Reviews (page 5 of 9)
Ik was nooit zo onder de indruk van GZA. Het is een prima rapper, maar hij heeft een doorsnee rap-stijl. In het collectief met meer opvallende collega's is dat ook wel weer een meerwaarde. Maar nu dus een solo-album. Het blijkt ergens tussen de rauwere en de meer flowende rap te liggen. De muziek stuurt het meer naar de relaxte kant. Van de muziek is hetzelfde te zeggen als van de rapper. Het werkt, maar het is weinig hoogdravend. In de basis vindt GZA ergens een catchy melodielijntje en laat dat wat varieren in toonhoogte. Als het album afgelopen is, laat Spotify nog wat GZA horen. Ik kan het nog prima hebben. Het luistert allemaal gewoon makkelijk weg. 3,5 ster.
Het was al weer een tijdje geleden dat we een hiphopplaat hadden, dus het zat er wel aan te komen. Blijkbaar is dit een van de wu-tang dudes, ze zijn niet allemaal even bekend geworden, althans niet voor mij. Zijn killa-vrienden doen zo te zien veelvuldig mee op dit 'solo'-album, helemaal alleen kon hij het niet. Volgens de wiki zou GZA de grootste woordenschat hebben van alle wu-tang en zouden de teksten filosofischer zijn. Tja, ik luister niet zo naar de teksten, maar als ik wat voorbij hoor komen terwijl ik aan het werk ben, is het toch vaak genoeg shooting hier, m*therf**** daar of het n-woord. Ach ja, het zal er wel bij horen. Ik stoor me er vandaag niet aan, de doorgaans kinderachtigheid van de teksten blijft redelijk beperkt hoop ik. Qua muziek vind ik bij hiphop het fijnste als het lekker flowt. Dat doet dit wel. Er zit een prima beatje in en het wordt opgeluisterd met een baslijn, een tingelpiano of een gitaarriffje. Zoals bij veel 90s hiphop is het redelijk kaal, maar dat is prima. Ik kon het goed aanhoren op de achtergrond en het duurde een keer minder dan een uur (al voelde het gewoon wel als meer dan een uur). Een vergeetbare 3.
Lah mam za background music pa tut cist vidm zakaj je dobr pa fajn experience, ampak tko poslusu pa lih nebi pomoje, sam u special moodu
Top notch hip hop, especially for its time. If it came out even five years later, I might bump it down to three stars, but this early it really deserves four.
Not my jam
already listened to it, pretty decent. big fan of b.i.b.l.e
Masterpiece. Feels like a manifesto some times, in the best way. RZA is just killing it with the production and the sounds. Great performances. A little dated, but still slaps.
Surely a musical genius, but I don't get it :(
Anfang interessant
I get this might offer more on relistens, parts of it I enjoyed - mostly the beats and the flow of the lyrics, but each track became boring after a while. It seems most of the solo Wu Tang projects suffer from an overly ambitious run time.
feels like an extension to 36 chambers, as most of them are on this. beats are soulful and evil in some places (Living in the world today). GZA is insane. Negative is that some songs/hooks drag on a lot, also some beats are definitely better than others. Overall around 8/10
Really enjoyed it. Almost a 5 but didn’t have that one track to push it over the wdge
I wish I could enjoy this genre. I feel like I am missing out.
Not my jam really but unique
Wu Tang in perpetuity
Liquid Swords is easily my favorite rap album so I was thrilled when this came in the queue. GZA opens with a mission statement on the title track when he claims to "drop megaton bombs more faster than you blink", on a song full of clever similes ("I flow like the blood on a murder scene") and word play. This is a brilliant way to open the album because it distills the essence of GZA as an artist and previews the rest of what is to come. And the best part is it's not even the best song. Favorites: Pretty much all of the songs but especially Liquid Swords, 4th Chamber, and Cold World Least Favorite: None
Hip Hop - 20eme album =>1/5
Yet another Hip-Hop album. At first I quite liked it, but after the first few tracks I started to get bored.
GZA THE MFING GENIUS!!! This was a master class of cerebral, effortless, boom bap rapping. I need to listen to more of the solo Wu albums because this was great. My neck hurts because I was just nodding for 55 minutes straight. I gotta spin it back again so I can catch everything he was saying but the bars I did catch HIT. So happy to finally get some more Hip Hop because I was getting Rock’d out.
Favorite Track: Shadowboxin'
Not really into Hip Hop but you know, gotta give these things a go. Listened to it with my son who is in to this type of music and he was quick to point out the repetitive 90’s hip hop hi hat that was in every single song! And because of this we would find that 2 tracks had gone past without us realising
One note minor key so it wears thin
Not bad, I kinda liked it. 90s rap all the way. Reminds me of MF Doom a bit especially with the use of clips from cartoons/movies
Vibede ret fint med det, men teksterne fangede mig ikke så meget og ikke noget der giver et varigt indtryk
I’m sure there’s a lot of respect to give this man and I’m sure he’s talented. The vibe is just not in line with me.
I like some tap but there has to be a good underlying groove. Didn’t feel it on this one, and not into the subject matter so it’s a miss for me.
I think that all the albums on the list from WuTang members never catch me. I usually like them, but only in a very standard way. It's a good album, but it's a bit outdated. It also sounds influential in the same way.
This is pretty bad, even by hip-hop standards. The 90s had it rough for the genre as a whole. Melodically, harmonically, and in terms of overall sound, Liquid Swords is incredibly repetitive and tedious. The fairly long (55 minutes) album runtime doesn't help. Each track, rather than being a snapshot of a particular texture of artificial drumbeats and monotonous yelling, is instead a sluggish 4 and a half minutes of a particular texture of artificial drumbeats and monotonous yelling. The strongest tracks were those which at least combined these elements with a catchy one- or two-bar loop. In this case, the catchiest songs contained saxes, synths, and other melodic instruments. A few scattered basslines show promise, but surprisingly many of them are just one-bar loops of semitone movement, which gets old fast. The lyrics are also just about the most bland you can get for hip-hop, despite GZA being touted as one of the greatest lyricists in the genre. After the twentieth mention of nerds (well, the other n-word) and sex in one song, it's difficult to really take the lyricist seriously. One track that was a particular letdown for me was the album closer, B.I.B.L.E.. The lyrics are so close to being genuinely great, but then we get towards the end where GZA talks about teaching his kid to follow the word of God: "Son, life is a pool of sin, corrupted with foolish men And women with wicked minds who build picket signs To legalize abortion, the evil eye extortion I quiz son with my wisdom" ...Yeah. Pretty rough. If this is meant to be satire on bad people, it's a little too well-disguised. Otherwise, GZA is just another one of far too many terrible people in the music industry. And he doesn't hide it well. One of the top-rated reviews here claims that GZA's music is fresh and exciting when performed live. I have to believe that, because there must be a reason for this guy's success, and this album is not it. (Nor is Enter The Wu-Tang, another weak album on this list.) 1/5 Key tracks: Shadowboxin', I Gotcha Back
Hip-hop that goes for a cinematic style and utilises old film samples that I find really satisfying GZA's smooth style juxtaposes with the aggressive and angry lyrics but I quite like that, the whole album is more lowkey in presentation than I imagined. Tracks like Cold World are maybe a little bit overly complicated but they're still captivating, the simple, repetitive beat on that track could have backfired and gotten tedious but actually gives a more hypnotic effect Highlights: Cold World, Duel of the Iron Mic
Liquid Swords I only really know the title track, which is superb, with that great organ sample and the excellent delivery. The rest of it is great too, and it definitely gets better with each listen, the groggy feel getting under your skin. I really love the sound of it all, that kind of thin and piercing snare sound, and the brilliantly built loops and beats, a kind of dense and woozy and slightly wonky world, giving a disconcerting but attractive ambience. The sampling is excellent too, not as exuberant and excessive as Paul’s Boutique, but a judicious use of keyboard, horn and vocal samples, all contributing to the percussive, mesmeric atmosphere. I love that trumpet sample in Living in the World Today, the choral sample in Gold, that little riff in 4th Chamber that sounds like a vibraphone, Ann Peebles in Shadowboxin’ with the great bass line. There’s also that slightly unsteady synth line in Hell’s Wind. I also love his vocal style and timbre, kind of similar to Method Man but a bit clearer and more distinct. Lyrically it also avoids much of the misogyny of most mid 90s hip hop, and while there is a lot of violence, it seems to be treated thoughtfully (most of the time), making it a more introspective take on the usual unsettling themes. I really enjoyed this and the world it paints, and there are some excellent tracks in Liquid Swords, Gold, 4th Chamber, Shadowboxin, Hell’s Wind and B.I.B.L.E, along some lots of very god tracks. Illmatic is still the high point for me for this type of album, but with more listens I think this will be up there too. It’s easily a high 4, but I’ll bet on it being a 5 with more listens. 💧⚔️💧⚔️💧 Playlist submission: Hell’s Wind
