Exclusive: King Khan Talks GZA Collaboration, Says the Whole Thing Started at NXNE
11/2/2009 By Josiah Hughes

There have been some rumours floating around that Wu-Tang rapper GZA has recently discovered the joys of independent rock. Not only did he lay a verse down for a remix of the Black Lips' “The Drop I Hold,” but he's also apparently been working on tracks with the likes of Devendra Banhart, Fucked Up and, as we most recently heard, with garage rocker King Khan. In a recent interview with Exclaim!, Khan confirmed he has indeed begun a musical partnership with GZA, saying he’s been writing several new tunes for the rapper.

The whole thing has Canadian roots, Khan explains. “We hung out a whole bunch in Toronto for a couple days at NXNE actually,” he says. “I was in a hotel room with him, just jamming. He was free-styling and we were hitting it off. Ever since then, we've kept in touch.”

Their budding friendship also resulted in a long-distance method of collaboration, with Khan saying, “Basically they want me to be involved in the next record somehow. He's a big fan of the Shrines too, and he's been asking me to write some songs... I'm on tour so much, but I was able to write a few tracks at home and send them in.”

Those of you lucky enough to be attending Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin on November 7 and 8 will also get to witness some sort of live collaboration between GZA and the garage punk god, Khan says. That would explain by the Fest's artists page lists GZA as featuring “special guests.”

To read the rest of our King Khan interview, check out this month's Questionnaire.
More News: << Previous Story | Next Story >>
Do you have a news tip for us? Did anything crazy happen at a show? Got any inside info on a band? Click here to let us know!
• Propagandhi, Alexisonfire and Pissed Jeans Lead the Way in Exclaim!’s Best Punk Albums of 2009
• Jacksoul’s Haydain Neale Dies of Cancer
• New Tracks by LCD Soundsystem, Why?, Sonic Avenues and More Lead the Way in Click Hear
• L.A. Duped by Fake DOOM — Again
• Miracle Fortress and DD/MM/YYYY Robbed at M for Montreal
• Joanna Newsom Finished Work on New Album?
• Head Over to Exclaim! TV for a Dose of Josh Reichmann, Fugazi’s Joe Lally, Dave Bidini and More
• Oasis Stage Invader Pleads Guilty to Assault
• Rush's Neil Peart to Record New Version of “The Hockey Theme”
• Radiohead, Beck, Coldplay and New Order Featured on New War Child Compilation
Do Make Say Think - Other Truths
Though they've never been predictable, twisting and turning down a veering path of whatever post-rock is supposed to be, Do Make Say Think strike a reflective tone on the wondrous Other Truths. By their own reckoning, Do Make's previous acclaimed record, You, You're a History in Rust, ... Full Review
King Khan
Montreal ex-pat King Khan has led a classically "rock'n'roll" lifestyle since leaving his home at 17, legally changing his name from Erich Khan to Blacksnake, and eventually relocating to Berlin. Since then, he's become renowned worldwide for his various garage, punk and soul projects, including the big-band soul project King Khan and the Shrines and his collaborative duo with Mark Sultan, the King Khan and BBQ Show.... Read More
Ian McCulloch of Echo & the Bunnymen
They don't call him Mac the Mouth for nothing. What was planned as an in-depth conversation about Echo & the Bunnymen with front-man Ian McCulloch, turned into mostly listening to the Mouth go to work in a brief 20-minute phone conversation.... Read More
Social Networking
• Be our friend on MySpace
• Be our fan on Facebook
• Tweet us on twitter
Viewing the November 2009 Issue: • Contents Page • News • Click Hear • Articles --> On the Cover  •  Front Five  •  Points  •  Questionnaire  •  Release Dates  •  Timeline  •  Videogames  •  Conversations • Music Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Aggressive Tendencies  •  Beats & Rhymes  •  Destination Out  •  Frequencies  •  Groove  •  No Future  •  Pop Rocks  •  Wood, Wires & Whiskey  •  Concert Reviews  •  Pop Montreal Reviews • Motion Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Dvd Reviews  •  Film Reviews  •  Music DVD Reviews  •  Videogame Reviews • Music School --> Need to Know  •  What I Play • Contests • Contact --> About Us  • Advertising  • Distribution  • Getting Reviewed  • Getting Published  • Letters To The Editor  • Partnerships  • Subscriptions • Exclaim! Radio --> Aggressive Tendencies Radio  • Beats & Rhymes Radio  • Destination Out Radio  • Frequencies Radio  • Groove Radio  • No Future Radio  • Pop Rocks Radio  • Wood, Wires & Whiskey Radio • Exclaim! TV • Home & Latest Issue • Browse Issues