always discussed several forms of
spreading the knowledge of the Wu-tang, but we never dreamed
it would be possible to actually do it in an official form
like this! As you can imagine this took a lot of time,
that’s why you haven’t heard a lot of production from me
lately.
Wu-International: What do you enjoy most in working
with those students at that Rock school ? What is that
school about ?
Moongod: I enjoy working with new talent for 2
reasons. The 1st reason is that Rza took us in as students
although he didn’t have to do this. He gave us a chance, and
I owe him everything I do. I would like to return this
favour by spreading his knowledge upon this new talent.
Second reason is that I keep learning as well. It keeps me
up to date, and it reminds me of the time when I was
teaching the Moonlight camp.
 |
Wu-International: Moongod Allah to just Dr
Moon, why the change?
Moongod:
First of all, my name was just Moongod. But being around
Wu-Tang and most of them being 5 Percenters, that Allah
thing just got stuck behind my name. People just called me
that way. On the Rza tour I’ve got the chance to meet Masta
Killa. I was tour manager and because I fixed a lot of
things for him, he started to call me Dr. Moon. So there it
is.
Wu-International: Allah is a name mostly used by
5%ers within Hip-hop, were you or are you part of
the Nations of Gods and Earths?
Moongod: No, not at all. What I can tell you is that
at first we tried to blend in by kicking mathematics
and trying to understand the whole knowledge of the
5% Nation. It wasn’t until we starting being true to
ourselves and be ourselves that Rza accepted us, and
really took us in. And that was a real eye opener
for me.
Wu-International: The world came to know
about you through your friendship and work with
Cilvaringz, how did you 2 meet?
Moongod: We
met on the basketball court. I was already into HipHop, making beats and doing some rhyming. The
Lawyer ( an MC from Tilburg, the city we’re from)
introduced us. Cilvaringz was a real HipHop fanatic
and he always had a bag on him with brand new
records. He asked me if I wanted to work with him.
In the beginning I thought he was a nerd, and I
invited him for one reason: jacking his bag of
records. But once we were making beats and
recording, the vibe was right and the music sounded
great. I decided to give him a chance. From that day
on the “Moonlight Foundation” was born. |
|
Wu-International:
Can you please break down the groups and projects you have
done with Ringz, from Henshmen, Lin brothers, Fishermen to
Iron Empire etc?
Moongod:
: Pfff where do I start…
To break down all the groups and projects would take me
forever so I will just post a list of finished albums....... |
|
Moongod:
There are still so many unreleased albums from different
groups or mc’s that I hope this list will do for you guys. |
Wu-International:
You both had your own camp, can you please tell us who was
under Moonlight records?
Moongod:
In order of signing on to
the Moonlight camp:
The Lawyer, Dj Sueside, Moongod, Cilvaringz, Big P,
Barrakjudah, Yce, Koztone, Outsidaz (dutch), Red Moon Squad,
Psiklops, Henchmen, Ganz, Magpie, Fraze (Formed Most High
Brothers), Iron Eagle, Young Gunz, Normz, Ea-bass, Georgina,
Miss Feathers, Roze Peddle. G.I.
There are a few others, but these are the people that
actually have full length albums done by me.
Wu-International: Are you still in touch with the
artists from your camp? What are they doing now ?
Moongod:
I still see
a lot of them, but unfortunately not as often as I ‘d like
to. I do try to see the core as much as I can: Cilvaringz,
Barrakjudah , Sueside, Yce, Psiklops, Ganz, Magpie. The rest
I see a few times a year. Except for Normz, I work with him
on a weekly basis.
Wu-International: How does it feel to be among the
first European Killa Beez?
Moongod:
That means nothing to me,
to be honest.
Wu-International: Does it surprise you to know that
even after 10 years and you not being in the game the fans
are still searching for you and your music? Do you realize
what influence you had on Wu fans globally ?
Moongod: Well, that really surprises me. I
never left the game though…. What I do know is that it does
feel great to hear that people are searching for my music.
That’s what matters to me. I am just doing my thing, and off
course I met a lot of people during our world tours with Rza
that knew my music. But to say I actually have influence on
Wu fans globally…. If that’s true I never knew. Please do
reach out to me. You can reach me at
info@doktermoon.com
Wu-International: Your internet releases are among
the heaviest bootlegged albums online and within the Wu, how
does that make you feel?
Moongod:
I like the sound of
it! Again prove this to me, I never knew….
 |
Wu-International: What Moonlight crew album are you
most satisfied with and why that one?
Moongod: I
like each and every album but if I had to choose it’s going
to be “Stones of dankness” by Barrakjudah. It was a lot of
fun and I really had a blast making this album with
Barrakjudah. |
Wu-International: You must have a vault of rare and
unreleased products. Cilvaringz recently posted a few
pictures of unreleased albums online , claiming there was
still much more than those shown there. Can you give us any
idea what albums are still unreleased . Will they ever see
the day of the light? Fans been hoping for this since a long
time.
Moongod: You’ve seen the list I posted. I think
we are at 46 full length albums. 20 Unfinished albums. And
maybe 2000 songs and unreleased beats on my behalf.
Wu-International: There is a little bit of confusion
to the ‘Trilogy of the swordsmanship’ project: was “Ten
tigers of Kwantung” part of this? If not can you please tell
us the 3 albums that were meant to be part of this
collection?
