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"CAPPATILIZE"

Often touted as the 10th member of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, Cappadonna without question can lay claim to some of the most memorable verses ever spit in the realm of the Clan’s voluminous catalog. From “Winter Warz” to “Ice Cream” to his co-starring role on Ghostface Killah’s debut LP, Ironman, Cap would forever secure his legacy with the 1998 release of his own debut album, The Pillage. Easily ranking among the most classic Wu-Tang solo projects ever brought to light, although sometimes overlooked by more novice fans, The Pillage showcased Cappadonna’s signature rhymestyle while featuring appearances from Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. 30 days after its release The Pillage was certified gold. However, as suggested by the namesake of his 2002 LP, The Struggle, in recent years Cap has often traversed treacherous terrain in seeking to establish himself in the new millennium’s often unpredictable indy market. As the Clan prepares to reunite on record for the first time in over five years with the forthcoming release of their highly anticipated new album, 8 Diagrams, we catch up with Cappadonna to talk some Hip-Hop, relive some Wu-Tang history and look towards the future. Tabernacles catch fire within the apple. Work hard W.T.C.
RIOTSOUD.COM: First off, as far as the younger fans go, to give them some history, you’ve been MCing for a very long time and back in the days you even taught some of the other Clan members how to rhyme. Can you talk about those early years; what was Hip-Hop like during that time?

CAPPADONNA: In the early years Hip-Hop was a lot more creative as far as coming up with concepts and gimmicks. It was a hobby that I turned into a business. I started figuring out ways to enhance the message and enhance the styles and just keep pushing forward with that to figure out a way to try to sell it. I mean, we’ve all been rapping in the Clan from like early school days. When we first came out there really wasn’t nothing poppin’ at that time – probably the Fu-Schnickens and all of that [kind] of stuff was in then - then Wu-Tang was coming in, then after that it was Biggie and then all of the R&B stuff. So we came in right at a time where there was a chance for Hip-Hop to remain Hip-Hop but like everything else it evolved. Now I’m just trying to evolve with it but at the same time I’m trying to keep that same essence of Hip-Hop [intact].

RIOTSOUD.COM: As far as your rhyme style goes, it is easily one of the most distinct in all of Hip-Hop. You use a lot of loose associations and your delivery often sounds spoken as opposed to rapped. How did you develop your unique style of MCing from the time you initially started rhyming?

CAPPADONNA: I had like a lot of MCs that I looked up to from around my way. I’m from Staten Island, New York, so when you come from wherever you come from, ya’ll got your own set of rules and set of slang and different ways how you freak your music and how you get your point across. My style was just a piece of all of the older dudes from around my way. We used to have a lot of DJs that used to come through; there were a lot of DJ battles and MC battles and stuff like that. I started out with a little battle rap and then I was mixing that with personal growth and development. But at the same time my style was almost like a no-style, I tried to sound as different from everybody else as possible. Sometimes I find myself trying to get it simple, keep it as simple as possible, not being too complicated, just something real easy that even a baby could understand.

RIOTSOUD.COM: One thing I read was that in preparation for battling other MCs you used to train yourself by rhyming in front of the mirror. The logic in that being, if you can’t look good to yourself, how are you going to look good to someone else; can you talk about that?

CAPPADONNA: [laughs] I mean, yea, you know, it’s just a way of practicing, it’s like shadowboxing, it’s shadow-rapping man. You just get up [in the mirror] and see how you gonna look, see how your stance is gonna be. I [actually] haven’t been doing that in quite a while, my last battle that I had was in like ’98 or ’99 at the Jacob Javitz Center. It was like the first MC battle in like ten years. I think that was the setoff for all of the battles that came after that because it really wasn’t that serious [as far as battling] at that time. It was Run DMC, Craig G, Everflow and [many others], also Rza came through a little later on. I don’t really dig the battleraps no more because I don’t really see the true game in that right there. I just see it as another form of separation and black on black crime, you know. Right now I’m just trying to pick it up and bring it to another level of soulful Hip-Hop. It’s something that I’m evolving into and I’m trying to downplay a lot of the unnecessary vulgarity that we all were so used to in Hip-Hop.

RIOTSOUND.COM: Right now you have several new tracks circulating, what can the fans expect to - RIOTSOUND.COM


"FAKE SHORE DRIVE VS CAPPADONNA"

On the verge of releasing their 5th album, the Wu-Tang Clan stands at a crossroads. Internal bickering and the groups disdain for the RZA and his vision for 8 Diagrams have grabbed more headlines than the album itself. Has the album been sabotaged? Will this be the end of the Wu-Tang Clan? Wu-Tang is forever, but does this phrase hold any weight these days?


