RZA's collab with German singer Xavier Naidoo "Ich kenne nichts" from the year 2002 was on the charts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for over 30 weeks. It went to #1 in Germany, probably earning RZA a nice wad of cash. The next biggest Wu-related hit in Europe was "Gravel Pit" in the UK (13 weeks on the charts, #6 peak position).
I wonder, is this song known at all in the US?
I don't have too many regrets about my life, but there are some things I wish I had known sooner or done differently when it comes to beat making.
Are there things you'd have done differently in hindsight in your development as a producer?
When the beat calls for it, I love a heavy reverb on the snare — that thick, washed tail you hear on Mobb Deep "Shook Ones" or ATCQ "Award Tour."
My current go-to is the reverb section of Pulsar Modular's Lunar Lander plugin. I prefer it over what I got out of Soundtoys or Valhalla DSP — feels denser, more natural and more "in the room" somehow.
What plugin(s) are you reaching for when you want this kind of sound? Curious if plate is still the consensus answer or if there are other approaches worth trying — hardware emulations, convolution with specific IRs, anything else?
Hear me out: I live in a mid-size German city, and I envy the fans of 80s/90s pop and rock.
There are several radio stations dedicated to classic pop and rock. So whether you are in your car or in the middle of the woods, with any old radio receiver you'll be able to listen to the music that you like all day.
You'll have regular 80s / 90s parties where a Hip Hop head like me is lucky if they play "Ice Ice Baby", "Can't Touch This" or "Hip Hop Hooray". Go to any bar downtown and classic pop / rock will be played. For Hip Hop? Not so much...
How is it where you live? If you want to go out on a weekday, are there any bars or clubs that play classic 90s Hip Hop? Is there a dedicated radio station? Or is it the live concert every now and then where you can hang out with like-minded people and listen to some classics?