By: Renae Richardson
RZA is doing his big one with the recent announcement of an upcoming feature alongside his distribution label. Those who recognize RZA’s principles and level of focus understand that this is a visible manifestation of what happens when you move with intention and set out to put foot to pavement.
“Straight out of Brooklyn”
RZA is widely known as a founding member of the iconic rap group Wu-Tang Clan. His brilliance surrounding philosophical constructs and their application to mediums capable of transforming people on a massive scale has never gone unnoticed. The Brooklyn native, born Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, pursued hip-hop with a ferocity early on.
Per Hip Hop Scriptures,
“RZA began his hip hop career in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a member of the trio Force of the Imperial Master, which subsequently became known as the All in Together Now Crew after they had a successful underground single of that name.”
As is often the case, some things do not stay intact and must dissolve to make room for something greater. Such was the fate of this earlier collaboration.
There is a history that transpired between the dissolution of the Force of the Imperial Master and the rise of the Wu-Tang Clan. One could say those experiences were preparation for what was to come. In 1993, Wu-Tang Clan made their debut, and the rest was history—or rather, their story. As Hip Hop Scriptures goes on to note,
“Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was one of the most influential hip-hop records of the era.”
Philosophy, Kung Fu, and Creative Fusion
RZA. Image Source: by Smallz & Raskind (Courtesy of The Talks)
The production was one thing, but RZA was moved by more than just the energy exchanged between sound and lyricists. He lived with a philosophy, much of it garnered from the art of kung fu. That fusion of art form, philosophy, and hip-hop became a defining signature of the group—one that could not be duplicated, although perhaps emulated.
Music was not the only medium RZA felt compelled to put his imprint on. It is noted that legendary director Quentin Tarantino had a hand in pushing RZA to move forward with what he already had loaded in the chamber. Reportedly, RZA had been working with Tarantino on the soundtracks of several projects, including “Kill Bill” and “Afro Samurai.”
As noted,
“Tarantino then persuaded the producer to finish a full-length movie script he had been working on. With Eli Roth as his co-writer, shooting began in 2011 on the RZA-written and directed film ‘The Man with the Iron Fists.’ Both the film and its soundtrack landed in 2012, featuring music from RZA and his Wu-Tang associates Ghostface Killah and Method Man, along with tracks from Kanye West and The Black Keys.”
The Harvest
While little has been heard about RZA’s progress in the film industry in recent years, he has still been working. The fruits of his labor have come to fruition, the harvest has come due, and soon all will get to taste the nectar of what grit and vision produce.
The upcoming project is entitled “RZA’s One Spoon of Chocolate,” categorized as a revenge thriller. True to his signature style, the film is said to blend several elements, including martial arts and classic exploitation cinema influences. For good measure, the feature has been endorsed by Tarantino himself. This speaks volumes for the project, as Tarantino is not only a longtime collaborator well aware of RZA’s capabilities but also an aficionado in the genre where the forthcoming feature sits.
Per Blexmedia, Tarantino had this to say of the film:
“As a filmmaker, RZA really brought home the bacon on an old-school, foot-to-ass, Revenge-a-matic! This picture drives audiences wild wherever it screens. We’ll sell you a whole seat, but you’ll only use the edge of it.”
RZA’s One Spoon of Chocolate: Thirteen Years in the Making
As mentioned earlier, RZA is not new to this, but he is certainly true to this. This is not a project that is fly-by-night. According to the multi-talented artist, as cited by Blexmedia, he has been working on this for quite some time.
“My new film, ‘RZA’s One Spoon of Chocolate,’ is my fourth feature film as a director. It embodies my journey as a filmmaker to date, mixing action, drama, thrills, and substance. The first draft started over thirteen years ago and wasn’t completed until 2023. After two years of filmmaking, we are ready to show this film to the audience.”
For longtime fans, there is a vast amount of potential energy surrounding the project.
The Story of Unique
The narrative centers on a young man—a man who, as we all have been, was impacted by life and not necessarily in the most positive way. Like many others, his past could be described as shades of gray.
Per the synopsis,
“The story follows Unique, a veteran and former convict attempting to start over in a quiet small town.”
His motivations are met with an obstacle that leads him to confront it head-on.
“His attempt at a fresh start quickly unravels after a confrontation with a group of locals leads him to suspect they may be tied to the disappearance of several young men in the area, including his cousin. As he searches for the truth, Unique becomes the target of both the gang and the local sheriff’s office, whose role in the disappearances may run deeper than expected. Rather than wait to become another victim, he and those closest to him decide to fight back.”
More Than a Film
RZA. Image Source: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times
There you have it—an inspired story from the pen of an inspired man, to not only reflect life but transform those who look at it through the lens he presents. While this announcement is particularly regarding the film, it is about so much more. This project is symbolic of more than his philosophy and views. It is an essential marker of history and progression.
As aptly noted by Blexmedia,
“With ‘One Spoon of Chocolate,’ RZA is not only returning to the director’s chair but also stepping further into the business side of film distribution, bringing his martial arts-inspired storytelling to theaters while laying the foundation for a new platform dedicated to genre cinema.”
RZA Moves the Needle Forward “With One Spoon of Chocolate
RZA is moving the needle forward—with filmmaking, artistic fusion, creative operations, and so much more. These are stories worth featuring. For those who have been energized by the knowledge of what lies ahead, “RZA’s One Spoon of Chocolate” is set to premiere May 1, 2025, in theaters.
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