You’ve heard what Raekwon, Ghostface and RZA have had to say about 8 Diagrams, but one member you haven’t heard from is Cappadonna. Loosely known as the “unofficial member”, Cap was made an official Wu-Tang general this past fall. For myself and countless other Wu fans, it’s been a long time coming.


Take a ride on the dart (pause) as Fake Shore Drive chats with the man who needs no introduction, the 10th Apostle, Cappadonna.


First off, congratulations on being named the official tenth member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Even though you’ve basically been a member for well over a decade, RZA finally made it official. That must feel good, right?


Thanks, I appreciate that. (laughs) Every little bit counts.


How did RZA go about anointing you and letting you know that it was official?


Basically, he just said now it’s official, and signed me as a member of the Clan contractually. It was a contract thing, really.


You came to Chicago in July for the Pitchfork Music Festival and performed with the GZA and absolutely rocked it. After the show, you headlined your own performance at the Funky Buddha Lounge that was even crazier. On “Campfire” (from 8 Diagrams), you spit: “All in Chicago, grindin, puttin’ it down”. Internet speculation ties this to your time in Chicago this summer. Any correlation here?


You already know what it is. That concert wasn’t just crazy, it was off the chain. But no doubt, I was in Chicago for like a year, puttin’ it down everywhere. I was going to underground MC battles, I was doing collabo’s with MC’s around town. I was just out there spreading that joy and hittin’ the blocks. I wasn’t a shy dude out there. I didn’t come out acting like I was Richie Rich or somebody. I walked the blocks of Stoney [Island], I was in Jeffrey Manor, I was out at the warehouse parties. You know, I was gettin’ it in with everybody.


I can vouch for that, I hung out with you and saw you around.


You know what I’m saying. I walked the blocks.


Over the past few weeks there has been a lot of talk about 8 Diagrams and some of the Wu members seem to be less-than-thrilled about the final results. What are your thoughts on the album?


Well I feel like, I mean, we got the album done. It’s not like we didn’t put the work in. Everyone was there and put it down and you spoke what you needed to speak on and the end results should be something that you’re satisfied with. But really we should have put some more effort and time in. The thing about it was that there was a lot of, you know, disagreements and arguments going on that stagnated me from giving it the best that I wanted to give it. But I still felt like my participation wasn’t in vein, because you know how they say, “something is better then nothing”. So I’m going on that level. I’m happy that we were even able to manifest the album, even after all of this time. I think everybody did the best we could do given the circumstances that we were presented.


How about your placement on the songs? I was hoping for some more Cap verses. Did you submit verses for every song and then RZA pick and chose what he wanted to keep?


Yeah, he got me to change a couple of verses here and there and change some stuff that he might not have liked. But my thing is, whatever I do is what I’m feeling for myself and you can’t really tell a guy how to write his rhymes, because then it’s not real after that.


Were there any songs, in particular, that you spit on that didn’t make the final cut for the album?


Not necessarily. I don’t remember exactly how many songs it was that I hit [ed note: at press time Cappadonna is featured on 3 songs on 8 Diagrams]. Like I said, there was just so much going on that I couldn’t even get with it. They was messin with my spiritual side of things.


How do you feel about Ghostface and Raekwon’s comments on the album? They have been knocking it pretty hard


I mean, I’m not really concerned with these guys’ comments because these guys are the heavy hitters. They know what they want, they have a good following, they deal with the biggest labels and you’re gonna get that all the time with the egos. And those egos get in the way of your better judgement, you know. Sometimes, some things are better left unsaid, you know?


I see where you’re going with that, so we’ll leave it there. So do you have a favorite track in the album?


(Laughs) My favorite track is the first track on the album (“Campfire”). My thing is that it’s funny how, at the end of the day, God works everything out, because here it is the last person in the Wu being on - FAKE SHORE DRIVE


"CAPPADONNA"

Cappadonna (b. circa 1969) was one of the last members to join the Wu-Tang Clan. He had known the members since grade school in Staten Island, and he had even decided at the age of 15 that he could write and perform lyrics. It wasn't until 1995, however, that he made his recorded debut, appearing on Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx album. With that album, he became an official member of the Wu-Tang Clan, and from there on out, he frequently appeared on Wu records. In 1996, he played a large role on Ghostface Killah's Ironman. During 1997, his Wu apprenticeship continued, as he rapped on the Clan's second album, Wu-Tang Forever.