"Liquid Swords" is the second solo album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Genius/GZA. The album samples dialogue heavily from the martial arts film "Shogun Assassin." It was recorded in fellow Wu-Tang member RZA's basement and RZA was the chief producer. Other Wu-Tang Clan members also contributed vocals to many of the songs. The album had critical acclaim for its lyricism and hypnotic musical style. Commercially, it hit #9 in the US. The song "Liquid Swords" opens with a dialogue sample from "Shogun Assassin" where a boy says the shogun is after his father. The music starts. A hypnotic, reverbed beat. GZA is laid back in his rap style and he is just better than the rest. "Cold World" features Inspectah Deck and Life. An eerie vibe in this song as they rap about a murder in NYC. A repeating sample of the Mothers of Invention's "Plastic People." "4th Chamber" features a host of the Wu-Tang Clan. Another song that starts out with dialogue from "Shogun Assassin." A droning sample from Willie Mitchell's "Groovin.'" The Clan takes turns rappin.' More gangland violence. Method Man appears on "Shadowboxin.'" Scratching. A melody sample of Ann Peebles' "Troubles, Heartaches & Sadness." The album ends with "I Gotcha Back." GZA wrote this for his nephew whose father was in jail. A interesting sample fusion of the Charmels' "As Long as I've Got You" and the 45 King's "Red Alert." The song ends ends with the final scene in "Shogun Assassin." There's an overriding dark, eerie and gritty atmosphere to these songs. The martial arts' dialgoue was unique and lended to the tone of the album. Great sampling selection. GZA has a more chill rap style. RZA does a fantastic job producing this album; it's an easy and smooth listen and ranks very high among Wu-Tang Clan member albums that I've heard.
i love old school hip hop, what happened? 7/10
I thought the beats were fairly boring
fun!
I've been meaning to listen to more of the Wu-Tang solo albums, and my God after hearing this one I need to check out more. Such amazing vocals and phenomenal production all around.
This is pretty bonkers. If I especially liked either of the elements (kung fu, wu tang) I would probably absolutely love it. But I don't so I don't, but I can respect it. I did get sucked into the groove a few times.
Time for some honesty. WuTang didn't really release a lot of good materiel. The group collectively release one phenomenal album (36 chambers)and another great one (Forever). Hot take, but Ghostface had the most ilustious solo career, releasing two classics (Ironman, supreme clientele) and a great album in FishScale. Each other member was relegated to one quality solo effort, if that, and the GZA is no exception. Four solo records were released in between outing albums and served as defacto records, feeding fans more of that wu tang style. Liquid Swords probably best represents what a WuTang album would've been before Forever, and does so mightily. The beats are lo-fi, the rhyms are tight and clever. But the highlights remain the group efforts on this and every wu record. This album in particular takes a while to get going. I have to rank all of these projects wholly as they are impossible to separate. This is probably #3 or 4 behind 36CHAMBERS, tical, Cuban links, and maybe Ironman. All 4 and 5 star records
4.5
Solid hip hop album and one of the better Wu solo pieces. Sounds like an extension of 36 Chambers. 4/5
I like a bit of Wu-Tang, proper hip-hop. One of the best solo project to come out of the group, refreshing to step away from the more gangster rap, some of the same topics but eloquently rapped. Great song-writing, great flow. B.I.B.L.E is such a good song.
Not as bad as some of the other Rap I've been subjected to to but still not for me. This album is a bit gentler and kinder on the ears then most rap I've come across so I'll give it a 2
Not attending too much to the individual lyrics. I like the flow, the beats, nice background. Drug dealing and gang warfare too stereotypical to attend to. So, I like the sound, content less so.
Interesting at best!
I enjoyed this, I liked the smooth vibe. I'd say it's better than a 3, but I'm stuck on the fact (at least, for me) that there wasn't a ton of variety in the music or delivery. So while it struck a cool note, it never really varied much and for that I'm not inclined to go higher than a 3. Another that's better than the rating in terms of my level of engagement and enjoyment.
I've always enjoyed this one, but today hit even harder than before. It's just a chill listen, and everyone brings their A-game. My only complaint, and it's the typical complaint for this era of Wu-Tang, is the skits. but the rest of it is fantastic, old-school hip-hop.
It’s obviously a masterpiece. I love it. Or, I suppose, I want to love it. But there are all these little moments that made me go “Hang on, what do you mean by that?” And not all of those moments were from Killah Priest’s bonus track.
7/10. Too same-y
This man knows his work. But I don't like it.
GZA delivers some of the best verses in the Wu Tang cannon, so no surprise his solo album is rock solid. The main theme is violence in the drug trade, starting with street dealing but moving cinematically to demonstrate that there are levels to the violence - mafias, international smuggling, political corruption, and the degrading economy of CREAM that makes the world cold. The album connects the brutality of the streets to the sophisticated schemes of states and corporations. The tracks are intersperced with Samurai samples that put violence, especially duels, at the center of their interpretation of social life and the struggle for survival, positing rapping as the extension of this tradition of deadly combat. The whole Wu-Tang clan features at some point, one or two guests per track, but GZA's is the main voice throughout. RZA produces his signature beats, spacious, ricketty and off kilter. It makes for a very cohesive album with a cinematic ambition - life as movie - that is just a bit repetitive and homogenous compared to the more varied collective Wu Tang projects.
Read a little about GZA during the listen. The man is a very inspirational guy. Beyond that, a talented MC. About the album, it's a dark hip-hop in the style of the Wu-Tang. Much expected, much appreciated.
A part of the incredible string of solo albums from the Wu Tang Clan following their debut. The RZA was locked in with amazing production, and it exists within the shared universe of Wu Tang.
Awesome hip hop album. The flow is great from start to finish, GZA was definitely the best lyricist out of Wu Tang. RZA worked as the producer, so yet again there are strange samples throughout the album that somehow blend perfectly. Just a really strong effort too to bottom.
mjögmjög gott. 4,5.
Ahh samples, I love me some samples. Is that what they are called?sound bytes? Is that better? Whatever it is I dig it. Clips from movies and such. That’s the best type of hip hop to me. You don’t have to know a lot of Wu Tang to be able to hear it in every solo project from its members. On that note, if you like the Wu Tang sound, you’ll like this. At the same time, much like a Wu Tang album, there aren’t any blow away tracks. It’s good but not great. Choice cut: Shadowboxin’
IDK what it is, but this genre of music is one of my favorites. I get so excited every time I stumble across something like this. 4/5
Didn’t grab me like a should have
Meh, smells like Wu-Tang spin-off. Nothing special going on here.
3-4
Yuck
Nothing stands out except the movie quotes and that probably wasn’t the intention
This one feels like a cold walk through the city. The beats are sparse but sharp, with hard edges that remind me of early Nas, though less soulful. The verses are focused, almost clinical, cutting through each track with precision. It’s not flashy or loud, more of a slow burn, like it’s daring you to keep up. The mood stays steady, heavy with the weight of careful wordplay and dark tones. It’s good for when you’re in the mood for something thoughtful, but it doesn’t reach the warmth of some other works in its style.
