Gza/Genius - Liquid Swords
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Artist: Gza/GeniusEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1995-11-07
Music Label: Fontana Geffen
Soundtracks:
- Liquid Swords
- Duel Of The Iron Mic
- Living In The World Today
- Gold
- Cold World
- Labels
- 4th Chamber
- Shadowboxin'
- Hell's Wind Staff/Killa Hills 10304
- Investigative Reports
- Swordsman
- I Gotcha Back
- Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
Music reviews of Liquid Swords
Music Review: Genius
Rating: 5 Stars
After hearing Enter the Wu - 36 Chambers by the Wu-Tang Clan, i wanted to hear more of these interest emcees. The 9 New York Native emcees known as the Wu-Tang Clan. One of the stand-out emcees in the group was Gza. One of the founders of the Wu, he dropped amazing lyrics and complex words that made me think, and i like that. So i had to hear more of this so-called "Genius"
I actually found out that Gza released an album BEFORE Enter the Wu came out. It was called Words from the Genius. Ive never heard this album, even until today. Luckily, one day, while i was in Miami on vacation, i found a record store, and there it was! A Gza album, his Sophomore LP to be exact. One entitled Liquid Swords... a pure "GENIUS" album.
Back to 2002
Each member of the Wu that has released a solo album has had at least one stand-out album, at least, from the ones ive heard. Both of Method Man's solo efforts are on the Near-Classic Level. Ghostface Killa's Supreme Clientele is classic, as well as Raekwon's Only Built for Cuban Linx. But what about Gza? Well Gza's Liquid Swords could be the best solo Wu effort ever, but thats pretty hard.
On this album, you'll notice a much darker tone than 36 Chambers, at least in my opinion. Now 36 Chambers was VERY dark, but i think Liquid Swords is even darker. The deep, yet basic, instrumentals created by Rza fuel the album and assist Gza easily when he puts down his thought-provoking vocals. The signature Wu-Tang sound is used throughout this album. It sounds a LOT like an underground album, using dirty and grimy drum loops, and piano loops in a low toned sort of sound, but it fits Gza's deep and grim voice perfectly. He sort of sounds like an old wizard. Then there is the lyrics...
Throughout the album, lyrically, this album never falters. Seems to me that each lyric Gza spits is VERY well written and very well thought out. Gza has always been a big supporter of the Shaolin and of the Martial Arts, and throughout the album he uses several clips from Oriental Movies. His lyrics also support this, using clever oriental words. He uses clever phrases, metaphoric rhythims and words, similes, and very smart words to fuel his battle raps and storytelling prophetic flow. Every track has its own display of great lyrics, and Gza never stops. He may be the best lyricist in Wu-Tang, but that is also arguable with Method Man, who also spits fire.
As for Guest appearances, Gza uses the exact perfect formula: not too many, not too less. Luckily, every vocalist who appears on this album is a member of the Wu-Tang Clan except for Killah Priest. So basically Gza has kept it in the Family. Thats a good thing. The other members of the Wu also dont falter here, and complement Gza's advance style very well.
In Conclusion, with this album, Gza may have proven that may be indeed the Genius of the Wu-Tang Clan and their "Fearless Leader". Everybody in Shaolin should cheer for this album as being a crown jewel in the Wu-Tang Clan's arsenal of grimy, yet lyrically diverse and mentally challenging albums, along side many other classics. The largest group in Hip Hop has shocked us, once again...
Time to "Chop" the album down...
1 - Liquid Swords (5 Stars)
The album begins with the title track. After a VERY deep and dark intro from a little kid storytelling that his mother was killed by a rival samurai clan, the track begins. The intro with the little boy is amazing and sets the tone for the entire album. VERY GOOD Opening. Then the very dark Rza instrumental begins and Gza begins his lyrical flow. He busts out some pretty awesome battle raps very well thought out and introspective.
I'm on a Mission, that n*ggaz say is Impossible
But when I swing my swords they all choppable
I be the body dropper, the heartbeat stopper
Child educator, plus head amputator
Cause n*ggaz styles are old like Mark 5 sneakers
Lyrics are weak, like clock radio speakers
Don't even stop in my station and attack
while your plan failed, hit the rail, like Amtrak
2 - Duel of the Iron Mic f/ Inspectah Deck, ODB & Masta Killah (5 Stars)
We continue with the crew coming along. Another Sample of a Martial Arts Movie, then the flow begins. The Genius is the first to get on the mic, Followed by Masta Killah, and Inspectah, and Old Dirty Bastard supplies the chorus for this one. Gza spits AMAZING! The instrumental to this one is really cool. Its a low-key piano loop, with a small snare, a drum loop. Look at these amazing words:
Yo... Picture bloodbaths and elevator shafts
Like these murderous rhymes tight from genuine craft
Check the print, it's where veterans spark the letterings
Slow moving MC's is waitin for the editin
The liquid soluble that made up the chemistry
A gaseous element, that burned down your ministry
Herbal vapors, and biblical papers
Smokin Exodus, every square yard is plush
F*ck the screw-faced photo sessions facial expression
leaves impressions, try to keep a shark n*gga guessin
3 - Living in the World Today. (5 Stars)
We continue here with a Rza intro (with one Meth line), and Gza goes on with his rap. Gza spits tight battle raps shutting down all of the competition against the Wu-Tang Clan. Awesome Metaphors. The instrumental is a pretty simple bassline and drum loop, with some fast saxophone sounds, sounding like jazz a little, but not too much. VERY Unique sound.
