Genius, GZA - Liquid Swords

Best Wu Solo Album

If i had to pick the best Wu Tang solo album this would be it without any question. Gza may be one of the finest lyricist to come out. The production is top notch. The lyrics are dope, what more can you ask for its wutang. Duel Of The Iron Mic would be one of my favorite joints. Swordsmen, Cold World, 4th Chamber and B.i.b.l.e are all dope tracks. And who could forget Shadowboxin, i dont know anyone that doesnt know that song, wu fan or not.

Lyrics - A+
Beats - A +
Features - A May 18, 2008

CLASSIC

Everything about this album is amazing -- classic Wu banger. From the cult classic film samples Shogun Assasin to RZA's awe-inspiring production to GZA's elder of wisdom like lyrics and flow.

Everything about this album is on point. I still listen to this album casually to this day. For those who have never heard "Liquid Swords" or and are fixated on the modern 'money and cars' commercial hip-hop paradigm garbage and want to know the true essence of hip-hop is buy this. Other Wu albums rival close but this is the cream of the crop. Every track is dramatic -- true art in every form. Lyrically GZA is the best MC in the group, while RZA is the most talented overall in my opinion. GZA raps about topics that cross life on the streets, crime, chess, 5 percenter teachings with a methodical laid back flow. The combination gives my ears orgasms. Also I get 200th review!

April 28, 2008

A Work Of Art

This album is a classic work of art. The production is great and compliments the GZA's style perfectly. This is the kind of album that leaves you thinking about it and wanting to get home to put it on. It flows from start to end and it is very deep and rich in it's lyrics. I don't think this album can ever be topped. What can I say? Everyone should have this album. February 26, 2008

I feel bad for 50 if he really wants beef with the GZA...

I'm gonna do a track-by-track analysis of Liquid Swords. That's the only way I could to this album justice. This is easily stacks up in the top 3 albums I own, and that' s saying A LOT as I own tons of albums... the only track I didn't like on this was hell's windstaff, which is ironically enough the only skit on this album...


Liquid Swords - 4.75/5

This is an outstanding track and does justice to the "title track" title. I'd have given it a 5/5 were it not for the obnoxiously long 1:33 minute intro. It's an interesting intro to the album, but couldn't that have been a completely separate intro track to begin with? Aside from that though, it's a flawless track. Great hook, great beat, poetic lyrics as deep as the ocean... everything.


Duel of the Iron Mic - 4.5/5


Were it not for Mastah Killah's merely okay verse, this would be my favorite track off the album. Why did he get a verse over Raekwon, Method Man or ODB? Hell, GZA could've done a lot more with the extra space... still, though, there was one big, big reason why this was still a great guest track: Inspectah Deck killed it with a mere 7 bars. So good, in fact, that I need to post them.


"Adults kill for drugs plus the young bucks bust
Duckin handcuffs, throats get cut when dough rush
Out of town foes look shook but still pose
We move lioke real pros through the streets we stroll
Bullet holes lace the windows in one-six oh
So control the avenues that's the dream that's sold
Bulding lobbies are graveyards for small-timers
Bitches caught in airports, keys in they *******
No peace, yo the police mad corrupt
You get bagged up, dependin if you're passin the cut
Plus shorty's not a shorty no more, he's livin heartless
Regardless of the charges, claims to be the hardest
individual, critical thoughts, criminal minded
Blinded by illusion, findin it confusin"

The best guest appearance and some of the best lyrics on the album next to Method Man's appearance on Shadowboxin & Ghostface and RZA on 4th Chamber. Not surprising, though; this is Rebel "C.R.E.A.M." INS we're talking about.

Besides that, though, the beat was one of the best on the album; bangin. GZA's lucky he was in the same boat as RZA. Another interesting fact is that ODB did the hook.


Livin In the World Today - 4.25/5


It's a good song, but a good song is an average on on LS. Probably my least favorite song on the album. The lyrics are fire as usual, but the beat & hook were average in contrast to the rest of the album.


Swordsmen - 4.75/5


Dope song. Hook's good, beat's a banger and the lyrics are fresh from hell. I don't know if its just me, but GZA's delivery seemed to be especially on-point on this song.


Cold World - 5/5


Yeah, yeah, this is the joint "everyone likes". Who gives a damn? There's a reason why everyone likes it... it's one of GZA's best tracks, period. It really showcases his storytelling ability; it's almost like he decided to make a track to try to beat Kool G Rap at their own game like Nas did with NY State of Mind. In fact, that's the best track I can think of comparing this one to; detailed to the goddamned brim yet completely understandable; no comprehension is lost through the mix.

The beat is the best on the album (bar B.I.B.L.E, but that's not actually a track on this album). It's beautiful, harrowing, and really does succeed at conveying a "cold world". RZA really shows his merits as a producer on this one.