If I rated fish scale a 4 then this gets a 4 fs.
Enjoyed this way more than I thought I would!!
Not my type of music
One of the foundational hip-hop albums and one of the best Wu-Tang-associated albums. It could be maybe one or two songs shorter, but it's hard-hitting all the way through.
Such a cool album with a great feel. It really starts cooking for me in the latter half. The repetitive beats entrance me.
Menacing Aesop Spinning records, rhymes, and tales Over chilled back beats
I listened to it three times in a row and I still don’t think I got 50% of the lyrical references. This thing is an encyclopedic hip-hop thesis. I liked most of the beats but I found some of the singing a bit off-tune - perhaps on purpose?
Nothing special, forgettable. Expected more from a Wu Tang Clan member
Every song sounded the same and none were interesting at all
I didn't find this too interesting, very monotone and rambling compared to contemporaries
Amazing
Production wasn’t engaging, lyrical ability was skilled but sometimes failed to entertain or entrance
Okay, so I never really got all the kung fu stuff with these guys, but from a strictly technical standpoint, it's great rap and it has terrific flow. I really don't consider it hip hop, primarily because of the heavy use of the n word and the constant swearing. Hip Hop to me, does not really on this, but instead relies on instrumental samples to make its point. Really good album and it's about the 5th time I've listened to it through. It has grown on me.
Vintage rap goodness! Man, I like this my only question is how do you pronounce the name of the artist? Is it Jee-Zee-Aye? Is it GeeZah? Is it Jizzah?
The 1001 seems to really like Wu-Tang Clan. Me too. Collectively and in solo albums, Wu-Tang seems to have an outsized representation on the list compared to their contemporaries. But it’s well deserved. And “Liquid Swords” is no different. GZA and Wu-Tang’s appreciation of martial arts films and Asian culture shines through here, though it made me think about cultural appropriation and an exchange between basketball players Jeremy Lin and Kenyon Martin from several years ago that I stumbled back on recently. Martin (an African American) criticized Lin (an Asian American) for getting dreads, and this was Lin’s brilliant response: “Hey man, it’s all good. You definitely don’t have to like my hair and [are] definitely entitled to your opinion,” Lin wrote. “Actually I [am] legit grateful [for] you sharin it [to be honest]. At the end of the day, I appreciate that I have dreads and you have Chinese tattoos [because] I think its a sign of respect. And I think as minorities, the more that we appreciate each other’s cultures, the more we influence mainstream society.” GZA and Wu-Tang seem to be doing it with more tact and awareness and respect than Kenyon Martin.
Cold World is a standout for me. Too much forgettable filler.
I feel your flow GZA.
Why oh why do i keep getting hip hop. I can't stand it but lately getting loads. Change the record !!
Já foram mais de mil discos e ainda tenho que escutar mais um de rap.
Interested in listening to this. I know of GZA but never really listened to his solo stuff. Some solid hip-hop. I dig this.
Raw and I loved it!
This has been a weird music week. It may be "just me" or perhaps it is just coincidental. GZA is OK. I really like the whole Shaw Brothers shout out thing, and they have solid hip hop beats going on. Even the lyrics are raw and well done. Nevertheless maybe what it is is that I like hip hop so I have favorites, not only bands specifically, but beats and vibes. So I find that GZA is somewhere in the room but not really my go to band. It is no fault of theirs, just my own aesthetic.
Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Artwork: 🥷🏿⚔️🩸🥷🏿 Produktion: 🎧🌀😵💫 Musik: ✍️🎤💣 Wertung: ⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️/5
Nice for my workout
First hip-hop album ever listen to, just soso
I really wanted to like this record, but felt uninterested. It's clear that GZA is a great lyricist with a good flow and lots of dimensionality to his lyrics, but the songs as a whole were repetitive imo. RZA's a great producer but the beats don't match GZA's voice and flow which made for a dull listen; if I was rating off of GZA's spoken word rather than the album as a whole then maybe the rating would be higher
GOAT
Good hip hop...pretty even keel.
Heavy rap. Not bad, just not for me.
Nice beets
good but not really my thing
Absolute banger of a hip-hop album
I heard it, but hiphop isnt for me. No variety in the beat or something, and idk what they saying
I’m not hating this. I’m certainly not liking it though. I’m finding it sonically dull. Very much not to my taste. I like the film samples more than the album. ** If someone was playing this I wouldn’t be like, what the hell are you listening to, but I would be happy when it was over.
Not familiar with this album at all but know of WuTang and GZA. Saw him perform solo a few years ago, amazing to see someone rhyme like that without reading anything, sharp brain. While this is not exactly in my wheelhouse I gave it a solid listen. I liked how they set the table on the intro so you get the concept they're going for. You can understand what he's saying, it's intelligent & engaging, more storyteller than rapper. I enjoyed it, glad I heard it but it wasn't life altering and I didn't find a great song that I can't believe I'd never heard before. Not a Top 1001 in my book.
I realize when I listen to music I don't really listen to lyrics and it's really to my detriment when listening to this type of music. I think I need to listen to it again.
The A side of this record one was consistently one of the best WU-Tang solo projects, but it simply cannot sustain its brilliance into the B side.
показался более интересным чем остальные реп-альбомы с первого раза, надо потом вернуться
Liked the lo-fi. 3/5
Slightly confused as to why this one is so propped up, but I certainly can't pretend to be a hip-hop expert. As an outsider, this is extremely one-note and not half as interesting as quite a few rap albums also on this list. 2.5/5
Exciting blend of samples and vocals -- very cleverly produced.
Good
adoro rap, bem vibes rap 90s é um album de rap relativamente calminho, pra um dia que vc ta afim de ouvir o genero mas n quer explodir ouvi ate a metade, n tava na vibe :')
Joe Biden's favorite Wu-Tang album is fantastic. (IYKYK)
- Durch die Düsternis und dem charaktervolleren Stil gefiel mir dieses Album wesentlich besser als andere HipHop Werke. - Derbe authentisch und angenehmer Flow. textlich habe ich es leider nicht so ganz mitgeschnitten. - Auch die Beats sind ziemlich zeitlos und nicht ganz so quirky-drüber die Genre Kollegen 4/5
- ganz entspannte Beats / Songs, aber nichts wirklich Weltbewegendes für mich
Not for me
About everything you could ask for from a Wu-Tang related project. Same quality hooks, rhymes and beats to be expected from GZA and associated features. Seriously awesome album
Not into this
A tad long, but the songs are really good.
The rapper has a nice flow but these songs all sound very similar. Might have reached a 3 with more variety. Middle 2.
