Reviews (page 4 of 9)
The kung fu interludes were really interesting
It was alright.
I'm not a big Wutang guy, but I see the appeal of this. The skill is top notch, and I couldn't help but laugh thinking that Drake has argued that he is the greatest rapper of all time with a straight face. Probably a 3.5 but I will round up because the flow is excellent.
I agree with Vaasavi that the rapper to weeb pipeline needs be studied given the overarching story the skits tell. This is an easy 4.5 star album for the technical skill. But I'm going to round down to 4 stars because one or two of the skits are off and don't contribute to the overarching theme of the album - keeping this from being a perfect 5 star in my book.
the rapper to weeb pipeline simply must be studied. anyway, I was really impressed by the verses on this album. lots of surprising referenes and interesting entendres that, for me, were really reminiscent of kendrick.
yeah auto 5; Wu-Tang took the world by storm the aftereffects from which will live on in the ether of magnificence.
Love me any member of the Wu-Tang Clan. 5.5 stars!
I try not to dismiss hip-hop albums as being repetitive, but if you mixed up the tracks and asked me to name each one, I really wouldn’t be able to. Expect maybe Cold World and Shadowboxin’. Honestly, it kinda speaks for the album when my favorite track ended up being the bonus track at the end. If it wasn’t for that, I’d probably almost not have a favorite track. The only real charm outside of that is the movie samples, obviously put in thanks to the Wu-Tang connection. Honestly, just makes me want to listen to Wu-Tang as a whole. Favorite track: B.I.B.L.E. Other hits: Cold World, Shadowboxin’, Hell’s Wind Staff/ Killah Hills 10304
Chill and hypnotic.
Incredible lyrical content by GZA and superb production by RZA. Samurai sagas and rap is such a good combo. As soon as I finished my first listen, I went back to the beginning for round two. This is hip hop at its finest.
good shit
I was not previously familiar with this. I'm not really a big fan of this genre, but this one had a bit more to offer than other rap albums I've heard. I probably still wouldn't listen again though.
That intro to "Liquid Swords" is creepy AF. Album is definitely an angry one. But I like the anger. Good beats
Wu brother number 1 Protect ya neck.
I'm low-key like seashells.
I liked it. The samurai subplot was fun. The songs were entertaining. The beat was nice.
When I was a white boy going to kindergarten in Wyoming in 1996 when this album came out, I was much more into the west coast rap scene. Long live Tupac. You couldn’t have convinced me otherwise. But GZA convinced me that Brooklyn has a lot to offer. I liked this album quite a bit. Another rap album with a “concept” feel. Really enjoyed the samurai movie interjections. It’s the kind of album that makes me want to explore GZA and WuTang more. Great representation of the spirit of this challenge.
That was straight gangsta
the best song on this album isn't even by gza
Timeless
I hate Wu-Tang with a vengeance and this is them by the back door. Absolutely abysmal dross. 1/5 16/9/25
Not a rap fan
it aint really my thing, but i am also a white guy, which means i cant like any hip hop that isnt eminem
5/10 Favs: Shadowboxin', Living In The World Today
The GOAT! Best album from a WuTang Clan member.
Good for a light night drive.
Regular hip-hop album
Fantastic production, really fun lyrics too
I kinda like the skits and narrative thread on this but I’m just not into the beats
One of the very best Wu Tang albums - maybe the best, certainly in the convo - but it's time to confess I'm not the biggest Wu Tanger.
Whenever I see that we're getting an album from the Wu-Tang universe, I feel like I managed to live blithely through their rise and fall and somehow missed out on something critical to appreciate these revered artists. That's not to say there's anything wrong with this album, but it didn't do much for me. I liked the whole "cinematic" approach, and the kung-fu-movie samples, but I found it challenging to track what's going on with the lyrics, and it felt like there was more relentless drum tracks than anything else musically; the highlights were probably the title track, "Shadowboxin'" and "B.I.B.L.E". My loss, clearly--sorry GZA!
I loved this--had it on repeat for a few hours and still want to listen again. Great coming-of-age vibe.
This is pretty good. It's completely loaded with samples from samurai movies and ninja shit. Solid beats, rhythm and lyrics too. 3.42 / 5
Not bad Good old school rap
Not my jam
Not my jam. I suppose it's okay, but I need more variety in the background music. Don't think I'll listen to this again.
🐐
Absolutely fat album. Love the anime sampling at the start, and I learnt about the east west hip hop beef of the 90s. I'll come back and listen to this another time
Good stuff.
Enjoyed it - not my scene, but appreciated it
samurai concept cool music got kinda tired/unexciting but good enough to listen to may need a relisten
No standouts, I don't think I care for the Wu Tang Clan
An incredibly soild and consistent album with great beats, flow and lyrics (except for that line about abortion being evil in B.I.B.L.E.). My favourite track was 'Gold'. Loved the mellow beat and the lyrics in this one, specially the line 'And how I changed a ***** name to John Doe' I found to be very clever and cool. 'Cold World' would be also one of my favourites if it wasn't for its weird chorus, and I did also like a lot 'B.I.B.L.E' having the best chorus of the whole album and very speacy beats, but I had to subtract some points for that particular line that I mentioned before. And that's all. This review may be a bit poor, but while I did very much enjoy this record, I don't really have anything special to say that I hadn't already.
Didn’t really hear anything too special from this one. Kinda just came and went. Nothing bad but nothing notable.
yeah it was good
Good like wu tang clan
interesting - different
28/08/2025 Not the worst album from a Wu member I have heard. Just not for me. Spotify listeners. 1.4 million
War irgendwie nicht so meins, hat mich nicht gepackt, schade.
This was fun. 4th chamber and Swordsman had great flow.
Not really a fan at all, there is some interesting stuff in this. Generally though it does not hold up for me. There are a few neat sounds.
Pretty coo
You know when you have something really good? I mean like perfect and decadent as hell? Then it’s so available that you just keep consuming it. Eventually it loses meaning. You know it’s good but it doesn’t compute. That’s how I got by the end of this album. Lyrically, musically, thematically? Awesome! But the full album almost becomes too much of a good thing.
Probably the weakest album ive heard so far from one of the wu-tang clan members. Felt more like a cheap imitation of other works
Nothing special one way or another. The East-Asian martial arts movie stuff that recurs is kind of an interesting texture but not enough to make this really stand out.
I enjoyed this. Felt kind of like listening to a rap opera, I would like to come back to this one and pay better attention than just background music.
The beats were probably my favourite part of this, but some quality lyricism here too
Old school hip hop is hit or miss for me, but I like this just because it’s so distinct. A hip hop concept album is fun and a bit out of the norm. It’s weird but a good listen
I don’t get the whole Shogun, ninja theme. It seemed gimmicky and out of place. Nothing there that I’d listen to again.
GZA makes it sound so easy to have a flow this good. For me, this album IS hip-hop, almost as a definition of the genre. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Solid stuff
3-4
No me pareció un mal álbum, pero me resultó demasiado monótono. Creo que el álbum sería más interesante si hubiesen tomado más elementos musicales y samples de la música y los audios que usan para los sketches. Le hubiese dado una atmósfera más épica y acorde a la temática y estética que quisieron representar. Sin embargo la propuesta estética que pretenden lograr en los sketches se desentiende en los temas. Es una experiencia de escucha consistente en general, pero demasiado repetitiva. El trabajo sobre los tracks es mínimo, son loops sobre los que rapean. Entiendo que es el estilo, pero podrían haber hecho un mayor esfuerzo. Luego de escuchar raperos más contemporáneos como Kendrick Lamar, que tienen muchísimo trabajo en la producción, este tipo de obras resultan vagas y vacías de contenido.
Pretty fun to listen to, but didn't really grab me.
Fantastic.
Back in the ’90s, I wasn’t super familiar with GZA or RZA, but everything I heard from them, I always enjoyed. One thing I really love about this album is RZA’s production. It has this dark, dystopian vibe that really pulls you in, especially with all the kung fu and horror flick samples throughout the album. I also love the tempo on a lot of these mid 90s hip hop albums. It’s not too fast, not too slow, just the perfect pace to vibe to while cruising around town. Looking back, I wish this kind of East Coast style hip hop had been more popular in Denver at the time, but back then, the Denver scene was all about West Coast hip hop.
3.08
So far I like it! The beginning track was good but felt a bit repetitive. I love dual of the iron mic, I love that sort of shimmering sound in it. I also love Living in the world today. Gold has to have my favorite songwriting Favorite: Dual of the iron mic, Living in the world today, Gold
Brought back some serious memories of Afro samurai. Fun to listen to.
9/10
Oh my...what type of liquid are we talking about?
Solid sample openers. Based on my limited nostalgia, a total 90’s feel
Crushing album. Catchy, heavy beats and rhymes as you’d expect from the Wu-pedigree involved. I don’t know much about its creation or the intricacies of the record itself other that GZA and other contributors past endeavours (namely Wu-Tang and Gravediggaz), but the result is a superb album. Savage and entertaining throughout. It *might* just overstay its welcome by about ten minutes or so for me. Otherwise it would have got 5.
Not my genre, but I enjoyed the storyline. One of the better rap albums for me.
Dope
I have no problems with it. It's obviously good. Sometimes I like the drums. But this type of rap just makes me feel absolutely nothing. It doesn't move me. It doesn't touch me. Sorry world Fav song: Swordsman (by a LOT)
I’m not a fan of rap but this seemed to be good stuff.
Pas mauvais, ça se laisse très bien écouter. Mais ce n’est pas pour moi.
I found it very difficult to feel anything, positive or negative about this album. It was fine.
Great raps, Classic feeling production with unique Japanese movie samples. At times is missing some punch for my taste but overall extremely solid record
Loved it! Just classic boom bap right here
I'm really liking this one. 4 Stars so far
Already listened ❤️
Beats are awesome as with anything Wu-Tang really, but I guess just as the last time I listened to this album, I don't love how GZA sounds on this album, his bars are interesting and complex but his presence is very still and not as in your face as the other guys in the group, but it is his brand to be so cold and calculated so I can't be too mad about it (well, except when there's some weird bars about women or anti-choice...). Not the most consistent album, but it has Gold, Swordsman, and Duel of the Iron Mic, plus an awesome album cover, so not a dull time with this one
DENYS COWAN. SHADOWBOXIN. COLD WORLD. 4TH CHAMBER. I GOTCHA BACK. Best beats and maybe the best album overall by the whole creative efforts of the Wu-Tang Clan. If you're not going to help yourself by listening to this, I'm not going to help you.
Without a doubt my favorite Wu solo album. A clinic in perfect '90s hip-hop production. It's stripped down and grimy, like old film, pushed for contrast. Rhymes are mixed with the obvious intention of complimenting that rather than overpowering it. This album truly creates a mood (again cinematic) most hip-hop never even considers. Bonus points for the Shogun Assassin samples. Father U Cee King the police!
i actually love when movies are sampled in music, but i prefer ones that are more incorporated into the music and less "clip from movie. beat. song starts."
This album was very good. I enjoyed the story that was intertwined within the songs. Creatuve album. Great listen and will be adding to my music rotations.
very much not my style, could not even finish the entire album
Stunning album
loved some tracks, didn't enjoy others
Haven't listened to this before and enjoyed it more than expected, would probably listen to it again
Was good but nothing really stood out to me on this
serious
Hard core and/or East Coast rap is not my thing. I would question whether or not, as a 60 year old white man, I'm even allowed to listen to it. Some intriguing moments, but no thanks.
The members of the Wu tang clan really lean into the Kung fu, even on their solo albums. Not complaining mind, I like the little movie snippets. Album was really good, the old school beats are great, the flow sounds really natural, this was pretty much what I want from a rap album of this era. It's a bit gangster but it doesn't go over the top. It's a bit too samey and doesn't have anything that completely stands out to be a 5 I think but a strong 4.
Lovely bit of rap. Nice flow, varied beats, cool lyrics. Pretty much what I'm after. Investigative Reports and 4th Chamber were my favourite tracks.
This was far less kinda bombastic and full on than the other wu tang member albums we've had so far. He can really rap though, perhaps better flow and vocabulary than the others we've had too. There was nothing that blew me away, but it's just really solid. The skits aren't offensive either. A solid 4. I'll be back
Pretty good!
A classic.
Favorite: 4th Chamber Liquid swords - Goddamn this opening track is an amazing opening. wow. I love this backing music. Duel of the iron mic - Fire track. The flow and feeling is this song is at a 10 almost the whole time.
I liked the audio samples but the music didn’t really match the coolness of them.
Never been a fan of the Wu-Tang, but this was fun to listen to.
This is alright. Nothing very memorable but I did enjoy bits of it
Absolutely perfect album.
My first listen which surprised me. Very solid.
The best Wu-affiliated record there is.
How can you not be a fan of the Wu?
No soy el mejor para escuchar un disco completo de rap ni de hip-hop, me aburro a los 3 temas. En este me pasó, me gustan algunas cosas pero no se si lo escucharía seguido. No niego que sea bueno, pero a mi particularmente no me llama.
