RZA: The Wu-Tang icon is officially cracking into the classical genre with his 'A Ballet Through Mud' album

Your favorite rap icons are switching up on everyone these days. Whether it’s Andre 3000 delivering a full-fledged flute-type album or Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA showing out with a new A Ballet Through Mud classical studio effort, I’m here for the expansion of musical awesomeness.

RZA has you diversifying your musical tastes with a new classical album

Classic or classical, I’m here to see what Bobby Digital is bringing to The Culture next month. With a knack for always putting his signature touch into anything he does, the stakes are high for this new conceptual project.

Famed artist RZA and Platoon today announced the official release of “A Ballet Through Mud,” an original composition and orchestration created by RZA. Originally performed by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, “A Ballet Through Mud” is a poignant coming-of-age story that delves into the complexities of love, the bonds of friendship, and personal growth.

RZA found this project during the pandemic, when during lockdown he came across old lyrical notebooks he’d filled as a teen. Inspired by his early musings, RZA explored what would become his first classical album, then ballet, bringing it to life onstage in 2023.

Featuring characters named for Greek musical scales, the piece echoes RZA’s journey from
Staten Island project housing to refined concert halls – weaving in tales of love, loss, exploration, Buddhist monks, and a journey “through mud.”

"I have been composing my whole life, although I didn't know initially that was what I was
doing. The inspiration for ‘A Ballet Through Mud’ comes from my earliest creative output as a
teenager, but its themes are universal—love, exploration, and adventure,” said RZA. “I hope
people use it to score their own lives, to transform a drive to the grocery store or sharing a meal with loved ones into something magical, to be inspired and let their imaginations take them into a different chamber, if only for a moment."

An emotional tale, the composition beautifully transports the listener across time and space
without losing the energy and power RZA has become known for in his music – whether it’s
Wu-Tang or the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Volume 1 and 2. Profoundly
influenced by his philosophical journey toward Chan Buddhism, “Ballet Through Mud” oscillates between idealism and orchestration while remaining grounded enough to be enjoyed by a wide audience.

The tracklist is as follows:

1. Aeolian Beauty
2. Clear Sky After Storm
3. Ballet Through Mud
5. Divine Intervention
6. Freedom of Movement
7. Soft Footsteps
8. Goodnight
9. The Night Dances When You Least Expect It
10. Moving Meditation
11. The Lotus Arrives

Composed and produced by RZA, “A Ballet Through Mud” was performed by the Colorado
Symphony Orchestra and was conducted by Christopher Dragon. Pietro Rossi mixed and
mastered the work, with the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus providing the Dolby Atmos
Mix. Additional orchestration by Ming-Hsueh Lin, Scott O’Neil, Tan Onwimon, and Joseph
Colmenero. Musical direction was done by RZA and Joseph Colmenero. Project coordinators on the project were Joseph Comenero and Tareef Michael. Yusha-Marie Sorzano served as choreographer in the original performance.

This is the first partnership between RZA and Platoon. “A Ballet Through Mud” will be available to stream officially on August 30 via Platoon.

About Platoon
The multi-award-winning and GRAMMY® nominated label Platoon was founded by music industry legend and CEO Denzyl Feigelson in 2016. The boutique artist services company identifies groundbreaking talent from around the world while providing invaluable and innovative tools and services to build their careers and reach new fans. Platoon landed its first success shortly after their inception when they signed the then-unknown Billie Eilish, laying the groundwork for her ascent to global stardom alongside other household names such as Mr. Eazi and Victoria Monét. Current signings include Saint Harison, Gustavo Dudamel, LA Philharmonic, Skream, James Fauntleroy, Khalid, and more. Platoon’s team expands across the globe with offices in London, New York, and Los Angeles, as well as a “Creative Lab” in Cape Town. Their visionary spaces in London, Los Angeles, and Africa boast recording studios and also provide inspiring ecosystems for artists to openly collaborate, have access to educational classes, and find guidance across music and marketing.