My preliminary attack keep cemetaries packed
of n*ggaz who think it ain't like that
MC's are gunned down like being run down with mad trucks
Them God struck, religious n*ggaz call it bad luck
Rap celeb, you got caught up in the web
now bees are stingin, yo that n*ggaz em-singin
I'm just swingin swords strictly based on keyboards
Unbalanced like elephants and ants on see-saws
I throw raps that attack like the Japs on Pearl Harbor
MC's be out like bank robbers
4 - Gold (5 Stars)
The sound of this track is very different. It uses some hard guitar to supply the beat, followed by a slamming bassline. One of the weirdest beats i ever heard, yet its good. Method Man supplies the intro here, and Gza supplies the flow of the song. He storytells on violence in the streets and stuff he has done, which is pretty damn good. He describes it down to the finest detail, using big words and graphic poetry.
Peeped my convo, the address of my condo
And how I changed a n*gga name to John Doe
And while we set up camp, we got Vamp
Put the stake through his heart, I ripped his f*cking fangs apart
Snake got smoked on the set like Brandon Lee
Blown out the frame, like Pan Am flight 103
5 - Cold World f/ Inspectah Deck, Life (5 Stars)
Once again it begins with a Martial Arts sample, then Life provides the chorus and intro for this track, by singing it. Gza storytells about the violence of a cold world, and spits very graphic and violent material, but its not really too bad, its just storytelling. Inspectah Deck comes on the second verse and spits flames, which complements Gza's lyrics perfectly, but i still like Gza's verse more. The instrumental uses some weird violin loops, and a simple drum loop. Sample:
Gunshots, shatter first floor window panes
Shells hit the ground and blood stained the dice game
Whether broke callisthetic, any style you set it
Beat n*ggaz toothless, physically cut up like gooses
But with iron on the sides thugs took no excuses
Therefore, your fifty-two handblocks was useless
Links was snatched off necks, scars on throats
Jackets took, after bullet rips through coats
6 - Labels (5 Stars)
Rza begins his intro about the deadliness of Labels, and Gza does the same thing he does on Fame in his newest album. He names a bunch of labels and metaphors them into his flow. This man is Genius because ive never seen another rapper do this before. Classic.
I DEATH ROW an MC with mic cables
The EPIC is at a RUSH ASSOCIATED LABELS
From EASTWEST to ATCO, I bring it to a NEXT PLATEAU
But I keep it phat though
Yo, I'm hittin' batters up with the WILD PITCH style
I even show an UPTOWN/MCA style
7 - 4th Chamber f/ Ghostface Killah, Rza & Killah Priest (5 Stars)
Another intro from a movie, and this is a pretty good one. I really wanna see this movie now! If anybody knows what movie it is, tell me! The VERY VERY Unique and banging instrumental starts. Using its scratching and synthesizer sounds, along with a low-key piano fuels the track, and Gza comes on with three of his buddies, two from the Wu. Everybody spits awesome battle raps, and Gza finishes the track off with his metaphorical and genius lyrics.
The banks of G, all CREAM downs a bet
Money feed good, opposites off the set
It ain't hard to see, my seeds need God-degree
I got mouths to feed, unnecessary beef is more cows to breed
I'm on some tax free sh*t by any means
Whether bound to hit scheme or some counterfeit CREAM
I learned much from such with cons who run scams
Veterans got the game spiced like ham
8 - Shadowboxin' f/ Method Man. (5 Stars)
Method Man, the other Wu Lyrical Genius, joins Gza for this classic track. Whats pretty cool here is that both Gza and Meth use their alter egos of Maximillion and Johnny Blaze. Meth has two verses to Gza's middle verse. They both spit amazing battle raps and storytell, which is the usual forum of this album. As for the beat, its a WEIRD looping of some words, scratching, synthesizers, organ noises, and a simple drum loop.
