Christine Borges

Miami Art Week is often a time for reminiscing. Bands reunite, pieces from artists long-gone reappear, music legends make appearances. And last night was no different, when we had the honor of sitting down with The Chef, Raekwon, from the revolutionary Wu-Tang Clan.

Sure, Rae has had plenty of other accomplishments since joining the legendary nine-man group, (Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt II, for starters), but the lyricist and hip-hop pioneer focused on something else that’s important to him last night: charity.

To commemorate Wu-Tang Clan’s 20th anniversary, he joined forces with Smile Design Gallery to auction off pieces from artists — both street and classically trained — to raise money for children’s dental care in Staten Island (the Wu’s home base). The iconic W appeared on masterpieces from Jean-Michel Basquiat, Takashi Murakami and Retna, among others.

During our chat with him, Raekwon discussed the Wu-Tang Clan’s biggest milestone to date, the art world and his upcoming album, F.I.L.A., to be released in early January.

How do you feel about Wu-Tang Clan celebrating its 20th anniversary? This is a big milestone for all of you.
Raekwon: It’s been a roller-coaster ride. I’m excited to still be here, doing what we do best. And it’s an honor, you know? It just feels good that we can be recognized 20 years later. It’s a good feeling. Not only are we celebrating that, but this is a good cause — going out to children that don’t have healthcare.

How’d you decide to team up with Smile Design Gallery?
We’d been watching them for a long time doing stuff with different organizations and different kids from around the world. They gave us a call and said, “We’re doing this event, and we’d love for you to come out. Now, we’re representing your city.” I thought that was really dope to ask me to be a part of it.

You’re playing to a different crowd now than you were 20 years ago. What’s your take on your morphing fan base?
I wouldn’t say the crowd changed, but it evolved to a bigger plateau for us. At the end of the day, it’s just people recognizing and saying, “Yo, I’m familiar with y’all’s work and the work ethic you’ve brought to the table in y’all’s music.” So I’m happy. I still haven’t made it all over the world yet. But I’m honored to still have lovely fans out there that are still down for it.

And it all started in Staten Island. There’s a huge street art scene there. Have you been able to scope out the street-art scene in Miami yet?
Not yet, but I’ve been in the District. I was out there yesterday. Just taking a look at so many different places. I used to live in Miami. Over there by Biscayne and all of that, a lot of people don’t know that y’all have some of the hottest graffiti writers and art designers and different connoisseurs in the music and art business that just chill back there. So to me, it was dope.

“If I wasn’t rapping, I’d be interior-decorating. People don’t know that I’m into design. To me, that’s art.”

How do you feel about street art sort of being co-opted by the art establishment via events like Art Basel?
I think it’s music and talent and art… knowing that it’s all one, still. When I give you a rhyme, that’s art. It’s just verbal art. Everybody recognizes each other’s art, because you can feel the passion. You know when somebody is creating something that is just amazing, know what I mean? No matter what, if I wasn’t rapping, I’d be interior-decorating. People don’t know that I’m into design. To me, that’s art.

Do you collect art?
I collect it, but when it’s time to create a room.

What kinds of art?
My girl, she calls me the Zoolander because she thinks I like all animal pictures. That sh*t just has me crack up, because I’m like, “Yo, look at this elephant! Look at this lion! Look at this gorilla!” And she’s all like, “Every picture you wanna have is animals. What are you, a zoo keeper?” And we just bust out laughing. But I like all kinds of art: brass, gold, and even kids’ art. When kids get together and do certain things, it’s all art at the end of the day.

Do you feel like street-art gets diluted when it becomes high art — like what happened with Bansky, among others?
No, I think it’s just a platform for everybody to show what they feel is art. Art is all about a passion for drawing and writing and letting your mind just flourish. It’s an industry for art. Everything has something to do with art. Whether it’s music, whether it’s clothes, whether it’s shoes — it’s art.

Your new album, F.I.L.A. (Fly International Luxurious Art) — is that a nod to the art world?
Absolutely, because I feel like my creation on wax is art. I wanted this to be this kind of project that really just shows that Raekwon’s been in the business for so long, and he’s looked at as an underground rapper, a narrator rapper, a hardcore rapper… but still looked at as an international rapper as well. Now is the time for me to display art to y’all at its finest. So this project is a universal lifestyle album that is basically my piece of art today.

What made you decide to take it in that direction, since most people thought you were going to make a third installment of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx?
Well, we’re going to get to that one day. This is not the replacement for it. This is just another project, another accomplishment for me to create. I think people are going to love what I do, because they know my passion and they know I’m down to really get out there and do my sh*t the best way I know how. It’s just another installment of what I’ve got in store.

Image from Raekwon’s Facebook page