Interpol’s Paul Banks and Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA stamped their names in rock and hip-hop lore long ago, so why would they team up to form Banks and Steelz and release a full-length project? The better question is why not, because neither artist has been content to rest on their laurels. Banks has released an EP and two full-lengths as a solo artist, along with a hip-hop mixtape. The RZA’s always been open to experimentation and has such an extensive discography full of work outside of Wu-Tang that his solo albums and movie soundtracks haven’t been called side projects for a long time.
According to a 2013 interview with Rolling Stone, when RZA was asked who he wanted to collaborate with by his manager, the rapper-producer handpicked Banks. They formed a bond playing RZA’s favorite game, chess.
“When I met Paul, I recognized the New York energy he has as a music artist. We got to know each other playing chess and vibing out in the studio. Our talents connected in a unique way and we started writing songs. The outcome was something distinctively different from my previous work, yet with another layer of cool.”
Banks and Steelz released a series of songs and videos leading up to Anything But Words, including “Love + War” featuring Ghostface Killah and “Sword in the Stone” with Kool Keith. The final result is a collection of songs which heavily lean on RZA’s off-kilter flow with Banks on hook duties. Combined with the production melding live instrumentation and hip-hop beats, the project gives listeners something different while they’re taking breaks from Gucci Mane, Frank Ocean, and Vince Staples.
Stream Anything But Words via Spotify below or any platform of your choosing here.