Cappadonna's solo debut, The Pillage, finally appeared in March 1998. Like any Wu project, the record featured RZA as the executive producer and cameos from a number of other Wu members, including Method Man, U-Cool, and Raekwon. As the sixth Wu solo project, the album was an instant success upon its release, debuting at number three on the charts. A sophomore effort, The Yin and the Yang, followed in early 2001. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
- MTV.COM


"RZA Says Cappadonna Wasn't Cheated By The Wu-Tang Clan"

RZA Says Cappadonna Wasn't Cheated By The Wu-Tang Clan
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RZA claims Cap earned at least $500,000 while signed to his Epic imprint, Razor Sharp, from 1995 to 1998.

By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Gideon Yago

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We've heard the RZA drop lines about the study of mathematics in several of his verses, and now he's using numbers to dispute Cappadonna's claims of being jerked in business dealings with the Wu-Tang Clan. He says that if Donna has any disputes, he can go back and look at the books.

"According to my lawyers and the people on my team over these years, they say I've been one of the most foolish businessmen in the game because I treat my artists too fair," RZA said Wednesday, defending himself. "I'm supposed to be sitting on mad, mad mega[millions] 'cause these n---as all rob each other in this game. I don't rob my n---as. In all reality, the way you gotta get on in this business is you gotta rob the next mutha----a, but that's not my mentality. That's not my heart."

Last month Cappadonna opened up to MTV News, saying that he had only received one royalty check his entire career and that Wu-Tang never paid him for his guest spots on their various group LPs and solo projects (see "Cappadonna Opts To Be Homeless, Drives Cab To Support Fam"). RZA disputed the allegations, saying that Cap earned at least $500,000 while signed to his Epic imprint, Razor Sharp, from 1995 to 1998. After 1998, RZA said, Cap was signed with Sony Music.

"Any dollar that came to us for Cappa, he received," RZA said about the man he says he still considers a friend. "If anybody owes him money, it's Sony. Sony's his record company; check on Sony for it. If you talking about the Wu-Tang Clan albums, those were courtesy appearances and he got paid upfront for them. That was a courtesy to him, not a courtesy to us. We let him shine [on the albums], but we paid him for that. He didn't just rap, it was like, 'Homie, here's a stack of cheese.' "

RZA said when he first heard about Cap's claims of being treated unfairly, he called his former rhyme accomplice and Donna denied the story. But when he heard it from the horse's mouth a few days ago when Cap was on the New York radio show "The Wendy Williams Experience" promoting an appearance MTV2's "The Wrap," RZA was a little upset.

"He was saying that he was driving cabs and all that sh-- and I wouldn't even share that business," RZA scoffed. "Whatever you going through in your struggle, son, that's your struggle. You made your own mistakes. Nobody made no mistakes to mess up my n---a. [Cap] made his own decisions, and the decisions he made wasn't proper, that's all.

"If he's homeless, that sh-- is f---ed up," RZA added. "It's enough of us in the crew that have love so if he's in a bad situation he can easily reach out to somebody if his pride ain't covering his eyes. He reached out before to my people like, 'Yo, I need a quick 10 [grand].' It's a recession now since 9-11, so it probably got tight around the belt. He probably didn't prepare for this."

Prepared or not, Cap makes no apologies for his current lifestyle.

"Now I do whatever I gotta do, man," Cap said earlier this week in Baltimore. "If I have to snatch a pocketbook, if I gotta go to the store and rob some milk for my babies, then that's what I gotta do. I'mma do whatever I gotta do, bite whoever I gotta bite, eat whoever I gotta eat to get mine."

For now, Donna has put the mask and gloves on the shelf and isn't resorting to cannibalism, either. He's still working as a gypsy cab driver in Baltimore.

"It's called hacking out here," he explained. "I was telling [my passengers] my name is Hack Love from the Heavens Above, but they get in the car and say 'Cap.' "

For as little as $10, Cap will give you a round-trip ride to some locations, even if you're doing wrong. "Crackheads is picking me up, taking me to people's houses," he said. "They hit the houses up, come out with TVs. But it's like, 'Where you going? Pawn shop?' Good. I can get paid."

Cap's new LP, The Struggle, is slated to drop sometime this summer.