First impression pre listen: At the time of writing this it's 2am and I'm really tired. Luckily I've heard this album before. Didn't leave that much of an impression on me the last time I heard it, but I'm aware of its acclaim. I've heard people call it the best post Wu-Tang album by any former member, so there's gotta be something to it. Expecting a good time. Individual track notes: Liquid Swords The Wu-Tang aesthetic definitely shines through with the B-movie sample. Has that staple RZA production which is instantly recognizable. There's a lot of blood imagery in the lyrics. Lyrically dense. Okay hook. Decent. 3.5/5 Duel Of The Iron Mic The sample is really fun. Evokes a very specific era of hip-hop. Chill and vibey beat. The piano sample adds a hint of class. Feels like a classic Wu-Tang track. Doesn't have the deepest lyrics but makes up for it in dynamism. The features are very distinct and bring different energies to the track. Decent. 3.5/5 Living In The World Today Very interesting rhymes schemes. GZA has a very good grasp on the English language here with some solid word choices. Cloudy and dark beat. Good. 4/5 Gold Dark and claustrophobic atmosphere. Interesting and strangely well aged references. The tempo and flow enhances the uneasy feel. Kinda catchy. Love the production on this one. Good. 4/5 Cold World Almost flawless transition. Another piece with great production. Solid storytelling. Decent hook. I like the contrast with the background instrumentation. Sounds distant and like it's coming from an entirely different angle. Good. 4/5 Labels I like how the intro sets up the double meaning of the track's title. Has some great wordplay and brings up some relevant points about the record industry at the time. Decent. 3.5/5 4th Chamber Throwback Wu-Tang sampling. Love the wonky synth. Great distortion. Ghostface's aggressive delivery works really well on this beat. The second to last verse has some very interesting structure to it. Has some great technicality to it. Good. 4/5 Shadowboxin' Love the sampling on this track. Method Man sounds mildly annoyed on the first verse. I like the rhythmic vibe on the final verse. Sounds great on the beat. The record scratches have their charms. Good 4/5 Hell's Wind Staff/Killah Hills 10304 There's some genuinely good singing in the background of the intro. Melodic beat. Vivid and imaginative writing for such a tired theme. Manages to keep it inreresting with good lyrical writing. The beat wears itself a bit thin by the end. Shouldn't have let it play itself out like that. Loses a lot of its initial impact. Fine. 3/5 Investigative Reports A solid track if not a bit unremarkable. An alright Wu-Tang collaborative effort with good performances and classic RZA production. I don't have much to say about this one. Fine. 3/5 Swordsman Dark and ominous. There's some genuine wisdom here about religion, race and identity. Thoughtful and easy to follow. Good. 4/5 I Gotcha Back The beat is a bit intense, kinda overshadows the vocals. The performance is competent if not a bit forgetable. Don't love the hook on this one to be honest. It's a bit generic. Average. 2.5/5 B.I.B.L.E (Basic Instructions Before I Leave Earth) As a bonus track it won't count towards to the final rating. It's pretty catchy, but contrasts against the rest of the album in both theme and sound. I like the more positive and reflective side of the lyrics. Has some contemplative wisdom. I like the educated referances. Unrated/5 Final Review: Production, lyrical writing and cinematic atmosphere. That's how I'd describe the main takeaways form this album as simple as possible. RZA brings the intriguing and innovative beats, while GZA brings thoughtful, clever, cerebral lyrics. There's wordplay, allegory, double meanings and strong pieces of storytelling. This combines with the atmospheric, sample-heavy production to create an experience that shows more than it tells. It brings that iconic Wu-Tang energy while still taking its time to reinvent the formula by accepting that there can still be depth to be captured from tired tropes, if the writing brings in new styles or perspectives. It's a tightly run show, and while other Wu-Tang members have cameos to break up the energy, it is clear that GZA runs the show. It's tight and consistent, and while the individual tracks don't blow anyone's minds it's this consistency paired with its thematic cohesiveness that makes it remarkable. Takes multiple listens to fully appreciate, but once it clicks you'll find a beautiful harmony of intent between production, lyricism and performances. 4/5
I feel bad to automatically rate (almost!) every rap album low, but to me that sounds like an audiobook with bad background music.
Can I give a zero rating?
Surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Cool creativity with narratives introducing certain tracks in an almost Anime style.
Fällt mir schwer zu bewerten. Den Sound kann ich im Hintergrund gut hören, auch schön atmosphärisch. Aber hatte nicht Zeit, viel auf die Lyrics zu hören und konnte zu dem Album daher nicht so gut connecten. Kann aber gut verstehen, dass es ein Klassiker ist. Ich würde mich mit den Texten mal noch gern mehr auseinandersetzen. vom Klang her verschwimmen die Songs aber auch zum Teil miteinander. Der Bonus Track (B.I.B.L.E.) ist irgendwie weird platziert und holt mich da am Ende nochmal (negativ) raus, auch durch das doch konservative Messaging.. kann man jetzt vielleicht im Rahmen seiner Zeit einordnen oder als persönliche Meinung... muss man aber ja auch nicht genießen. Als nicht religiöse Person hab ich zu dieser Art von Track sowieso nie einen Bezug.
Mochte ich sehr gern! Ich höre nicht so viel Rap/Hip-hop, aber das hat mir wirklich gut gefallen. Ich mochte das Storytelling, das sich durch das Album gezogen hat, auch wenn ich nicht so ganz verstanden hab, was da abgeht, aber dafür muss man sich vielleicht intensiver mit dem Album beschäftigen Lieblingslieder: Liquid Swords Cold World
Hip Hop is not one of my usual genres, and basically I am rating all these albums on how good they are as background music for me while working. Some tracks had a nice flow to them, but the movie dialog snippets where distracting.
I don't know. Interesting and experimental but not mine
I had a friend who was telling to give this album a listen a few months back. Sure enough I finally got it but I can't even lie my disappointment is immeasurable. From the beginning I wanted to like/love this album so bad but I just can't. My biggest complaint is the production, sure the rhymes were pretty good, great even, but when you put good rhymes over a decent/mid beat I can not find a fuck to give when listening. Maybe they thought the minimal and bare bones production combined with the dark, gritty, and grounded atmosphere meshed well together. Also the heavy reliance on those movie samples really doesn't do it for me. There were definitely some standouts that made the album a bit more enjoyable but that 55 min runtime felt more like an 1 1/2 hrs. With all of this being said I do not think this is mid or bad. I was just hoping for some really fire beats but ended up getting something completely different. Top 3: Shadowboxin', 4th Chamber, and Cold World no bad songs there's definitely some mid here don't care to mention 2.75-3.00/5
Solid hip hop album, good example of West Coast sound with lots of rhythms and melodies. Only complaint is that it's a little bit of repetitive.
I really enjoyed the beats and sampling quite a bit, the whole album had a great vibe and atmosphere, but the rapping wasn’t my favourite. That said, in general I’m not an huge fan of hip-hop, so that’s not a huge surprise. Overall, I enjoyed this album and am happy to have listened to it, but I’m probably not going to listen to it again in the future.
