There aren’t many comedians as perfectly in tune with the hip hop world as Seth Rogen. An avid devourer of the music the New York rappers have made over the years, Rogen is a bona fide superfan, once naming two of the group’s albums within his top five records of all time.
In 2008, when he was on the promotional trail for Pineapple Express, Rogen opened up to MTV News about his favourite albums, and it’s as exquisite as you’d expect from him. “I like Coda a lot, the Led Zeppelin album,” the comedian said. “That’s one of my favourite ones. And [Wu-Tang’s] 36 Chambers; can’t beat that. Wu-Tang Forever is good, too, though.”
Seemingly this is the only time, unfortunately, that the comic has publicised his adoration for Led Zeppelin. During a Twitter Q&A in 2015, Rogen named three LPs when a fan quizzed him about his favourite album. He named Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders and The Roots’ Do You Want More?
Rogen’s showed off his love of Wu-Tang on a plethora of occasions. They are a group that has given him a bunch of beautiful memories, as well as one time he’d much rather forget when he found himself tear-gassed at one of their shows.
Speaking with Nardwuar, Rogen recalled in 2017: “That was in Long Beach, maybe ten years ago, I want to say. A riot broke out, they tear-gassed the crowd, me included,” he laughed hysterically.
Rogen even shot scenes alongside RZA from Wu-Tang for Judd Apatow’s 2009 film, Funny People, and the rapper was mightily impressed with the Canadian. “Those dudes is funny, man. They do go off the script. They’re comedians,” RZA later said.
“While we’re doing the film, it’s like Seth Rogen could be an MC. He freestyles his jokes.” RZA continued. “He’ll change it, then change it, then change it. He’s so witty. Those guys are not accidental talents; they are the truth.” His praise for Rogen didn’t stop there, RZA added: “Seth knew the lyrics to Bobby Digital’s ‘Holocaust’. He was like, ‘What happened to that kid who said, ‘Back-smack you so hard all your seeds will be born deformed’?”
Unfortunately, it’s been over a decade since RZA made these comments, and we are still yet to see a collaboration materialise between the two of them. Rogen previously made a cameo appearance in a Beastie Boys video, and if Wu-Tang wants to gift us with a helping of new music anytime soon, then there’s only one person who should be in charge of the visuals.