**Album Review: *Liquid Swords* by GZA** Released in 1995, GZA's *Liquid Swords* is widely regarded as a cornerstone of 90s hip-hop and one of the best solo albums to come out of the Wu-Tang Clan collective. The record is an expansive, dense work that showcases GZA's lyrical prowess, RZA's masterful production, and a range of themes that span philosophy, urban decay, personal struggle, and mythology. With this project, GZA both established himself as one of the Clan's sharpest lyricists and created a work that would influence generations of rappers and producers alike. This review delves into the album's lyrical content, production, themes, and its lasting influence, while highlighting the pros and cons of the project. ### Lyrics The defining feature of *Liquid Swords* is GZA's lyricism, which is sharp, introspective, and layered with meaning. GZA’s approach to writing is meticulous and intellectual, characterized by complex wordplay, multi-syllabic rhyme schemes, and vivid imagery. His verses are often loaded with metaphors and analogies that require multiple listens to fully unpack, drawing heavily on street life, philosophy, and chess as central motifs. A prime example is the album’s title track, “Liquid Swords,” where GZA spits: *"I'm on a mission that niggas say is impossible, But when I swing my swords they all choppable, I be the body dropper, the heartbeat stopper, Child educator, plus head amputator."* The imagery in this verse is aggressive and violent, reflecting the harsh realities of street life, but it also has deeper layers. GZA’s references to "swords" serve as a metaphor for his lyrical skill, positioning his words as weapons in the competitive world of hip-hop. Throughout the album, GZA continues to paint himself as a lyrical warrior, wielding words with precision, whether he's addressing societal issues or engaging in battle rap bravado. Tracks like “Duel of the Iron Mic” and “Shadowboxin’” feature intricate rhyme schemes and complex similes that showcase GZA’s ability to tell stories and convey deeper meanings. In “Shadowboxin’,” for instance, GZA dissects his internal conflicts, pairing personal struggles with the imagery of martial arts—a recurring theme in Wu-Tang’s catalog. On “Cold World,” GZA adopts a more reflective tone, lamenting the bleakness of urban life: *"Babies cryin' brothers dyin' and brothers gettin' knocked, Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down."* Here, GZA turns to societal commentary, speaking on the hopelessness that surrounds inner-city existence. While the narrative is grim, it’s delivered with poignancy and a sense of moral urgency that makes the message resonate. The diversity in GZA’s lyrical content is one of the album’s greatest strengths. While many tracks feature traditional braggadocio and rap battles, others provide philosophical musings and commentary on real-world issues like poverty, crime, and corruption. ### Music and Production RZA, the mastermind behind Wu-Tang’s production, provides the sonic backbone for *Liquid Swords*, creating a moody, atmospheric backdrop that perfectly complements GZA’s intricate lyricism. The production on the album is gritty, sparse, and heavily reliant on eerie samples, many of which are drawn from 70s martial arts films. The overall aesthetic is dark, with brooding basslines and minimalistic beats, allowing GZA’s vocals to take center stage. The title track sets the tone with an atmospheric intro sampled from the film *Shogun Assassin*, followed by haunting strings and sharp drums. The instrumental feels ominous and tense, underscoring the album’s martial arts theme and giving GZA a fitting platform for his "swordplay" of words. RZA’s use of film samples is a signature element throughout the album. In “4th Chamber,” for instance, the track opens with a dialogue sample from a kung-fu movie, immediately placing the listener in a cinematic universe that feels simultaneously ancient and futuristic. The beat itself is aggressive, with sharp snares and a heavy bassline that drives the song forward. This track, featuring verses from Ghostface Killah and Killah Priest, showcases some of RZA’s most raw production work, highlighting his ability to create tension and energy. Tracks like “Gold” and “Living in the World Today” display RZA’s more soulful production, with chopped-up soul samples and jazzy undertones that provide a more laid-back feel. These tracks offer a contrast to the darker moments of the album, giving the listener brief moments of musical respite without compromising the overall tone. Despite the production's undeniable brilliance, some critics have noted that RZA’s beats can feel repetitive at times. The stripped-back nature of the production occasionally leads to a sense of monotony, especially on multiple listens. However, this minimalism can also be seen as a strength, as it creates a consistent mood and allows the lyrics to shine without distraction. ### Themes The thematic depth of *Liquid Swords* is one of its most notable attributes. GZA weaves together multiple layers of meaning, touching on personal struggle, societal collapse, and philosophical musings. One of the central themes of the album is the metaphor of swordsmanship, which GZA uses as a stand-in for lyrical skill and intellectual sharpness. The album is filled with references to martial arts, chess, and combat, which serve as metaphors for the struggles of life and the challenges faced by individuals in a hostile world. On “Duel of the Iron Mic,” GZA compares his lyrical battles to martial arts duels, positioning himself as a master swordsman in the competitive arena of hip-hop. Similarly, on “Shadowboxin’,” he uses the concept of shadowboxing as a metaphor for battling one’s inner demons. These martial arts metaphors add a layer of depth to the album, tying it into the Wu-Tang Clan’s larger mythology while also allowing GZA to explore themes of discipline, strategy, and perseverance. Another major theme on *Liquid Swords* is the bleakness of urban life. On tracks like “Cold World” and “Living in the World Today,” GZA paints a grim picture of the environment he grew up in, filled with violence, poverty, and corruption. He often juxtaposes these dark realities with philosophical insights, urging listeners to think critically about the world around them. For instance, in “Cold World,” GZA reflects on the loss of innocence and the harsh realities of growing up in the projects: *"Too many cold-blooded murders, late night homicides, Names sprayed on walls as a form of street pride."* This dual focus on the personal and the societal gives the album a sense of urgency and weight that elevates it beyond typical battle rap fare. ### Influence *Liquid Swords* has had a lasting impact on the hip-hop landscape, influencing both lyricists and producers. GZA’s intricate wordplay and complex metaphors set a new standard for lyricism in the genre, inspiring rappers like Nas, MF DOOM, and Kendrick Lamar to delve deeper into their craft. His ability to balance dense, intellectual lyrics with streetwise narratives has become a blueprint for artists seeking to push the boundaries of what hip-hop can express. On the production side, RZA’s work on *Liquid Swords* solidified his place as one of the most innovative producers of his era. His minimalist, sample-heavy approach—combined with his use of martial arts film clips and eerie soundscapes—has been emulated by countless producers in the years since the album’s release. Artists like Kanye West and J Dilla have cited RZA as a key influence, particularly in how they approach sampling and beat construction. The album’s influence extends beyond music, however. Its use of martial arts and chess as metaphors for life and competition has been referenced in film, literature, and academic studies. GZA’s unique blend of street wisdom and intellectualism has helped legitimize hip-hop as an art form capable of conveying deep philosophical ideas, further expanding the genre’s cultural reach. ### Pros 1. **Lyrical Prowess**: GZA's intricate lyricism is among the best in hip-hop. His wordplay, metaphors, and storytelling create a deeply engaging listening experience. 2. **Cohesive Themes**: The album’s exploration of martial arts, urban decay, and philosophy gives it thematic depth and cohesion, making it stand out from more conventional hip-hop records. 3. **Production**: RZA’s gritty, minimalist beats perfectly complement GZA’s lyrical style, creating a dark, atmospheric sound that remains captivating throughout the album. 4. **Cultural Impact**: *Liquid Swords* has had a profound influence on hip-hop, inspiring both lyricists and producers to push the genre’s boundaries. ### Cons 1. **Repetitive Production**: Some listeners may find RZA’s production style to be too sparse or repetitive, as many of the tracks share a similar sonic palette. 2. **Density of Lyrics**: While GZA’s lyricism is a major strength, it can also be a barrier for casual listeners. The complexity of the wordplay and metaphors requires multiple listens to fully appreciate, which may alienate some fans. 3. **Lack of Versatility**: The album’s dark, brooding tone is consistent throughout, but this can make the project feel one-dimensional at times. There are few moments of levity or contrast, which may limit its appeal to those seeking a more varied listening experience. ### Conclusion *Liquid Swords* is an undisputed classic of 90s hip-hop, showcasing GZA’s unparalleled lyricism and RZA’s innovative production. The album’s exploration of philosophical themes, its use of martial arts metaphors, and its reflection on urban life give it a timeless quality that continues to resonate with listeners today. While the dark tone and dense lyrics may not appeal to everyone, for those willing to dive deep into its layers, *Liquid Swords* offers a rich, rewarding experience that stands as one of the genre’s crowning achievements.
Good beats, not loud, easy to play as background music. Head bopping, not boring. Doesn’t sound dated either. 3/5
I’m totally gangsta when I listen to this.
RZA is on his sampling game Really pulls off the dark moody atmosphere Love the dialogue snippets from Shogun Assassin Favourites: Gold 4th Chamber ripssss Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth beat is insane Hypnotic listen some tracks blend together but I’m sure there’s subtleties and depth I missed on first listen. Really wanna dive deep into Wu Tang Clan discography and lore
Como no soy fan del género, no esperaba mucho y vaya sorpresa. Tremendo discazo.
Not enough variation to be interesting to listen to in one session
Not big on rap, just found the production a bit of a slog.
Meh
Sick
It’s okay I guess ? Not really my thing
No for me
This overall was a fun listen but I didn't enjoy the dissonant harmonies chosen. It grated on me. Understand whatever creative decision that may have been but it became repetitive and a bit annoying.
