GZA/Genius | ||
| Allmusic Biography : GZA, aka the Genius, was the most cerebral MC in the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as perhaps the most acclaimed. His cool, precise flow and intricate, literate rhymes werent as theatrical as Method Man or Ol Dirty Bastard, the two biggest commercial stars to spring from the collective. But among hip-hop aficionados, GZA was revered for his flawless technique and lyrical dexterity, and was considered by many to be the best pure rapper in the entire Clan. GZA was born Gary Grice on August 22, 1966, on Staten Island, New York, and shuttled between several other New York boroughs with various relatives during his childhood. He started learning rhymes by the earliest hip-hop MCs while spending time in the Bronx, and returned to Staten Island to share them with his cousins, who later became known as Ol Dirty Bastard and the RZA. In fact, the three of them first teamed up in the early 80s as part of an obscure group called All in Together Now. Time passed, and GZA landed a recording contract with Cold Chillin, which, unfortunately, was nearing the end of its brilliant run. In 1991, he became the only future Wu-Tang member to release a solo album prior to the Clans formation, with Words from the Genius. Produced mostly by Easy Mo Bee, the album flopped badly and, creatively, did little to hint at GZAs future standing. Conflicts with the label sent him packing, and he reteamed with a similarly disenchanted RZA (fresh off a failed stint with Tommy Boy) and Ol Dirty Bastard to co-found the Wu-Tang Clan. Adding six other friends and associates, the group became an underground sensation and took the rap world by storm with its 1993 debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Their innovative contract allowed each member to sign a solo deal with whatever label they chose, and GZA wound up on Geffen. In 1994, his first post-Wu solo track, "I Gotcha Back," appeared on the soundtrack of the film Fresh. His second solo album, Liquid Swords, followed in 1995 and was hailed as a hip-hop classic thanks to its coolly understated menace. While it didnt make him a star on the level of Method Man, the album did sell well, reaching the Top Ten of the Billboard 200 and falling one spot short of the top of the R&B;/Hip-Hop chart. There were no big mainstream hits, but the title cut, "Cold World," and "Shadowboxin" all did well on the rap chart. Following the Clans 1997 sophomore set, Wu-Tang Forever, GZA returned to the solo arena with 1999s Beneath the Surface. While critics didnt praise it quite as lavishly as Liquid Swords, it was another well-received effort (especially compared to some of the lackluster follow-ups elsewhere in the Wu-Tang camp), and it topped the Hip-Hop/R&B; album chart. After reconvening with the Wu for 2000s The W and 2001s Iron Flag, GZA dropped his fourth solo effort, Legend of the Liquid Sword, in late 2002, consolidating his reputation as one of the most skillful rappers around. Grandmasters, a collaborative project between himself and Cypress Hill DJ Muggs, was released in 2005, followed the next year by an instrumental version and then a remix version in 2007. A year later GZA released the solo album Pro Tools on the indie label Babygrande. It featured guest shots from Wu affiliates RZA, Masta Killa, and producer Mathematics. GZA lectured at several universities, including Harvard and Oxford, and applied his academic connections and deep interest in science to develop a science-meets-hip-hop program dedicated to engaging New York City high school students. Additionally, he worked toward another solo album, Dark Matter, with electronic music pioneer Vangelis among his collaborators. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 9 Title: Words From the Genius Released: 1991 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:05:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Come Do Me (04:49) 2 Phony as Ya Wanna Be (05:04) 3 True Fresh M.C. (03:41) 4 Genius Is Slammin’ (04:25) 5 Words From a Genius (05:05) 6 Who’s Your Rhymin’ Hero (04:35) 7 Feel the Pain (03:44) 8 Those Were the Days (04:40) 9 Life of a Drug Dealer (03:41) 10 Stop the Nonsense (03:43) 11 Living Foul (04:27) 12 Drama (04:01) 13 Stay Out of Bars (03:58) 14 What Are Silly Girls Made Of (04:36) 15 Superfreak (04:40) |
