Anything But Words

When asked by his manager who he would like to work together with musically, RZA responded with Interpol member Paul Banks. When asked about his choice in a 2013 Rolling Stone interview, RZA stated that Banks "just has an energy about him" and that "it [would] be great" if the two were to collaborate.^[1] In 2011, during which the duo were not planning on making an album together, a demo of material was created with Banks providing vocals over a beat developed by RZA.^[2] The first public mention of the duo's collaborations was made in the same Rolling Stone interview. It was during 2013 that the duo began working on an album together.^[1] RZA expected the album to take about a year to finish.^[3] During 2014, Banks' main project Interpol recorded a studio album titled El Pintor, which was then released in September of that year.^[4][5] The duo wanted to release their material in 2015, but later realized that the material was unfinished.^[3]

The duo premiered the album's lead single, "Love and War", featuring fellow Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, on the Apple Music radio station Beats 1.^[6][7] A video for the song, which pays tribute to a scene from the film Reservoir Dogs, was also released the following day.^[8][9] Details for Anything But Words, as well as tour dates, were released on June 9. Also released on that day was the album's second single, "Giant".^[10][11] "Speedway Sonora" was released as the album's third single on July 14.^[12][13] "Sword in the Stone", featuring rapper Kool Keith, was released as the album's fourth single on July 28^[14] and the album's title track was released as the fifth single on August 12.^[15]

All songs produced by Paul Banks and RZA except where noted. Credits adapted from AllMusic.^[16]