This was fine, had some good beats and enjoyable but nothing special for me
Not the worst rap album, but still not my thing. 1.5/5
Mm, I'unno. For me, it was all just a bit too low-key. What mean is, I just didn't find the beats terribly interesting, and being the "melody first" kind of person I am, if I'm not interested in the beats, then I'm probably not gonna be able to pay much mind to the lyrics. I figure GZA's a good lyricist—this album wouldn't be one of the big two solo Wu-Tang albums otherwise—but overall... I'unno. It just caused me to zone out too much, and not because the flows were hypnotic or whatever.
Wu Tang Clan ain't nothin' to fuck with, and even when it's a solo album from one of the members, this sentiment still stands. Easy 5.
I’m somewhere between a 4 and a 5, and I think I’ll have to talk myself into either one by the end of this little writeup. I mean, I don’t have anything negative to say about the album, so that’s a huge plus; this is my first Wu-Tang anything ever, save for the occasional random feature spots from some Wu-Tang members on other projects. I feel kinda dumb for never really listening to them before – it’s not that I haven’t wanted to, it’s just that I’ve been too lazy to really commit to it for some reason. This album is glowing with great lyricism across the board; really, really strong stuff for 1995, and probably some of the best lyrics of this period from ‘95-’96 where just about everyone in rap was on fire and hitting a creative peak. I think the flows are hypnotic, sometimes almost to a fault, and everyone gets a chance to really shine here – even though this is technically a GZA solo album, it distinctly feels like a Wu-Tang group effort to me based on the amount of features everyone gets. The only partial knock I can give comes in the beats – there’s not a bad beat, but I do sometimes think the sort of moodier and darker atmosphere of the album gets punctuated just a little too harshly by how dry some beats feel. I’m not saying you have to suddenly brighten up the instrumental while we’re talking drug dealing and Chinese restaurants getting shot up, but it just sort of leads to a sterilized style that stops some tracks from really sticking out more than others, which isn’t great from the perspective of listening to the full album front to back. With all of that written down though, I think the positives deeply outweigh the completely nitpicky negatives, and I’m gonna go ahead and give this a 5 – it’s a really enjoyable experience from front to back, and it really does have some of the best lyricism I’ve heard from this era. Even if the beats are a little dry at times, that never once takes away from the actual tracks themselves; they just blend in a little too often at times, but that’s probably a me thing more than anything else. This was damn good.
Done before, obviously forgettable...
Nice vibe, smooth but also treacks blend into one. some deep lyrics I probably didn't pick up on.
That's not my style when it comes to hip hop. The beats too boring, the flow too monotonous, the voice too colorless. The best were the skits between the songs.
pretty good, like the sound on a lot of the songs
Not my thing but it had its moments. 2.5
I recognized the style of a Wu Tang Clan member during the first song! That wouldn't have happened before I started this exercise, so that was cool. I feel like I should know the Wu Tang Clan better than I do, so I was happy to listen to this album. This felt like classic rap, solid music but nothing too impressive I thought. Liquid Swords was my favourite track, also a pretty sick name
i didnt know what i thought of this, since i dont normally listen to hiphop or rap, so i dont know, but it was alright
Genius
I went into this one blind as I had never heard of GZA before. It started out with a voice over about an assassin and I got excited thinking it was going to be a concept album of some sort, then the rap started and I felt blue balled. Also I'm not sure how GZA is pronounced, but my brain insists that it's Geezer. I had to come back to this one after a while to listen to it for what it is, rather than what I wanted it to be. The guy is a talented rapper, but I found the lyrics a bit too much "I'm the greatest, look at me, I'm a badass." style. Overall I found the album lacking.
# Playlist track - B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) # Notes - The album have its moments! Sometimes the flow, the samples and the mood hit just right. - Waiting for those moments is a bit boring tho. - Maybe more context on the time, the culture, or even Wu Tang would reveal me more about the tracks. There definitely seems to be a layer of it for people in the know. - I doubt I'll come back to look for them. In my -admittedly limited- experience, it's just another rap album and shouldn't be in this list.
The beat was cool but would not add any of these songs to my playlist. The all kinda sounded the same to me.
4.5 Stars
I found this faded into background music remarkably well, so I don't really have that many more opinions about it. When I was reading his Wikipedia page it said that in 2015 he was planning on releasing an album about space so I was sad that that doesn't seem to have materialised.
Okay. I get bored by very short loops. However, I also, really appreciate the lyricality and poetry here. I can't say I fully grasp what they're saying, but it sure flows with the beat!
Straight out of a 90' boombox 📻
This is a big fat resounding no for me. Couldn't finish.
No more hip hop please
Pretty good rap, although it mostly ran together for me
Another rap album. Blech. Same as all the others. Not quite as obnoxious.
This is probably the best solo album that spawned after "Enter the Wu-Tang" and one of the best among Wu-Tang's albums. The production is insane with creative use of samples and the performance by the Wu-Tang members are at their peak.
Great album. Loved Shadowboxin and BIBLE
Great
Obviously one of the sickest albums ever.
I haven't listened to very much from WTC. I really liked this album, between the lyrics and the beats.
I liked this more than I thought I would. Out of the Wu tang solo releases (even though all of the members are featured it seems) I thought this was the most put together. It had a concept album feel which I liked and the atmosphere was dark and interesting feeling. The verses all flowed smoothly, but the instrumentals were out of time and out of tune. I think that helps with adding to the spooky feel though.
Nothing super special but nothing downright bad. Just not for me
I love the concept of the Wu-Tang Universe but I think all the albums just fall slightly flat for me
Timeless, chill, fantastic.
Rap - Hip-hop -- not my taste
If you’re into Wu Tang, you’ll like this.
I’ve been digging the Wu-Tang/Wu-Tang adjacent records I’ve gotten so far. This didn’t disappoint. GZA’s lyrics over RZA’s beats are great. I was a big fan of all of the Shogun Assassin sampling.
I’m never a fan of speaking throughout an album and especially an album I already don’t like. All I can really say is that it was awful in all shapes and forms.
This might be the most boring hip-hop album I've ever heard. 2 bar musical phrases - set to repeat ad infinitum - then a million lyrics over the top without much if any emotional variance whatsoever. And yet *another* Wu family album. How/why? Make it stop. 2/10 1 star
not really a rating, but I was a little disappointed by this one I lost interest halfway through as it was a bit tedious
The amount of lyrics is incredible and I can see why he is called the spiritual leader. The rhythm, especially the bass, aligns seamlessly with the stride of a long run, when everything else disappears, leaving just the rhythm and the sway. Mesmerizing.
Strangely - the perfect album to listen to while chopping vegetables on a late summer afternoon. No idea why. Some things just are. This album just is.
Listen to it a bunch before. Classic wu tang; very grimy and gritty. I prefer Ghostface/Raekwon solo stuff
Enjoyed that. Top quality hip hop from the best period for that genre
With the repetitive beats and the monotone rapping, liquid swords is definitely not for me.
A classic of the genre, so it merits its inclusion on the book. Sadly, the genre just isn't for me.
Interesting stories
Why do I feel like I know this album when I'm pretty sure I've never heard it before? Not in a bad way. Not a huge fan of the biblical content for a variety of reasons. But it's well-produced and well-performed.
Less misogynistic and braggadocious than most rap. But it's verbose - I like it when rap conveys meaning without quite so many words. Simple beats throughout, except for the last track, BIBLE, which is by far the best one.
It was OK - samurai movie quotes seemed hokey, and music seemed a bit generic to me.
Not a fan of RAP music at all. Violent imagery just doesn't do it for me. Cartoonish or not. Seen, heard and read enough of it to last me the rest of my life.