1/5
Always love 90's hip-hop, but i gave the last Wu-tang album a 4, and i didn't like this album as much as i did that one, so 3/5. But i loved the samurai theme and movie(?) quotes
There some good beats but very very repetitive
Enter the Wu-Tang is my favorite Hip Hop album of all time, and this really is the best solo project of the group. This is possibly the greatest produced hip hop album ever, this has RZA's best beats, my favorite beat oat is 4th Chamber. GZA is also an amazing MC with great wordplay, and the features are stacked. This is the ideal hip hop album.
So, Im not a massive rap fan. I like the atmosphere of the album and the film snippets on it, the flow and the background is pleasant but apart from that I dont know how to judge this album. So 3 stars
This is a fun album!
I like to drive to this
Good
Meh. Not bad, but wouldn't actively stream it.
Fine. 3 5
Very good
Ægte hiphop, skarpe flows, rigtig 90’er beats
Hate to say it but I’d rather watch the Kung fu movies than listen to Wu Tang or Wu adjacent albums.
Doesn't quite reach the heights of 36 chambers, but still great 4.5*
Good but not my style
Hard pass. The samples they used are bizarre, the songs themselves are boring, I don't care about them inserting stuff from a movie... just no. I don't hate it like most 1's but I never want to hear this again
Had heard this album before, but enjoyed it way more this time around. Dark and somber beats with excellent restrain in the flows and top tier performances by all the features. Best: Living in the World Today Worst: I Gotcha Back
This is the perfect example of an album that requires repeated listens. First time I'm listening to it and it's ok but after second and third listens, I feel it's getting better. Will give it a three but can easily see it as a 4 after giving it more time.
Not really for me
Once again this is wasted on me. Underlying music is simple and repetitive and holds no interest, it's just a base plate for the lyrics and samples of some movie. I read the lyrics and didn't feel any wiser.
Not my vibe.
Hippity Hoppity
Don’t understand this style of music still.
I don’t understand the focus and love of Wuh Tan Clan. I didn’t like this at all
I just don't get the appeal of the gangsta, street rap. Maybe it's because I didn't grow up on the streets but I dunno. Anyways, this is just the same ole same ole, a rapper talking bout how they many peeps they've shot, how much drugs they're slinging. I didn't hate this as much as NWA or Dre but I did not enjoy.
Meh. Overuse of samples & way too much repetition with them or refrains. I just don’t get the hype on why this is one of best hip hops around
Más Wu-tan? No, este es un trabajo esencial, para muchos una obra incluso por encima del debut del clan “Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” (1993). Así que sí.
Pretty inoffensive on the ears. I can’t speak for the lyrics as I found them to be instantly forgettable. Mediocre background music at best
Enjoyed it, could even become a 5 with more listens.
Starting the first track with one minute and 20 seconds of talking did not set a good mood for this album. Unfortunately, things did not improve from there. I would not recommend it.
It was alright mate, no idea how to pronounce GZA if that means anything?
Fun album, classic 90s rap
Nice
Way too anime
I enjoyed the beats and vibe. It definitely wasn't as obnoxious as I thought it was going to be, but that's it. Rap isn't really my thing, but I could at least appreciate it for what it was. Serviceable at best.
Decent music bed and ok rapping. I was expecting to not enjoy this, but did somewhat.
The samples from Shogun Assassin don’t really seem to serve a purpose? The almost lofi style is different to a lot of rap I’ve heard before, but I just can’t get into rap. The lyrics are repetitive and violent. He’s talented and has a good flow, but as another comment said if this was playing at a BBQ I’d ask them to turn it off.
No va
beats ☑️ samples ☑️ flow ☑️ it's giving 2000s older brother core but also found it a bit too long ngl stays comfortable between a 3.5 and a 4
Masteripiece
Do you still get chills from the opening track before settling into that smooth, head-nodding groove? I do. But despite the strong start and on point production, the album lets me down over the course of its 13 tracks. Maybe the moment has moved on from records like this — or maybe it's not the moment, it's me. Perhaps I've just reached a point in my hip-hop listening where I gravitate more toward alternative, consciousness-raising records than hardcore ones. And if that's the case, no lyrical flourish, production hook or groove — no matter how Genius — is going to drive Liquid Swords all the way into my heart.
Geweldige productie, goede raps!
Liked it more than I expected. Pretty cool vibe on some songs, although I did find some songs just too repetitive
OMG... waste of time... all i can think about while listening to this cow patty, is what album got knocked off the list by this piece of S***?
Great sound, love the transitions & samples, but too repetitive.
I liked where this started, but then it all blended together. maybe requires another listen
Some nice segways and tunes here
7.4
rap
Love me some good 90s hip hop. Great beats
I’m not sure why, but this album didn’t really capture my attention much. I’ve enjoyed the Wu Tang I’ve heard, and generally enjoyed the solo albums that came from it, but this is the only one I remember that I didn’t feel really had any stand out tracks. I honestly didn’t even notice when it ended. Not to say that I disliked it, I just didn’t really have any strong opinions either way.
Liked this more than I thought I would.
Love GZA and the rest of Wu-Tang. They all get better and better with each listen.
8.5/10 Excellent stuff. Wonderful flow and lyricism, great wordplay. Production on point with some brilliant samples. Not quite a full score as there isn’t a huge amount of stylistic or delivery variation. Best: 4th Chamber
Liquid Swords will be my third Wu Tang solo project to review. I gave three stars to Tical and four stars to Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, so at worst, I'm expecting this effort from GZA to at least as good as Tical. However, based on what I've heard about Liquid Swords, I'm hoping that I'll fall in love with it! I thought Liquid Swords was very good, and I can understand why it has a reputation as one of the best hip hop albums of all time. I really enjoyed the beats and rhymes on this album, and I liked hearing some guest verses from various members of Wu Tang. "Liquid Swords," "Duel of the Iron Mic," "4th Chamber," "Shadowboxin," and "I Gotcha Back" were my favorite tracks on the album. The title track really grabbed hold of me, and I was immediately sucked into the world that GZA created on this album. I liked how GZA used Shogun Assassin to create a dark atmosphere on this album, and I thought the theme of being an outcast fit well with the world of hip hop artists. In my opinion, the only drawback of this album is that the best tracks completely dwarfed the rest of the album in terms of sound. As great as the beats were on my favorite tracks, they made the other beats sound vastly inferior. Still, this was an enjoyable album to listen to, and it was great to crank up during my workout tonight for a second listen.
Atmospheric but I began to lose interest
Grimy and menacing, and then such a beautiful final track
Like a classic Wu Tang album, this takes you on a journey through intricate, clear lyrics and extremely solid beats.
In my favorite Wu-Tang solo project (maybe my favorite Wu-Tang project full stop), sensei GZA leads a masterclass in lyrical swordsmanship, where every guest in his dojo brings skills likewise sharpened to perfection, all cutting from separate angles as one unified blade.
