This is a series about the Ballantine's x RZA partnership. Click here to explore the rest of the stories and find out more.
A couple of weeks ago, as we celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, news dropped of an exciting Ballantine’s x RZA partnership.
Picture this. The Wu-Tang Clan frontman steps into the misty Scottish Highlands to sip whisky from a barrel and talk about music, self-expression, and Staying True — it’s an iconic moment that has kickstarted a very game-changing collaboration accompanied by exclusive drops, and you may have caught wind of the very first in the special series…
Yes, the Ballantine’s x RZA Crosley collection is finally here, complete with a bespoke C6 record player and Montero speaker. Now there are several reasons why this collab with Crosley makes sense, the most important being all three parties’ shared love of music. Futhermore, the announcement of the Ballantine’s x RZA Crosley collection also coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Wu-Tang’s iconic debut album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), a momentous moment for RZA that has been further cemented with vinyl player legends Crosley. Even though RZA dabbles in many different creative hobbies these days, music was and will always be his first foray into self-expression and an integral part of who he is today.
To further celebrate this meeting of masterminds, Ballantine’s and RZA took to The Velvet Room on the Lower East Side of NYC, hosting an intimate listening party that brought together some of RZA’s nearest and dearest alongside some new faces too.
Artists, musicians, and mates of Ballantine's from around the world shared their favorite vinyl, choosing a track that carried meaning or inspiration for them. Sparking nostalgic and insightful conversations between RZA and the crowd, the soundtrack of the evening ranged from underground tracks right through to hip-hop classics. Some of the global faces included rapper Youngsta CPT from South Africa, record collector Filip Kalinowski from Poland, and host of Ballantine’s Stay True Records music program, Joe Pérez-Orive from Spain. The night brimmed with personal stories and interactions on how music facilitates a safe space and creativity but also how it can bring people from all corners of the globe together to celebrate their shared love of the craft. This is something that is at the core of why Ballantine’s started this campaign in the first place, and like RZA said on the night, “Do your best to be original and express yourself fully as yourself. No matter what you do, stay true.”
Co-hosted by DJ Lovie, RZA chatted to her about hip-hop history, what inspired his career, and ended up spinning some of his favorite records, from Aaliyah and DMX to The Rolling Stones and Joy Division (which all you audiophiles and RZA fans can listen to here). The whole evening was live proof that bringing together these three big players in their respective fields was the right move. This is just the beginning from RZA x Ballantine's.
Crosley released their very first turntable back in 1992 and since then has expanded their craftsmanship into radios and jukeboxes, making them one of the most respected manufacturers regarding expertise and bringing analog sound to a digital generation.
The Montero speaker gives you eight hours of uninterrupted jam-time while the two-speed, manual C6 record player isn’t your standard turntable: of course, RZA had to leave his personal stamp on the Crosley creation. You can see handwritten lyrics, sketches, and a signature from the musical maestro himself — it’s truly a one-off collector’s item.
Rooted in staying true to who you are and embracing the freedom to build your own path, RZA, Ballantine’s, and Crosley remind us all that whatever we like to listen to or whichever genre fits our taste, there’s no wrong way to enjoy music and create new experiences with those you hold close.
Shop and find out more about the limited edition Ballantine’s x RZA Crosley record player and speaker on ballantines.com/RZA and crosleyradio.eu
