Wu-Tang Clan member RZA has been talking to Billboard about the new book released about the Clan - 'The Wu Tang Manual'.
He told the industry magazine that he always viewed music biographies as a "post-career type of thing", but says he was attracted to this project because it was an offer to "detail the guiding philosophies" behind the hip-hop collective.
The book, compiled by RZA with journalist Chris Norris, includes sections on the "key themes of the Wu-Tang universe"
specifically martial arts, spirituality and how the glorification of organised crime in the Clan's home of Staten Island shaped the persona of the fledgling group. It also features annotated lyrics for classic Wu tracks, including 'Protect Ya Neck' and 'CREAM'.
The release of the book was originally intended to coincide with a reunion tour - what would have been the Clan's first tour since the controversial, aborted run of dates with
Rage Against The Machine in 1997. However delays in the publishing of the book, not to mention the premature death of Wu Tang member
Ol Dirty Bastard last year, meant that idea never got off the ground. Nevertheless, RZA is still keen to organise a Wu Tang tour at some point in the future.
He told the magazine: "I think it would be a wise thing for all the members to take a summer or winter off and just tour together. We get distracted by so many opportunities, but I've really been suggesting we put everything on hold and forget the money. I know everybody has a lifestyle they have to maintain.
Let's just say a Wu-Tang Clan album is worth a couple million dollars. Once 10 guys get on it, it's still worth a couple hundred grand. Some guys' lifestyles require them to make five or six hundred thousand dollars a year regardless. Maybe doing Wu-Tang will make you that much money, but doing it by yourself could you make you a million, because there aren't so many hands involved.
But for the legacy, I think we should be willing to make that sacrifice and get it cracking."