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Kristen
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RZA
All of them?
Dax
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Dax
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Stephen Colbert
Sell.
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Stephen Colbert
Welcome everybody to the Late Show. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert. Ladies and gentlemen. You know me. You know me. I'm a simple man. I wear my heart on my sleeve partly because my chest cavity is already filled with bacon. So it's no secret how I feel about this Trump reboot. I was not looking forward to it. I knew that he would take the opportunity of a second presidency to do every terrible thing I could imagine. I just never imagined he'd do all of them at once because the last five weeks have been shock and awful. And even now, the MAGA faithful are starting to notice because according to a Republican pollster, Trump voters are getting buyer's remorse. Kind of hard to sympathy for them. They ordered the turd soup and then said, waiter, there's turds in my soup. Then they came back four years later and asked, y'all still have that turd soup? So why are his supporters starting to get a little bit upset? Well, one reason that they give is that they voted for Trump cuz they said he would bring prices down on day one. That was his claim. He said it over and over again. And now on day 38, they still think things are too expensive. Somewhere in Delaware, Joe Biden is shaking his head, chuckling to himself and thinking, why did I come into this room? Now, some MAGA voters also don't like how Trump is letting Elon slice through the federal government like a drunk raccoon with a samurai sword with one of them telling the pollsters, there's a lot of babies being tossed out with A bathwater. Well, that's not surprising. That's how Trump raised Eric. Uh oh, uh oh, I forgot. Look, I forgot to lock the door and he keeps crawling back in. That same Trump voter went on to explain, if we had a drinking game where everyone took a drink when we heard the words reverse course or walking back, we'd be drunk in 20 minutes. Why wait 20 minutes? I'm playing a different drinking game called I will drink whenever I want. And I'm winning. And also losing one again. Thanks to rising inflation and Trump's unpopular tariffs, consumer confidence is down. And businesses are also worried. Independent businesses reported their third highest reading ever on the uncertainty index. Now that sounds really bad. Then again, can you ever really know where you are on the uncertainty index? One thing, one thing that continues to make consumers anxious is the high price of breakfast. And with bird flu, there's no end in sight. According to experts, egg prices could jump 41%. Meaning this year's Easter egg hunt is going to be the purge. It's getting so expensive. This is true that here in New York, some bodegas are selling individual eggs, known as Lucy eggs, to customers who can't afford full cartons. Yum. Loose eggs. And if you can't afford those, there's a guy in the alley in the back. I got jumbo whites, I got cage free organic brown, I got a couple double yolks and crack. Okay, it's, I mean, it's just, it's just a cracked egg, but you can smoke it. People have gotten so desperate that since January, customs agents have stopped at least 90 people from smuggling eggs into the country. The head of the smuggling operation, Pablo Eggscobar. Thanks, Cluckey. That's our newest staff member, Clucky the Joke judging chicken. Thank you for your service, Clucky. It's not just bird flu causing the price hike. Some experts say consumers are contributing to the egg shortage by panic buying. See, that's smart. Buy em now, they last forever. I store my stockpile of eggs in the shed out back, right next to my briefcase of retirement lettuce. But the USDA is trying to help. If an egg farm gets hit by the virus, the government will offer money for biosecurity improvements, which I think is a fancy way of saying putting each chicken in a condom. Either way, our chickens are now in the hands of Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, seen here looking really, you know, enough about the Secretary of Agriculture to boo her. Wow. No, let's keep going, Jim. Let's move on. Mickey Rollins went on TV Yesterday to show Americans that we can have confidence in our leadership during this crisis. Let me show you my handy dandy chart here. So this. Oh, let me turn it the right side up. Go first. Oh, never mind upside down. The point is, we have isolated the virulent bird flu pathogen here in this vial. The joke is that this is supposed to come. Oh, there you go. That got a better laugh than the joke would have. And it's not only eggs. Coffee prices are also soaring and