To see Cappadonna at work as a cab driver, tune in to MTV2 on Sunday. He'll be featured on the latest episode of "The Wrap," which premieres at 9:30 p.m.
- MTV


"Cappadonna Debuts At No. 3"

Cappadonna Debuts At No. 3
debuts at No. 3

Posted Apr 02, 1998 12:00 AM
Another month, another Wu-Tang Clan Top 10 solo release, right?|

Well, this time it's Cappadonna's turn as he steps out from the Staten Island rap dynasty with The Pillage, this week's highest charting debut on the music sales chart. The album broke in at No. 3, selling 132,000 copies for the week ending March 29, according to SoundScan.

Other than Cappadonna, it was a quiet week on the chart, with only one other debut cracking the top 40: Aretha Franklin's Rose Is Still a Rose, which features guest production by the Fugees' Lauryn Hill, Puffy Combs, Dallas Austin and others. It bows at No. 30.

On the soft side, Van Halen's Van Halen 3 tumbles badly in its second week in stores, falling from No. 4 to No. 13, with sales dropping 65 percent.

From the top it was the soundtrack to Titanic at No. 1 (selling 476,000 copies), followed by Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love (216,000); The Pillage; Madonna's Ray of Light (118,000); Savage Garden (117,000); The Backstreet Boys (95,000); C-Murder's Life or Death (91,000); Eric Clapton's Pilgrim (88,000); K-Ci & Jo Jo's Love Always (76,000); and Usher's My Way (69,000).

Last week's Academy Awards broadcast boosted sales for the soundtrack to Good Will Hunting (it jumps from No. 146 to No. 91), Trisha Yearwood's Songbook Collection, which features the Oscar-nominated "How Will I Live" (No. 65 to No. 49), and of course Titanic,which remains at No. 1 and, 16 weeks after its release, actually increases its weekly sales by 5 percent.

A little perspective on the still-growing Titanic sales: Through the first 12 weeks of 1998, the soundtrack along with Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love (which also boasts the movie's theme song) have sold a combined 9.6 million copies. Through the 52 weeks of 1997, the year's two best-selling albums, the Spice Girls' Spice and Jewel's Pieces of You, sold a combined 9.6 million copies. (Eric Boehlert for Rolling Stone Network)


- ROLLING STONE


"Cappadonna Pillages Charts"

Another Wu-Tang solo gig lands in the top ten

Another month, another Wu-Tang Clan top ten solo release, right? Well, this time it's Cappadonna's turn as he steps out from the Staten Island rap dynasty with The Pillage, this week's highest charting debut on the music sales chart. The album broke in at No. 3, selling 132,000 copies for the week ending March 29, according to SoundScan.


Other than Cappadonna, it was a quiet week on the chart, with only one other debut cracking the top 40: Aretha Franklin's Rose Is Still a Rose, which features guest production by the Fugees' Lauryn Hill, Puffy Combs, Dallas Austin, and others. It bows at No. 30.


On the soft side, Van Halen's Van Halen 3 tumbles badly in its second week in stores, falling from No. 4 to No. 13, with sales dropping 65 percent.


From the top it was the soundtrack to Titanic at No. 1 (selling 476,000 copies), followed by Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love (216,000); The Pillage; Madonna's Ray of Light (118,000); Savage Garden (117,000); The Backstreet Boys (95,000); C-Murder's Life or Death (91,000); Eric Clapton's Pilgrim (88,000); K-Ci & Jo Jo's Love Always (76,000); and Usher's My Way (69,000).


Last week's Academy Awards broadcast boosted sales for the soundtrack to Good Will Hunting (it jumps from No. 146 to No. 91), Trisha Yearwood's Songbook Collection, which features the Oscar-nominated "How Will I Live" (No. 65 to No. 49), and of course Titanic,which remains at No. 1 and, 16 weeks after its release, actually increases its weekly sales by 5 percent.


A little perspective on the still-growing Titanic sales: Through the first 12 weeks of 1998, the soundtrack along with Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love (which also boasts the movie's theme song) have sold a combined 9.6 million copies. Through the 52 weeks of 1997, the year's two best-selling albums, the Spice Girls' Spice and Jewel's Pieces of You, sold a combined 9.6 million copies.


