Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Meh.
Pretty good hip hop album.
One song on its own is good, but together they are the same song
Carino
Can’t say I’d heard of GZA and only discovered he was a member of Wu-Tang Clan after listening to the album. Overall, I enjoyed the vibe but couldn’t help feeling it was a touch one paced and formulaic by the end of it. I really like the closing track.
it wasnt what i usually listen to but i enjoyed what i listened to
i know how well regarded this is… i wish i liked it more! i think i need more time with it.
EStá bien, divertido, buenos beats, Me pierdo un poco con las historias.
3.25. I think I like Wu-Tang as a collective a little more than any of the individual parts, even though many of them appear on multiple tracks of their individual albums.
This was a decent listen. Pretty chill vibe, good beats, and great lyrics. I enjoyed it way more than the other album we had by one of the Wu Tang members.
GZA brings the same sound and skits to his album as he does on Wu-Tang Clan’s creation. I’ll reiterate that the skits detract from the music, but I understand this was very prevalent in 90’s rap. The beats are on point and the rhymes are tight but the songs are lacking emotion behind what is being said. Middle of the road listen for me.
Lush lyrical treats layered thickly over laidback beats - “My preliminary attack keeps cemeteries packed” The references are deep and intricate, engaging you and inviting reflection and revisit - “I slayed mcs back in the rec room era/ My style broke motherfuckin’ backs like Ken Patera” This is a great collection of rhymes that are consistent, solid and eminently listenable.
I was not looking forward to another Wu Tang solo project, but GZA delivered a great album. Clean beats and rhymes with a smooth delivery kept me groovin'. No complaints, enjoyed this album. ....but, not for nothing, someday someone needs to help me understand the Wu Tang obsession with Kung fu movies and how using samples from said genre of movie is, or ever was, cool?? Extra annoying on this album because i was actually good.
I’m not really the target audience for this album, and I have some issues with aspects of its political messaging. Still, I’d be foolish not to acknowledge the sheer quality of the music and the impact of the Wu‑Tang Clan as a whole. The Shogun Assassin samples are used brilliantly. While it’s not exactly my cup of tea, I fully understand why this is considered an essential listen.
This one sounded pretty good. It was a vibe. I liked ot but I like other hip hop records more.
It was pretty decent enough, I just didn't really fuck with the beats all that hard
The music has that unique Wu-Tang flair. Songs are largely done well, and GZA is surely talented. "Liquid Swords" is great but the album is just missing a couple more real great songs to make it a truly great album. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again.
Had a bit of very unexpected fun with this! 3
I don't wish to be mean, but I just think the beats were limp. Quite enjoyed B.I.B.L.E.; I think that was the one where I actually got into the flow, but the rest got a little too repetitive for my liking.
Kult nok, men lite som stikker seg ut.
Enjoyed listening
i enjoyed this
Undeniably one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. To me, listening to this feels like watching old basketball highlights: I don’t think it translates to today’s game.
Perhaps the best of the Clan on this list, but I’d sooner watch Shogun Assassin (because of all the samples) than listen to the album again. I could not understand the connection between the two. 3.5
Definitely surprised by how much I enjoyed though I shouldn’t be because I love some Wu Tang albums. Cold World and 4th Chamber were my favorites. Solid album even if a few of the songs were just fine. 4/5
Can’t deny it’s pretty good
On Liquid Swords, GZA delivers exactly the sort of record you’d expect from the Wu-Tang Clan orbit: skeletal, lo-fi beats, cinematic kung-fu snippets, and dense lyrical swordplay slicing through tales of street violence and grimy philosophy. The production—largely guided by RZA—leans hard into that minimalist Wu aesthetic, all eerie piano lines and dusty drums that feel pulled from some late-night martial arts flick. GZA’s flow, not unlike Guru’s coolheaded cadence, is conversational and deliberate, though a bit monotone; the precision of his wordplay is undeniable, but the delivery rarely rises above a steady simmer. That leaves the album feeling solid but seldom electrifying. It perks up most on posse cuts like “Duel of the Iron Mic” and the murky, memorable “4th Chamber,” where the rotating flows add needed contrast, while “Shadowboxin’” benefits from the always-charismatic presence of Method Man. Closer “B.I.B.L.E.” rides a reflective flow that even hints at the cool introspection of Nas. Elsewhere, the storytelling on “Cold World” is intriguing but nearly derailed by an off-key hook, and “Killah Hill 10304” introduces a synth line that starts out intriguing before turning distracting. In the end, Liquid Swords is a perfectly competent slice of Wu-Tang mythology—sharp enough to respect, but not quite sharp enough to leave a lasting cut.
