Portugal. The Man Gets The RZA Remix Treatment

Over this past weekend, I witnessed Wu-Tang Clan (minus Method and GZA) perform at Murs’ Paid Dues festival in sunny Southern California. Despite a quizzical set time (4 PM) for the headliners, the performance was easily one of the day’s best as RZA, Ghostface, Raekwon and company tore through hit after hit. RZA opened the festivities, bringing out each member of the Wu one by one before entering into a resoundingly fresh take on “Bring Da Ruckus.” It struck me as a little odd to see Robert Diggs on stage with the Wu (I haven’t seen them since back in ’07) as he has strayed from his Staten Island brethren in recent years, entering the film world and collaborating with several non-hip hop artists. Last year, he gave his take on Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros frontman Alexander’s “Truth,” which despite some poor mixing, was a decidedly cohesive performance. Since 2005, he has been a member of Achozen, a “space hip hop” group along with members of System of a Down and Killarmy. These creative forays away from the Killa Beez have been met with varied critical responses, but no one can blame the man for trying to break out of his comfort zone.

Today brings us another unforeseen collaboration, this time a remix with Portland psych rockers, Portugal. The Man. After a request from the band, RZA took on “All Your Light” from 2011’s In The Mountain In The Cloud, kicking some dirt on the original and infusing a little vintage broken beat. Unfortunately we don’t get a new verse from the Grandmaster, but what can you do? Stream and download the track below courtesy of The FADER.