The 2023 UrbanWorld Film Festival, a celebration of Black talent in the film industry, recently convened in New York City. During a post-event discussion, RZA unveiled a captivating story linking Ol Dirty Bastard (ODB) and Kanye West’s memorable stage interruption at the 2009 Video Music Awards, illuminating intriguing connections between two iconic moments in music history.
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The 2023 UrbanWorld Film Festival, held in New York City from November 1 to November 5, brought together Black talent in the film industry.
During a post-event discussion, RZA, a member of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, shared an intriguing story about how the late Ol Dirty Bastard (ODB) inspired Kanye West’s infamous stage interruption at the 2009 Video Music Awards. During the 1998 Grammy Awards, Wu-Tang Clan, led by Ol Dirty Bastard, lost the “Best Rap Album” award for their 1997 album, Wu-Tang Forever, to Diddy’s No Way Out.
Infamously, ODB stormed the stage as Erykah Badu presented the “Song of the Year,” grabbing the microphone from her. He boldly declared, “Wu-Tang is for the children,” and added, “Puffy is good, but Wu-Tang is the best.” This incident created a lasting memory in music history.
Fast forward to the 2009 Video Music Awards, where a young Taylor Swift won “Best Female Video” for “You Belong With Me,” beating Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.” As Swift began her acceptance speech, Kanye West unexpectedly stormed the stage, grabbed the microphone, and infamously said:
“Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’mma let you finish. But Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!”
This moment sparked controversy and became a defining pop culture incident.
As part of the UrbanWorld Film Festival, the documentary film A Wu-Tang Experience: Live At Rocks Amphitheatre was showcased on Nov. 3. This documentary captured the extraordinary concert where the Wu-Tang Clan, accompanied by the 60-piece Colorado Symphony Orchestra, performed their iconic songs in a live score.
The trailer showcased the collaboration and the electrifying performance, offering a unique cinematic experience for Wu-Tang fans.
Furthermore, the festival featured a screening of RZA’s new martial arts film, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Named after the Wu-Tang Clan’s classic debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, the film explored the evolution of the group’s music aesthetic throughout the years.
The 2023 UrbanWorld Film Festival attracted figures from various industries.
Esteemed ballet dancer Misty Copeland, author Nelson George, directors Gerald K. Barclay and Benny Boom, actress Yvonne Orji, and director Thembi L. Banks were among the notable celebrities who attended the event. Their presence highlighted the festival’s significance and the recognition it garnered.
In other news involving RZA, he will host a live orchestra performance to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Wu-Tang Clan’s 1993 classic debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers. The tribute will occur November 7-9 at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
In another film-music collaboration, Travis Scott released the film Circus Maximus on his YouTube channel to accompany his latest album, UTOPIA. The film included several live performances of the songs.