I slayed MC's back in the rec room era
My style broke motherf*ckin backs like Ken Patera
Most rap n*ggaz came loud but unheard
Once I pulled ut, round em off to the nearest third
Check these non visual n*ggaz, with tapes and a portrait
Flood the seminar, tryin to orbit this corporate
indsutry, but what them n*ggaz can't see
must break through like the Wu, unexpectedly
Protect Ya Neck, my sword still remain imperial
Before I blast the mic, RZA scratch off the serial
9 - Killah Hills 10304 (5 Stars)
ODB, Grey Ghost, and Rza begin the intro to this track, which is kind of a skit. Gza then gets on the mic with pure flames and lyrical dominance. No breaks or nothing, just about 80 Bars of Gza spitting non-stop lyrics. No Gimmiks here. Gza begins to storytell about the violence of where he grew up on Statten Island. His metaphors and comparing it to several other places like Afganistan and Iran is amazing, and his describing of stories really lets you see what he is rapping about. The beat is also awesome, using high and low key synthesizers and wah wah guitars. Sample:
There's no need for us to spray up the scene
I use less men, more powerful sh*t for my team
Like my man Muhammad from Afghanistan
Grew up in Iran, the n*gga runs a neighborhood newsstand
A wild Middle Eastern, bomb specialist
Intiated, at eleven to be a terrorist
He set bombs in bottles of champagne
And when n*ggaz popped the cork, n*ggaz lost half they brains
Like this ex-worker, tried to smuggle a half a key
in his left leg, even underwent surgery
They say his pirate limp gave him away
As the feds rushed him, comin through U.S. Customs
Now look whose on the witness stand singin, a well known soprano
A smash hit from Sammy Gravano
here's the plan minimum for the hit, two hundred grand
Half time at the game blastin n*ggaz out the stands
The sharp-shooters hit the prosecutor, judges are sent
Photographs of they wives takin baths
10 - Investigative Reports f/ U-God, Raekwon & Masta Killah (5 Stars)
U-God has the pleasure of doing the intro and outro on this track, and the other emcees provide the lyrics. Raekwon begins his grimy vocals, followed by Gza's graphic storytelling, and Masta Killah's finish. Their Storytelling efforts are amazing. The instrumental uses a violin loop with a hard bassline and hi hat. Sample:
Get your pockets dug from all your Chemical Bank-ins
Caught him at the red light - on Putnam Avenue and Franklin
They used to heat up the cipher with a shot that was hyper
than your average JFK sniper
He just came home to Spofford
Rollin like Kaufman, and laid that a** out like carpet
Stop the stutterin boy, save the planes for the five-oh
11 - Swordsman (4 1/2 Stars)
Using a hard bassline and very deep drum loop, along with a bunch of synthesizer sounds, Gza spits raw battle lyrics. Not much to say here, except he uses nice metaphors and its mainly a battle rap, same as usual. He may be a battle rapper, but hes a damn good one.
We were on the same ship when the slaves were checked
I had to pull your card you was on the top deck
So I plotted my escape, I saw the Thin Line Between Love and Hate
And fast from the hog on the plate
I suffered brutal pains, from whips and chains
Punishments that were set to wash the brain
So look listen observe and also respect this jewel
drawed up, di-tect and reflect this
light I shine, that cause my power to be find
through the truth, which manifest through eternal minds
Purified gases and masses the same elements
that helped spark civilization classes
I see brothers quote math plus degrees
Look at professor a** n*ggaz can't feed they own seeds
12 - I Gotcha Back (4 1/2 Stars)
Though uncredited, Rza helps Gza to the intro to this track. Gza once again spits one long verse on this track, and storytells, and uses a lot of metaphors, as usual. He ponders questions about crime, and life, and violence. It is pretty interesting to listen to. His acronym of CRIME is AWESOME and CREATIVE and really makes that a CLASSIC LINE! Only thing that makes it lose the 1/2 point is the repetitive outro by Rza.
What is the meaning of CRIME (what?)
Is it "Criminals Robbin Innocent Motherf*ckers Everytime?"
Little shorties take walks to the schoolyard
Tryin to solve the puzzles to why is life so hard
Then as soon as they reached the playground, blaow!
Shots ring off and now one of them lay down
It's so hard to escape the gunfire
I wish I could rule it out like an umpire
But it's an everlasting game, and it never cease to exist
Only the players change, so...
13 - B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) f/ Killah Priest (5 Stars)
Once again, and acronym. Same as C.R.E.A.M., and C.R.I.M.E. in the last track. Gza the Genius is great at those. The final song on this album. Killah Priest kicks knowledge, and amazing religious and poetic metaphors, along with a variety of similes and VERY complicated verses. This is NOT for Nelly fans.
The understanding, it gave me mental freedom
I even learnt Caucasians were really the Tribe of Edam
The white image, of Christ, is really Cesare Borgia
and uhh, the second son of Pope Alexander
The Sixth of Rome, and once the picture was shown
That's how the devils tricked my dome
I prophesized to save a man, but no one gave a damn
for my nation - the seed of Abraham
Blessed with the tongue of Hebrew
Now we're strung on needles, and some are plungin evils
So study and be wise in these days of darkness
Peace to my nephew Marcus
PURE CLASSIC!!!
Description of Liquid Swords
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