| Words From the Genius : Allmusic album Review : Originally released by Cold Chillin in 1991, Words from the Genius set the stage for the emergence of the Wu-Tang Clan two years later, with the revolutionary Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Theres a huge gulf between Words from the Genius and Enter the Wu-Tang, however, as well as from GZAs successive solo album, Liquid Swords (1995). The most noticeable difference between this album and those is the production. Credited primarily to Easy Mo Bee (billed here as EZ-Mo-Bee), who had previously worked with Big Daddy Kane on Its a Big Daddy Thing (1989) and who would go on to work with the Notorious B.I.G. on Ready to Die (1994), not to mention a long list of credits that also includes Miles Davis as well as 2Pac, the production of Words from the Genius is fairly typical of golden age Cold Chillin; that is, its above average and classic-sounding, but pales in comparison to the dark, cinematic beatscapes of RZA, the mastermind behind all the early Wu-Tang beats. Interestingly, RZA (billed here as Prince Rakeem) does show up on Words from the Genius, trading off rhymes with GZA on "Pass the Bone." Neither RZA nor GZA rap as sharply as they would years later; in fact, they sound young and unpolished here, if eager and showcasing signs of promise. More than anything, Words from the Genius is a novelty: Wu-Tang aficionados surely will find the raps curious, especially the aforementioned RZA collabo, "Pass the Bone," and Cold Chillin disciples will enjoy this seldom-heard entry in the influential labels long out of print catalog. But beyond its novel aspects, Words from the Genius deserves little more than footnote status in the Wu-Tang canon. Its merely a seedling from which a bounty of fruit would blossom, beginning in late 1993 with Enter the Wu-Tang. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 9 Title: Liquid Swords Released: 1995-11-07 Tracks: 13 Duration: 55:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Liquid Swords (04:30) 2 Duel of the Iron Mic (04:06) 3 Living in the World Today (04:22) 4 Gold (03:57) 5 Cold World (05:30) 6 Labels (02:54) 7 4th Chamber (04:37) 8 Shadowboxin’ (03:30) 9 Hells Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304 (05:08) 10 Investigative Reports (03:49) 11 Swordsman (03:21) 12 I Gotcha Back (05:01) 13 B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) (04:29) |
| Liquid Swords : Allmusic album Review : Often acclaimed as the best Wu-Tang solo project of all, Liquid Swords cemented the Genius/GZAs reputation as the best pure lyricist in the group -- and one of the best of the 90s. Rich in allusions and images, his cerebral, easy-flowing rhymes are perhaps the subtlest and most nuanced of any Wu MC, as underscored by his smooth, low-key delivery. The Genius eerie calm is a great match for RZAs atmospheric production, which is tremendously effective in this context; the kung fu dialogue here is among the creepiest hes put on record, and he experiments quite a bit with stranger sounds and more layered tracks. Not only is RZA in top form, but every Clan member makes at least one appearance on the album, making it all the more impressive that Liquid Swords clearly remains the Genius showcase throughout. All of his collaborators shape themselves to his quietly intimidating style, giving Liquid Swords a strongly consistent tone and making it an album that gradually slithers its way under your skin. Mixing gritty story-songs and battle rhymes built on elaborate metaphors (martial arts and chess are two favorites), the Genius brings his lyrical prowess to the forefront of every track, leaving no doubt about how he earned his nickname. Creepily understated tracks like "Liquid Swords," "Cold World," "Investigative Reports," and "I Gotcha Back" are the albums bread and butter, but theres the occasional lighter moment ("Labels" incorporates the names of as many record companies as possible) and spiritual digression ("Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth"). Overall, though, Liquid Swords is possibly the most unsettling album in the Wu canon (even ahead of Ol Dirty Bastard), and it ranks with Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and Raekwons Only Built 4 Cuban Linx as one of the groups undisputed classics. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 9 Title: Beneath the Surface Released: 1999-06-29 Tracks: 18 Duration: 46:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Intro (01:17) 2 Amplified Sample (03:31) 3 Beneath the Surface (04:29) 4 Skit #1 (00:37) 5 Skit #2 (00:31) 6 Crash Your Crew (03:07) 7 Breaker, Breaker (03:38) 8 High Price, Small Reward (01:43) 9 Hip Hop Fury (03:44) 10 Skit #3 (00:47) 11 1112 (04:18) 12 Skit #4 (00:45) 13 Victim (04:04) 14 Publicity (02:36) 15 Feel Like an Enemy (03:12) 16 Stringplay (Like This, Like That) (03:18) 17 Mic Trippin (02:59) 18 Outro (01:34) |
| Beneath the Surface : Allmusic album Review : There were so many Wu-Tang-related projects released during 1998 and 1999 that listeners -- and even fans -- could be forgiven for a bit of apathy regarding the second solo effort by Wu-Tangs Genius/GZA. The collectives trademark detuned strings had gone from de rigueur to downright dated by mid-1999, and except for a well-received RZA solo album earlier in the year, the lead in hip-hops hype game appeared to have been taken over by Timbalands brand of future funk. It may not have proved the commercial smash of a proper Wu-Tang LP, but Genius/GZAs Beneath the Surface is a worthy continuation and development of the Wu-Tang Clan conglomeration. The best tracks here, "Amplified Sample" and "Crash Your Crew," are quintessentially Wu-Tang, but with important tweaks to the trademark sound. The crisp, clean production -- by Wu associates Inspectah Deck, Mathematics, and Arabian Priest -- sounds much better than any project that had been recently issued (even RZAs Bobby Digital), and GZAs raps prove hes the most innovative and talented vocalist Wu-Tang had to offer. The only failure (at least in terms of sound) is "Victim," a cloying track with a bit of scratched acoustic guitar and some X Files-styled strings. Other than a few "skits" that disturb the flow, Beneath the Surface is arguably the best thing to come out of the Wu camp since their second proper album, Forever. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 9 Title: Legend of the Liquid Sword Released: 2002-12-10 Tracks: 14 Duration: 47:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Intro (00:44) 2 Auto Bio (03:55) 3 Did Ya Say That (03:56) 4 Silent (02:43) 5 Knock, Knock (03:36) 6 Stay in Line (04:04) 7 Animal Planet (04:18) 8 Fam (Members Only) (04:12) 9 Legend of the Liquid Sword (03:39) 10 Fame (03:47) 11 Highway Robbery (04:02) 12 Sparring Minds (02:50) 13 Rough Cut (03:07) 14 Uncut Material (02:58) |
| Legend of the Liquid Sword : Allmusic album Review : Released at the end of a quiet year for the Wu-Tang family, GZAs Legend of the Liquid Sword proves Gary Grice is easily the most underrated rapper in the fold, and definitely the most consistent as a solo artist. The album gains power as it progresses; after a compelling "Auto Bio" thats chained down by a bland production, and "Did Ya Say That," wherein the Genius sounds downright confused (or worse, resigned) about the game of label politics, Legend of the Liquid Sword locks into a great groove with the single "Knock, Knock" and rarely misses after that. Unsurprisingly, the Wu-Tang features "Fam (Members Only)," featuring RZA and Masta Killa, and "Silent," featuring Ghostface Killah, are big highlights, with a sound similar to 2001s Iron Flag. Surprisingly, though, his track with low-profile Wu-Tang member Inspectah Deck bests the other two. "Fame" finds the Genius weaving some clever word games around celebrity names, and guest Allen Anthony makes the title track into a grand funk jam akin to OutKast. The productions on Legend of the Liquid Sword are below average for a talent like his, but chances are good thats by design; since GZA is a rappers rapper, his smooth flow and excellent imagination are all thats necessary to propel any of these tracks. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 9 Title: Grandmasters Released: 2005-10-25 Tracks: 12 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Opening (?) 2 Those That’s Bout It (?) 3 Destruction of a Guard (?) 4 Exploitation of Mistakes (?) 5 General Principles (?) 6 Advance Pawns (?) 7 Queen’s Gambit (?) 8 All in Together Now (?) 9 Unstoppable Threats (?) 10 Unprotected Pieces (?) 11 Illusory Protection (?) 12 Smothered Mate (?) |
| Grandmasters : Allmusic album Review : Considering that Cypress Hills DJ Muggs and Wu-Tang MC GZA have been collaborating since 1997, when Muggs was releasing his first Soul Assassins record, it makes a lot of sense that the two of them got together to create a full-length record. DJ Muggs gave GZA a copy of 15 of his beats, and two months later they met up in L.A. to record Grandmasters. Of course, the attention of the record is focused on GZAs rhymes, as it should be, but Muggs, the skilled producer that he is, makes his presence felt without being blatant about it, and provides a very good, dramatic backdrop for the rapper. Grandmasters refers both to chess and hip-hop, the two main topics of the record. The song titles allude to situations encountered in a chess game (many of which are briefly described in interludes by Russian-accented speakers), but GZA and the other rappers featured on the record (Wu-Tang associates RZA, Raekwon, Masta Killa, Prodigal Sunn, and Cypress Hills Sen Dog) use the titles as interpretations of life. As if this werent obvious enough, GZA himself explains that his love of chess is due to "the great high" he gets from "the movement...war, capturing, thinking, strategy, planning. Its music, its hip-hop, its sports, its life, its reality." Its a kind of concept album, with the two "grandmasters" of the game explaining the rules to everyone else. Structurally, the record starts out aggressively and strong, with songs like "Exploitation of Mistakes" (with GZA giving an almost news-report delivery) and "General Principles" introducing the ground rules and common errors. As the album moves along, the songs smooth out a little; the initial anxiety has turned into deliberation and strategy. In "Queens Gambit," GZA, with some ingenuous use of NFL metaphors, seduces -- or perhaps is seduced by -- the most powerful player on the board. The end becomes apparent in the dramatic, synthesized-string-driven "Unprotected Pieces," about the "very unforgiving environment" of the rap music industry. "Illusory Protection" exposes the lack of talent in many MCs ("most of them be swinging wild and then drop the bat") and the final blow seems inevitable. But GZA is too smart to have things end so easily. Chess, life, and hip-hop are much more complicated than that. The closer, "Smothered Mate," isnt celebrating a win. Its about pain and torture and people who "Draw pistols to resolve issues/It give them a sense of closure to expose the brain tissue." This is no victory song; this is violent reality. Grandmasters is a brilliantly executed and complex record that effectively shows off the skills of the participants, and is definitely not something that should be taken as a game. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 9 Title: Collection of Classics Released: 2007 Tracks: 26 Duration: 1:15:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Bronze Nazareth-Beat Intro (01:14) 2 Yes, Yes, Yall (01:33) 3 Animal Planet (04:16) 4 When the Fat Lady Sings (03:08) 5 Liquid Swords (03:12) 6 Did U Say That (03:54) 7 Silent (02:39) 8 High Price, Small Reward (01:42) 9 1112 (04:18) 10 Killah Hills (02:15) 11 Killah Hills 2004 (Justice) (03:10) 12 Interlude (00:42) 13 Silverbacks (03:25) 14 Sparring Minds (02:43) 15 Dashing (04:08) 16 Third World (04:11) 17 Shadowboxin (03:29) 18 Mic Trippin (02:57) 19 I Wanna Fuck (04:02) 20 Duel of the Iron Mic (04:04) 21 Labels (02:46) 22 Publicity (02:36) 23 Fame (02:45) 24 Hip Hop Fury (03:43) 25 Wu Banga 101 (01:25) 26 Ich Lebe Fur Hip-Hop (01:14) |
