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Brooklyn Zu

Created by one of Hip-Hop's most unique and beloved characters, the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, the Brooklyn Zu is one of music's most recognizable names.

In the early 90s the Wu-Tang Clan emerged out of the New York City streets and began to shape the face of modern urban music. As a member of the Wu-Tang Clan, Ol' Dirty Bastard began building a group of his own Brooklyn emcees. Five artists combine to make up the Brooklyn Zu clique. These members include 12 O'Clock, Buddha Monk, Shorty Shitstain, Murdoc and The Zoo Keeper.

While growing up in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York, Buddha Monk first met Ol' Dirty Bastard when he was DJ'ing house parties all over the boro. When Buddha would play records, Dirty began to take the mic and rap to the music. Their relationship evolved immediately and the two became inseparable. It was shortly after this that Dirty introduced Buddha Monk to his younger brothers: 12 O'Clock, The Zoo Keeper, Shorty Shitstain and Murdoc. From there, the five would meet with The Zoo Keeper at their grandmothers and listen to beats all day long. This is when The Zoo Keeper bestowed the name the Brooklyn Zu on the crew.

Fast forward a few years to when the Wu-Tang Clan began making a name for itself in the world of Hip-Hop. As the Wu began making noise at this time, so too, did the Zu. As a collective unit, the group began working on several different projects as well as solo albums. Most notably was "Nightmare on Zu Street" which became big in New York City with the help of Funkmaster Flex and then soon following suit all throughout the country.

Taking after its founder, the Brooklyn Zu has always been an untamable beast. Even from the early days of rapping on the street corner they fondly remember not having enough money for beer and snacks. "Shorty used to wear pants three sizes too big and we would all go in the store, we would distract the register guy and Shorty would just shove the beers and snacks down his pants. That's the Zu, that's how we get down," says Buddha Monk.

Brooklyn Zu members have released projects on various record labels throughout the industry. Each member has separately been signed as a solo artist to different record labels. 12 O'Clock was previously signed as a solo artist to Def Jam Recordings, and is also a member of the Wu-Killa Beez and 2 On Da Road (w/ Prodigal Sunn). Buddha Monk was previously signed to TVT Records, Elektra Records, Profile Records, Sure Shot Records, Edel American and Nature Sound. Buddha is currently signed as a solo artist to Universal Records Switzerland and has a release scheduled for late 2008. Shorty Shitstain, Murdoc and The Zoo Keeper were all signed as solo artists to Dirty Records.

The members of the Zu have appeared on an estimated 100 albums collectively. Some of the albums the members have appeared on include: Wu-Tang Clan "Iron Flag" (Columbia), Wu-Tang Clan "Wu-Chronicles – Chapter 2" (Priority), GZA "Legend of the Liquid Sword" (MCA), Wu-Syndicate "Wu-Syndicate" (Priority), Sunz of Man "Saviorz Day" (Riviera), Nutty Professor Soundtrack (Def Jam), Tales From The Hood Soundtrack (MCA) and many more. In addition, the Brooklyn Zu has appeared on all five solo releases of the Ol' Dirty Bastard. The Ol' Dirty Bastard has sold over two million units in the United States while the Wu-Tang Clan is currently over six million in the United States alone.

The Zoo Keeper recently finished a documentary "ODB Ason Unique" about the life and death of Russell Jones, aka the Ol' Dirty Bastard. The film will be released on DVD in late 2008 on Zu Flims.

Currently, several years after the Wu-Tang Clan's debut, "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)", and after the death of its beloved leader, the Brooklyn Zu has once again come together to remind the world what is real New York Hip-Hop. "Every single day something happens with each one of us that reminds us of Dirty. He is with us all the time and we want to make sure no one forgets that," says 12 O'Clock.

Set to release the first ever studio album of the Brooklyn Zu, "Chamber #9, Verse 32", the Zu is poised to make sure no one forgets ODB or their style of music. The album enrolled many of their Wu-Tang family featuring: the RZA, the GZA, Masta Killa, Killah Priest, Prodigal Sunn, Shyhiem, 60 Second Assassin and many more. The album also features production by the RZA and more. July 1, 2008 the untamable beast returns to breathe life back into Hip-Hop.