Raw: U-God’s Journey into the Wu-Tang Featured Session at SXSW 2018 [Video]

"The more you show that you're a working force, the more money they (a label) spend on you...it’s an investment. If it wasn’t on time for MTV and all these other things, they would have just pushed us to the side, no matter what kind of record we had. We showed that we were workers." - U-God

At the 2018 SXSW Featured Session, Raw: U-God's Journey into the Wu-Tang, Forbes contributor Ogden Payne facilitates a conversation with rapper U-God, Lamont Jody Hawkins, of the Wu-Tang Clan. The biographical conversation drifts between U-God’s childhood experiences, early days on the road with the Wu-Tang Clan, the grit of the streets that formed his character, and the wisdom learned over 20+ years in rap.

During the conversation, U-God talks about the touring the U.S. in a van with the Wu-Tang Clan prior to their meteoric rise in popularity and highlights the challenges of working in a group with so many different personalities. The discussion is prompted by interesting stories from U-God’s new autobiography Raw: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang, such as his experiences during incarceration and his work ambitions outside of rap.

"I wish Leonardo DiCaprio would have just bought the shit, and I wouldn’t be doing this right now." - U-God on Wu-Tang Clan’s album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, which is privately owned by Martin Shkreli

Watch the video above for the full 2018 SXSW Featured Session Raw: U-God's Journey into the Wu-Tang, where Wu-Tang Clan member U-God takes the SXSW audience on a journey through his experiences in his early life and the early years of the iconic rap group. Learn from a diverse group of thought leaders at SXSW – browse more 2018 Keynotes, Featured Sessions, Red Carpets, and Q&A’s on our YouTube Channel.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and SXSW News for more SXSW coverage and stay tuned for information on SXSW 2019.

Featured Speaker U-God - Photo by Jay Nicholas