ERIC BOEHLERT - ROLLING STONE


"The Struggle Of Cappadonna"

John Gardner (an activist, author, teacher and reformer) once wrote, "When we find meaning in the struggle, we are capable of heroic effort and endurance." Many people in this world are caught in the struggle. Some struggle to survive. Some struggle to feed their kids. Some struggle to maintain their hip-hop career. Some struggle with their inner demons.

Even though Cappadonna has been on platinum records, he is still struggling in day-to-day life. Cappadonna was considered the unofficial 10th member of The Wu-Tang Clan. While he was not on the debut “Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” album, he soon became a major part of the Wu-Tang phenomenon. His debut with Wu-Tang was on the classic track “Ice Cream” from Raekwon’s classic “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx” album. He had the 3rd and final verse to the song. With a confidence and arrogance, he rocked the track and stole it: "Black chocolate girl wonder, shade brown like Thunder / Politic til your deficit step, gimme your number." Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah, and Raekwon made a perfect team. All three of them made classic Wu-Tang tracks on both Raekwon’s “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx” LP and Ghostface Killah’s “Ironman” LP.

He showed his skills on classic Wu-Tang collaborations like “Daytona 500” and “Camey”. When Wu-Tang Clan finally put out their sophomore album “Wu-Tang Forever”, Cappadonna was not an official member but he was all over the double CD. His verse on “Triumph” was also one of the hungriest. With the help of Rza, Mathematics, 4th Disciple, and True Master on production, Cappadonna put out his debut solo album “The Pillage”. With thick beats and a hungry rhyme delivery, Cappadonna’s debut LP went Gold. “Slang Editorial” was one of the best tracks by a Wu-Tang affiliate. Other incredible tracks included “Run”, “The Pillage”, “Blood On Blood War”, “Milk The Cow”, “Dark Throwing”, and “Supa Ningaz”. Guests included Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, U-God, and others. The future looked bright for Cappadonna.

Eventually, when Wu-Tang Clan was ready to put out another album, Ol Dirty Bastard was locked up. Cappadonna took his place and was finally considered an official member on “The W” album. While many critics and fans thought that Wu-Tang was falling off, they still made some incredible hip-hop. Cappadonna had some major problems with his sophomore LP “The Yin & The Yang”. Due to sample clearances and lack of promotion, the album was considered a disappointment by fans and critics. The LP was only 11 tracks long. Still, “The Ying & The Yang” had some incredible tracks like “Love Is The Message” featuring Raekwon, “Supermodel” featuring Ghostface Killah, “One Way To Zion”, and “The Grits” featuring 8-Off Agallah.

Eventually, Wu-Tang Clan released “Iron Flag” and Cappadonna did not seem to be as close to The Wu as before. Cappadonna began to struggle even more. He made a deal with Mad Lion’s Killah Pride Records to release the “Love Is Love” LP but it has yet to be released. There have been news reports that Cappadonna has been driving a cab to make ends meet. So, how does an emcee from one of hip-hop’s largest and most successful crews end up driving a cab? The music industry is a struggle. Cappadonna claims that he is owed up to $300,000 in royalties and publishing.

In 2003, Cappadonna hooked up with Remedy and Code Red Entertainment to release “The Struggle” LP. With a majority of the beats done by unknown and “poor” producers, “The Struggle” is an entertaining and thick portrait of where Cappadonna is today. Production is handled by Cologerio, 4th Disciple, Remedy, Soulfingers, Qyasi, Mizza, Knockaround Guys, and others. Guests include Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Lounge Mode, Remedy, Solomon Child, and more. While the Wu-Tang sound is there, Cappadonna is truly doing his own thing.

There are the street tracks filled with drugs, hustling, guns, and violence. There are the sentimental tracks like “Momma”. There are the tracks about heartache and relationships like “Calling It Quits” and “Life Of A Lesbo”. Cappadonna was always a loner.

He never was a sports addict or interested in strip clubs. Could this and the money situation be the reasons why Wu-Tang Clan and Cappadonna are not as close as they used to be? To this day, Cappadonna still represents The Wu. Even though this is his 3rd album, Cappadonna is still driving his cab. He is a father of triplets and he has 2 other children. He is evidence that the music industry is harsh.