Not the biggest fan of the genre but it was a nice listen. Really nothing about it I didn't like. Found the introduction of old samurai movie samples being introduced into the tracks. At least I think they were old samurai movie samples.
Okay, this was fucking solid.
More poetry reading style than a lot of rap, but still gangsta rap even if more palatable. I quite liked the Shogon film references throughout.
Gute Hintergrundmusik HipHop.. imposantes Intro!
What an intro. Flows all the way through. Solid record.
Very fly
This needs more of my attention than I'm able to give it. It sounds great but I'm sure the brilliance lies in the verse
3.0 - Ok. Its just kinda boring compared to the other early Wu solo albums. Much rather listen to Raekwon, Ghostface, Method Man and ODB
I wasn't in the mood for this when I listened. I've developed a taste for 90's rap but this darker/minor key sound is not my favorite flavor.
Never felt more Caucasian ironically
East Coast hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop.
Not the biggest fan of rap but was a good album
Liked it throughout, solid album
3.5
Not my taste
I enjoyed this album! The martial arts movie samples were cool interstitial pieces, and the beats were fun to listen to. I really didn’t catch most of the lyrics, so I did feel like I was missing stuff- but that’s probably my fault.
Nice, great flow. I feel like this would get better with more listening, pretty catchy, some nice sampling, good tunes. Also a bit boring and forgettable at times
Es un buen álbum de hip hop pero no me llegó. No tengo tanto igual del género, así que mucho más no opino. Tres estrellas y a otra cosa. 5/10
Lyrically dense, not very catchy
This album didn't grab me as much as I was hoping. Maybe as a fan of WTC, I was thinking this was something in that vein but it wasnt.
I’d listen again but won’t go out of my way to do so
The 90s rap continues... the narrative between songs is actually quite charming. Not as great as yesterday's NAS.
It's a classic, but I didn't find myself enjoying this as much as before when I first heard it.
un po’ noioso ma mi piace il flow through the album, prima un po’ scuro ma che finisce bene. infatti outro la canzone migliore
Hip hop album through and through. More lyrics than beats on this one, really interesting intro.
At the age of 30 I've just accepted, after giving it a fair chance throughout my life, that most hip hop is not for me and I am tired of pretending like that might change. If I want to experience poetry, I'll read it. If I like the sample, I'll just listen to the original.
Over a pretty good listen
Hat man ein 90er hip hop album gehört, hat man alle gehört
Ikke det værste af de utallige Wu-Tang albums vi skal slæbes igennem. Det var til at holde ud at lytte til, uden at fange mig.
Best Song: Shadowboxin'. I'm a simple man. I hear Method Man, I like it. Worst Song: Hell's Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304. The skit wasn't great and then that beat was really grating, with an outro that went on for forever. Overall: Very relaxed, sometimes too much so. It has this very slow, laidback style that I sometimes found myself wishing it would pick up a bit. It's not as good as some of the core Wu Tang offerings, and it shows a bit of its age, but it's still a good listen nonetheless.
Some of these tracks were pretty good. I keep discofering that I enjoy hip hop and rap way more than I ever thought I would. I'm not really in the right mood today unfortunately. I'm also not a big fan of skit bits - just keep the flow going please. That said, when I popped out in the car, it was banging. Gold especially. Wouldn't argue if I heard any of it again.
The only ki d of hip hop I can listen to. The modern stuff is just shit.
Pretty cool sampling/generally good flows all over this thing.
One of the near-perfect follow-ups to 36 Chambers. Similar tropes and feel, but slightly less in-your-face.
Not really my thing but fine for what it is. Not sure why this is particularly noteworthy.
Yea it's a GZA album - ton of cool kung fu movie samples, wordplay that's better than it needs to be, and simple but cant-not-head-nod beats.
alright but quite repetitive love from lukey miles x
Solid east coast rap album. Feels a little one-note and lacks a true standout track in my opinion. The whole "story" felt a little gimmicky as well, but I respect the commitment to the bit. Top tracks: 4th Chamber, Shadowboxin', Swordsman
very cool samples, super dense lyrics. glad I listened but nothing saved from me
The solo albums of Wu Tang members usually sound like Wu-Lite. Same formula, same production, same result. This one is no different. Was okay, but nothing really jumped out at me.
Love me some rap music, and this is some good rap. But it has the same problem as a lot of early rap does. It's groudbreaking and new, but it's just people talking over a basic beat. I prefer later rap, where the vocals and the music are better attuned to each other, and the beats totally rock out. Still, enjoyed this one. Pretty much every song on this is a middle of the road 3, which is what I'll give the album as well. Best song: Gold
Fun 90s rap album, not quite a 4 for me but I could see why people would say it is.
