"I knew RZA since junior high. His moms knew my moms. Rae's moms knew his moms - our mothers, they from the same area, Brownsville, Brooklyn. So they knew each other and it just so happens that they moved to Staten Island - we all came together." At 26 years old, with a six year-old son, U-God [born Lamont Hawkins] is a friendly, intelligent man, forthcoming and open. But his youth, the days before the Clan wasn't easy. "Our mothers is happy now, because we were some bad little boys. They didn't think it was gonna be a good sight with us."

"I was going the wrong path. I might not even came out if it wasn't for RZA. I'd die for that man right now. We ain't had nothing that was positive. Only thing that was positive to my family was going to school every fucking day. I graduated from school - I went two years to collage but went to jail too for narcotics possession and firearms. Basic things that black kids go to jail for in the ghetto." During two years on lockdown, U-God was moved between four different prisions in New York's state system. "Music brought me out; RZA brought me up outta that hell. He coulda left me in that hell, but he loved me, so he took me out."

He came out from prison just in time to rhyme two cuts on "Enter The Wu-Tang". "RZA showed me the way. He said, `Would you rather risk your life on the streets, holding guns and doing our wild thing, or would you rather go to London and lay up? Tour for the money that we make?" "From being a one-spot- all-your life-motherfucker to smoking the greenest shit in Amsterdam and having them roll out the red carpet in Japan is an awakening experience."

U-God had a limited verbal role in the past, prior to "Wu-Tang Forever" and remains as one of the last original members to go solo. "I'm focused like a motherfucka. I ain't have no other choice. I was the last to get out of prison , so I'ma have to show and prove last." Although making appearances on many of the tracks on the Wu-Tang Forever album, he still is not satisfied. "I still don't feel like I'm here. I ain't do my shit yet. I'm learning shit new."