Photo by Erez Avissar

It sounds like something is rotten in the state of Wu-Tang: In an interview with Rolling Stone, Raekwon explicitly criticizes RZA's stewardship of the group and claims that he's "on strike" from participating in new album A Better Tomorrow until things improve. Previously, he'd expressed hesitation about A Better Tomorrow after reports emerged that his lack of participation was holding up the album. (The "strike" seemingly does not affect the other forthcoming Wu-Tang Clan album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, which will be released in a limited edition of one single copy.)

"RZA’s the type of dude where, in the 90s, he ruled," Raekwon told Rolling Stone. "Now it’s a new day. You’re not attached no more. It’s like being a coach and you won rings back in the day, but now your team is in ninth place. It’s time for a new fucking game plan."

The whole thing is worth a read, but here are a few highlights.

He had strong words for the album's first single, "Keep Watch":

I hate it. I hate it. I don’t hate shit, but I hate that fuckin’ record. It ain’t the gunpowder that my brother is spitting; it’s the production. And I ain’t shitting on the producer because he’s one of our soldiers. But if it ain’t where it need to be… It’s 20 years later. We talkin 'bout a whole new generation is sitting here representin' and making fiery shit and you telling me that we comin out with some mediocre shit? That ain’t part of our plan.

A contractual dispute is part of the reason why he's "on strike":

It’s the same as being an athlete. I don’t give a fuck if it’s Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant. They will not touch the floor if their managers or lawyers are saying, "Listen, shit ain’t right." So therefore, I’m in a limbo situation. So yeah, you’re right. I am on strike. It ain’t the fact that I don’t want to be there. Because of course I want to be there. But if we’re there, we gotta do the best everything. We gotta work 10 times harder, because that’s what I’m signing in for. I’m not about listening to somebody that’s not an artist telling me what the fuck they think is hot.

It doesn't matter to him whether A Better Tomorrow will be Wu-Tang's last album:

RZA’s saying this is Wu-Tang’s last album? OK. Cool. That’s what it is? You the Abbot? It’s the Abbot show? Aiight, then it’s the last fuckin’ album. I’m cool with that. But at the same time, you’re not going to have me be attached to something that’s broke. Because if it’s already broke, why fix it?

On a scale of 1-10, the chances of him appearing on A Better Tomorrow are low:

We at a two right now. It’s like climbing up a fuckin' mountain if you got on slippers.

Watch the video for "Protect Ya Neck", shot in happier times: