Reviews (page 2 of 9)
Shadow boxing is ok. The rest ran over my head quickly.
amazing beats, and a stellar flow my heart says 5 stars, but honestly it's probably a four until i sit down and read the lyrics alongside the music. nothing against this album, but getting it in the middle of the week prevented me from diving in as much as i want. could definitely see me going back to change this to a 5 star
I enjoy the representation from all of the members of the Wu-Tang Clan on the list, but I still have trouble differentiating between all of them since I haven’t really listened to them that much. Still interesting to go back to that era of rap and hear the differences and ridiculous amount of karate references. Solid but nothing mind blowing.
Solid beats. Solid Flow. Nothing to complain about. Just not my genre.
My favourite solo Wu record and one of the coldest and most cut-throat, and aesthetically satisfying hardcore hip-hop records of all time. RZA and GZA, the two spotlighted Wu members here, are at a peak few MC-producer duos reach. I've probably listened to this thing more than any other hip-hop album out there; this heat was always in my ear growing up. GZA is just such a unique MC. The guy doesn't really have that typical bombastic and explosive delivery that you'd expect from a Wu member. He's more monotonous and nonchalant, not unlike a guy like DOOM. He's sort of nerdy, technical, and unleashes words, rhymes, punchlines, and one-liners like it's nothing. It's really the effortlessness of his flow and delivery that makes him such a satisfying MC to listen to. There's a subtle humbleness to the GZA that's admirable. I mean, he's still braggadocious on here: the title track, 'Shadowboxin', and 'Living In The World Today' are just the Genius flexing his, well, genius. But he tackles a wide array of other lyrical topics too. 'Gold' and 'Killah Hills 10304' are him dabbling in mafioso rap. And while I do think that Rae and Ghostface do this sound just a little bit better, GZA's storytelling, especially on 'Gold', is far more vivid and descriptive. This album, just in general, really takes you to some interdimensional fusion of the Staten Island projects and an anything-goes martial-arts dojo. The production helps with that, sure, but GZA does as well; he doesn't go very long on this album without bringing up swords swinging, guillotines chopping heads off, or blood spilling. The guy can also get pretty spiritually introspective with 'Swordsman', maybe the most surreal moment on this album, as GZA reflects on his past and ever-evolving beliefs in search of freedom of mind. In that sense, it ties itself to the very great Killah Priest bonus track 'B.I.B.L.E', an incredible song that comes out of seemingly nowhere. But it's nice to have a song that's a bit more hopeful at the end because 'I Gotcha Back' is an incredibly pessimistic closer otherwise. It's a super down-to-earth song after an album that's so filled with fictional imagery and explosive bangers. GZA's anger is sobering on this song, painting a tragic image that's way too real and cyclical, knowing very well that he can do very little about it. The features here have never really been standouts or anything; I'm always here for GZA. But there are some undeniable moments still. Inspectah Deck carries his weight on this album, especially in his very graphic verse on 'Cold World', but he also fits in very well in the cutthroat lyrical exchanges of 'Duel Of The Iron Mic'. 'Shadowboxin' has Method Man shining, with a verse that sounds like it was freestyled more than anything. It's oddly laid-back, more laid-back than anything else on this otherwise very sweaty album, but it works exceptionally well. And I'll never not love RZA's verse on '4th Chamber', the best song on the album. There's something about his barked delivery, choppy flow, and how he's constantly switching from one topic to another in this respectable attempt to unveil all the world's darkest secrets and hidden meanings. He's doing way too much here, but in the absolute best way possible. The production on this thing is probably my favourite on any East Coast hip-hop album ever; RZA absolutely kills it. The loops are so simple and repetitive on many of the songs, sometimes even simpler than on the debut, but they work so well still. The title track, for example, is just two organ notes being repeated constantly, yet it still manages to work really well, sounding like it's egging on GZA's battle rap verses. 'Duel Of The Iron Mic' is just super smooth with these very floaty piano keys, putting the listener in a dark, spacey room filled with some invisible and very agile ninjas. The strings on 'Cold World' are spine-chilling, and so perfectly work with the wintry synth loop driving the verses. It's incredible how RZA's beats can be so vivid with just a few notes from a few samples. '4th Chamber' is just so fucking hard, with overdriven guitar coming in every once in a while, and another synth melody that complements the imagery of this song so well - themes of mystery, history, conspiracy - all captured in just a few notes of that main loop. 'Shadowboxin' manages to not be annoying with its very repetitive vocal loop, and is actually just one of the most iconic beats in '90s East Coast hip-hop, with its record scratching and a sort of bright guitar loop. 'Swordsman' is sort of clunky and messy, which I love; it sounds like a '50s Big Band record that's been warped to an unrecognizable degree. And honestly, the movie snippets laced throughout this record never bother me. They never go on for too long, and they actually add to the cohesiveness of this thing; like the opening spoken-word skit, which is just super iconic after all these years. I can't imagine this album without them. One of the greatest hip-hop albums ever. Sometimes it's hard to believe how amazing the Wu-Tang Clan were in the mid-'90s. But this is the peak, I'd say; no other album out there scratches the itch that this album does. It's about as cohesive as you'll get with a Wu solo album, which makes the experience feel very holistic, addictive, and rewarding - it's so easy to just press play on this thing and to get lost in a dark world of martial arts, street crime, and very serious battle rapping.
It was alright, not sure I got much out of it. 2*
Good shit, I'd heard of this album but knew nothing about it. Biden was right.
Better than the entire wu tang clan for sure
I think obviously this is a good album, but there just seems to be something about the production on all of these Wu-Tang albums that falls flat for me. I felt this way on 36 Chambers and Tical too. Somehow they all just seem a little muted and tired. Obviously this is a weird, hot take, and I recognize that. Ah well. I like a lot of other hip-hop albums a lot more.
Although I didn’t understand a thing about what these songs were about (I had to look them up and try to figure out the context) - since I come from a completely different culture and background - this kind of beat and sound was and is what appeals most to me in hip-hop and rap! It’s not really my thing, but I totally get why these guys from Wu-Tang were and are a landmark in the history of contemporary music. These guys were, truly, in a league of their own. 4/5
One of the best hip hop albums of all time. No skits, no bullshit. Just 13 banging beats with lyrics of fire.
Really good.
3.5/5
Surprised this was better than the wu tang from the last day. V good
Hip hop masterclass (4.5)
Len Houmous was in Wu-Tang. 3.2 5/13 Cold World
I’m like Charlie Brown going in to kick the football off the tee, thinking maybe this time it’ll be different, maybe this hip hop or rap album will be the one that makes me see the light. Nope, Lucy swiped the ball as usual, I fell flat on my face, and once again I’m wondering how the hell people actively enjoy this stuff.
I don't know much about the expanded Wu-Tang Universe, so it was cool to hear this. I can't say that it did much for me, outside of the fun samples, but it's all right. People with a better-developed ear for hip-hop rate it very highly, and I respect that without completely understanding it.
good stuff
I felt like some of the beats get pretty 'ho hum' over the course of the whole album, but this lo-fi gritty 90's hip hop thing still hits with me, so I dug it a lot.
Having heard now a bunch of albums from members of the Wu-Tang-Clan I am getting more and more convinced that the whole style/era of hip-hop/rap isn't really super enjoyable for me. I think that some of the rhymes are kinda cool, but I miss a lot of them because the flow is often very monotonous and very long and the energy level hits a weird level for me Standouts Shadowboxin' 2/5
Fuckin’ awesome and one of those albums that makes me wish I could give half points cause it’s better than a 4 but not quite a 5.
Way too long. But still fun.
It feels wrong to hear these solo Wu-Tang affiliated records before hearing what made the group so acclaimed first. Regardless of that, I had enjoyed this more than the Raekwon record I got a few weeks back. I enjoyed the raw production and sampling of martial arts films made this feel both playful and epic. GZA has great flow when he delivers his bars. This flew by, and left me looking forward to the day that when I generate Wu-Tang's sole offering to the list.
Wu Tang beats. Lone Wolf and Cub samples. Top 20 rap album of all time. Yup.
This is good but every single 90’s hip hop album really sounds the same, obv there’s exceptions to that (shoutout Tribe Called Quest and NAS), but yeah wouldn’t be able to tell the difference for 80% of the genre in the 90’s stylistically.
It's got that typical 90s hip hop sound that has good flow, good sampling (apart from whatever that Japanese Samurai sampling that was so random and killed the flow of the album). It isn't that innovative, but it achieves what it needs to.
The Wu-Tang solo stuff can be pretty uneven, but there are certainly some gems. This is one of them!
My now third rap album in a row, and I'm definitely ready for something different. While better than the Common album yesterday, still not something I would go out of my way to listen to. 3/5.
*81 Så fucking sejt.
Det lyder bare helt rigtigt det her. På en måde bliver det lidt kedeligt, men jeg elsker simpelthen lyden.
Helt fint og så ikke så meget mere end det imho. Synes ikke helt, at der er så meget forskel på numrene 3.5
Elsker det her album. RZA rammer et eller andet helt rigtigt her med lyden og beatsene og GZA er bare en genial rapper. 'Shadowboxin' alene havde givet 4 stjerner. Men kan nok ikke snige mig helt op på topkarakter
I enjoyed this far more than I expected to. Unlikely to listen again as I struggle with music with n****r in it, especially this much. But the music is top shelf.
Non-rap fan trying to “get” rap here. And it’s occurred to me that I don’t like poetry either. So I’m trying to read along with the lyrics to get what they are rapping about. It seems to be mainly that they are good at rap, and some other people are not and it is tough living in the hood… that’s all I got so far. It’s also difficult for me to get because I don’t all the slang. The dark tone and the beats sort of remind me of Cypress Hill (one of my few points of reference). And I like all the kung-fu film samples. Which I guess is a Wu-Tang thing? Overall, I kind of like it. I think. Should I give it a 4 to say I’ll come back to it? I feel I am doing that with all the rap albums to indicate should listen again, when my actual enjoyment is more a 3 meaning it’s fine. GZA is meant to be the “spiritual head” of Wu-Tang Clan, according to Wikipedia and I found the last track about religion really interesting.
surprisingly OK but not my thing
Chilled 90s hip hop
Music (backing music) is not very interesting (minimal development in any song, after relevant beat is set up), no doubt this album should be mostly about the rapping (lyrics and delivery), but it’s predominantly gangster rap, which really does not appeal to me at all. The engagement with movies (Shaolin, Tony Stark etc) does not help. Much of the delivery doesn’t feel in the groove for me. I don’t enjoy it, hard to get through this album. For me, it’s Really Poor, 2/10.
I like this album, but it's not nearly as good as Fishscale. The beats are great, the flow is strong, and there are plenty of good tracks throughout. My biggest complaint is the movie clips between songs. They don't really add anything for me, and in some cases they actually interrupt the flow of the album. Overall, it's a good hip-hop album that I enjoyed listening to, but it doesn't quite reach the level of some of the other Wu-Tang-related albums I've heard on this list.
Haven't gotten too much into the Wu-Tang side of hip-hop; only ever heard Raekwon's debut, because generator reasons. The production is really well done they give off very vivid imagery of the lyrical matters, gritty and grizzly stuff with some lovely sampled jazzy melodies. The beats are varied, and pretty much all other stuff is as well which helps break my perception that a lot of hip hip is just monotonous. Unlike Raekwon's debut, I'm more inclined to return to this one. It has a good head on it's shoulders, which is weird to say that to an album, even though I despise that saying a lot. I suppose it fits well enough. p.s. The final song "B.I.B.L.E." has a such a incredible unique vibe, 10/10 song. Highlight Song/s: "Liquid Swords", "Gold" and "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth"
¿Como califico un álbum de hip hop si las letras no me llegan por no ser del lugar y no haber vivido las situaciones que plantea? Porque decir que es malo porque no me gusta el hip hop es una respuesta fácil y casi que ignorante... creo que lo mejor que puedo hacer en este caso sería calificarlo con un 2.5/5 solo por dejar la reseña en un punto neutro... sin embargo, si me tengo que poner en un punto de vista de consumidor capitalista, tendría que bajar la nota por no poder entrar a los oidos de una primer escucha... lo dejamos en 2 estrellas porque hubieron buenas ideas en el disco pero lo sentí largo para lo que puede ofrecer un disco urbano del 95
My favourite of the solo wutang records, the genius, the wizard, the GZA. Cool fact is that GZA has the second most unique vocabulary in hip hop which I find to be really cool and he’s a science nerd and big into getting kids educated so an all round good guy, and he casually made one of the greatest rap records.
Didn't enjoy but can appreciate the talent
I don't think I recognize any of these tracks by title, but I do generally enjoy wu-tang and its members' solo projects, so I'm looking forward to this first listen of this album. This is what I was expecting and I quite enjoyed it.
I know this is really highly regarded but it's just fairly standard hip hop fair to me
I thought this album was pretty good.
This list is really familiarizing me with the Wu-Tang clan members! The sampling from Shogun Assassin is cool and so is the album cover. I'm listening on TIDAL and they added some cool animations to the album cover. I like flow on this album. I'm not sure how likely I am to listen again, but I do enjoy this.
Listened to Liquid Swords for the first time today. With Callie putting stacking cups on my toes while I drank my morning coffee. Outside of the Wutang Clan I haven’t listened to GZA’s solo work. I clearly have been missing out. This album is top tier!
Undeniable flow, some real head boppers on here thrown down by GZA with the cool movie samples, very cinematic all the way through.
Goes slightly harder than other albums that I'd consider "not my taste"
Of course it’s great.
Классика
I appreciate that this project is giving me the chance to listen to some of what is considered to be the best rap in the game, because I just don’t have a reference point. Every time I listen to an album like this, I’m not sure what I should focus on. Is it the lyrics? Is it the beats and samples? Is there a secret third thing? I’m never really sure. So with this album, I liked the overall feel and flow, but it never quite clicked with me. And I think for now, that’s a good enough understanding.
Dark, cool vibe. But there is more essential hiphop
Rap Nicht so mein Fall
Experimental & cool... That voice is something. 😎
One of the better rap albums on this list. It avoids the usual rap trope lyrics and kept me interested the whole way through.
i was prepared for the kung fu gimmick going in, but it really is kind of a thematic masterstroke. it makes it seem like the semantic venn diagram of gangster rap and dubbed samurai flicks is a circle. campy and dramatic and cool. the bars are dope, the production feels simple but very fun and always on theme. favorite song is Shadowboxin'. soft 4
Rating: 9/10 Total achievement in hip hop in the year 1995, ambitious and bold, has to be so influential to a lot of experimental rap of the 2000’s. Nails the aesthetic and themes and is so cinematic doing it, the philosophy that encompasses this album has so much depth. It’s so sick how GZA connects the concepts of samurai warriors, New York gangsta crime, the police and the law, and the music industry and reinforce it all so strongly, achieved through both lyrics and film and dialogue recordings. Even though they’re not the strongest songs on the record (there’s just so many good ones), I think tracks like Labels and Investigative Reports really drive the themes home with the ways in which the young black men GZA observes in his home city have to fight against systems that work so hard to keep them down. Also Living in the World Today which is one of the best ones. Otherwise, so many tracks with sick beats and great verses, thanks to RZA’s amazing production and all the Wu Tang features they bring in. Duel of the Iron Mic, 4th Chamber, Shadowboxin, BIBLE. These guys were simply on another level at this time. It has to be a 5
Nah bro I don't even know how to review this in an unbiased way, because the style just so sick. It just builds such an awesome aesthetic / mood that supports the solid dense mass of lyrics, flow, beats, and a bunch of little details that elevate it into a really strong album. The pauses, the unrelenting lyricism, the voice clips and samples and even the skits all feel suuuper focused and world-building to me and make the album crazy enjoyable to listen through. Idk bro I just put on any song on this album and hang on to every line that's delivered. Cold World and Hell's Wind Staff are my favorites, but B.I.B.L.E. might be the hardest song title in a while. Overall tastefully gritty and not really a bright or happy album, but feels like it has a super solid core / vision under it all 9.2/10
I can see why people like this album but it's definitely not for me. He has great flow but it just kinda bores me after a few songs. I could only get through about half of the album.
Some weird interludes. Otherwise some basic old school rap. Still not really my jam.
two hip hops in a row is brutal for a gal like me. What even is a liquid sword? I cant imagine it's a good thing, like this album. Hate to say it but I did-not-finish. Next!
Rätt schysst
Liquid Swords GZA 1995 Genres: Hip Hop Styles: Boom Bap, Hardcore Hip Hop 1. Liquid Swords (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Presentación de GZA como maestro del micrófono; presume su habilidad lírica y convierte la “espada” en metáfora de inteligencia, precisión y dominio verbal. 2. Duel Of The Iron Mic (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Batalla entre MCs donde cada rapero entra como un guerrero; trata sobre competición, reputación y superioridad técnica. 3. Living In The World Today (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Reflexión sobre la vida urbana moderna, la desconfianza social, la presión económica y la sensación de vivir en un sistema hostil. 4. Gold (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: El oro simboliza tanto riqueza material como excelencia artística; habla de ambición, estatus y del valor del propio talento. 5. Cold World (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Relato oscuro de violencia, pobreza y pérdida; muestra un entorno donde la dureza parece necesaria para sobrevivir. 6. Labels (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Sátira de la industria musical y de los contratos discográficos; denuncia manipulación empresarial usando nombres de sellos como juego de palabras. 7. 4th Chamber (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: Tema colectivo del universo Wu-Tang; presenta una cámara simbólica de combate mental y espiritual llena de imágenes apocalípticas y místicas. 8. Shadowboxin’ (★★☆☆☆) -Contexto: La lucha es tanto externa como interna; aborda paranoia callejera, disciplina personal y supervivencia psicológica. 9. Hell’s Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304 (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Pasaje atmosférico sobre territorios peligrosos, códigos de barrio y una energía casi sobrenatural que envuelve el paisaje urbano. 10. Investigative Reports (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Narración criminal con tono de expediente policial; aparecen robos, vigilancia, traiciones y consecuencias dentro del mundo del delito. 11. Swordsman (★★☆☆☆) -Contexto: El espadachín representa conocimiento, autocontrol y sabiduría; mezcla artes marciales, filosofía y estrategia vital. 12. I Gotcha Back (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: Tema de lealtad y respaldo mutuo; enfatiza la confianza dentro del clan frente a un entorno hostil. 13. B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Cierre espiritual y filosófico; reflexiona sobre religión, historia, opresión, conocimiento y el sentido de la existencia humana. -TOTAL = ★★⯨☆☆ (2,85)
Ahhhhhh the Koog approves. That's a a five!
an amazing, electric rap album, weaving samples and cultural force into something entirely original, newly rich and lustrous. I know this is a bonus track, but B.I.B.L.E. is one of my all time fave beats. god mode RZA
Album #125: Liquid Swords - GZA Genre (W): East coast hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop Singles: I Gotcha’ Back, Liquid Swords, Cold World, Shadowboxin / 4th Chamber I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: I didn’t enjoy the beats as much as I’d like to. I think GZA is a great writer. Meh album. Favorite tracks: Duel of the Iron Mic*, Living in the World Today* 4th Chamber*, Shadowboxin’*
4/5 top of his game don’t care for all the stuff in between
The lyrics are great, and the storytelling is amazing, but the beats are really simplistic and honestly leaves something to be desired
Great productions and consistent lyrical themes
Insane production + insane bars and storytelling= one of the best hip hop albums ever made (This took me more than a week to listen to) Best: 4th Chamber; Liquid Swords; Duel Of The Iron Mic; Gold; Living In The World Today; Shadowboxin; Investigative Reports; I Gotcha Back; Killa Hills 10304; Labels; Cold World; B.I.B.L.E Worst: Swordsman
really enjoy this, love me some 90s hip hop. great use of sampling, the lofi hip hop streams on youtube wish they were this.
Listened multiple times back to back and enjoyed each one. You don't hear tracks like this anymore with weird interesting sample/beat combinations. Some parts genuinely had sample that sounded like a horror film score and it was cool and it worked.
7/23/26. Another great entry in the Wu-Tang anthology. Love the gritty production and storytelling delivered, all the “guests” delivered.
I’m not a fan of hip hop that much and the little I listen to is more modern, but this was quite nice. There were songs that weren’t for me but I could vibe with others. I liked the samurai story theme but I wish it was better incorporated. Maybe it was but I didn’t pay attention to the lyrics enough. Overall not bad.
It’s nice but nothing really stuck with me
First time listening to this album all the way through and I really enjoyed it! I love Wu-Tang and this early to mid 90s hip hop sound so this was a fun listen. I do think Wu-Tang was mostly stronger than their solo acts, but great nonetheless.
meh
One of the all-time great rap albums.
Can’t help but feel that this album is soooo boring. It’s coherent throughout, the lyricism is great at times and there’s nothing specifically wrong with any of the samples or beats. Despite this though, the rapping & flow of the record feels extremely one note and it very quickly blurs into the periphery of my attention as I’m listening. There’s just no groove or hook that grabs me or makes me want to listen to more of it. The last song is pretty great, but other than that the album feels extremely lacking for me.
I've had some really great hiphop in this list, but this one didn't really keep my attention. Every song sounds similar to me. I suppose the focus is on the lyrics, but I'd like it more if it was more musically diverse.
Clearly a standout WuTang solo album. While I’m pretty much into it, I always do miss the compare and contrast of the voices of the collective. Maybe it’s not fair to think that way, the guest MCs on here should solve that one. This is probably why I’ve always give the solo albums such a light touch over the years. Sitting down and really listening through them is enough to know it’s been my loss:
My old flatmate and I went to a GZA solo show around 2012. About halfway through the show, he (the GZA, not my flatmate) was performing a ‘freestyle’ that sounded like he’d said it a thousand times before. I didn’t hold that against him. He was probably tired at the end of a long tour, and would you really save your best for Brisbane, Australia? Anyway, my old flatmate, who loves Wu-Tang and was wearing a Wu t-shirt, yells out “Good one, Ghostface!” A few members of the crowd laughed at that. The remainder of the GZA’s freestyle was angrily directed at my flatmate. All I remember is that it started with a booming “YOU DOWN THERE IN THE WU-TANG T-SHIRT”, the crowd parted, and GZA unleashing a ruthless tirade. The next morning, I heard a cry from the neighbouring bedroom. “Aaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwaaa. God damn it! The GZA hates me.”
really good flow
The perfect hip hop album. I can tell it’s gonna be a masterpiece halfway thru this first listen.
The movie quotes probably go on a little too long, but otherwise the production here is impressive. Dense and layered. One of the stronger Wu-Tang solo albums
RATING: 8/10 HIGHLIGHT: Killah Priest - Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth LOWLIGHT: Labels
I Mean It's Alright.
Pésimo
It took me way too long in life to find this album.
I don't love this style of rap that uses samples from kung-fu movies, but the flow is great. Ended up enjoying this way more than I thought I would Favorite Songs: Liquid Swords, Gold, Shadowboxin'
Easily one of the finest hours of 90's hip-hop. RZA's atmospheric, subtle beats are in perfect harmony with GZA's subdued flow. It's not a perfect album, a couple of tracks slightly weigh it down, but I feel like time was overall very kind to it. Favourite track: 4th Chamber
Pretty mellow
Fine. Didn’t care for the spoken word segments.
So so rap album heard better heard worse. Didn’t grab,
Não disponível no Spotify
Ei.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I will not include the CD bonus track "B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)" in this review. Okay, so I figured this album journey would touch upon other Wu-Tang member solo releases besides Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Sure enough, we got the big one from GZA, the perceived "spiritual leader" of the group. I feel I got a good sense of GZA's intricate wordplay and referential depth from cuts like "Clan in Da Front" on Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), as well as his closing verse for "Guillotine (Swordz)" off of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. But even then, I don't think I was fully prepared for how good Liquid Swords turned out. Right from the get-go, with the audio excerpt from the opening of martial arts movie Shogun Assassin, into the bouncing Willie Mitchell sample on the braggadocious title track, the mood of this album is established as equal parts catchy and sinister. RZA's production goes hard for his cousin's record, boasting some bona fide beats and sample incorporation while maintaining that unsettling tone, especially with the deeper integration of karate film excerpts. The production paired well with GZA's confrontational rapping, unrelentless in his bars, while showing control in his run-on sentences that seemed unmatched for the time. That said, he still takes the time to add some biting social commentary, including the examination of drug-dealing from multiple angles on "Gold", the first-hand account of struggling ghetto communities on "Cold World", and the problems he ran into in dealing with record labels for his debut on "Labels". Probably the most inspiring track on this album for me was "Swordsman", in which GZA makes the case for educating oneself rather than hanging on the word of someone else, showcasing the care and self-dignity he possessed. Of course, the rest of the album is laced with delectable guest member verses from his fellow clansmen and cousins, such as the hard-hitting posse cuts "4th Chamber" and "Investigative Reports", as well as the tight verse exchange he had with Method Man on "Shadowboxin'". Even the skits, while few and far between, are some of the most well-inspired the Wu had at this point, in particular the "Hell's Wind Staff" scene that neatly references "C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)' during the drug deal before giving way to the eloquent mafioso rap of "Killah Hills 10304". Honestly, there's not much to say here, as Liquid Swords was a focused effort from GZA and RZA. They committed to the unsettling sound they were going for since the clan's foundation.
I don't know if I wasn't getting as into this project as I should have, but what is so special about Liquid Swords besides the cool and moody production and of course lyrical bars out the hoo ha. I get it, GZA really reinvented himself from his mixed debut as he turned it around and dropped a much more concise and stylistic project but I am not seeing the "greatest Rap album ever made" comments at all. I appreciate the dark and gritty production that carries over from 36 Chambers, but that style and sound isn't going to make me gawk at the project as a whole, everything needs to come together in its' own parts. I thought GZA and the features here were solid but once again nothing really popped a lot to me. I do think 4th Chamber is a pretty great track here and by far my favorite, but still nothing that is topping my favorite rap songs of all time list. For the right person I am sure this album hits like no other, but for me I just think it is pretty solid, that's all.
why do i feel like im speedrunning "influencial hip hop albums" these days. oh wait a minute its my 600th album! finally something interesting. still as a guy who is never "actually" into hip hop this album is just halfway between underrated and overrated and i may give it a 4.
No me gusta muxo el bum bap.
Love this. What a surprise.
Really enjoyed this - high 4
Ehh it was ok...I didn't mind the samurai movie quotes at first, but there were just so many. Also thankfully there was only one skit that I recall, but it just drug on.
B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)
- I think I’d like this more if I listened to this at a different point of my life
Disclaimer: I'm not a big rap/hip-hop person. That said, I'm not going to be like some boomer who gives this 1 star because I hate it. I listened to this with an open mind as it is actually out of my comfort zone. I actually enjoyed this quite a bit. It just rolled and flowed. It wasn't clubby, it wasn't clunky, it wasn't autotuned, it wasn't ultraprocessed, any of that. It was raw and real. I may not be a fan of most rap/hip-hop music, but I was a fan of this. I think it earned its accolades as solo material from GZA. Having the album supported by members of Wu Tang Clan made this into a more wholesome affair. I think it was the push out of my comfort zone that I needed to start this week.
Anything WTC related is always pretty good as a baseline
One of my favorite rap records of all time and one that feels like a predecessor for some of my other favorite records from the genre’s future like Madvillainy. High class, high octane, hip hop.
3.5
Колись давно, коли я тільки починав слухати Ву і розбиратися в доробку учасників, я наштовхнувся на тезу, що ті, хто по-справжньому викупають Вутенг, завжди називають альбом Джізи найкращим сольником. У мене він входить в п'ятірку кращих сольних релізів, але все ж таки закриває цей список. Вистачає хороших бітів, є культовий Liquid Swords, але серед першої хвилі альбомів вистачає більш насичених за продакшеном альбомів. Як завжди хороші фіти, але якось забагато Killah Priest. GZA мав завжди репутацію кращого текстовика в Ву. Тут можна трохи посперечатися, але такого батл-репу складно почути деінде, окрім цього альбому.
Цей альбом я звісно ж слухав колись. Ву тенг дали нам купу кайфових сольників і це один з них. Не те щоб Джиза був моїм улюбленим емсі, але ліквід свордс прям кайф, особливо 4th chamber, це один з моїх улюблених вутенг рілейтед треків. Та і взагалі слухається цільно, атмосферно, всі оці семпли як завжди в тему і все таке.
Знову репчина?
Pretty niche stuff like a lot of the rap on the list. Most tracks don't have anything like a chorus, just a wall of text over a minimalistic beat. What is any of it about? You'd have to sit down and really pay attention for the whole hour if you want to have more than a vague idea.
OMG I literally remember thinking when I first started listening to these albums "HMMM I wonder when will I get a rap album?" AND HERE IT ISSSS (I don't really like rap lol) It made my head bop but it wasn't that memorable
Shit!
It's a classic for a reason. Arguably the best of the Wu Tang Clan solo albums, all apologies to Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. But the ratings on this project are predominately 65+ white men, so I'm sure the rating will be way too low because this isn't YET ANOTHER fucking Beatles album.
I’ve never experienced life on the streets in NY, I don’t know what it’s like to be threatened with guns or how to react to gunfire other than instinct- this album, like the best fiction allows me to have a glimpse of a life different to mine. The rhymes are brutal cinema veritie. Bristling with aggression and the threat of violence. The music mirrors this- hard beats, with twitchy strings and synths that stab and probe. A rich exploration of a world the artists understand completely cover is not the right one for this album though….
The writing still holds up to this day
Multiple listens are required for this one. Very serious. First time through I liked the groove, thought it was easy listening, but I was only half listening. Picked up on the wutang vibe, read the bios, listened again a little closer. Much more of an experience. Nearly every song had a checkmark. One more time through for the effect, and this is solid gold. I don’t have much experience with wu tang or the affiliates, but I like what I know and this made a huge impression on me. The music, the lyricism, the atmosphere. Everything it should be. Definitely could be an easy listen, the beats are quick to feel, but there’s a lot more to it if you take a closer listen.
This was fun and I enjoyed it more than I expected to.
Very dark sound. I like the movie sample concept, but not sure it works as well as it could have. Lyrics and flow is very dense.
Buttery smooth and deep. This is probably my favorite of the Wu-Tang variety so far.
I loved this so much that I went straight back to the beginning as soon as it was over and listened to it again. Gloriously atmospheric.
This definitely reminded me of DJ Krush in parts. I liked it, but I felt like a number of the tracks were missing one final ingredient to make them great. I also thought the movie sound bites were a little overdone. Tracks I liked best were Labels and Shadowboxin' (❤️ Method Man)
RZA cooked on these beats. The movie samples give the album a great cinematic feel. GZA’s lyrics are hard hitting and his flows are consistently great. All the guest appearances are operating at a high level. My favorite song here is probably 4th Chamber. Every verse is fantastic and sits within the minimalism of the beat so well.
One of the essential Wu-Tang Clan albums by one of their best rappers. GZA might not have the great voice, but he is a masterful wordsmith. He works great on RZA's beats. The features are great too. What more do you want?
Sterkeste skiva i Wu Tang Extended Universe. RZA er om mulig enda mer on point med produksjonen her enn på 36th Chambers. Hvis jeg skal pirke litt, kunne skiva vært to spor kortere og hatt skitsa som egne spor så man slipper å høre dem i mixtapen sin. (Ikke engang jeg er hater nok til å ville fjerne Shogun Assassin-introen helt.)
Tøft
East coast rap, very cool. I can hear where Lin Manuel Miranda gets it.
A masterpiece. Varied stories and delivery from the Wu Tang Clan. Timeless. A 4.
Ghostface rocked the Stanley cup before all these white girls. (96/100)
Best Song: Shadowboxin' This was good. I wouldn't put it as good as Wu Tang but better than a lot of 90s hip hop. I had heard Shadowboxin' prior but that was it from this album. Really solid hip hop that I will listen to again. 4/5.
Some people like this sh!t. I am not one of them.
Not for me. It simply isn’t music to my ears. 1
Impressive lyrical gymnastics but lacks the tunes to match.
A classic for sure, a couple of lesser tracks but mostly great, contination of the Wu sound, RZA beats the highlight. 4 Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes, 84/328 (25%) Will I get: Already have
Good nineties sound. Familiarities with the wu-tang clan but has its own sound. Very east coast NYC sound.
Another Wu Tang alumni and another great album. If anything, this sounds even more ahead of its time than Tical, albeit lacking an obvious hit single. Great album and looking forward to more Wu
Love GZA and the featured rappers on this album Love the B movie samurai mythology It’s cool and quiet with cold beats.
I've never totally connected with the martial arts, ambiguously asian rap music of Wu Tang. This album is no exception. Some of the lyrics are clever, but I don't connect with the music.
Ho hum.
Great beats and backing sounds courtesy of RZA. I'm into this. Liked Songs Added: Living In The World Today 4th Chamber Swordsman
This shit slapped, the random japanese story behind the music went so hard. This is my kind of 90's rap Fave songs: Cold World, Shadowboxin', BIBLE
The Wu Tang universe is seemingly massive and the quality of the various releases varies wildly. If you wanted to pick one WT record to see what it's all about, this is the one. A more enjoyable and consistent listen than 36 Chambers, which is a bit austere for me. This one has all the Wu hallmarks: stripped production, killer MCs, lots of martial arts and chess analogies and, of course, extensive quotes from random martial arts films. GZA is the pilot but all of the Clan appears throughout, and that keeps things interesting and moving. I’m not gonna wade into the “who is allowed to be an MC” debate, it's dumb. But also hearing this right after Eminem, ok, yeah, I see your point
liquid swords my beloved
Classic. Haven't spun this in ages but is such a snapshot of an amazing time in hip hop.
Had a lot of fun with this one. Great lyrics and beats; stylistically, it might be my favorite hip-hop project so far.
More rap. A bit like MF Doom?
It's a great album with a really fun theme. I think I nearly burned myself out on it a couple years ago, but it felt fresh when I listened to it today.
More hip-hop. Still not my bag. 3
Day886 - the lyrics no matter how goofy had me hooked. ghostface and raekwon have really good solo albums but this one might be my favorite
Well well, my good friend(s) GZA. I'm not - as they say - familiar with the oeuvre, so I'm unclear if this is an artist, like SZA or a collective, like NWA. What I do now know is that they produce some good fun hip-hop, and clearly are highly in hock to Wu Tang, who are both referenced on here and - via Method Man - feature quite prominently. That's a good thing, and I enjoyed this, being, as I was, in my natural habitat for enjoying hip hop - the car on a sunny day.
This was cool
Easily one of the best rap albums of all time
One of the most important hip hop records of the 90s
If you like hip hop this is your cup of tea
Literally cannot remember any songs off of the album; only 50 minutes of sitting and going through agonising depths of boredom. This is the second rap album I had to endure this week and I just can’t, not my cup of tea. Stay safe y’all. Favorites: none.
2.5
hellllll yea
Great album. The 90's intros were annoying then and even more now for some reason. I never got why that was a thing. I always loved the "solo" albums of Wu Tang members. All of them were there and on the album but the "solo" part just means GZA did the heavy lifting. Its essentially a Wu Tang album. Sounds and feels like a Wu Tang album. This is a bit darker in tone and feeling, but damn it's good. Like it feels like after bar close and everyone is serious for some reason and talking about the heaviest shit in the darkest part of night. Great album.
In the A tier of Wu Tang solo projects
I don’t like 90s rap style and production was pretty boring. I like BIBLE I think
Good flow throughout
A classic. Nice atmosphere with Kung fu interludes. Great rhymes. Perfect
Great flow. Samurai through line was cool
I found several things to like here and several things to not like. I'd say this album has both higher highs and lower lows than other hip hop albums, but at the end of the day it's still middle of the road.
Not my favorite hip-hop, but definitely not the worst.
Enjoyed this one, more than the Raekwon one last week. Not sure what it was - beats, flow, lyrical content - but it landed better with me. Still not my favourite genre to listen to for a whole album, but this was better than most.
Kick. Punch. Protect ya neck. Damn. I love me some Wu-Tang clan.
The best way I can describe this music is “big boss shit”
It was fine. Didn't speak to me too much
It was alright. When I was less familiar with hip hop at the start of this list I probably would have rated this lower.
i tried listening to this twice. Both times i got hella bored. The backing tracks are sooo generic and extremely repetitive to the point that it starts sounding like nails on a chalkboard. i know it's ''wu tang clan'' and ''badass'' and ''very gangstaaa'', but no i couldn't bring myself to finish the album. and i really wanted to like it. shame.
They re all the same why do you torture us with these Nigga shoot mc etc etc
Spectacular.
I never listen to rap or hip hop or whatever, but the fact that we get only the most early and groundbreaking on here is a real shortcut to knowing what to listen to. I did enjoy this
Nice flow, pretty chill production, fun listen.
No es mi estilo. No lo volvería a escuchar
Walmart mf doom & wu tang cringeeeeeee
After getting past the album cover i found a few redeeming tunes that move. in many ways this sounded like movie background music to me, with little identity. Fair.
I can see the talent, but it’s a little too much for me.
Niet voor mij
Started a bit slow but I was really enjoying this by the end.
Reading some of the reviews it looks like if you are a fan of hip hop then you would really like this. I’m not a fan myself so it’s a no for me.
Something about 90's rap makes me feel like a teenager again. Doesn't hit quite as hard as 36 Chambers, but it's still great.
Great
Great old school hip hop album. Had me nodding along for the whole go
This is #day653 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to another solo release from the Wu-Tang Clan camp. I don't mind it, but I'm not sure I could really tell you how it differs from, say, a Ghostface Killah record I had a while back. Otherwise, it has pretty much everything I like about '90s hip-hop. That synth on Hell's Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304, though. This is a strong 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day654.
A fairly engaging rap album, with a pretty listenable classic rap sound. It makes that sound grander though, giving it an almost cinematic quality at times. On the whole though, I can’t say that I found this especially interesting. I read that the samples are taken from a Samurai film that formed the basis of much of the themes and design of the album. To be slightly harsh, is that interesting enough to be the basis of a whole album? I can’t say I was persuaded.
A great album all round. The brilliant production and good lyricism, and the world it creates, make for a very rewarding first time listener. I can see this becoming a firm favourite as I listen to it more, but currently I would give it a high 4.
One of the relatively few hip-hop albums I know pretty well and have listened to quite a bit. The lyricism and production are excellent, both brilliantly working together to conjure an extremely dense, dark, menacing atmosphere. The samples from the martial arts film ‘Shogun Assassin’ are surprisingly effective as well. Difficult to pick out individual favourite tracks as the album works so well as a cohesive whole, but the title track, ‘Duel of the Iron Mic’, ‘Cold World’, ‘4th Chamber’ and ‘Shadowboxin’’ would have to be up there. A very immersive, almost cinematic experience, and a very strong 4 stars.
I like it. MF DOOM vibes.
I liked the samples, but the rest was just kind of meh
A bit too slow for me.
Never come across this artist before. Enjoyed the smooth grooves behind the lyrics
Það er ekkert launungarmál að ég fíla ekki rapp og það var nokkuð vitað að þetta myndi ekki slá í gegn hjá mér. Þetta var samt ekki ömurlegt. Bara ekki skemmtilegt. Sami takturinn og sama tilgerðin.
Only giving it a four, because I think it’s a solid 3.5 and I am estimating Jett’s score will be lower
It’s pretty good. Definitely a smooth thing you vibe to in the background more than something I’d go back to to actively listen to
boring
I’m not into hip hop. I’ve tried so many times, but it just does not move me in any Way. I like his voice on here - it’s pretty cool.
This album was released not long after the seminal first wu tang album. Gza has such a languid authority and this collection has so many highlights and although not a group album is a worthy follow-up. Liquid swords is the highlight, its a tribute to those who went before them but gza sets the standard with a potent rhyme backed by rzas inventive samples. Cold world, labels and shadowboxin are also tremendous. This is peak wu tang. Between 93 and 98 there is a run of solo and group albums which set the standard
Yeah, I liked this more than I was expecting
Quite enjoyable listen from my side.
Maybe I should have paid more attention to the lyrics
This album had an interesting concept. Very cool rap beats and grooves.
Lyrics held my attention for a couple tracks. I didn't get the movie track insertions, but RAP as an art form does miss a mark with me.
It was mostly fine. Some good lyrics. I strongly dislike most lo-fi for misophonia reasons. Nothing really jumped out at me to add to my regular shuffle.
GZA’s Liquid Swords is a cinematic masterwork that stands as a quintessential pillar of OG gangsta rap, creating a gritty, insular world that shares the atmospheric DNA of later classics like Madvillainy. From the haunting opening dialogue of Shogun Assassin, the album masterfully bridges the gap between an imaginary samurai landscape and the cold, eerie realism of modern American urban life. This transition is most palpable on "Duel of the Iron Mic," where the "banging" production eventually descends into a tense, dangerous narrative. Throughout the project, RZA’s production is surgical; "Gold" utilizes minimal beats and precision static noise to heighten the tension of the drug trade, while "Living in the World Today" offers pockets of beautiful melody that provide a brief reprieve from GZA’s dense, battle-ready lyricism. While the production on "Cold World" and "Labels" may feel less immediate to some, they remain essential for their storytelling—specifically the "author, not an actor" ethos and the clever, fourth-wall-breaking critique of the music industry. The album reaches a fever pitch on "4th Chamber," where RZA uses musical imagery to complement verses so vivid they rival the best of Nas, and "Shadowboxing," where the technical delivery feels entirely effortless. As the journey nears its end, the "Swordsman" reinforces GZA’s god-tier status over minimal, elevating beats, followed by the cautionary survivalism of "I Gotcha Back." The album concludes perfectly with Killah Priest’s "B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)," a vital collection of knowledge that shifts the focus from street warfare to spiritual clarity. Ultimately, Liquid Swords is a remarkably solid body of work that undeniably earns its place among the top ten rap albums of all time.