poised to get more expensive. The rising prices are thanks to bad coffee growing seasons and the world's two biggest coffee producers, Brazil and Vietnam. Oh, thank God. I don't get my beans from Brazil or Vietnam. I get them from Costco. They come from the exotic island of Kirkland. Trump is going to make this way worse because his proposed tariffs on Mexico, which exports a lot of our coffee, are likely to drive prices even higher. Which means Americans who want their caffeine fix may have to turn to gas station energy pills. Gas station energy pills. Oh, God, my eyeballs are trying to escape. So, no. So eggs and coffee are drifting rapidly out of our price range. But Steve, you say, surely I can still find solace in the reliable old potato chip. Oh, you sweet, salty little fool. I'll have you know potato chip prices are soaring, so these things are now precious. Okay, keep in mind, we need to ration them. One chip a day, moderation, self control. The chips are good down there. They can soak up the virus. It's been a rough winter right now in the U.S. flu COVID 19 RSV and norovirus are surging, especially the people with norovirus. They are surging in every direction. But things might be worse next year because the FDA just did a bad thing under the direction of vaccine denying Secretary of Health and Human Services RFK junior Seen here suddenly remembering the last place that finger was. Here's the deal. Move on. Here's the deal. Every year, every year, the government gathers a group of scientific experts and these guys pick the strains of flu on which to model next year's flu vaccine. It's always this time of year to get ready for next year. Well, we just found out the FDA cancelled this year's meeting. Great. Great. So if no one's picking what's in the vaccine next year, I say you administer it to your own self with a Coca Cola freestyle machine. Okay, I'm going to do a little strain A, a little strain D and ooh, a touch of root beer. FDA is already trying to backpedal on this this morning, they put out a statement saying the meeting may be canceled, but the agency will still make recommendations to manufacturers in time for the updated vaccines to be available for the upcoming influenza season. Okay, but if the recommendations are not coming from the experts, then who's going to pick the next flu vaccine? These are my two ravens. Okay, that's bird flu. At. But it's not all bad news in the health world because an anti aging pill for dogs has cleared a key FDA hurdle. That's amazing. And I'm being told we actually have footage of the pill clearing that hurdle. This is fabulous. But just to make sure I have this perfectly clear. There is a pill that makes you live longer, but instead of giving it to humans, they're giving it to dogs. That is the correct decision because. Because a dog is man's best friend. And no one has ever said that about man. The pill works by improving the animal's metabolic fitness and can extend a dog's lifespan by by years. In fact, they've already updated the end of Marley and Me.
Guest
Hey buddy, I'm gonna die before you.
Stephen Colbert
Have fun without me. Wow. But there's a catch, folks. There's a catch. The pill is only for senior dogs that weigh 14 pounds or more. Tiny dogs. Your response? It's okay. Yo quiero dead. We've got a great show for you tonight.
Kristen
Coming rza.
RZA
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Stephen Colbert
Ladies and gentlemen, my guest tonight is a hip hop icon who founded the influential rap group the Wu Tang Clan. This week they Announced their farewell tour, Wu Tang Forever, the Final Chamber. Please welcome to the late show, rza. Nice. Nice to see you again. Nice to have you on the Late show for the first time. We talked on the colbert report in 2009.
Guest
Yeah, that was.
Stephen Colbert
Really had a really good time. I really enjoyed that you was in character then, but this is me now. I was in character then.
Guest
It's the real you.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah, yeah. He liked you, but I also liked you. That's the one thing I and the character had in common was RZA walking on the.
Guest
Yes.
Stephen Colbert
One thing I didn't know about you when we talked back in the day was that you're one of 11 children. Yeah, I'm one of 11 children.
Guest
Look at that. See what I mean?
Stephen Colbert
Come on now.
Guest
First of all, what happened to big families, man?
Stephen Colbert
I guess we don't farm enough anymore. We don't farm. I actually, I think it's also vaccines.
Guest
Right, Exactly.
Stephen Colbert
That's what it is.
Guest
Well, I'm the third son, fourth child.
Stephen Colbert
I'm the eighth son, 11th child.
Guest
Ooh, that's.
Stephen Colbert
Wow. Can you do them down from the top? Can you like say them all fast?
Guest
Yeah, I can do that. You want me to do that?