On the higher end of a 3, but not quite a 4. I enjoy a lot of the beats and GZA has pretty good flow, but I've never been able to get into Wu Tang and Wu Tang adjacent hip hop that much.
Didn’t want to put any Labels on this one, but I’ll say it’s Gold.
Generally vibey album!
I liked this even though I would call it eclectic. the samples, the lyrics, the pacing felt disjointed when I focused on each, but altogether each track was unique and interesting. not something I'm going to seek out, but I appreciate it
Iz ovog eksperimenta već vidim da rap nije za mene, a na ovom albumu sam skontala i šta mi je najveći problem. Nema nikakve progresije. Pjesme se ne mrdaju s tačke A. Ništa se ne mijenja. I zašto bih slušala cijeli album takav?
1. Liquid Swords: love the Kill Bill beginning. Fucking love this beeeeat, it's like a skipping kinda feeling and the metaphors are great. Sick start to the album 2. Duel of the Iron Mic: Buildup in the beginning is amazing and flows into the beat perfectly. This sample is fire. GZA pops offfff. I love the ending too 3. Living in the World Today: ABSOLUTE banger, one of the best IMO. Just too good of a song/beat/energy 4. Gold: I love the "Ain't No Mountain Higher" sample and the little horns rock. Insane lyrics/storytelling per usual 5. Cold World: the lyrics hit deep about the inner-city life and hoods, all the gritty realities. It brings in examples along with the consequences, some of the worst ones. All the communities being ignored is a cold cold world. The wind behind the dark track and the droning beat are hypnotizing. 6. Labels: LOVE Calling out these labels. Also a great message for rap in general, aspiring rappers need to be mindful of the dirty labels. The metaphors go hard. 7. 4th Chamber: WOAH Guitar is amazing in the beginning. Rock vibe for sure but I like the beeps and beat on top of it. Ghost's delivery sets the whole song. Killah Priest's bars are amazing and RZA's flow is NUTS. Lyrical genius GZA. 8. Shadowboxin': METHODMAN!!!! Obvi GZA too, this needs to be known 9. Hell's Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304: Love how long this song is and the story in the beginning sets it all up. There's no hook, but it's still really great. Reminds me of a mob movie. 10. Investigative Reports: the powers are strong on this song, talking about life on Staten Island and all the reports being made without actually helping the communities -- where they find their investigative reports. Ghostface Killah's verse goes hard on this beat. 11. Swordsman: the theme of learning to think for yourself and not believing everything you're told. The second verse is my favorite. Also, calling out the overly scholarly/academic 12. I Gotcha Back: breaking down the cyclical nature of inner city violence among the youth. The lyrics hit deep, and that chorus of having your back while you watch your front. The horns kinda sound like cop sirens in a way. This song was supposed to be the end of the album since B.I.B.L.E. is an extra track. The ending of this is fucking crazy, matching the assassin/sword energy of this whole album. 13. B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth): breaking down religion in many facets and the institutions involved. "for years religion did nothing but divide." I know it's from a while ago but the abortion comment was crazy. Love the sample on this one
not feeling it
I think this was a moment in time, but the time has passed
Too long, too many skits I won't remember I've listened to this in 2 days. Usually I'm quite forgiving with the early mid 90s rap albums, but this one isn't doing anything for me 2/5
Overall: 10/10 I adore the Wu-Tang clan. I think their 90s albums are the peak of hip hop and this is my favourite of their solo albums. RZA is on the top of his game with these beats, and I love all the guest spots from other Wu-Tang members. Of course, it's GZA who reigns supreme on this one. He's such an incredible lyricist, has a great voice and the ability to adapt his flow to whatever beats come his way. He truly is a genius rapper. Fav Song: 4th Chamber Least Fav Song: Labels
Some of it slaps. Some of it is meh. I'm not an overly huge fan of Wu-Tang's material but I do hear the talent as well. I just think there's better out there. Good but not great.
It’s a really cool album with an interesting mix of lo fi and smooth production vibes.
Sounds like crappy boring mediocre hip hop to me
engaging and smart apart from that abortion line
I believe this is my favourite album from the Wu Tang universe, at least of the ones I’ve heard. It conceptually goes over my head, but I like the way it’s laid out, and I like the way it sounds, and I like GZA’s delivery. A good record, is what I’m saying.
Not for me. Think there are better hip hop albums out there
Gillade introt
Liquid Swords 3.3 Duel of the Iron Mic 3.4 Living in the World Today 3 Gold 3.2 Cold World 3.3 Labels 3 4th Chamber 3.1 Shadowboxin' 3 Hell's Wind Staff 3.2 Investigative Reports 3 Swordsman 3 I Gotcha Back 3.1 Score: 3.133333333
More like liquid gold
Excellent, every song was really good, my only exception was hells wind staff which I didn’t like the sample of too much and the 1 minute skit at the beginning was a bit annoying, I’m of the mindset that all albums with skits should make them separate tracks to make them easier to skip on relistens and to make listening to songs a better experience without having to listen to an unrelated story first. That’s not an issue with this album as much though, there weren’t many long skits and the skits it did have I actually liked to be fair. Another slight nitpick is in shadowboxin’ with the repeated “oh man” sample which was a bit repetitive but not as bad as the black sheep “the choice is yours”revisited sample which made it much worse than the original version in my opinion. Other than that it was a perfect hip hop album in my opinion which had such good production from RZA with his samples and such. Overall, 9/10.
This is a strong contender for the best Wu-Tang solo record. Of course, solo record is a bit of a stretch given that all eight other members of Wu-Tang Clan are present throughout the album. RZA's production is slick and the beats are deliberate and hypnotic. GZA's lyrics are complex, philosophical and cinematic, further punctuated by the interspersed samples from the film 'Shogun Assassin.' 3.5⭐️
Nice chill beats, and bars that are full of personality. The flow is basically the same on every track though.
If horse shit was an album
Not familiar with this album and quite liked the moody beat. Not so much keen with the film clips but overall quite impressed.
Good listen. Appreciated the interweaving of dialogue from samurai films and creative lyrics.
I always go back and forth on what's the best Wu-Tang solo album. Today it's definitely this.
Not for me!
Partially listened before Fav tracks: Liquid Swords, I Gotcha Back, Cold World
90s rap with dreamy beats. Sick.
Crappie crap!
Classic and smooth NY Hip Hop from the mid 90s.
5/5. An album of cinematic proportions, it's got that Wu-Tang style of rapping and lyrical content, samples that are memorable and unique, and beats that stand the test of time. It's a complex and minimalist album of deep and dark sounds, feels sinister with a mix of comradery and in-fighting, but not really, like a concept album of internal and outward struggle. I didn't get all the lyrics at first listen but it seems like an album of brotherhood. Also, it has great production for creating the aesthetic GZA wants to go for. Best Song: Shadowboxin, Liquid Sword, 4th Chamber, Investigative Reports
Banger from start to finish, one of the top rap records
didmt even get into
Kuulosti aikas paljon Wu-tangilta (obv), ihan jees mutta mikään biisi tai melodia ei jäänyt mieleen tai edes pompannut korville kuunnellessa. Paitsi alun shogun-tarina.