Basically a Wu-Tang album with all its features, so in other words awesome. It’s at least as good as Cuban Linx, I might like 36 Chambers a bit more since I’m more familiar with it but if you said this was better I would respect that. This one should continue to grow on future listens.
Very vibey, smooth rap. Seems like it'd grow with repeat listens, so I'm excited to revisit someday.
Day 41 — GZA — Liquid Swords (1995) Listened: May 12–18, 2026 Genre: East Coast Hip-Hop / Wu-Tang / Abstract Hip-Hop Vibe: Dense, cinematic, and ruthlessly precise — RZA's stark kung-fu influenced production creates the perfect stage for GZA's chess-move lyricism, an album that reveals new layers with every listen. Highlights: • Liquid Swords • Duel of the Iron Mic • Living in the World Today • Gold • Cold World (feat. Inspectah Deck) • Labels ★ 4th Chamber (feat. RZA, Ghostface Killah & Killah Priest) • Shadowboxin' (feat. Method Man) • Hell's Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304 • Investigative Reports (feat. Chef Raekwon, Ghostface Killah & U-God) • Swordsman (feat. Killah Priest) • I Gotcha Back (feat. Killah Priest) • B.I.B.L.E. (feat. Killah Priest) Impression: Seven or so background listens and I still can't quote a lyric — that's how dense this is. The beats alone are enough to justify the rating. Everything I could catch lyrically was slick and layered. This is one that demands headphones and full attention, and I already know the more I absorb the lyricism the higher it climbs. Placeholder star on 4th Chamber until it fully opens up. Rating: 4.4/5 Keep songs? Yes Revisit album? Obsessively
A classic album from a legend.
Great beats, and interesting lyrics.
I'm not having the best day to say the least, but let's just say there is nothing about this album that makes it more unique than any other 1990s Hip-Hop album. It's fine as it is, but I don't have an urge to listen to it again. If it wasn't created by a Wu-Tang Clan member(with the worst stage name by the way), it wouldn't be on this list. Favorite Track: "Living In The World Today".
I've never listened to any Wu Tang or their solo stuff. I liked this. Nice and smooth hip hop. 👍Shadowboxin'
Typical Wu Tang album with a high production value, movie samples and skillful raps. It's all a bit too serious for me, but certainly not bad.
When this came up this morning, didn’t exactly give me a positive- but was I completely wrong. This is what great hip hop gives. This is such an interesting record, dense and dark, mesmerising in it’s flow, the samples fit the scope adding to the feel, instead for just being there to be there. Going to be listening to this more, 4 Stars (just likely because I just don’t know it enough yet).
It seems like 80s and early 90s rap never gets a good rating from me. This era honestly doesn’t appeal to me all much. 5/10
I was pretty underwhelmed here. I love WuTang. But I felt that the production on this was pretty mid. Fun samples and ideas never really evolved from their first bars and it ended up feeling half-baked. And I honestly didn’t love GZAs flow. It felt stiff and kinda lazy. My favorite flow on this was RZA by a mile.
Technically, there’s only one Wu-Tang album on this list. Technically. There seems to be an endless supply of projects by individual WTC members, though. All abound with collaborations and posse raps with the other WTC members. I’m feeling a little exhausted by these solo-but-not-solo projects. You can practically hear me sighing. The end of “Gold” and its transition into “Cold World” was the first time I felt like this album did something that made it stand out from its counterparts. Best production goes to either “4th Chamber” or “Hells Wind Staff”. Some sinister, clean beats that loop well over 3-4 minutes. It’s very hard to get to granular about this project since there are many like it on the list. I suppose there’s some merit in this one not being as outwardly sexist. Lyrics are a bit more on the conscious side. Idk other than that. This must be how people feel about house music. Light 3/5
90s hip hop. Wu Tang member. Samples samurai film dialogue. Great flow.
All the songs started to merge together after a while. The album didn't do much for me but I can see why it's on here.
Cool album. The samples of old movies were interesting and I've never listened to Wu-Tang really so this was kind of a cool introduction to GZA. Gold and B.I.B.L.E were my favorites. 6.4/10
A hip hop album I really enjoyed.
first rapper to larp japanese shit. thats innovation
Rap. Not music.
Album cover made me think it was thrasher music. Was surprised and it wasn't bad.
This feels like quintessential 90's rap. The lyrics are very tight and his flow is great. Love the sampling and various sounds that appear throughout.
Peak 90s rap
Top 10 hip-hop album ever. The lyrical flow is impeccable, the production is flawless, and I can't recommend it high enough.
Sorry, not my type. The movie quotes were the most interesting part. 4/10
Ehh whatever. Disappointing. 2/5.
Basura
10/10 no notes
Great Songs: Gold, B.I.B.L.E (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) Good Songs: Liquid Swords, Duel of the Iron Mic, Living in the World Today, Cold World, 4th Chamber, Shadowboxin', Hell's Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304, Investigative Reports, Swordsman, I Gotcha Back Mid Songs: Labels, Bad Songs:
Panamanian dictator Noriega mention!!
Meh.
Enjoyed this album by good GZA and the whiz RZA.
I used to like long intros on albums. Now I don’t. Now that the song is going, I’m digging it. I doubt I have but track two sounds familiar. I know the keyboard loop for sure. Track three started. The loops changed but the drum loop seems the same. On track 10. I’m enjoying this one. If the whole album had songs like “B.I.B.L.E.” This album would have been amazing. The last track was killer.
Faves: Cold World Shadowboxin' BIBLE
Pretty good hip hop album.
One of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. It's dark, scratchy beats adds the perfect atmosphere for the storytelling, immaculate flow. Everyone brings their A-game for this. Even the skits don't ruin this album; it's that good. Best Tracks: Duel of the Iron Mic; 4th Chamber; Shadowboxin'
One song on its own is good, but together they are the same song
Carino
no me gusta mucho el rap en gral, no lo terminé d escuchar
I like Wu Tang and some of the spin-off stuff (esp RZA and ODB) but hadn’t spent much time with this one. Good lyrics and flow, but def not as standout to me as the full Staten Island Avengers assembly!
Wu Tang is for everyone. Not just the children.