Stephen Colbert
You want to race?
Guest
Okay.
Stephen Colbert
Okay. Ready and go. Hold on. We'll go 1, 2, 3, go.
Guest
Ready, Sophie?
Stephen Colbert
I'll do 1, 2, 3, go by ready?
Guest
I lost it now.
Stephen Colbert
No, I'm ready. Ready?
Guest
I'll give it.
Stephen Colbert
One, two, three, go. Sophie, Tammy, J, Lulu, Paul, Peter, Steve.
Guest
Ok, I bow down. I got only two.
Stephen Colbert
I can't. I can't spit bars, but I can spit. That's what I consider. How did being one of 11 prepared you for life?
Guest
Well, you know what it did, Stephen? It gave me the chance to understand various personalities. Right. Because, you know, you got one brother who would bully me and take things. Right. You had a sister who made. You can't believe the words she say. Right. Except for when she says she loves you. Yes, Right. But all these different personalities helped prepare me for even dealing with the Wu Tang Clan. And it also helped prepare me for dealing with Hollywood. A list actors. I was over in China doing a film, the man with the Iron Fist, and all my actors in different trailers all had a big request. I mean, you got Russell Crowe, Lucy Liu, Dave Bautista.
Stephen Colbert
Those are big egos.
Guest
Yeah. And if it wasn't for my brothers and sisters, I wouldn't know how to deal with that. And it was during Thanksgiving while I was filming, and I was lonely and I just sat down, I wrote them a letter to my brothers and sisters. And I said, just thank you for being my siblings because you actually prepared me for my creative life.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah, that's lovely.
Guest
What up, Devon?
Stephen Colbert
My. I think being. I like being one of 11 because it taught me that to be okay with chaos, that chaos isn't necessarily bad. Like things. It's okay things won't be perfect.
Guest
Right, right.
Stephen Colbert
But even if they're chaos, to be with people you love makes it better.
Guest
Yeah, but being. But you saying you're the youngest, yo.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah, yeah. They finally got it right.
Guest
I think being young helps you because you get to learn from all the others experiences.
Stephen Colbert
Oh, I stole from them all over the place.
Guest
That's beautiful.
Stephen Colbert
Now, your birth name, your birth name is Robert Fitzgerald Diggs. Remind me, where did the RZA come from?
Guest
Well, the RZA comes from my first artist's name was Rakim, Prince Rakim. And I was going in the right direction and I got caught up in street crime, you know what I mean? And I was facing eight years in jail, but I won the case. I was acquitted. Self defense. So I felt like I zigged. Right. But then I zagged into the wrong direction. But when I won the case, my mother looked me right in my eye. She was like, it's your second chance, boy. And I zig back to the right direction, start going positive. And so RZLA stands for Rakim Zig Zag Zig Allah. Finding My Righteousness in God.
Stephen Colbert
Aw, that's lovely. That's lovely. Okay, in 1992, you founded Wu Tang Clan. Okay, let's see if I can do it without any help. Rza, gza, Raekwan Yu God. Inspector Deck Master Killer, Ghost Face Killer, Old Dirty Bastard, Method Man Woo.
Guest
And rza, right?
Stephen Colbert
Did you say ruza?
Guest
I started with you, you started with me.
Stephen Colbert
I gotta start with Rizza.
Guest
You're good, you're good, you're good.
Stephen Colbert
Thank you very much. So here you all are right there. Then you put out your first. You put out your first album right here. Enter the Wu Tang 36 chambers. What do you remember about making this album?
Guest
Well, the first thing is that when we made the music while we was young, we made that record with no money. Meaning everybody just came to the studio for the spirit of making art. And I think art gets its best performance when there's no money involved. And it captured our youth. But if you look at that album cover again, who's on that cover? You can't tell who's on there, right?
Stephen Colbert
Yeah.
Guest
Because even in 1993, it was hard to get all of us together. And so on that cover, me and my photographer, Danny Hasting was like, well, we known for wearing these stocking caps. I said, put the stocking caps on and just make some poses, because everybody wasn't there. And when we got back to the label. I'm serious. We got back to the label and we was looking at the photos. We're like, you know what? Let's just go with this one. And it's considered one of the most top famous hip hop covers of all time.
