← Back to explore

RZA

Sound

Born July 5, 1969 · Brooklyn, New York, USA

Also known as The RZA · Prince Rakeem · Bobby Steels

Biography

Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA or The RZA ( /ˈrɪzə/; born July 5, 1969), is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, rapper, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in hip hop music, he is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost all of Wu-Tang Clan's albums as well as many Wu-Tang solo and affiliate projects. He is widely considered one of the most influential and landmark hip-hop producers of all time. He subsequently gained attention for his work scoring and acting in films. He has also released solo albums under the alter-ego Bobby Digital. In addition to the Wu-Tang Clan and his solo releases, RZA was also a founding member of the horrorcore rap group Gravediggaz where he used the name The Rzarector. He has also acted in several movies including Coffee and Cigarettes, American Gangster, Gospel Hill, Life Is Hot in Cracktown, Ghost Dog, Funny People, Derailed, Due Date and Repo Men. In 2008, RZA was ranked number four on About.com's best hip hop producers of all time list. Description above from the Wikipedia article RZA, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Awards & recognition

  • Echo Pop Awardthe Hit of the Year · 2004
  • Amadeus Austrian Music Awards

Filmography50+ titles

BFFs

2025Producer

Risen: The Story of Chron "Hell Razah" Smith

2020as himself

The Tiny Chef Show

2022as RZA

Snowfall

2017as Swim

Life in a Year

2020as Ron

Wu-Tang: An American Saga

2019Creator, Director, Writer

Django Unchained

2012Thanks

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair

2004Original Music Composer

Chappelle's Show

2003

Kill Bill: Vol. 1

2003Original Music Composer

The Simpsons

1989as RZA (voice)

Nobody

2021as Harry Mansell

Kill Bill: Vol. 2

2004Additional Music, Original Music Composer

Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music

2016as Self

King of Cool

2021as Self

Californication

2007as Samurai Apocalypse

American Gangster

2007as Moses Jones

Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men

2019as Self

Minions: The Rise of Gru

2022as Biker (voice)

Afro Samurai

2007Original Music Composer

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

1999as Samurai in Camouflage

Fresh Off the Boat

2015as The RZA

Conan

2010as Self - Guest

Hot Ones

2015as Self

The Next Three Days

2010as Mouss

Rhyme & Reason

1997as Self

F9: The Fast Saga

2021Songs

Nobody 2

2025as Harry Mansell

Afro Samurai: Resurrection

2009as DJ (voice)

Coffee and Cigarettes

2003as RZA (segment "Delirium")

Problemista

2023as Bobby

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

2016as RZA

Gang Related

2014as Cassius Green

Iron Fist

2017Director

Mr. Right

2015as Shotgun Steve

The Men in Blazers Show

as Self

Cut Throat City

2020Director

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019as Self

Survivors Guide To Prison

2018as Self

Due Date

2010as Airport Screener

Derailed

2005as Winston Boyko

The Daily Show

1996as Self - Guest

Repo Men

2010as T-Bone

Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan

2008as Himself

Blue Carbon

2024Original Music Composer

Clean

2021as Pawn Shop Kurt

The Protector 2

2013as LC

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015as Self - Guest

A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

2023as Self

Roxanne Roxanne

2017Original Music Composer