Interesting... But not for me
Took a while to ‘get into’ this one. The beats were pretty basic and the production/samples really quite subtle, but it grew on me as a general vibe. However, lyrics are never my main focus and rap generally just passes me by. So who knows what they were mostly talking about, but it seemed on the, err, light side of gangsta which is a plus (compared to some of the childish/tasteless stuff we’ve had on this list). The samples of the manga stuff were a nice touch. Am I gonna listen to it ever again though, nah.
This was fine but it definitely didn't stand out much for me.
The most listenable solo release from the Wu-Tang Clan for me. I liked it a lot! I am sure I could appreciate it even more if I parsed all the lyrics.
One of the more accessible offerings from one of the Wu-Tangs. I think...
This was never really going to be my thing. This project hasn’t changed things. I like my rap a little brighter and more fun.
Fun unique 90s hip hop album. A classic.
It's a great record. I love all of the sampling and the mood that rza gives the music. GZA is on point throughout. The lack of 1 or 2 stone cold classics keeps it from a 5th star.
This was more than excellent. A true undiscovered gem.
Not bad. Low 4
3/10 - It was just another rap album. I did not like it or dislike it that much more than the other ones so its in the same place.
This was really good
Nice
Not quite 36 Chambers (what is?) but still a really solid bunch of tunes here. I loved the Shaolin interludes but worst part on the album is probably the Tony Stark skit which is just so embarrassing. GZA's flow is pretty understated but has a kind of quiet dread to it that I really liked. The beats are really fun and imaginative too. Especially loved the bouncy synth on 4th Chamber. Best Track: Investigative Reports Worst: Duel of the Iron Mic
Best Song: 4th Chamber Worst Song: I gotcha back
Killah Rap.
I mean...it is very familiar. The beats are consistent, so it all sounds similar. I almost enjoyed the little sound clips between pieces more than the music hoping for a story or something. Should it be on the list though? I could have skipped this one.
I don’t dislike Wu Tang and all the spin offs. But it’ll never be something I crave to listen to. This one wasn’t bad. 2.5
This is not really my type of music and although it is from 1995, I never really liked rap where they just talk, which used to be norm up until some point but I like the ones that have more rhythm and more things happening throughout.
At first I did not want to listen to this album, but God opened my eyes cuz this is the best thing. So good, so stupidly good it’s so good. 100000000% recommend. Should definitely listen to it! 9.0/10.
Classic boom bap hip hop, such a great album.
iconic
Not my style
While I am still not (and, this point, probably will never be) a fan of rap, I appreciate this guy’s obvious talent.
Most masterworks aren't made in a day, that's fairly obvious. The Genius of the Wu-Tang Clan surely took longer than most of his crew to put forth a solo record (his second overall) post 36 Chambers but he wanted to make sure that it made an impact. And, like a game of chess, he made checkmate. Liquid Swords is regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums not just of its era but of all time and for good reason. GZA lives up to the album's title and reinforced the belief that not only was he amongst the more lyrically astute members of the Wu but also there were no fathers to the Wu-Tang style. It is little to no wonder why Wu's fan base resort to this album despite the plenty of others released since; it encapsulated what GZA stood for and the ethos he represented within the changing hip-hop landscape. So go get vaccinated with this and his logo will be branded in your skin. If you like, of course...
Good samurai
Pretty decent old school rap
Ace sounds from our favourite hip hop swordsman
Liked the different take on things, a good listen
Proper old school hip hop. Not too braggadocios or misogynistic. Needs a banger, with a fine hook though.
I enjoyed the general vibe and Shogun Assassin references. 3.5
Essential Wu tang at its finest
One of the better Wu Tang solo efforts
Proper quality, love the samples of sword of vengeance and the beats. Best spin off from Wu tang clan.
Liquid swords was excellent. The vibe carries this the most for me but the relatively catchy choruses and immaculate rhyming schemes definitely enrich it.
Outstanding album!
Yeah, everyone knows this is good.
Pretty solid
So much purpose in every song. Tunes and atmosphere strong. I can take or leave hip-hop, but this has depth and class. Will listen again.
Hip-hop. Bastante monótono y rollo. Un 2.
Hip hop, un poco rollo, pero bueno, bien.
Those who enjoyed Wu-Tang Clan's "36 Chambers" would probably enjoy this solo endeavor from GZA. Keeping with the martial arts theme, complete with excerpts from old martial arts movies and aggressive, attacking lyricism, etc. While the production sounds cleaner than that of "36 Chambers", "Liquid Swords" doesn't quite reach those peaks. That's fine though, as a few tracks come close on their own, notably the singles and the few collabs.
some great beats from RZA but that's about all that's ever appealed to me about this project...GZA just isn't that unique or compelling of a solo performer or writer, honestly Ghostface is the only Wu-Tang alum that's ever managed to strike me...boom bap classic that never hits my ears as any greater than enjoyable 6/10
A well crafted rap album. Not something I thought I'd ever say. Solid beats, good lyrics, and appropriate use of Kung Fu cinema. Not my usual cup of tea, but a good diversion once in a while.
Wu Tang lite! Still pretty cool.
Interesting rap. Soft and easy sounds often introduced with attention driven recorded intros.
Isn't rappers' thing that they are supposed to be, like, cool? Cause honestly this guy was a bit pathetic and amateurish. The only songs that were okay were the collabs. Stand-out: Cold World
Innehåller världens bästa hiphop-låt.
yes
solid throughout. B.I.B.L.E is the highlight
Solid from start to finish Standout songs: Duel of the iron mic Cold World Shadowboxin' Investigative Reports
I really liked this although some of the songs were a bit boring, it had a lot of variation and cool effects.
You know, I've kind of been missing out on some classic solo hip-hop work as of lately. I feel like I've gotten quite a bit more group albums as of lately, with my last solo hip-hop album being over a month ago. Anyways, I was very excited to get this album for the project. Of all the Wu-Tang Clan solo albums, GZA's Liquid Swords is among the most acclaimed. This is for a good reason, as the album is really good. I liked Fishscale, but it doesn't really hold a candle to Liquid Swords. Though this is GZA's album for a reason, the album does feature the entire Clan (at the time) in some capacity. Most of them get features at some point, and RZA was even the main producer. Needless to say, they all do a great job with their work. The beats on this thing are quite fun. They're well made. The flows from everyone stand out as being very well though out and are also very enjoyable. The skits, if you can call them that, don't bring the album down in any way. They all tie into the album's general vibe quite well. The writing on this thing is great. The way everything just flows effortlessly is very respectable. Overall, this is (as of right now) my current favorite Wu-Tang solo album, and one of my favorite hip-hop albums of the project so far. High 4/5.
Liquid Swords has great gansta rap cuts. GZA is a solid rapper. However, I struggle to identify why this album is on the list. We already have the perfect Enter the 36 Chambers. This one seems like an appendix. Not a bad one, but it’s like a branch of it. What is special?
-not too bad. sort of similar to the raekwon album I guess, but with its own unique style -Favorites are Duel Of The Iron Mic, Gold, and 4th Chamber
It was fine. I didn't play too close of attention to the lyrics. But musically it was enjoyable. The samurai themed interludes don't really work for me, but they aren't as bad as a lot of the other sketches in this era of hip hop.
I thought GZA was such a poetical lyricist. He's talking about dark stuff, but because it's creative and more about the emotion and intent than the graphic imagery it works way better than Tical, which is the only other WTC member's album we've had so far in this project. At the end of the day, the beats and subject matter weren't super captivating to me, but I'd consider giving this album another listen from time to time to catch clever lyrics I missed this time around.
Wow, great host and great guests which should pop but it don't to me.
Oh I tried, but I'm not interested enough to find the differences in these hip-hop albums. Hip-Hop started when I was a kid but post 1990 it just seemed to be come an industry and the only way to mark yourself out is by how many times you use the N-Word. This did have original spare sounding backing tracks. This is wasted on me.
Liked it a lot. Cool ominous beats. Some sus lines here and there, but it was the 90s ig 🤷
Above average WuTang related rap album with the Kung fu samples.
Love the whole Shogun Assassin movie dialogue snippets sprinkled throughout the record as well as RZA’s atmospheric beats and production. ‘Duel Of The Iron Mic’, ‘Living In The World Today’, ‘Cold World’, ‘Shadowboxin’’, Swordsmen’ and ‘I Gotcha Back’ are the standout cuts for me, but really, ‘Liquid Swords’ is great album from start to finish and GZA’s raps are lyrically complex, but ace.
I'm a huge fan of 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)'. It is one of my favourite albums ever and without a doubt my favourite Hip-Hop album of the 90's. I therefore have a lot of respect for the solo works of the Wu-Tang members although this is the only other "Wu-Tang album" that I have already heard outside of 36 Chambers (as of right now) and while it is not on a level with THAT album, 'Liquid Swords' is still an incredible album even outside of the Hip-Hop world. GZA is seen as the spiritual head of the group bringing razor-sharp rhyme schemes and often philosphical topics into his raps making him the possibly deadliest member on a lyrical level. That strenth in lyrics is very present on this album, in pretty much every verse he delivers. The main producer here is RZA, who already produced most of Enter the Wu-Tang, so we get some classic Wu-Tang beats with a lot of Soul, Funk & Kung-Fu movie samples. And because it's mainly these two artists, a lot argue that the album feels much more conceptually focused then Enter the Wu-Tang. While that is subjective, this album is without a doubt much darker and unsettling. The title track opens the album with a pretty long intro from a Kung-Fu movie that sets the themes of crime, night, death and general darkness. After that GZA delivers with some killer verses and although I do not like the chorus much, the verses itself are among the best of the record. With 'Duel of the Iron Mic' we get features from three Wu-Tang members including ODB on the chorus as well as some verses by Inspektah Deck & Masta Killa which do actually live up to GZA's. 'Living in the World Today' isn't as strong as the songs before although some bars were really great. I also really liked the production as well as Method Man on the chrous. It's mainly the delivery that isn't on point like before. The chorus outshines his verses, which isn't what I want in an album likes this. And while talking about great production: 'Gold' has an incredible beat, flow and verses that all make it the, in my opinion, most unsettling and greatest so far. This is definitely in conversation of being my favourite song on the album. 'Cold World' easily has the best chorus so far, sung by the artist Life. There is also a "breeze" in the beat making this really a "cold world". I do think the beat lingers on for a little bit to long at the end but still, a masterful and atmospheric song. 'Lables' is one of the weakest songs on the album. There just isn't much to it except a really nice beat. The lyrics and the performance are good but not really more. And for being not even 3 minutes long, the fact that I think the outro is to long isn't a good sign. Still enjoyable, just less. Halftime and the second half gets opened by '4th Chamber' aka. the best song on the album. Many great features with verses and performances that stand on a level with GZA, a truely perfect beat with incredible production and a song that truely shows the "Wu-Tang spirit". And if that wasn't enough, it is followed up by the arguably second best track 'Shadowboxin'.' GZA drops killer bar after killer bar without sacrificing any lyrical greatness. This is a song that makes you realize that if you would start a rap beef he would massacre you with his bars. The song doesn't even need a chorus and lucky that it doesn't have one. 'Hell's Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304' is another kinda weak track. The skit, that is the first part, just isn't really interesting, or at least not as much as some other and sampled skits. The actual song is pretty good though even if it's a little bit long and the beat gets kind of annoying. 'Investigative Reports' pretty much features all the rest Wu-Tang members that weren't already featured and like the others before on Track 2, 7 & 8, they absolutley kill all of their performances. 'Swordsman' has some really nice drums that aren't really typical but apart from that I don't care to much for this song. Especially the chorus is pretty weak. Like its predecessor, 'I Gotcha Back' is in comparison a weaker track. I like some moments but overall don't care. It's way to long and the sample outro doesn't make up for the build up tension. Easily the worst track. The album closes with 'B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)' which is technically a Killah Priest song (at least acc. to RYM) probably because GZA doesn't even rap on it. It's still a great song although the production doesn't come close to the meal that RZA put on our tables before. I will need to relisten some more to appreachiate this album more than I do now but as of right now: a Genius album! favourites: 4th Chamber, Gold, Shadowboxin' least favourites: I Gotcha Back, Swordsman, Labels Rating: decent 8 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes
Wu‐Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta Fuck wit. 4.5 stars
I’m not that big of a fan of rap
Quite chill hip-hop
Nice.
An interesting album with a storyline. I quite enjoyed it despite it not being my usual style of music.
Umm... Yeah... It's fine. Just sounds like every other album from these guys. Backbeats and tunes are just cut and paste.
The best song was definitely BIBLE
The same than yesterday! 😡
i enjoyed this but it never got beyond background vibes for me
Great album. Standouts are Duel Of The Iron Mic, Living In The World Today, Shadowboxin', and B.I.B.L.E.
Love the whole ninja/samurai intros
i listened to this a while ago but stopped after cold world; never picking it up since. i didnt feel like this albums for me because i cant dig that far deep into their lyrics. just a me problem though. a great hip hop album nonetheless. i liked gzas flow and the guest rappers from wu tang as well. rzas beats are always nice, but im not too fond of the intros to some of the songs. i know its a wu tang thing to include dialogues from kung fu movies, but i feel like it only works in the context of the album and hurts the listenability in a playlist. other than that, everything else hit pretty well. 4 personal favs: shadowboxin, bible (not a gza song but whatever)
Me encanta el rap de los 90. Simple, rítmico, perfecto. Me guardo 4th chamber y Shadowboxin', pero en general un álbum interesante.
01) Liquid Swords - 6,0 02) Duel of the Iron Mic - 5,5 03) Living in the World Today - 5,5 04) Gold - 5,0 05) Cold World - 6,0 06) Labels - 5,0 07) 4th Chamber - 5,5 08) Shadowboxin' - 5,0 09) Hell's Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304 - 6,0 10) Investigative Reports - 5,0 11) Swordsman - 5,0 12) I Gotcha Back - 5,5 13) B.I.B.L.E. - 5,5 TOTAL: 5,42 (54/100) Current ranking: 200/229 I don't like these endless movie dialogues and skits. Honestly, I don't really like the album either. It's kind of boring, the songs all have the same dark atmosphere, uninspiring samples and I can't tell one from the other if my life depends on it.
Not quite my thing
Can easily go head to head with anything in the Wu catalogue. 4 king's gambits out of 5 ♟️♟️♟️♟️
Good rhythm.
Not my thing, and I wasn't really jn the mood for it either today. Long and dull, although the snippets of film dialogue did break things up nicely. It was nowhere near terrible, but I didn't enjoy it.
I got this straight after a Beastie Boys album and the contrast is really striking. This album was really good though, the beats are just incredible and the lyrics are pretty good.
Dit is rap voor de rapliefhebber. Een saison in een wereld van waterige pils, hazy NEIPAs en pastry stouts. Het album lijkt op het eerste gezicht namelijk wat aan de droge kant. Er staan geen nummers op die je ook op een enigszins algemene radiozender zou kunnen draaien. Heel misschien B.I.B.L.E, maar dat is eigenlijk een bonustrack en die staat er een klein beetje buiten. Er wordt op dit album amper tot niet over bitches en ho's gepraat, wat anders steevast een veelgehoorde kritiek is bij rap. Sowieso wordt er weinig gevloekt op dit album, tot het één na laatste nummer dan. De beats zijn wat oncomfortabel en creepy en hebben daardoor enorm veel sfeer. De teksten zijn complex al zal 90% bij mij natuurlijk compleet verloren gaan. Het album voelt aan als een film als je het in z'n geheel afdraait, wat ik wel tof vind. Ik ga hier niemand mee overtuigen, dus laten we gauw doorgaan naar de 6e Rolling Stones, 5e Morrissey, 4e Elvis Costello of 3e Van Morrisson.