Kyllä, tämä LP laittaa minut paikoitellen liikehtimään, mutta loppujen lopuksi biiseistä puuttuu kakkosvaihde. Artistin räppäystyylissä on myös tiettyä ohuutta, joka saa minut odottamaan featteja enemmän kuin pitäisi. Melkein kolme miinus.
Razor-sharp flow and a unified, gritty atmosphere. The beats can feel a little repetitive, but GZA’s precision and the vibe carry it hard. Cold, focused, and real solid.
Tolerable but not for me.
Solid for what it is, and I’ve always enjoyed the inclusion of the movie clips by members of Wu Tang, but 90s-early 00s mainstream hip hop just isn’t really my thing
Was good. Weird audio messages between songs, but they don't *really* ruin the vibe as the songs themselves are solid
It was aight. Some nice song and some boring ones
The flow is great and the beats are okey. I'm not a big rap fan but enjoy good beats. unfortunately for me this feels like reading a novel with a repetitive beat. some songs feels like they have no choruses which makes this even more like slam poetry. I can acknowledge that this album has a place here but this type of hip hop feels more like poetry than music, which is okey but it's not my type of music. ...and it get veeeery repetitive when the flow is very linear(even if it is technically impressive) The best track is the last i would say just by the change of flow and more catchy
Very consistent vibe, not really my cup of tea though. I found this pretty boring in general
With the caveat that almost none of the lyrics actually made it to my brain (even though lyrics are, you know, kinda important when it comes to rap), I thought this was solid. 3.2
Cool dark beats
Dull and repetitive. Nothing stands out and it all sounds the same. I knew this was going to be garbage from the trashy cover art.
The Genius! GZA is undoubtedly one of the most lyrically talented emcees in the culture, let alone in the Wu. This record harnesses all of what Wu represents, but under the purview of GZA. The martial arts movie samples mixed with RZA’s unique, hard-hitting production allows a complement for GZA’s deep lyrical and conscious impressions. This is a classic in hip hop and one of the best solo Wu records.
drie nummers ver... variatie zero... fun zero... mic drop...
I'm not a big hip-hop/gangsta rap fan. The beats are really good, foot tapping head bobbing beats. Lots of usage of old kung-fu movie samples, which is to be expected from a Wu-Tang alum. Interesting exploration of faith and religion in here. I might check out more of GZA. My Rating: 3/5
2nd favorite solo wu tang project behind cuban linx. GZA and RZA were on another level
Love this album!
Not my taste
I really do like this album, but something that kind of dug at me was the way it feels like the verses are often too long for beats, specifically in the first half of the album. Even when the lyrics are so solid like they are in this work, it's a bit too much. It does get better as the album goes on though. I think the back half of the album is extremely solid, and has much more interesting beats. + 4th Chamber, Investigative Report, I Gotcha Back, B.I.B.L.E.
Album 728 of 1001 GZA - Liquid Swords (1995) Rating : 2.5 / 5 Certainly one of the more lyrically substantial works I've heard in the genre. Still just not my thing but it was a good listen. Nice production.
It feels like a good album. It was quit a cool listen to me. But I couldn't concentrate enough on the lyrics wich is always a problem for me in more classic hip hop releases. There are less bangers on it, it's leaning to be a more thematic project (which I do appreciate), but I was not able to connect to the tunes on this first listen. The vibe is good, though... Would come back to it at some point, once I get my wu tang game going
As rap albums go, this was largely listenable but I still don't like it
It’s OK. Didn’t much care for all the spoken stuff, but I rarely do. The music had a nice rhythm to it, but not really my thing.
Wu-tang forever
I have a running bit where I grab a mic and rave about Liquid Swords so honestly my rating is no surprise
It's fine. Flows are ight, beats are ight. Could have done without all the skit dialogue. Don't really feel like it added much.
For an album where the lyrics are the highlight, they sure lost them in the mix. I had to blast the volume just to make out what anybody was saying. The beats are pretty repetitive if you can't enjoy the lyrics. I usually love dark and gritty New York rap. Some might say I'm a sucker for it. But geez this was a huge miss for me. Fav track was Shadowboxin'.
Good beats and flow here. Nothing that really wowed me but I did like this one.
Brilliant hip hop
Another rap album with F bombs street machismo. Yawn.
I liked the sound of it but it was a bit boring
excelemt
The app version of this album has an extra (13th) track, which I did not review. The internet taught me that GZA is Gary Grice, who was in the Wu Tang Clan. The album follows the movie Shogun Assassin and includes movie clips throughout. It occurs to me that if there were no guns or drugs, the artists of this genre would have very little material. Cold World had actual singing, but the rest of the album was talking and poetry reading.
Yeah, you know I used to mix up GZA, RZA, and SZA. I've got SZA down now, but maybe this'll help me flesh out the paradigm. Liquid Swords is a cool name, but the album cover is a little much for me. Put that one in a paper bag!! Anyway, on to the tracks. I would have sworn I've never heard this album in my life, but all the titles are super familiar, so maybe I've actually listened to it before, in college or something. Very clean flow, no songs I think sound *bad* - it's well-made, in other words - but there are plenty of slurs, which is still not something I want to listen to. I do kinda like all the Shogun Assassin samples, because it reminds me of a Robin Skouteris mashup. Lotta Medina talk. Highlight: 'Gold'
83% Best: Living In The World Today; Cold World; 4th Chamber; Shadowboxin’ Must-Hear? Sure
25/1001 As a songwriter/musician myself, I know my way around enough instruments, and have a grasp of production to just about get by to compose and record stuff I am reasonably proud of on a kind of hobbyist level. If you could grant me more ability in any of those areas I might take it, but I could get by without it. If, however, you could magically grant me the ability to hear other people's music and pick out individual components and fit them together with pieces of other tracks to create something entirely new, I would bite your hand off. Hip-hop is a true artform, and being able to hear existing musical phrases in a new melodic context, in my opinion, is a lot more difficult than one might imagine. At least in terms of getting it right and making it sound... cool. So while, as with NWA, I may not really get some of the cultural references, nore always agree with the themes, I can at least dig the Shogun Assassin steals. Liquid Swords is lyrically dense, and subtly detailed in it's musical reference points. It is laid back, but full of a swagger that is hard to resist. That said, I'd be lying if I said a full album (and not a particularly short one) of straight rap doesn't get hard going for me and this is very one-note in it's delivery and not as varied tempo-wise as other Wu-related projects. But these are minor points which are more to do with my personal preferences - I'm still more than happy to give this four stars - I can completely appreciate why this is up there as a true classic within its genre.