On a warm Autumn evening in 2003, I had an in-depth conversation with Cappadonna. We talked about hip-hop, driving cabs, Wu-Tang Clan, ‘The Pillage’, ‘The Struggle’, relationships, death, labels, and more. He refuses to give up and continues to work hard. It is a story we all can relate to. From rocking classic verses on platinum albums to driving a cab, Cappadonna is an emcee caught up in the struggle. Through this struggle, Cappadonna has endured, has become a hero to his family, and has found meaning in his life - MV REMIX


"CAPPADONNA"

Added to the Wu-Tang Clan roster during the recording of “Wu-Tang Forever”, Cappadonna seemed to appear from nowhere and put it down on several of the most important Clan cuts. However all was not rosy in the garden, and after the release of his solo joint “The Pillage”, there were rumours of an acrimonious split. Cappa’s sophomore album “The Ying And The Yang” struggled to match the success of his debut, and many thought he’d slide into obscurity. The man has other plans however, and shortly after the release of album number three, “The Struggle”, Cappadonna sat down with Timid to discuss life, the universe, and everything…

Congrats on the new album. How’s everything going with it?

Cappadonna: [sighs] Well right now I need to shoot a video, I don’t think that the advertisement was really reinforced to the best of its ability, you know. Considering the circumstances and the lesser resources that I got though, I figure, you know, that I did everything I could do in my power to get it out you know. But like I said, limited resources and limited funds sometimes can be a burden on sales but I mean that’s what the struggle is all about. It’s about making the best out of a fucked up situation.

So I didn’t get any notes on the album when I got it from the promotion company, is this an independent release?

Cappadonna: Yea, independent.

Oh so you got it hard then, you gotta push it… hit the street to do that.

Cappadonna: Yeah.

Is there anything specific you’re trying to say with this album?

Cappadonna: Yea, it’s the struggle. That’s the album title, ‘The Struggle’ ya know.

About focusing on what you doing now trying to get it out, trying to make do with what you got?

Cappadonna: That’s right. It’s about the struggle, it’s about where I come from, you know… it’s about the hood man.

True. I hear that. What’s going on with the Wu?

Cappadonna: Yo I couldn’t tell you that, you gotta call the next person.

Oh word?

Cappadonna: Yeah I don’t know, niggas don’t support me and shit and try to call me and see what’s up. Ya know, (laughs) that’s why I’m struggling ya know? I got Raekwon on the album, I got Deck on the album you know but that’s it. It’s like communication levels… everybody’s doing what they doing, I guess everybody’s struggling right now but don’t ask me about me it though.

OK, I want to ask you about the track on there ‘Season of Da Vick’, you’re spittin’ at Beans. I didn’t know y’all had beef.

Cappadonna: Me neither, until he blurted out my name on some mixtape or some shit. I guess he was battling the next person and took it upon himself to use me as some kind of fuckin’ outlet for him to diss the next person like saying, “Yeah your style suck like Cappadon”, you know? And I’m like yo what the fuck? You know what I’m saying, it’s like I don’t fuck with nobody. I don’t say shit about nobody, I don’t fuck with nobody, you know what I’m saying?

Yeah that’s kind of “out of nowhere” type stuff.

Cappadonna: Exactly, so now it’s like, you know, I felt like it was my duty to holla back… like my fans was discrediting me like, you know what I’m saying, it’s like I got punked (chuckles) if I didn’t holla back…

Yeah I feel that, definitely.

Cappadonna: It’s like I had to do that shit to keep my fuckin’ face up the place man.

Ya man even had something on the ‘Money, Cash, Flows’. Ya man was spittin’ at it too.

Cappadonna: Yeah, my man but see I told him to take that off because I really didn’t have a problem with the Roc, you know what I’m saying? Or Freeway or Jay-Z or none of them dudes, they ain’t never said nothing about me. So, you know, that might raise a few questions right there. But if they confront me with it I’m gonna be like “Well maybe that’s how my man, the white boy, felt on my album and shit, you know he said that but I don’t share those same feelings.”

Sounds like you just trying to do your thing and not get into that B.S. that everyone else is getting into.

Cappadonna: Exactly, exactly you know? I holla’d back at who I had to holla back at and now it’s like I’m ready to move on. But don’t get me confused with that, I told the nigga to take that off, he chose to fuckin’ keep it on there, now it’s like he needs to assume full responsibility for his words and actions. So you know if they want to know who did that, I’ll tell them who did it, I’ll tell them where the fuck he at and all of that because it’s like I told the nigga to take it off so you just went against my better judgement so you’re going to take full responsibility, I’m going to point you out and let it be known, you know what I’m saying? Especially that you a white boy too and you chose to try to get me mixed up in some bullshit. You know what I’m saying? It’s like that’s a no no in the Hip Hop era. I mean he just shitted on the whole Brooklyn yo. The Roc is Brooklyn yo. Philly is Freeway and you know what I mean. And Damon Dash, what the fuck Damon Dash do? What are you fu - ALTRAP.COM


"8 DIAGRAMS ALBUM INTERVIEW"

The long-awaited Wu-Tang Clan album 8 Diagrams is finally out. How do you feel about the album finally being available to the fans?

