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  Mathematics Interview
interview 0326 added 11.08.05 words: Nikesh
technical:
QED
Mathematics is probably the
most important member of the Wu-Tang Clan.
Why? Because he was the man who inadvertently ended up branding
the Wu-Tang Clan the worldover. This is the man who designed the
W symbol that adorns some many records, CD’s, T-shirts and 6th
form exercise books. The Wu have been one of the few bands in
recent years who have concentrated on branding themselves as a
concept where each individual and different strand of Wu Tang
still carries that symbol. Mathematics is also a producer, one
steeped in Wu-Tang folklore. He helped produce and engineer some
of our favourite Wu-Tang bangers, as well as deejaying for the
crew live. Recently, he released his second full-length album,
“The Problem,” features most of your favourite Shaolin rappers.
He has also wrapped a DVD featuring interviews with some of your
favourite producers. The man rests not. I phoned him up on his
way to the studio with Raekwon to get him to chat about
everything from his album to ODB to that symbol.
Introduce yourself to the UKHH.COM
audience.
 My name is Mathematics, representing the Wu-Tang Caln fam up in
the place. And can I just say… in New York, hip-hop ain’t what
it used to be. It ain’t grimy but it is what it is, I guess…
What were your favourite memories of Ol
Dirty Bastard (RIP)?
Ol Dirty was a big loss. I have some really really funny
memories of that cat. I have a lot of good memories of him. If I
could see him and talk to him one last time. it would be
beautiful. He was always late to shows. Sometimes he wouldn’t
even show. Sometimes he’d jet if he got caught up in something,
or saw the police. Sometimes he’d just pop up out of the crowd…
out of nowhere. I would want to see him more than one time. I
mean, what would I say… I’ll see you again.
Tell us about the album, “The Problem.”
This is my second album. The first CD was a little album I put
together out of various mixes I had. For “The Problem” I was
going for a sound that described me. It definitely has that
classic Wu-Tang sound, cos I am Wu-Tang. I think it’s a good
product. I’m reallyproud of it. It’s dealing with life itself
without being too preachy. It addresses a lot of different
problems. I try to not emulate anybody else. I tried to
construct the album and sow it together so it fits from
beginning to end so people appreciate the concepts.
Thematically, it’s from a point of view of an MC in New York who
says what they see in the world today. Basically, they end up
reminiscing on the past and how things used to be and compare
them to how things are. Like, the song “Tommy” is about a young
kid who got caught up in the wrong things. There are different
songs on there as well, like party tracks like “Two Shots of
Henny”. We all enjoy a good drink every now and then so it’s
about being in the club and relaxing. “Strawberries and Cream”
gets dirty. And there’s gritty conscious stuff too, like “C What
I C.”
"...As for Meth, yeah, his sitcom with Redman… could have
been better..."
How did you create the (in)famous
Wu-Tang symbol?
 I created that symbol years ago. That came from back in the day
when Rza was in Tommy Boy. Before we formed Wu-Tang Clan, Rza
always had the idea for Wu-Tang, and the concept and what he
wanted it to be about. Did you check his book, “The Manual”?
You’ll see early sketches where we were playing around with the
W. I drew a W with a hand coming out and strangling a guy by his
dreads. The final version of the symbol was designed the night
before “Protec’ Ya Neck” was pressed. Rza said he needed a logo
then and there and I was like, Damn! So I sat there all night
and designed it on the floor. And then, the next day, I hooked
up with Rza and Ghostface and POW… I was being a carpenter and
they came up and grabbed that logo then and there and said it
was the one.
Did you realise that it would become an
internationally recognised symbol, in the vein of Nike or
Microsoft?
I had no idea. I was basically doing it cos my brother asked me
to do it and it was for the Wu-Tang cause. I had no idea and I
am grateful for that.
Who is destined for Hip-Hop legendary
status out of Wu-Tang?
Everybody in the Clan definitely has that ability. As a
collective, everybody definitely has a certain position in
hip-hop in terms of their greatness. Their legacy will live on.
That’s a good question. I’m gonna sit back and watch it with
you.
When the Wu first dropped, it was
certainly different to the other hip-hop being made in New York
at the time…
Wu-Tang had people short of confidence. Hip-hop needed something
raw and we were all saying hip-hop needs that rawness right now.
In the States it needed something close to the streets. Brothers
did what they do normally and what came out of it was Wu-Tang. I
don’t think brothers was aware of all that. Rza always predicted
that stuff. He always said it’s going to go like this and like
that. He’d seen things happen in his head and when they actually
did, I was like, wow. A lot of things was actually happening. Wu
came in and destroyed the game and got then we all got solo
deals. When Rza wanted solo deals for everyone, they all thought
he was crazy. Rza realised Steve Rifkin was like, do what you
wanna do. Now all those people who wanted to come in as a group
and then go solo it’s the norm now.
"...I listen to music and I respect it. People put their
sweat into it but I dunno what I’m feeling..."
Who you feeling at the moment in the
scene?
 I am too busy in my projects to listen to new stuff. I have just
wrapped up “The Beat Kings”, a DVD I’m releasing in the fall.
I’m going round interviewing producers from the perspective of
being a producer myself. I’ve interviewed Rza, Kanye West, Just
Blaze, Premo, Pete Rock, Alchemist… the real engineers of the
music. I was working on that. I got a few different things
happening. I got a new album in the pipeline. This one is “The
Problem” then I got “The Solution” album. Then I got a
compilation coming out, of my private stash. I’m working with
Raekwon on his new album. Catching up with Meth. I DJ for Wu.
I’m busy. I listen to music and I respect it. People put their
sweat into it but I dunno what I’m feeling. There’s a void in
hip-hop. I respect Nas and Rakim and… it’s hard to say. It’s
hard to say.
When can we expect a brand new Wu-Tang
album?
New Wu-Tang album? I’m waiting for it too. There are a lot of
solo projects to get out of the way first. Raekwon is on his
next solo album, Ghost is on his. Gza has just done one with DJ
Muggs. Rza is doing heaps of scores for movies. Everyone is
busy. Hopefully it’ll all come together soon. I’m a fan too so
I’m waiting as well. I’ve heard some of the Ghostface and MF
Doom stuff and shit is ILL. It’s sounds really good. It’ll be
ready really soon I hope. They got some things popping off. As
for Meth, yeah, his sitcom with Redman… could have been better.
At the same time though, they had a chance to do something
people don’t have a lot of a chance to do. Meth was fighting for
better scripts and a better direction. He was trying to fix the
problems. However, TV men… they don’t give you the opportunity
or the time to do it. They are shooting a new movie though so
look for that.
"...Hip-hop needed something raw and we were all saying
hip-hop needs that rawness right now..."
Final shouts/plugs?
 Shout out the world. Get “The Problem,” watch out for “The
Solution.”
“The Problem” is out now on Nature Sounds.
-
Nikesh Shukla
Related Links:
www.naturesounds.com
www.wutangcorp.com
 
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