RZA recently shared his perspective on New York hip-hop’s current state, acknowledging its lost originality while considering it an inevitable shift in the genre’s evolution. In an interview with Complex, published October 23, the Wu-Tang Clan icon discussed how hip-hop has transformed since his early days in New York’s music scene.

Reflecting on the genre’s roots, RZA explained that the lack of other influences initially kept New York hip-hop distinct. “When you go back and… study Dr. Dre and his early production for N.W.A., you still hear the breakbeats of New York,” he noted, suggesting that New York’s sounds influenced West Coast production and vice versa over time. He observed that artists like A$AP Rocky have blended Southern and New York influences, making today’s music an amalgamation that is far from its original form.