One of my favorite rap albums, easy 5/5 I’ve already heard this
Couldn’t get into this album with the long intro and outro samples used, I never understand why artists choose to do this. The music itself is good but not to my usual taste. 5/10.
A classic! Lyrical genius at work throughout the whole album!
Okay, that might be my favourite album from the Wu Tang family of records. Very cool beats, nice flow by GZA and every guest, just a really pleasant album. Good stuff.
Eh. 1.5 stars I guess
Cooler Wutang Rap und genau mein Geschmack, für fünf Sterne fehlte aber der WoW Effekt
Das ist die Art 90s Hip Hop die mir nicht gefällt. Alle Beats zu ähnlich, keine geilen Refrains. Nur Gesang der immer ähnlich klingt.
My all time favourite hip hop album. Dark and gritty story telling and GZA at his apex. Probably peak RZA production (93-96 IMO) as well. I have been lucky enough to see GZA tour this album twice and I will go again as many times as he comes around. Can't stop, won't stop.
Good.
You'll know you'll get a great eap album when it's by a Wu-Tang member. GZA is the 2nd or 3rd member of Wu-Tang whose albums I've reviewed. This album has plenty of hits I enjoy. "Liquid Swords" gets better towards the end. RZA's production helps this album a lot. 4 stars for "Liquid Swords".
Damn, this album is cool as hell. On the look out to add it to my collection.
stor banger
Jeg synes det er ret endearing hvor vilde Wu-Tang Clan er med samuraifilm og Marvel, kæmpe nørder jo. Havde ikke hørt den her før (har generelt ikke haft nok en Wu-Tang fase tror jeg!) Kæmpe fornøjelse, sindssyge beats, ingen filler.
Nerdy, catchy.
Rap, 1995 -> 1
doesn't suit my taste
There were things I liked on this album and things I did not like. Enjoyed the beats and enjoyed GZA’s delivery. Didn’t really get into the kung fu aspect of the album. It’s another one that I didn’t hate or love. Not sure I would make a point to put this on. If it was on in the background I wouldn’t mind either. Have to go 3/5
An album cover full of violence. Band members with names like Killah Priest, Ghostface Killah and Masta Killah. Do I really have to ask myself what the album is about? Didn't Cop Killah have time? But it's probably well represented by Ol' Dirty Bastard and Dreddy Kruger. Sorry, I don't rate this kind of crap. No matter how many times someone claims that it's "one of the most substantial lyrical journeys in hip-hop history", who cares. Maybe the lyrics really do paint a different, more nuanced picture, but the packaging disgusts me. OK, I've spent far too long on this album. No stars, although I have to give it one, just ignore it.
assolute beauty
bet. i've listened to this once and definitely felt like i needed to give it a closer listen. Awesome. I liked it a lot this time around.
I very rarely enjoy any kind of music where the main drawcard is the lyrics and I didn't enjoy the beats on this album either since they were very straightforward, repetitive and not particularly interesting
The beats are alright, but a little too repetitive. Some synths are annoyingly high-pitched. I don't think his rapping was bad, but it could have been a bit more dynamic.
5 stars. Beautiful use of clips from that media I have forgotten the name of and mixing it with the rap. It definitely earned its platinum.
one of the only solo wu tang albums I'm kind of familiar with. Its way better than the others I've heard so far, like the others though, it gets repetitive and the kung fu motif gets worn out. all in all a decent entry.
One of the good Wu solo albums!
hey not bad
Ok, the good stuff first. I love the extended clips from the cult movie Shogun Assassin and some of the chilled lo-fi beats on this are really nice, making this less of a sonic assault than some hip hop albums. On the downside, the lyrics sound interesting but (and not to be prudish, but well) the endless torrent of mother effin n-words on every other line make it difficult to follow what he’s trying to say. Not my thing, sorry.
This album as lots of good points: amazing flow from GZA, a cinematic progression -- you can feel that the album was carefully built --, and a lofi but really catchy production.
Yeah. This is top-notch
lyrical intensity doesn't equal enjoyable or quality art.
Het eerste werk uit de intrigerende wereld van the Wu, het werd tijd. En we beginnen direct met Shaolin's finest, als je het puur hebt over de pen game. GZA, ook wel Genius, laat op zijn eerste echte serieuze solo werk (en eigenlijk wel zijn laatste) zien waar z'n alias vandaan komt. Alhoewel het thematisch dichtbij het werk van Wu-Tang blijft, is er een duidelijke switch van Kung-Fu naar Samoerai folklore gaande. Het debuut van Wu twee jaar eerder werd al geroemd omdat het zo dik verpakt zat in metaforen die street life linkte aan de Chinese vechtfilms, maar die dubbelzinnigheid weegt nog veel zwaarder op dit album. Het is by far het meest cinematische album uit het vruchtbare WUniverse. De titel en eerste song 'Liquid Swords' vat het direct waanzinnig samen, 'lyrically sharp, en flowing like liquid metal', wat duid op het Samoeraizwaard en de gevorderde rap game van de clan. De tong is hun zwaard. Terugkomende op GZA. De kracht van Wu-Tang Clan heeft hem altijd gezeten in de groepsdynamiek, die nooit meer werd geëvenaard in hip hop collectieven. Zoals de oude monniken en vechtersbazen in de Chinese volksverhalen had/heeft ieder z'n eigen signature move of specialisme. RZA heeft de visie en de beats, Ghostface de rauwe energie, Raekwon de street knowledge, Method Man de flow, ODB de aanstekelijke aura, Inspectah de bars. GZA was het brein. En alhoewel dat af en toe wel een beetje afdoet aan zijn flow, omdat hij misschien iets te veel complexe filosofische standpunten wil aankaarten, is zijn stem zo kalm en charismatisch dat je een hoop luid en duidelijk meekrijgt. Er zijn teveel iconische lines op deze plaat, die ook vandaag de dag nog steeds prangende vragen doen oproepen. Hij connect moeiteloos z'n eigen habitat aan grote thema's als religie, sterfelijkheid en de muziek-business. En dat allemaal door ongelofelijk dichtbij de overkoepelende Samoerai-vibe te blijven, wat ongekend is. De productie van RZA staat daarin natuurlijk centraal, en hij levert wat van zijn meest kille beats af uit zijn loopbaan. Het is een intens en duister album, en er is daardoor al wat minder ruimte voor soulful en jazzy samples. Die maken plaats voor zenuwslopende geluiden van bijvoorbeeld Frank Zappa's werk, wat vrij onorthodox is voor een rap album van die tijd. Het resultaat is dat de productie repetitieve, korte loops als standaard aanhoudt, die puur ondersteunend/atmosferisch zijn, en minder de driving factor zoals dat op andere Wu-albums wat meer het geval is. Het kan hierdoor wel een beetje in herhaling vallen, en de wat minder interessante songs als 'Living In The World Today', 'Hell's Wind Staff' en 'I Gotcha Back' lijken