Stephen Colbert
And has that been a constant with Wu Tang, that not everybody shows up?
Guest
Yes, it's been a constant. But I will say this. I gotta say this to everybody out there. Final Chamber Tour is all of us coming back together. You know what I mean? Coming back, every one of us showing that, you know, even through some of the hard times, some of the beefs and gripes that we had, that the unity and community is what, you know, keeps us tight and united. And go out here and share our art and our culture with the fans who saved us. Because without art and culture, and I'm not shy to say this, you know, some of us were, you know, high school dropouts, Some of us got felonies on our. On our, you know, on our rap sheet. But the music and the art and the culture saved our lives. And this is our chance to go back out one more time together collectively and share our energy with our fans.
Stephen Colbert
Well, over the past year. Over the past year, we've witnessed one of rap's most dramatic beefs. Kendrick Lamar versus Drake. Did you follow along?
Guest
Yeah, that was like Godzilla versus King Kong, you know?
Stephen Colbert
I know, I know. Do you have. Have you had any beefs? I know you're vegan, but are you allowed to have a. Are you allowed to have a beef? Have you had some beefs over the years?
Guest
Nobody. People know that Wu Tang Clan ain't nothing to with.
Stephen Colbert
All right, so no one has come for you.
Guest
Don't let nobody don't come. No one's come for you. Nah, they don't come for us. Wow.
Stephen Colbert
What's the value of a beef?
Guest
No, it's valuable in hip hop because at the end of the day, hip hop is a sport. And it's a sport where we challenge MCs, we challenge the DJs, we challenge the break dancers, we challenge who can make the best graffiti tag. And so it's good for the sport when somebody is. When there's confrontation, because it's healthy as long as it stays on the record. And it stays in the music and it doesn't spill over into the streets where somebody gets hurt.
Stephen Colbert
You know, we have to take a quick break. We're right back with more rza. Everybody.
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Stephen Colbert
Hey, everybody, we're back with RZA. You've been so influential. The Wu Tang Clan has been so influential. You show up in popular culture all the time. Movie, TV shows, video games. Is there something that particularly makes you happy to see when you've seen it out there, when a reference to you guys shows up in something?
Guest
Well, one thing that surprised me was one of my nieces was at a movie theater, and she's seeing a movie called Dirty Grandpa. Bad Grandpa with.
Stephen Colbert
I think it's Dirty Grandpa with Robert De Niro. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Guest
And Robert De Niro in this movie, he starts quoting the Wu Tang Clan.
I'm like, yeah, wow.
Guest
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
De Niro.
Guest
De Niro. Wow. But one of the joys. I gotta share one of my joys with you, though, being in the celebrity world. So I got a chance to do a voice for one of the Minions. And not the minion, but a character in the minion movie. I understand.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah, I understand.
Guest
Yeah. And my nieces and nephews all went to see it when they came out. And then, you know, we do our little family zoom chats. And they was like, uncle Rakim, you were in the Minions? And I gotta tell you, if I felt kind of proud for that, y'all.
Stephen Colbert
Sure.
Guest
Shout out to the. Shout out to Universal.
Stephen Colbert
Well, as you said, you just announced your Farewell Tour Wu Tang Forever THE Final Chamber how are you feeling about going out for the last time? Is that bittersweet?
Guest
It's bittersweet. This tour is going to be very lyrical. You know, it's going to be unlike anything we ever done before the production. So I want everybody to come out. We actually have a special guest. Runda Jules will be with us as well.
Stephen Colbert
Killer Mike and LP Old Friends over here.
Guest
And so that means that it's gonna be a very lyrical type of tour. Can I show you some of the lyrics?
Stephen Colbert
I would love to hear some of the lyrics.
