LOUD RECORDS’ FOUNDER SAYS A SKATEBOARDER MADE HIM REALIZE WU-TANG WOULD BE A GLOBAL PHENOMENA
Loud Records was founded by Steve Rifkind and Rich Issacson in 1991. Two years later, the label signed the Wu-Tang Clan and released Enter The 36 Chambers. The rest is history. Rifkind—who recently relaunched Loud with Sony Entertainment—sat down with Ebro, Rosenberg, and Laura Stylez on Hot 97’s morning show to discuss the label’s history and future. At the 25:21 mark, Rifkind is asked when he realized the level of worldwide power of Wu-Tang. It just so happens that the story involves a skateboarder.
It was around four or five months after the album [Enter The 36 Chambers] came out. You remember the L.A. office on Melrose? We’re walking to the deli across the street. You remember the skullies we made with the orange logo? [I was wearing one.] Me and Mojo are walking across the street to get a sandwich. And there’s this kid across the street on a skateboard. And he’s screaming, “Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothin’ to fuck with.” He goes right by us on a skateboard. Me an Mojo look at each other like, “Wow!”
Enter The 36 Chambers turns 25 on November 9. Rifkind goes on to reveal a special project to honor the occasion that’s currently in the works at the 27:57 mark.
Let me know what you guys think of this idea. I want to take nine of the most relevant rappers today, and remake the 36 Chambers [album]. And each one of them will play [one of the members of Wu-Tang].
Rifkind already has Kendrick Lamar and Joey Badass in mind for the project. Who else should be featured on the album is open for debate amongst hip hop heads worldwide. Watch the entire interview above.
