Under Review: Liquid Swords

Last week, I looked back at AZ's Doe or Die, so this week, it's time to look at another supposed "classic" from 1995. This time, I decided on GZA's Liquid Swords.

Although I feel not too many casual hip-hop listeners knew about AZ, I figure that GZA is a much, much more recognizable name. However, for those who don't, GZA was one of the founding members of the Wu-Tang Clan, along with his cousins Robert Diggs and Russell Jones. Pretty much everyone outside the Clan however, knows those two as RZA and The Ol' Dirty Bastard (deceased). GZA, born Gary Grice, was signed by Cold Chillin' Records after his group with Diggs and Jones, All Together Now, gained recognition on the underground scene. GZA's complex and deep lyrics earned him the title "Genius" and he used it as part of his debut album title, Words from the Genius.

Unfortunately, Genius's album was a flop, as critics weren't crazy mainly because GZA's style didn't fit with Easy Mo' Bee's production. Bee was the producer for hip-hop legend Big Daddy Kane, so naturally, he used beats that fit more with Kane's style, rather than Grice's. Grice was released from the label shortly after, which may have been the best thing to ever happen to him. Angry at how Cold Chillin' tried to make him into something he wasn't, Grice wanted to make music that was more raw and able to express his life in the Southview Projects in the Bronx. Grice decided to get things back together with Diggs and Jones, and soon the Clan was formed.

It was clear that there were standouts in the Clan, and Genius was one of them. Wu-Tang Clan released their first album in November of 1993, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), and once people heard GZA's lines on "Clan In Da Front" such as "Claudine went to Cooley High and had mad kids so stop, the life you save may be your motherfuckin own/I'll hang your ass with this microphone/Make way for the merge of traffic/Wu-Tang's comin thru with Full Metal Jackets", it didn't take long for the anticipation to build for a solo album from the Genius. Grice used his success from the Clan to help sign a deal with Geffen Records in 1995 and immediately began preparing his debut album for his new label. This time however, GZA wouldn't have to worry about production, as RZA took control of nearly the entire album.

So was GZA's second effort a better offering than his first? Here's my review of Liquid Swords.

Liquid Swords
Release Date: November 7th, 1995
Label: Geffen/MCA Records

1. Liquid Swords ft. RZA
The intro, which is taken from the samurai flick Shogun Assassin, is a long one. It takes 1:20 until GZA actually steps onto the mic, but once he does, he's off. GZA sounds very comfortable with RZA behind the board and this song is an excellent way to start the album. The beat is pretty simple, but it hypnotized me at least and it worked as a great complement to GZA's delivery. Oh, and as for lyrics, they're great too.

2. Duel of the Iron Mic ft. Ol' Dirty Bastard & Inspectah Deck
It doesn't take nearly as long to get into the actual track this time, but the intro into it is still fun to listen to. This might be one of my all-time favorite RZA beats, or maybe just beats in general. The piano loop in the background is fantastic, but it's not even the best part of the song. GZA got the nickname "Genius" for good reason, his lyrics are just that. His first verse is one of the best I've ever heard from GZA period. "Where money don't grown on trees and there's thievin MC's/Who cut-throat to rake leaves/They can't breathe, blood splash, rushin fast/like runnin rivers, I be that whiskey in your liver." Awesome, awesome track.

3. Living in the World Today ft. Method Man & RZA
Damn, GZA is on absolute fire at this point. Again, a terrific beat from RZA, but GZA's lyrics and flow are still what make the song really click. Method Man sort of just makes a cameo appearance on the bridge, so he stands aside for Genius to steal the show. Another really good song from the Genius.

4. Gold ft. Method Man
The beat here isn't quite on par with the first three tracks, but that being said, it still kicks ass. It was a track I didn't care for my first listen, but after giving it a few more spins, it grew on me big time. GZA's two verses are, as usual, really good with lines like "I'm deep down in the back streets - in the heart of Medina/About to set off something more deep than a misdemeanor/
Under the subway, waiting for the train to make noise/So I can blast a nigga and his boys - for what?/He pushed up on the block and made the dope sales drop/Like the crashin of Dow Jones stock."

5. Cold World ft. Life & Inspectah Deck
People say that Raekwon is the best storyteller in the Clan, but I can't leave GZA out of that conversation with songs like this. This is, in my opinion, one of the darkest songs that GZA ever did. His first verse is incredible, as he starts out with his own spin on The Night Before Christmas with the line "It was the night before New Year's, and all through the fuckin projects/ Not a handgun was silent, not even a tec." His lines literally gave me chills as he described how some make it, and others get shot in the projects. It also amazed me how good Inspectah Deck's verse was on this. For some reason, when paired with Rae or GZA, Deck seems to step up his game. RZA's beat is perfect for this song as well, making it arguably the best cut on the whole album.

