I Almost Died Of Nerves Interviewing Wu-Block

I almost shit my pants when it was confirmed I'd be interviewing both Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch, ahead of the release of the most overdue collab project in hip-hop, Wu-Block. Albeit a fuzzy fifteen minute conference call of an interview, but a chance to chat to rap's New York royalty all the same. And with the Wu-Block LP dropping imminently, I kinda feel like it's testament to both crews that fans, young and old, are still hyperventilating with anticipation at the union. I mean, we're living in a time where hip-hop's snuck up on the music world to become the monopoly and we're spoilt for choice of furiously talented MCs.

So, are they fazed by today's dizzying amount of competition? I asked them to find out* (*I asked and then giggled to the point of nervous hysteria.)

Noisey: Heya! So, how did Wu-Block come about? I know for a lot of people it felt like it was a long time coming?

Sheek Louch: I’d been a fan of Wu forever and always wanted us all on one project and D-Block always had the same love back from them. The chemistry has always been there so I feel like it was meant to be, however long it took to get to this point. When I got signed to Def Jam we started touring together a lot and ended up having all these songs, enough to do a project like this. So, I really believe it was by the grace of God it happened.

Me too. How comes you didn't call yourselves “D-Tang”…or “DANG”?

Sheek: HAHAHA, ain’t it obvious?!

Ghostface Killah: Actually, “Dang” sounds fly, “Wu-Dang”?

Sheek: Girl, you’re crazy…Daaaaaaang.

I like portmanteaus. Anyway, I was watching an interview with you guys, where you said you had no intentions to cater to the “skinny jeans" rap crowd. What did you mean exactly?

Ghost: At the end of the day, we just don't make music specifically for them, their ear is plugged into a certain type of music, this new new shit. But if the skinny jeans crowd recognized and came to see Wu-Block, then they're more than welcome. Nobody is left out with us.

Sheek: For real. This ain't no soft shit, we out here making that monster music. Like, don't be at my show with spandex and skinny jeans on if you a man! But if a skinny jeans nigga wanna fuck around and genuinely listen to our stuff it's all love.

Imagine if your label offered you, like, a billion dollars to wear spandex and skinny jeans. Would you do it?

Ghost: Naaah, get the fuck outta here.

Sheek: Hell no, a nigga like me would not look right in spandex, come on, I can't even picture it.

Yeah, I like my junk to breathe too.

Ghost: Ha, of course. What I’m sayin’ is, we're here to put work in and we know we’ve got that old vibe to us, there are people who've been listening to us for a minute. Right now I'm just with my brother over here and I'm happy we’ve got the opportunity to go hard on this music shit, the way we want.

To me, you sound like the wise agony uncles of rap…

Sheek: Wu-Block shit is fire ‘cos we're experts, we been around.

Ghost: We’re wise motherfuckers. The way I see it, you got grand masters and then you got your regular kung fu niggas. We got black belts behind this shit ‘cos we been doing it for a while.

I see. And how would I become a grand master?

Ghost: You can't become a grand master just like that, you gotta be listening to our shit for the longest time to even imagine becoming one. It’s that REAL music you gotta be an expert on.

I've got a Wu-Tang tattoo, does that show some dedication?

Ghost: For real? That's hot. Oh you right in, you right in baby. You're branded Wu-Block from now on. I’ll give you your grand master papers.

At last! Now, I wanted to ask you a random question. We were asking on our Twitter, “What’s the most awkward song you’ve had sex to”?

Sheek: Fuuuuuuuuuck, what kinda question is that!

Sorry :(

Ghost: Awkward? Fucking to Lil Wayne would be awkward.

Sheek: Naaaah man, I could not fuck with Lil Wayne on, anything else, just not Lil Wayne. Fuck that shit.

Is the Wu-Block LP going to be good to have sex to?

Sheek: Why don't you tell us what you think when you hear it?

Ghost: Try it out and then give us a review.

I WILL. Back to Twitter again (sorry), I like when you guys give advice, like Ghost, your dental hygiene rant. What other pearls of wisdom would you give to someone like me?

Ghost: Ha, in all seriousness I just think, “keep God first”. The world is in a strange place now and it's not good to be lost in these difficult times. Get direction, ‘cos we live in very troubled times, you feel me?

I do. How would you guys apply your wisdom to naysayers that say you’re too old for this kinda stuff now?

Sheek: I’m never gonna hear that, cos we still be murdering shit on stage. Between us, our catalogue is too big. All the young boys can be on stage shouting shit like, "Ahhh, it's all about the Benjamins!", but then afterwards, they still come out and watch us. There’s that respect that doesn’t go.

Right. Do you work on keeping your stamina up against performers like that?

Sheek: Yeah, cardio. These little, young niggas are bouncing around like crazy, so I keep myself right.

Ghost: I get a little bit of cardio. When you up performing you gotta have your energy right, so I look after myself and I take vitamins to give me that boost.

Vitamins? That's adorable.

Ghost: Of course, ‘cos when you hit the stage it's a whole different world, there's nothing like that feeling. It’s very high energy.

So, would becoming a rapper give me a good incentive to get in shape?

Sheek: Yo, it tires you out for real. And for girls especially these days it’s tough. You have people that are dope lyricists but for females, they're under a lot of pressure to look right too. You gotta look good to sell records.

You need a great rack to make it as a female rapper?

Sheek: Naaah, niggas is always gonna love lyrics, but it'd be wrong to lie and say, someone like Nicki Minaj…I mean, niggas wanna fuck her as well as liking her lyrics. That’s the honest truth.

I’m out then. I think I’d need to do about a million squats to get an ass like hers.

Ghost: I mean, you thick? ‘Cos that'd just be the icing on the cake. You got a lot of girls out there that can rhyme and are underground, but it's sex appeal that makes people really big.

Sheek: It’s like, you gotta imagine having their poster on your wall, that kinda shit.

Lyrics plus T&A is the magic formula?

Sheek: The whole package, if you don't have rhymes it doesn't matter about your ass. At the end of the day, you need sex appeal and lyrics.

So, do you think Nicki is the best around, right now anyway?

Ghost: Nicki is doing it the biggest right now, but I can't say who the queen is of all time.

Sheek: Remy was fire…

[BEEP]

I think I have to hurry up. Ummmm, any last words on what we should expect from the album?

Sheek: I’m sayin’, it doesn’t matter what way you get it, just listen and tell everybody you know about it.

Are you saying I can steal it?

Sheek: Yo! As long as you tell everyone how fire it is and spread the word of Wu-Block…

[BEEEEEEEEEEEP]

Argh. OK, finally, why do you think posh British boys love you guys so much? I mean, you’re worlds apart?

Ghost: They respect real music. Out there in London it's poppin, y'all just get it. When I perform out there I feel blown away, it doesn't feel like I went anywhere, it’s like being at home.

Sheek: London's dope, with dope lyricists and dope people. I was out in Hackney and it was crazy, I met so many people that I wish I could’ve remembered each of their names, ‘cos I felt so much love.

I live in Hackney! I love it too, you should come to dinner next time you’re over

[AWKWARD SILENCE]

Ghost: For sure ma…

Sheek: Oh you do, for real? I love it there, it feels like New York.

[BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP]

I think I have to go. It’s been so fun.

Ghost: You aight ma? You sound like you’ve been smoking a lot of blunts?

Sheek: For real…

I wish…

Ghost: Yo, you all giggly and shit!

[Still giggling uncontrollably]

Sheek: We gotta go ma, word up!

BYE!

Follow Jo on Twitter @FUERTESKNIGHT