Guest
I'm talking about lyrics like this. See if you can follow me on this one. The pre existence of the mathematical biochemical equation is the manifestation of rock, plant, air, fire and water, which are in a basic formation. The solid, liquid and gases that form all the masses and the space catalysts and the matter that exists in a dense third dimension. It must be observed when the nerve is struck. See, the fourth dimension is time and it travels inside our minds when the chakras energize up through the back of your spine. So observe as the Qi energy strike your vital nerve. One swerve of the tongue could pierce you like a sword through the lung. Have you not heard that words kill as fast as bullets? When you load negative thoughts into the chamber of your brain and your mouth pulls the trigger that propels wickedness from the pits of hell or from the pits of your stomach where negative energy dwells. They try to keep our females in deep spells. I say buy wholesale, not retail. If you eat well, you sleep well. But what makes hair, skin, epidermis and fingernails regenerate while everything else in our body disintegrates? So I wear a Teflon vest so bullets can't penetrate. On the corner of my block, there stood this old man. He was a black immigrant from the land of Sudan. Used to tell stories to the children in my building. But he never had a dollar to keep his pocket filled in. He bombed me on Deuteronomy and the science of astronomy, but didn't know the basic principles about economy. I told him, a wise man don't play the role of a fool. The first thing a man must obtain is the 12 jewels. Knowledge, wisdom, understanding. To help you achieve freedom, justice, equality, food, clothing and shelter. After this, love, peace and happiness. He had the nappiest head. I told him, total satisfaction is to achieve your goal in the scheme of things. For he who works like a slave will eat like a king. Wu Tang.
Stephen Colbert
Tickets for Wu Tang Forever the Final Chamber go on sale tomorrow. Rza, everybody. Thank you for listening to the Late Show Pod show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see me more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.
Jeff Probst
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Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert – Episode Featuring RZA | "Shell Shock"
Episode Information:
In this episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert welcomes RZA, the legendary hip-hop icon and founder of the Wu-Tang Clan. The conversation delves into RZA’s personal background, his contributions to music and culture, the upcoming farewell tour of Wu-Tang Clan, and reflections on the group’s enduring legacy.
Timestamp: [01:04] – [13:22]
Stephen Colbert opens the episode with his signature monologue, addressing current political and economic climates with his characteristic wit and satire. He critiques former President Donald Trump’s second presidency, highlighting the unexpected intensity of his actions and the resulting buyer’s remorse among his supporters.
Key Topics Discussed:
Trump’s Second Presidency:
Economic Challenges:
Healthcare and Public Health:
Social Commentary:
Colbert’s monologue effectively sets the stage for the episode by highlighting contemporary issues with humor and sharp insight, providing listeners with a blend of laughter and thought-provoking commentary.
Timestamp: [15:02] – [26:58]
The latter half of the episode features an in-depth interview with RZA, where he shares insights into his life, the formation and influence of the Wu-Tang Clan, and the significance of their farewell tour, "Wu Tang Forever: The Final Chamber."
Key Discussion Points:
Personal Background:
Formation of Wu-Tang Clan:
Iconic Album – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers):
Wu-Tang Clan’s Influence and Legacy:
Farewell Tour – "Wu Tang Forever: The Final Chamber":
Creative Process and Lyrical Content:
Cultural References and Personal Achievements:
Insights on Hip-Hop Rivalries:
Conclusion of the Interview: RZA highlights the importance of unity and community within Wu-Tang Clan, underscoring that despite internal challenges, their collective strength has been pivotal in their enduring success. He invites fans to join the final tour, ensuring that Wu-Tang’s legacy continues to resonate.
Stephen Colbert concludes the episode by promoting the Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber tour, expressing gratitude to RZA for his time and insights. He encourages listeners to engage with additional content through The Late Show YouTube channel for more exclusive clips and behind-the-scenes moments.
Notable Quote: “Tickets for Wu Tang Forever the Final Chamber go on sale tomorrow. Rza, everybody. Thank you for listening to the Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert.” [26:58]
This episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert offers a balanced mix of sharp social commentary and an enriching conversation with a pivotal figure in hip-hop. Stephen’s engaging monologue sets the tone for a meaningful dialogue with RZA, providing listeners with both entertainment and substantive insights into the legacy of the Wu-Tang Clan.