Since doing the '1001 Albums Challenge', this is actually probably the most fun I have had with an album that it has generated for me. This is, I would say, a really good example of 'don't judge a book by its cover', as when I first looked at the cover, I instantly thought I would dislike the album, as judging from the cover, I thought there would be too much going on within the music, but I was still unsure of what the genre itself would be. I was obviously pleasantly surprised with the outcome of this. I really enjoyed some of the intros that included monologues or scene setting; it added a nice touch and set the tone of the songs really nicely. I would 100% listen to this again, and other music by GZA. I had never heard of this artist before, so I am glad that my first impression of them was this great. Favourites (I'm picking 6 due to me enjoying all of them): Label Investigative Reports Liquid Swords Hell's Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304 Shadowboxin' B.I.B.L.E (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)
Pretty much a Wu Tang Clan album. Listened to a lot over the years and still stands up as a classic hip hop album. Best tracks for me Gold, 4th Chamber and Shadowboxin’. 4.
Yep. Enjoyed this. Will listen to it again as plenty to take in that i haven't managed to imbibe on the first listen
This has a density and intensity few other hip-hop albums can come close to. One of the Holy Trinity of early Tang solo albums. Lyrically brilliant, touching on religion "Herbal vapors and biblical papers Smoking Exodus, every square yard is plush", History (4th Chamber) and personal philosophy (Swordsman). Beats often repetitive, but hypnotic.
Can’t say I’d heard of GZA and only discovered he was a member of Wu-Tang Clan after listening to the album. Overall, I enjoyed the vibe but couldn’t help feeling it was a touch one paced and formulaic by the end of it. I really like the closing track.
Honestly, I think the samples from the shogun movie are lowkey the best part of the album. They give the album so much atmosphere and a certain vibe that the actual music doesn't quite live up to. Not that it's bad or anything; it's actually quite good, but I feel like it sounds a lot like other hip-hop albums of the time, when, especially based on how it opened, I thought it would lean into an old-timey kind of movie sound. Once I get over that specific disappointment, this is really good. I don't usually love 90s music, but that's also usually based on cliche production styles and sounds, and this feels much more timeless. Favorite Song HM to B.I.B.L.E. Wasn't expecting a song like that on this album, and he knew his stuff by making some really cool references. Lyrics on hip-hop albums are pretty hard for me to pick up, especially in just one listen through. What I did make out was really good, and there's a chance the rating would go up if I could really pick the lyricism out. Favorite Song(s): Cold World
I need to start listening to the lyrics of these albums. There must be something in them.
more like background noise to me
Fucking legend! Love GZA and all the Wu-Tang clan! RIP ODB! This was a great album! GZA is such an underrated part of the Wu-Tang but he always shows how good he is!
Epic concept album 4.6
5/10 - about too hardcore hip hop for me, appreciate the lyrical talent though
Definitely not for me.
I've only recently come to this, and now it's on my shelves. The Shogun interludes really add some atmosphere and strangely work despite the juxtaposition in music style and subject matter Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ Solid ★★★★☆ (7/10) Total reviewed : 292 Already owned : 67 Purchased : 15 To buy : 3 Nope : 207
really good. like wow, the lyricism and the sampling is top tier here. highly enjoyed Would I listen again: yes Deserves to be on this list: yes, definitely one of the better Wu-tang side projects 4.6
hip hop.
Por qué tiene tanto comentario aaaa es como que te saca constantemente de la zona musical. Al principio no me pareció tan mal, pero llega un punto qua cansa.
it wasnt what i usually listen to but i enjoyed what i listened to
Forgot I was even listening to music whilst listening to this.
Lyrically dense, good stories, excellent tracks
This is prime hip hop. Dark beats, hooks, guest lyrical tear ups, GZA dripping the cool.
Hoooly shit this is sick as hell. GZA finds the right hypnotic groove and just cruises down it with impeccable flow. Multiple tracks got me DEEP into that head-nodding zone. Easily one of the best hip-hop albums I've encountered through this list so far. Honestly with further listening this could end up on my own all-time list! Must-listen #324.
i know how well regarded this is… i wish i liked it more! i think i need more time with it.
Wow. Thanks for the pointer. I've a gap in Wu Tang solo projects needs filling!
EStá bien, divertido, buenos beats, Me pierdo un poco con las historias.
Gran busqueda para la epoca, muy noventoso todo. Un tanto monotono, quizas porque estoy acostumbrado a otro tipo de rap hoy dia
One of the easier 5 stars. Such a classic.
Certified classic. No notes.
3.25. I think I like Wu-Tang as a collective a little more than any of the individual parts, even though many of them appear on multiple tracks of their individual albums.
Every couple of years I give Wu Tang another chance and I still don’t get it. Lyrically there are some shining moments but I’m not a fan of the production and lack of choruses.
3.5 - I'd like this morning without the skits (at this point, this can probably be assumed), but the songs are pretty good.
Okay
Wu-tang forever.
Not my thing.
Some good beats, although a bit repetitive. Lyrics not very inclusive. And how do you pronounce his name anyway? Gee-zee-ay? Gerzaaaaaah? Geeezer? Jizzer? Ah who cares anyway.
Love this album. Have heard it a few times I suppose but never in depthly. So many bangers that I forget are on here. Probably the 2nd best album from a Wu Tang member.
Rappist
Brilliant stuff
I prefer my WU whole
583/1001 2026.04.01 🌕🌗🌑🌑🌑
This was a decent listen. Pretty chill vibe, good beats, and great lyrics. I enjoyed it way more than the other album we had by one of the Wu Tang members.
GZA brings the same sound and skits to his album as he does on Wu-Tang Clan’s creation. I’ll reiterate that the skits detract from the music, but I understand this was very prevalent in 90’s rap. The beats are on point and the rhymes are tight but the songs are lacking emotion behind what is being said. Middle of the road listen for me.
Lush lyrical treats layered thickly over laidback beats - “My preliminary attack keeps cemeteries packed” The references are deep and intricate, engaging you and inviting reflection and revisit - “I slayed mcs back in the rec room era/ My style broke motherfuckin’ backs like Ken Patera” This is a great collection of rhymes that are consistent, solid and eminently listenable.
I was not looking forward to another Wu Tang solo project, but GZA delivered a great album. Clean beats and rhymes with a smooth delivery kept me groovin'. No complaints, enjoyed this album. ....but, not for nothing, someday someone needs to help me understand the Wu Tang obsession with Kung fu movies and how using samples from said genre of movie is, or ever was, cool?? Extra annoying on this album because i was actually good.
I think it's fair to put Wu-Tang Clan, Wu-Tang members' solo albums, and Wu-Tang-adjacent artists' recordings under one roof. Now the house is pretty full and it's all good stuff. But they all can't occupy space on this list. At some point, redundancy has been reached and we should move on to something else.
This is my all time favorite hip hop album
I’m not really the target audience for this album, and I have some issues with aspects of its political messaging. Still, I’d be foolish not to acknowledge the sheer quality of the music and the impact of the Wu‑Tang Clan as a whole. The Shogun Assassin samples are used brilliantly. While it’s not exactly my cup of tea, I fully understand why this is considered an essential listen.
2 out of 5. Other than wanting to know the films that were sampled there wasn't much here for me.
This one sounded pretty good. It was a vibe. I liked ot but I like other hip hop records more.
It was pretty decent enough, I just didn't really fuck with the beats all that hard
This is sick. There's not really another way to say it.