dan al snel op elkaar. Maar het gemak waarmee de wijsheid en lyrical sharpness van GZA overeind blijft over de gehele lengte van het album is waanzin. En hij moet het voor een Wu-album best wel veel alleen doen, waar de guest appearances relatief gering zijn. Hij luidt voor een groot deel de 'conscious hip hop' scene in met deze plaat, zonder over te komen als een nerd of een betweter. Hij blijft moeiteloos swaggy. Hij is daarmee dan ook wel echt de belichaming van de 'street poet', een titel die veel rappers zichzelf onterecht toedichten. Voor ik m'n favoriete nummers één voor één ga uitpluizen en over-analyseren, denk ik dat ik gewoon m'n eindconclusie moet trekken. Het is een top 3 Wu-album, en hij staat mogelijk in mijn top 10 hip hop albums ooit gemaakt, zo veel is duidelijk. RZA heeft de opdracht goed begrepen door beats te maken die de duizelingwekkende wijsheden en metaforen complementeren, en bijdragen aan de filmische ervaring, zonder dat ze in de weg zitten. Ze zijn subtiel, maar soms wat repeterend. Ik las ooit ergens dat iemand stelde dat RZA bij het produceren van deze plaat wel bezeten moest zijn door een kwade geest. Nummers als '4th Chamber' en 'Cold World' zetten je zeker aan het denken.. Keer op keer blijft het luisteren van deze plaat weer een openbaring, en een opwindende ervaring. Geen hip hop album heeft dezelfde koude vibe als deze, ondanks dat gritty NY rap halverwege de 90s de standaard was. Esthetisch subliem - zoals de Wu dat altijd wel goed op waarde schatte - en GZA is als een orakel in de vijandige urban jungle. 9,5/10 Highlights: Liquid Swords Duel Of The Iron Mic Labels 4th Chamber Shadowboxin' Investigative Reports
Guilty, had deze plaat nog nooit geluisterd. Op één of andere manier ook de andere dingen van WTC nooit echt tot me genomen. Voel daar niet perse heel veel nieuwsgierigheid naar. Maar toegegeven, Liquid Swords heeft echt een hele dikke flow. Ik kan dit niet goed genoeg plaatsen in genre of tijd, dus meer woorden kan ik er niet aan wijden. Wel ben ik blijf dat ik dit eens heb gecheckt. 7,5/10
Pretty sick. Wu-tang forever
I really wanted to like this more than I did! Because this album actually has a vibe I love, real 90s East Coast hip-hop, with old samurai and martial arts movie samples. Often slightly discordant piano or synths, punches of brass. I really enjoy it playing in the background. But I suppose that's part of the issue. Most of the songs tend to blend together. And it's a bit too long. Fav tracks: Liquid Swords, Duel of the Iron Mic, Hell's Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304, I Gotcha Back
Rennur aðeins út í eitt undir það síðasta, en ansi skemmtilegt fram að því. Ég get meira af þessu.
Okay holy cow this was fire. Absolutely would listen again. I was a little bummed listening to B.I.B.L.E. because it was really resonating and hitting a lot of notes but the line about sinning women fighting for their reproductive rights really took me out. Otherwise a great song on a really solid album.
Intricate raps, tough beats and kung fu movie samples. Everything you expect from a Wu Tang album. As with other Wu Tang albums, I find the technical skills more impressive than engaging. GZA is an excellent rapper but he’s so level-headed in his delivery that I can almost tune him out and let the music sit in the background. I’ll always prefer a rapper with a little more charisma who grabs you and shakes you every few lines to make sure you’re paying attention. But nothing wrong with demanding a little extra attention when the rhymes and flows are stellar. “4th Chamber” stood out as a highlight. Great beat.
I've heard a bunch of Wu-Tang but not so much of their solo work so this was pretty cool to see on the list. It definitely sounded like the full group, and tracks like "Shadowboxin'" that have Method Man on it really sounded familiar, but maybe I'm not just versed enough in the nuance of the differences between these solo releases and the full outfit. I do like Wu-Tang so this was definitely a nice listen. I read somewhere that GZA is "precise" and I think that's pretty apt after hearing this record. His diction is crisp, and it feels like every lyric exists for a reason without any unnecessary clutter or fluff. The only downside is that his voice sits a little bit too much in the middle; it doesn't often feel aggressive or passive, and because of this it kind of feels a little flat and uninspired. I really like all of the spoken / diagetic speech moments that are randomly scattered throughout the album. Nice to set a scene.
...He was the greatest samuari in the empire... The first WuTang album I owned. Fucking classic.
Incredible !
first listen great production
Nothing against Wu Tang Clan. Just could not listen. Most songs that if it was playing in a public place, I'd have to ask them to turn it off, you get a 1.
There is a ton of good in here. Also a bit of boring, but mostly good Best Song: 4th Chamber Rating: 7.0 /10 4 Stars
I would be okay dying without listening to this.
4.5
Probably decent 90's rap... but rap isn't really my thing.
Great
I love the Wu-Tang Clan, When this albm came up I was excited to give some of the members solo work a go. This album has very clever lyrics that flow well. Its a step ahead of other hip hop albums as GZA talks about important subjects in a meaningful way. Very good!! Favourite song: 4th Chamber and I gotcha back Least favourite: Everything had a place and was worth a listen Album artwork: Not one to be hung up at home
5/5 Classic but timeless hip hop, which can be smooth and grooving as well as dark and atmospheric. GZA shows why he is one of the greatest rappers of all time by spitting an unreal number of exceptional verses over cold, simple beats courtesy of the RZA. Oh yeah, and the incredible likes of Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Killah Priest, U-God and Raekwon show up and smash it too. The Wu-Tang Clan is undoubtedly the greatest hip-hop group of all time. The clips and the skit add so much character, and even the cover art is an all-timer. 4th Chamber / Shadowboxin' is probably the greatest one-two punch in the tracklist of any album ever made. The B.I.B.L.E. bonus track acts as a cool epilogue, as if to say, yeah the experience is over, but there is so much more great music to come from these guys. Oh man, oh man I love this thing. Liquid Swords 5/5 Duel Of The Iron Mic 5/5 Living In The World Today 5/5 Gold 5/5 Cold World 5/5 (LEAST FAV) Labels 5/5 4th Chamber 5/5 Shadowboxin' 5/5 (FAV) Killah Hills 10304 5/5 Investigative Reports 5/5 Swordsman 5/5 I Gotcha Back 5/5 B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) 5/5
this album is pretty much flawless.
Halverwege was ik deze plaat alweer zat. Man, dat maar doorgaande gebabbel. De samples zijn nog wel afwisselend, maar het oersaaie geklets niet. Nog wat schuttingtaal en we zijn er wel weer klaar mee.