GZA's new album 'Dark Matter' melds science and hip-hop

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Rapper GZA, one of the most respected and an influential members of the Wu-Tang Clan, is finding lyrical inspiration in unexpected places. The rappers next album titled Dark Matter was inspired by GZA’s love for science and his unfulfilled desire to be an educator. GZA, who is called genius by his counterparts in the Wu-Tang Clan, has always had a passion for science and has always been recognized as the most intellectual member of the group.

After spending time with celebrity scientist Neal deGrassee Tyson, the concept for “Dark Matter” crystallized for GZA. The rapper began to see parallels between the nature of conceptualizing lyrics and the mysteries of the universe.

“I thought, this is probably the longest spinning record in the world,” GZA told the Wall Street Journal, referring to the ring system surrounding the planet. That moment was the genesis of lyrics like “God put the needle on the disc of Saturn / the record he played revealed blueprints and patterns,” a sample lyric form his upcoming album.

No one in the rap world has sought to explain to fans how rap could be an outgrowth of scientific discovery. With that said, no one but GZA, a virtuoso of imparting shrewd and prudent wisdom to his fans could deliver that message.

The rapper hopes to bridge a gap in science education by making his listeners aware of the significant impact science has on how they see the world. While working on the album GZA teamed up with top physicists and cosmologists form MIT and Cornel University using their research has inspiration for Dark Matter.

Follow Caryn Freeman on Twitter.