Labels - 5/5


Did GZA really just make a song about... record labels?! He sure did, and the whole joint is crazy. He namedrops almost every single record company under the sun, including Cold Chillin, the label that pretty much shafted GZA & RZA when they first started. Thus the line "Cause I smother you COLD CHILLIN' mother*******". The beat is dope too. All in all, it's the best track on the album, perhaps only equaled and/or surpassed by Cold World, 4th Chamber & Liquid Swords.

4th Chamber - 5/5


This is my favorite track off the album besides Cold World, LS & Labels. It's another collab track, but this time not a single one of the spots is wasted. Ghostface & RZA especially rip the track to shreds. To quote two of their bars (one from each):

"Yo, Wu whole platoon is filled with rac-coons
Corner sittin wine n***** sippin Apple Boone, this ain't no white cartoon"

-Ghostface

"Rollin with the Lands, the tribe's a hundred and forty four thousand chosen
Protons Electrons Always Cause Explosions"

-RZA

For those of you who didn't catch that last line from RZA, he basically said PEACE.

GZA's verse was great too. Killah Priest was the weakest one on the track, but he was still dope; THAT should tell you the pedigree of the verses on this one. This is the best verse on the album second only to Cold World.



Shadowboxin' - 4.75/5

2nd best collab track on the album (4th Chamber takes that) and another outstanding track on the album. Method Man really brought that hot **** to this track... beat's yet another banger. GZA impresses as usual.



Hell's Windstaff/Killah Hills 10304 - 3.5/5


The only track off this album I didn't think was good. The lyrics themselves are good, but I hate the beat & the whole intro. I can't explain why, but I just did... useless track in my opinion. Filler.


Investigative Reports - 4.5/5


Dope track. Good hook, great lyrics, great beat. Not my favorite, but an excellent track nonetheless.


Gold - 5/5


This is easily one of my favorites off the album. While it isn't on the same tier as Cold World, LS, Labels or 4th Chamber, the beat is... out of this world, to say the least. The lyrics are golden as usual, and... I dunno. I just can't stop listening to this song, but I always make sure I learn to the aforemented 3 before I turn this up. Still a spottieottiedopaliscious (OK, sue me ;) ) track; also one of the more slept-on on this album.


I Gotcha Back - 4.5/5


Another great track and a good ending for the album. Beat's dope, hook's straight & the lyrics are good, but the delivery is what elevates them to great.


Now, there *is* another track on this album... technically. The track itself though (B.I.B.L.E.) is actually a Killah Priest track off his album "Heavy Mental" another classic. Still, it fits in with the album very well and it's also a 5/5 track, beatwise, hookwise and lyric wise.


Overall:


60.5/65 or about 93%; A- to A


I'm going to round that to an A, though; I'm doing that because were it not for that stupid skit, this would be an A to A+ album. And let me tell you, you're doing good if there's only one song that's not that good and 12 that are audio bliss. Simply put, this is a masterpiece hampered by the extra baggage. An extraordinary accomplishment for any emcee, and it just adds to the rep of the Wu Tang. Wu Tang Ain't Nuthin To F*** Wit' indeed.
January 3, 2008

Hip Hop At It's Finest

Wu-Tang Clan have always made albums that go beyond and Liquid Swords is no exception. Me being a long time fan of the Wu, I would have to say this is one of their finer solo projects. Genius/GZA has always been one of my favorite members of the clan. His cold, scientific, intellectual flow is unmatched by anyone. He has a flow which compels the listener to drink in everything he says. This album is hip hop in its purest form. There's nothing mainstream about it. Which is probably why I like it. The beats aren't quite as dark as Method Man's Tical but they are darn close. The album still has a very cold, ominous and brooding feel to it. It's raw, uncut and it holds nothing back. I could never get the Swordsman beat out of my head. Its so cold and dark that beat could be playing in a nightmare. I Gotcha Back is also very cold and hollow sounding. I don't think the Rza's beats will ever be as good as they were during this time period. In my opinion, the beats on this album and on Tical surpass those on the Cuban Linx and Ironman album. Not saying that Raekwon and Ghostface didn't have great albums because they did. I know others will disagree with me but thats just my opinion. I think I just like the Liquid Swords and Tical beats better because my taste is a little darker. Gza and Meth's flows were darker so Rza had to craft beats to match their flows. I understand that. Just like Rae and Ghost had to have beats that matched their flows. It was crafted so perfectly. This is an album that has to be listened to from beginning to end. Love the cover art too. If you are a Wu-Tang fan or just a fan of real hip hop, buy this album. Support real hip hop. Peace!!! December 28, 2007

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