 | Album: 7 of 9 Title: Grandmasters: Remix Album Released: 2007 Tracks: 12 Duration: 39:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Opening (00:28) 2 Those Thats Bout It (Dialekt remix) (02:55) 3 Destruction of a Guard (DJ Khalil remix) (03:27) 4 Exploitation of Mistakes (James Alsanders remix) (02:44) 5 General Principles (LD remix) (04:58) 6 Advance Pawns (King Karnov remix) (03:41) 7 Queens Gambit (DJ Solo remix) (03:39) 8 All in Together Now (DJ Solo remix) (03:29) 9 Unstoppable Threats (Lewis One remix) (03:18) 10 Unprotected Pieces (St. Louis remix) (04:23) 11 Illusory Protection (LD remix) (03:00) 12 Smothered Mate (Scoop DeVille remix) (03:11) |
 | Album: 8 of 9 Title: D.A.R.T.S. Released: 2008 Tracks: 29 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Time for a Genius (intro) (?) 2 Wu Tang: 7th Chamber (?) 3 M2 (?) 4 Wu Banga 101 (?) 5 High Price / Small Reward (?) 6 Yes, Yes, Yall (?) 7 Guillotine (Swords) (?) 8 Shadowboxing (live) (?) 9 Wu Tang: 7th Chamber (?) 10 Third World (?) 11 The Movement (?) 12 Rush (?) 13 On the Eye of War (?) 14 Severe Punishment (?) 15 Do U (?) 16 GZA Interview (?) 17 Hip Hop (?) 18 Duel of the Iron Mic (?) 19 Big Acts, Little Acts (?) 20 Dashing (?) 21 Silverbacks (?) 22 Radioactive (?) 23 Street Corner (?) 24 The Abduction (?) 25 Legend of the Liquid Swords (?) 26 One More to Go (?) 27 Coffee (skit) (?) 28 NFL (?) 29 GZA Building With the Fans (The End) (?) |
 | Album: 9 of 9 Title: Pro Tools Released: 2008-08-19 Tracks: 16 Duration: 44:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Intromental (00:52) 2 Pencil (03:58) 3 Alphabets (02:42) 4 Groundbreaking (02:32) 5 7 Pounds (02:41) 6 0% Finance (04:20) 7 Short Race (04:05) 8 Interlude (00:26) 9 Paper Plate (02:48) 10 Columbian Ties (02:47) 11 Firehouse (03:44) 12 Path of Destruction (02:36) 13 Cinema (02:59) 14 Intermission (Drive in Movie) (00:24) 15 Life Is a Movie (03:10) 16 Elastic Audio (live) (04:00) |
| Pro Tools : Allmusic album Review : Even fans who didnt care for the laid-back, murky feel of GrandMasters -- GZAs 2005 effort with DJ Muggs -- had to give the album respect, well aware that the Wu-Tang member was adjusting his style for the DJ and just grooving it slower with the same high-quality rhymes. The bar remains just as high on the mans follow-up, but anyone alienated by GrandMasters attitude will be pleased that the uptempo and sometimes oddball rhymes are back in full force here and sit on a set of melancholy soul productions that have that classic Wu atmosphere. On the opening "Pencil," GZAs Wu brother Masta Killa drops a jaw-dropping Ivan Koloff reference, RZA holds his own, and crew producer Mathematics provides the hypnotics, but its GZA who owns the track by linking livestock, damaged livers, and cell phone chirps into a classically Clan bravado story. The way the rapper goes from the letter A to the letter Z during the chorus of "Alphabets" is so well crafted its stunning, while "0% Finance" drops an auto reference about every fourth word and brings new life to car-loving hip-hop after years of rim-worshipping disappointments. A wonderfully worn copy of Gary Numans "Films" gives the great "Life Is a Movie" its beat, and the production on "Paper Plate" is RZA in prime noir mode, making this diss track wasted on 50 Cent more interesting than it should be. Crooked funk production from Black Milk sets "7 Pounds" on fire as GZA compares the good vs. the bad side of hip-hop as "Pearls next to pebbles/Spoons against shovels" and the live version of "Elastic Audio" tacked onto the albums end isnt the usual throwaway bonus track but a mostly a cappella, entirely compelling closer. Even if theyre slow to arrive, GZAs full-lengths rarely disappoint. Pro Tools is no different, but with so many divergent projects and experiments from the Clan filling the five previous years, this throwback also proves the crews original formula still works splendidly. | ||