I feel like it’s all gully right now. The album is out. It’s been hard labor, basically nine months of pain going through the cracks and the crevices of life and at the end of the day, we were still able to pull it off through blood, sweat and tears.


Are you happy with the finished product?


I mean, you know, it is a collective entity. Collective minds collided together, so I can’t really say that I’m not happy with the finished product because I had a chance to maybe make a difference if there was something I didn’t like or something I did like. I’m just more or less happy with the completed version. I’m not really satisfied to my satisfaction, as far as my satisfaction is concerned, but I’m happy. I’m happy to be a part of something that was big and still has the potential to be big.


Raekwon recently came out and said he was going to support the album. If you’re a part of the album, shouldn’t it be assumed that you support it?


I believe that everybody should promote the album regardless of what, but you know, we all have individual opinions and everybody had different feelings and viewpoints on how they think things should be, not only in music but in life in general. I support every man for putting his work in and giving it his all to the best of his ability to bring forth a collective item. How people feel is in that one man’s reference or how he feels the album should go and that right there can only bring about something more valuable in his solo attempts.


Were you able to give your opinion and creative input on 8 Diagrams as you guys were making the album?


What I consider would be my opinion and my asset to the collective is just to be a part of something that has the potential to be something more than what it was in the beginning, which was nothing. It was hard enough for us to just come together after five or six years of separation and growing into different, various aspects of life. Some of us have children who didn’t have children before and some of us who had children now have older children. We grew up in different ways and with different lifestyles and the fact that we were still able to come together after all the heartache and pain is definitely a plus in the making of a Wu album and the constructive entity that it takes to even supply these endeavors right here and these logistic thoughts. I’m very satisfied with the coming together of the Wu album and I’m sure everybody else is satisfied with the coming together of the Wu album because with this album right here, it’s giving us the ability to still shine as a group and to still have the potential to come later on as individuals with our solo projects.


Was this the most difficult Wu-Tang Clan album to make?


Yes, I believe this is one of the, well, not one of the most, but the most difficult album ever recorded from Wu-Tang Clan because of the differentiality of all the individual artists and the various changes that took place in our lives over the past five years. It’s just like we had to basically become friends or just respect each other’s manhood in order to even come with an album of this caliber right now. It’s 8 Diagrams and I have yet to see my face appear on the Wu-Tang cover as a collective entity for the group.


Five years is a long time between albums. Was there too much time between Iron Flag and 8 Diagrams?


Time is of the essence. Time waits for no man. Now’s the time for us to come amongst this nation and end all devilishment. This is the perfect time for us to bring back peace. The rap game has been tormented by so much by profanity and vulgarity that has been taking place over the years that led Nas to state that fact that hip-hop is now dead. And now we have the opportunity, being one of the most powerfulest rap groups of all-time, to put some of that negative energy to rest. Although we have a lot of negative energy within our own circumference, to show everybody that even through the negative energy and the bad parts of life that we had to experience, we can still come together as a people to construct something like this. That’s one of the most important things in our community and that’s the unity.


How important was it for you to show a more grown-up perspective on this album where some of your songs on previous Wu albums were more aggressive and in-your-face?


I think the laid-back vibe came from everybody trying to feel each other out and basically get to know each other again after the past five years. There was a lot of turmoil there from previous adventures and things we went through in life. We grew up together and we’re from the ‘hood so we go all the way back to crack, man, and various trials and tribulations that were hard times for us. So for us to be able to face that reality and respect each other as men now and put - HIP HOP GAME


Discography

Album Name Release Date Status
The Pillage -- March 24, 1998 -- Gold U.S.
The Yin & The Yang -- April 3, 2001
Cappadonna's Iron Fist Pillage The Soundtrack --August 1, 2001
Cappadonna Hits -- November 20, 2002
The Struggle -- October 7, 2003
THE CAPPATILIZE PROJECT -- JULY 22 2008

Singles and EPs
1998 "Slang Editorial"
1998 "Run"
1999 "Black Boy"
2001 "Super Model"
2008 "Don't Turn Around"

