Photo Credit: Mark Hanson BY LAURA SCHREFFLER PHOTOGRAPHY MARK HANSON STYLING CYNAMIN JONES PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT KENT AVERY STYLING ASSISTANT MONAE MARIE SHOT ON LOCATION AT THE SHAG ROOM AT VIRGIN HOTELS LAS VEGAS Photo Credit: Mark Hanson I t is an early Friday morning in Las Vegas, and RZA, Wu-Tang Clan’s de facto leader, has almost unobtrusively slipped into The Shag Room at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, quietly taking in the organized chaos of our shoot. Here, a revolving roster of members and their entourages — managers, publicists, siblings, stylists, and friends — have all come together to make the iconic ensemble’s first group shoot in three years possible, and for a purpose: the Staten Island-formed outfit is ready to discuss their history-making moment as Sin City’s very first hip-hop residency. RZA — otherwise known as Robert Fitzgerald Diggs — is leaning against the bar when I meet him, instilled with a quiet peace and distinctive authority.
He is tranquil, but also watchful, taking in Cappadonna, who is speaking energetically about his chakras; DJ Mathematics, who is divulging that he’s working on his first book; Young Dirty Bastard, getting his hair styled in the same wild and distinctive fashion as his late father, Old Dirty Bastard; Raekwon, sipping on green tea and catching up with Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa; and Method Man, who is quietly sitting in a corner. But RZA, placid and unflappable, takes a moment to break away from the steady hum o.