6. Labels ft. RZA & Masta Killah
I mentioned in the background of GZA that he was angry at how things ended with Cold Chillin' Records. Well, here was GZA's chance to let some of that go, literally mentioning just about every hip-hop label that existed in the industry. It's not a highlight track, but it shows once again how intelligent Genius really was since the lyrics are brilliant.

7. 4th Chamber ft. Ghostface Killah, Killah Priest, & RZA
OK, "Cold World" was great, but this is even better. There is no question in my mind that this is one of the best rap tracks EVER made. (No, I'm not a GZA ass-kisser, it's THAT good)

8. Shadowboxin' ft. Method Man
Another outstanding track. It's a great way to follow "4th Chamber" as it doesn't hit you quite as hard. Meth's verse is good and, not to my surprise, GZA's is as well. I like the beat here, except for part of the sample that RZA used. It almost takes away from being able to listen to Meth and GZA, but it's still pretty good.

9. Hells Wind Staff/Killah Hills 10304 ft. Dreddy Kruger, RZA,
Finally, Genius puts on a track that well, isn't A-Grade. The intro is interesting to listen to, but not interesting enough to sit through 1:28. If you can get past that, you'll get a decent song from GZA, as his lyrics are still excellent, but RZA's beat just doesn't grab you like previous tracks. It's too experimental and too ridiculous to try on this album. It also, in my opinion, disrupts the flow the album had, which causes me to skip this track on a regular basis.

10. Investigative Reports ft. Ghostface Killah, U-God, & Raekwon
Ehh, it's OK. I always hated U-God, as he is far below the talent of his fellow Wu members, and Rae and Ghostface aren't at their best for this one. Another track I'll skip.

11. Swordsman
Thank you GZA for just taking control of your album. The beat is darker, maybe the hardest on the whole album, and I love the extremely catchy chorus. If GZA didn't assert himself as a hardcore, rugged MC until now, then this is reason not to fuck with him.

12. I Gotcha Back ft. RZA
I suppose GZA wanted to build off the previous track, and this is a great way to do that. RZA's beat is, once again, awesome for the message GZA tries to get out, which is how it's hard to make it through the streets and that you always "best watch ya front, cause it's the niggas in front that be pullin' stunts." His second verse is possibly my favorite GZA verse of all time as he spits, "What is the meaning of CRIME (what?)/Is it Criminals Robbin Innocent Motherfuckers 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..." Damnnnnnn.

Liquid Swords also included a bonus track when it was reissued on CD.

13. B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) performed by Killah Priest
The only song on Liquid Swords that is not produced by RZA, as 4th Disciple takes production duties. It's also the only song GZA doesn't perform on, but Killah Priest does a pretty good job by himself. The beat is good too, and there's actually some really good messages in this. Lyrically (as far as meaning), it's actually one of my favorite tracks on the entire album. An excellent way to close the album.

Closing Statement: When Method Man said in "Can It Be So Simple" on Enter the Wu-Tang that "the Clan formed like Voltron and GZA was the head," he wasn't fucking with anyone. GZA, as proof by Liquid Swords, is the best MC lyrically, and arguably delivery, wise of the entire Wu-Tang Clan. This album is his best work he has ever, and will ever do. It's got everything a great hip-hop album needs: beats, outstanding word play, it's mesmerizing, and awesome guest appearances. It is, in my opinion, the most accessible Wu album you can pick up and listen to. While it took me a few times to appreciate the greatness of Only Built for Cuban Linx, this album was put in my rotation immediately after I heard just the first two tracks. The lyrics on this are possibly some of the best dropped in 1995, or maybe even ever. Is it flawless? No, but it's damn close. Excluding "Killah Hills" and "Investigative Reports", this is a monumental achievement for any hip-hop artist. It continues to be my favorite solo Wu album ever (although I am a HUGE Ironman fan), and for good reason. I read once that Chris Rock said that this album is so great because it captures every essence of the entire Wu era. I don't agree with that, just because Ol' Dirty isn't featured more and there isn't much light humor on Liquid Swords. However, everything else that made the Clan great is on this album. I still haven't heard an album quite like it, and I don't think I ever will.

The Verdict: If you really love hip-hop (like actual good hip-hop that existed throughout most of the 90's) then you MUST have this album in your collection. It's definitely in my top five albums of all-time, and trust me, once you give it a listen, you'll understand why. GO BUY THIS ALBUM NOW!!