Appears on
1995 "Ice Cream" & "Ice Water" (from the Raekwon album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx)
1996 "Winter Warz", "Fish", "Camay", "Daytona 500" & "Iron Maiden" (from the Ghostface Killah album Ironman)
1997 "Maria", "Little Ghetto Boys", "Heaterz", "For Heaven's Sake" & "Triumph" (from the Wu-Tang Clan album Wu-Tang Forever)
1998 "Sweet Love" (from the Method Man album Tical 2000: Judgement Day)
1998 "'97 Mentality" (from the Wu-Tang Killa Bees album Wu-Tang Killa Bees: The Swarm)
1999 "Strange Fruit" (from the Pete Rock album Soul Survivor (album))
2000 "Buck 50" & "Wu Banga 101" (from the Ghostface Killah album Supreme Clientele)
2000 "Careful (Click, Click)" & "Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)" (from the Wu-Tang Clan album The W)
2003 "Respect Mine" (from the Mathematics album Love, Hell Or Right)
2003 "Ice Cream Part 2" (from the Raekwon album The Lex Diamond Story)
2005 "Spot Lite" (from the Mathematics album The Problem)
2006 "9 Milli Bros", "Dogs Of War" & "Jellyfish" (from the Ghostface album Fishscale)
2006 "Too Strong to Change" (from the Mars Ill album Pro Pain)
2006 "Do Dirt", "Big Flows" (From the Stereotype album "Keepin Me")
2006 "Season of the Vick", "Our House", "Blood Brothers", "Pain is Love" (All from Lounge Lo's album "Drop City S.I.M.P.Son (Staten Islands Most Popular Son)
2006"THE GREATEST DARTZ EVER SOLD" -The Mixtape, hosted by IRON SHIEK
2006 "Guns N' Razors" (from the Ghostface Killah album More Fish)
2007 "Campfire" and "Windmill" (from the Wu-Tang Clan album 8 Diagrams)

Studio albums
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) · Wu-Tang Forever · The W · 8 Diagrams

Singles
"Protect Ya Neck" ·
"Method Man"
"C.R.E.A.M."
"Can It Be All So Simple"
"Triumph" · "Gravel Pit" ·
"The Heart Gently Weeps"

Compilations
The Swarm ·
Wu-Chronicles ·
Wu-Chronicles, Chapter 2 ·
The Sting ·
Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1 ·
Legend of the Wu-Tang Clan ·
Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture ·
Mathematics Presents Wu-Tang Clan & Friends

Photos

Bio

Cappadonna a/k/a “Cappachino The Great” and “Donna Cappa Goines“ is a founding member of the legendary WuTang Clan and a prolific solo artist. Writing since the age of 15, Cap first emerged in 1995, spitting serious darts on "Ice Cream" and "Ice Water" from Raekwon's classic “Only Built For Cuban Linx”. The following year he dropped the urban classic 12" - "Drastic Measures and lent sizzling verses to “HighSchool High” and “Don’t Be a Menace” soundtracks. His contributions to Ghostface's debut “Ironman” further assured his reputation of ferocious lyricism. “On a state sponsored vacation” for the WuTang debut, Cap made his first appearance with all of his Clan mates on 1997’s Six Time Platinum "WUTANG FOREVER" and was featured heavily on the follow up “The W”

After touring extensively, Cap returned to the studio for his first solo effort - 1998s “The Pillage” - which debuted at #3 on the charts and was quickly certified Gold. His follow-up - 2001s “The Ying and The Yang” - met with similar critical and commercial success. Staying vigilant in his support of The Clan, he then featured on over 25 releases including classics from RaeKwon, Method Man and Ghostface along with several of the WuTangs most heralded albums while finding the time to release another hit solo - 2003’s “The Struggle” - , ceaselessly grinding the mixtape scene, and performing for his fans around the world.

Known for his colorful slang and dedication to staying dipped, Cappa was dubbed as "The Papi Wardrobe King" and has never held back from his insistence on staying true to the musical form he has helped define. While disregarding or directly attacking any business or cultural elements he felt threatened the purity of Hip-Hop, he finds time to help bring up the next generation through his work with Theodore Unit and Lounge Mode, his management team Honor Management Group. His upcoming solo projects, “The Cappatilize Project and Slang Prostitution”, will be unleashed in late 2008 accompanied by a GREATEST EVER SOLD DARTZ DVD.