Found this one to be repetitive and boring. Wasn't bad as such, just not my thing. Also didn't like the talking at the start of songs 3 ⭐️
It's a shame so many people will be rating this after their first listen because this is an album that's dependent on a bit of context, as well as being one that took a while to grow on me and I think people won't get to sit with this record for quite enough time to truly appreciate it. I was already a huge Wu Tang fan when I first heard this, but didn't properly understand the surrounding movements in hip hop at the time. Seeing how this deepens the lore and style that Wu Tang brought to the scene, and understanding where these influences went in the following years of hip hop history give this album so much more depth than it seems at first listen. Overall this album just absolutely flexes the chemistry of all contributors and shows a bit of depth to RZA's production that was yet to be explored, all while doing so much to cement the legacy of the Wu Tang Clan. Main takeaway: some of the skits are too long but B.I.B.L.E is one of the greatest songs ever made so who cares
Unspektakulären Hip Hop Album eines Wutan Clan Mitgliedes. Das beste daran, ist dass es nicht total nervig ist und deswegen die Skiptaste erst recht spät bzw. seltener getippt wurde. Trotzdem ist das flüssige Schwer eher stumpf als scharf.
Seems fun
3.5
Lyrically nimble, with an compelling flow and a substantial, ominous vibe. Fave Songs: Liquid Swords, Cold World, Duel of the Iron Mic
Hip Hop is always going to be a tough listen for me. But…I stuck it out & appreciate this effort. Wu Tang is a lot & this guy is a lot of it, at least 1/9. As close to a mellow Rap album I’ve ever listened to, not the stereotypical hardcore Hip Hop…maybe if I turned it up. Out the top 5 favorite Hip Hop albums I like, which are none, this might make the list.
It is a strange fact that this album was performed at Northeastern University afterHOURS by GZA. Duel of the Iron Mic has very similar lyrics, flow and beat to Da Mysteries of Chessboxin' on 36 chambers. The line that made me realize it is "I injure every fucking contender". After that I noticed it continuously throughout the song. GZA has to be the most literary member of the Wu. His bars are thoughtful and his word selection is broad. That really shines through in this album. The similarities to Wu prove how strong his influence was on their sound - most of the songs on this album sound like stripped back 36 chambers tracks. RZA produced this one as well so it's not too surprising. 8/10.
intro mitem chind isch cute. und denn de erst song slappt hert. mga geile beat. er flowt seeehr cool. huere viel hall uf sinere stimm? duel of the iron mic hetmi weniger mitgnoh, immerno laid back cool. living in the world today sehr coole beat, alles chli agspannt harmonisch aber trotzdem laid back. er cha reime oy. immer wieder die filmdialög passed mega findi. uf cold world machter huere geili reim und mer ghört hert sin new yorker (?) akzent. de sänger singt glaub chli ide falsche tonart? tönt jo huuuuere ass labels. ja figg labels (glaub da isch d message vom song). es git e vierti kammere? ha gmeint d schwiz het nur zwei? aber geeeeile beat. irgendwie sind alli beats sochli atonal, bzw die verscheidene samples sind in verschiedene tonarte. ok gnau da findi etz mit de ziit gad bi 4th chamber chli ahstrengend. shadowboxin isch okay, de beat nervt chli mitm "oh man" wo immer so abschniidet. finds würkli langsam chli dark das ganze. investigative reports het e meeega geili luftigi kick mitem bass zeme. swordsman au wieder afoch dark und atonal und so.
ICH BIN READY SAMURAI s chind isch en guete storyteller wnl hahahaha okay de beat nervtmi chli hahahah au wenni cool findt dass es so simpel/reduziert isch ja liquid swords au wenn funny titel hetmi nanig überzügt omg scho wieder en skit ich schwör ich bin froh gits das nümme so krass, aber wenigstens sinds kreativi skits living in the world today findi en richtig geile, ominöse beat, und sin flow hetmi auchli meh packt ah und s albumcover gaht hard UHH COLD WORLD wichtige hate uf labels poah das intro und natürlich de beat gaht dumm bi 4th chamber METHOD MAN hey chegge scho wiso s beliebtiste lied isch SKIT nachane beat uhuere geil und weird bible riese bop, find s album het ener schwach ahgfange, bzw. han nöd so vill chönne ahfange aber han gad momentsn sehr freud ich glaub wegem ener schwache ahfang mussi es 3 geh vlt gits no es 4i? who knows
The regular show of 90s hip hop
Not my cup of tea
I liked this at the start, but it wore thin after a while - too much of the same thing. Better than Method Man's album that we got earlier.
Ok Album.
intro was very unique and different. kinda creepy. the rap itself was okay. 3/10
I hadn't listened to this album in years and I had forgotten just how good it is. It's easy to think of as the "Wu-Tang spinoff with Shogun Assassin soundtrack", but it's actually a whole lot more than that. Even BIBLE, which I remembered as being a jarring bonus track, was actually fine as well. There's some fantastic beats here, and the electronic intro to 4th Chamber is like nothing else before or after.
I had the soundtrack to Shogun Assassin on vinyl in the 80s. Wish I was listening to that instead. Lazy sampling & monotonous flow. When is this original "music" exactly?
Absolutely essential album, the story telling and lyricism especially shine.
Okaish East Coast HipHop.
it was pretty boring.
That run of solo Wu Tang albums was insane.
100% best hop hop album of the 90s. fight me.
good not amazing
Definitely didn’t see the commercial or chart success that ODB did in the 90s (just from my memory!!) But I like this listening to it now. Sounds more like Wu-Tang than the ODB solo stuff and maybe even Method Man (which was also great.) Maybe just a tad long.
This is a banger, listening to this after Run DMC just emphasises the point - the genre had come so far in just one decade. This was very cool.
Very cool flow and great beats. Well produced and great rapping. Rap's not my genre, but I enjoyed it. Three stars.
Started off a little weird with the Shogun narrative but the rest of the album is fire
Unique samples crafted into hypnotic beats give a gritty and grimey sonic palette to this album, often giving the feel of a cold night in the projects of New York City. They give from for GZA to show off why he’s called the genious with tight flows and rhymes at an easy going pace that makes it easy to digest the pictures he’s painting lyrically. Manages to straddle the line of gangsta and philosopher, but to me the gangsta aspects aren’t necessarily glorified - just a necessary reality for some. There’s an Intelligence here that isn’t always found in similar music. Title track is a phenomenal start to the album, with Gold, Cold World, and Killah Hills being some other top tracks. No songs that stand out as particularly weak. Pretty consistently high quality throughout and among the top of the Wu Tang solo efforts.
The absolute best of Wu-Tang in my opinion!
zamuła
Honestly this album was pretty dope. Did not expect it
I don't usually listen to this sort of hip-hop. The opening of the album isn't bad, but they're kind of losing me with Cold World... The instrumentation and the vocals sound like they're in two different keys and the dissonance isn't doing it for me.
Love
Cool samples, good beats and verses
GZA is one of the founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Liquid Swords is his second solo album, which was release after Wu-Tang's debut, is very well regarded as a hip hop classic. This is more melodic than most of the genre, but is still not terribly melodic. GZA is on a rant - and his rants aren't interesting enough to be engaging.
This is the kind of record I really like this journey for. I had heard it on the RS500 and remembered it left a positive impression. This time is sat down with big speakers and the lyrics and listened to it with my full attention. Great record. Lyrically, musically and the way it’s constructed. Will it be one I listening to a lot, no. But I am really glad I got to experience it in its full glory.
I am not a rap expert by any means...and this is not my jam. But I can appreciate it is amazing. Everything flows completely naturally, it is deep and haunting, but methodical and perfection. Songs move naturally into one another, but also build and amplify one another. There are basic beats that enhance the lyrics, and not overshadow them. It is not something I will probably listen to again, but its talent and impressive on so many levels.
This is a cool album. I dig the vibe, and the raps and lyrics were pretty great.
I listened multiply times. Not my Jam
Lyrically very creative. Love Shogun Assassin. WU-TANG.
3+
Heerlijke beats. Kom verder moeilijk in old school rap
Fuck yeah wutang babyyy