Moongod: “2
Champions of Shaolin” and the 2 “Tiger” albums formed this
trilogy.
Wu-International: At one time, Bronze Nazareth was
also working closely with you, what ever happened to the
collabo album you both had planned?
Moongod:
Bronze Nazareth is
a great producer. I remember learning him some tricks back
in the day. At the time we did the “2 champs”, Bronze came
trough with his part of the album. I have to be honest, at
the time we were doing this album I wasn’t really focused. I
did finish the album, but I never took the time to get it
out there to the people. And the company we had running
stopped during that same time. So to all the people that
ordered this album and lost money on it, I am to blame.
Bronze had nothing to do with that. I hope you can forgive
me on this one…
Wu-International: What did you think of Bronze’s
“Great Migration” album (if you have heard it) ?
Moongod:
Off course I heard it. It’s a classic although I think if he
had me on the beats I would beat it ;).
|
 |
Wu-International: Before the rumour that you quit,
word was that The RZA added you onto the Wu –
Elements, was this true and how did that come about
? Lots of stories flood around the net, could you
tell us how it really happened ?
Moongod: I’ve been a Wu-element ever since Rza and
Gza took me in as their disciple. There’s nothing
more to it really.
|
|
Wu-International: We assume you worked with RZA on
some projects, for instance on M-80’s “Wu Tang
slang” track from the “Snakes in the Garden of
Eighty” album. Can you tell us a bit more about
those collaborations ?
Moongod: I don’t know this album whoahahaha. Is
that bad? I’ve been with Rza in the studio many
time, playing some piano loops for him. Live drums
etc. It’s never for a specific project. Where the
music ends up is a decision he makes later on. |
Wu-International: What did you learn from him in
the studio?
Moongod: ”It’s a secret, never teach the Wu-tang”
Wu-International:
Are you still in touch with the RZA or other Generals ?
Moongod:
I’m good
friends with Rza, Gza and Masta Killa. We call and see each
other once in a while.
Wu-International:
Have you produced for any of the generals or rather are
there any songs that you have produced for Wu-Tang members
that have not been released to date?
Moongod:
Probably for all of them,
never released or never got credits for it .
Wu-International:
Can you give us any examples?
Moongod:
That takes too long but I played piano on “Appolo kids” to
name one example .
Wu-International:
Do you wish to work with them again in the future?
Moongod: Why not?
|
Wu-International: Let’s say you can choose anyone
from the Wu camp to do an entire album with. Who would you
pick and why ?
Moongod:
Gza, I think
I’m able to get another “Liquid Swords” done with him.
|
 |
Wu-International: The fans feel you are a great
producer based off the internet releases you have done, what
do you prefer, rhyming or producing?
Moongod: Always producing!
Wu-International: What instruments do you play, did
you get a classical music education or have you learned
everything yourself ?
Moongod: Classical music education. Piano, Bass
guitar, guitar, MPC.
Wu-International: Who would you say inspires you when
making beats?
Moongod:
Shoalin Kung Fu
movies, Rza, the vibe at that moment. It could be anything.
Wu-International: Have you done any music since
stepping back that we are not aware of?
Moongod:
Yes I’ve been producing e.g. I produced for Shabazz and did
a couple of dutch things as well e.g. two tracks for Dutch
rapper Extince.
Wu-International: Is there any philosophy, religion
that you follow?
Moongod: Not really, Rza learned me a lot of
life changing lessons, so maybe his philosophy combined with
common sense.
Wu-International: What are you views on the game
right now and do you still follow or listen to Hip-hop
music?
Moongod: In my car I have a couple of cd’s, and
that’s what I listen mostly I think it will answer your
question. They are: Illmatic, Ready to die, OB4QL, Liquid
Swords, Tussen licht en lucht – by Typhoon ( I need all you
guys to check this cd. It’s dutch but please give it a try.
You’re not going to be disappointed. Mail me your
reactions!)
 |
Wu-International: Any message for the fans who have
been waiting for you all these years?
Moongod:
info@doktermoon.com Holler at me!
Wu-International: Any last words, something
we might have missed etc?
Moongod:
On my world tour
I’ve never visited Japan. So hook a brother up and
get us out there!
Wu-International: Last questions, fans want
to know what the chances are for a new Lin Brotherz
project, or a Moongod collabo with either Ringz or
Bronze Nazareth ?
Moongod: There’s a 100% chance that it’s going to
happen with Ringz. Haven’t talked to Bronze in a
while so can’t really say, but I’m down. |
Thanks
for your time and we wish you all the best in your future
endeavours.
Write to Moon
info@doktermoon.com
Related Interviews: Wu-Elements Series
#1
[Moongod Allah] -
The
Dutch Master Interview
#2
[Cilvaringz] - Inside
The Mental Chambers Interview
#3 [Inspectah Deck] -
The Manifesto Of A
Rebel Interview
#4 [Mathematics] -
The Math Files Interview
#5 [Goldfingaz] -
Gold Tha Deal Maker
Interview
#6 [Bronze Nazareth] -
Half Entity Interview
#7 [Darkim Be Allah]
- King Christ Interview
#8 [True Master] -
The Master Craftsman Interview
<Read Other Interviews> |