I was pretty excited when this started, with the intro and first track thinking I was in for a fun mid-90's hip hop creation. But while the first track was solid, it didn't keep it up. Kind of generic and ho-hum. Not bad, just not very good or memorable.
Un tanto monótono. Buenos momentos
Rap
I had high hopes for this album. I have never listened to GZA, or to Wu-Tang for that matter, but the reviews I saw were very positive. I expected it to be very different than all of the other early to mid-90's hip hop albums I've been getting lately, with very different lyrics and music. The positive is the music was different and I liked it a lot. There were great samples and beats throughout. The negative is that the lyrics weren't all that different than much of the other gangsta style rapping I've been hearing. Yes, it's not as overwhelming with misogyny and violence, but it's still there. And there are more interesting things to say, but those rhymes were too few and far between for my liking. I don't think this is a bad album by any means. But it wasn't one I could see going back to. I did save the song Cold World to a favorites playlist though, so that's something.
Weird vibe lol but it's decent
I liked this - maybe a few too many interludes for my liking but some good songs and an enjoyable listen while I was doing other things.
Best WuTang adjacent album I've heard yet!
3.5
Clearly a great rap album, but I couldn’t fully identify a clear concept lyrically despite its comic art work and intro track.
6/10… east coast hip hop / *1995
Rap, not so much my groove.
Another relaxing and street-centric groove of a record from one of the Wu-Tang Clan's revered members. GZA executes a rap delivery on 'Liquid Swords' full of composed ferocity, with his lyrics biting through with aversions to violence, sociocultural issues, politics and introspection, backed by the razor-sharp production of Wu-Tang Clan alumnus RZA. It's an album dripping with measured menace. It's typical of what you'd expect from East Coast hip-hop, and GZA is arguably the best of the Wu-Tang Clan with his rhymes. There's a great deal of self-assurance to his vocal delivery, as if he's confident in his material and not afraid to speak his mind. Released during the peak of the East Coast hardcore hip-hop movement, 'Liquid Swords' slashes through your eardrums like a well-sharpened katana. GZA doesn't hold anything back: he spits whatever's on his mind to whoever will listen. Best songs: Liquid Swords, Shadowboxin', Swordsman
If there is one constant during this process (excluding British music I have never heard of) it is me being excited by a new-to-me hiphop album and then being disappointed. There wasn't much I didn't like about this album but it just felt like it never changed cadence and just plodded along.
++: Living in the World Today, Labels, 4th Chamber, Shadowboxin', I Gotcha Back +: Liquid Swords, Duel of the Iron Mics, Gold, Cold World, Swordsman +-: Hell's Wind • Killah Hills 10304, Investigative Reports 5,8/10
GZA? My financial consultant?!?!
I don’t know. I’ve heard better hiphop on this list. It was a bit skit-heavy for me.
I’d like to listen to this more to see if it grows on me, but didn’t have the chance. I’m not sure rap is for me - the ability to write lyrics like that impresses me but I find the beats pretty boring and the subject matter isn’t for me.
Ok didn't grab me
This is a great album that I really enjoyed. The beats are fire, and as with any Wu-Tang production, I like the Kin-Fu movie interludes sprinkled throughout. I also think the lyrics and flow are very good as well. That all being said, and as much as I liked this, I’m still yet to understand what makes it special enough to be on this list. Maybe the fact that it’s not just boiler plate, forgettable turn of the millennium hip-hop as so many releases tended to be back then. There’s actually some substance to this, which I suppose foreshadows things that came 15-20 years later.
That opening was... well, I guess I can appreciate the raps
Not a big fan , but not bad for a Rap album. 3 stars or C-.
Great samples
It was pretty cool
Fairly enjoyable listen and enjoyed lots of the samples.
This was decent, not amazing. I do like the beats that he dropped and the rapping was very good, but it was a bit repetitive for me. Duel of the Iron Mic was my favorite on this album. Solid. Not great.
3 stars alone just for having shadow boxing on this album.
This album is relentless--the beats just hammer you track after track and I really think that's it's strength. I also like GZA's flow, but I think I need a few more listens. Currently a 3.5 for me, but bumping down for content.
i liked this one way more than i thought i would. clever and atmospheric sampling of movie dialogue frame the lyricism, which carries a really interesting religious and political subtext. allusions to five percent nation ideology? would be cool to dissect lyrics more. 3/5
The beats are simplistic. The lyrics are some serious shit. Above average rap is still only average in my collection.
easy to listen to. not particularly special
3.5 rounded down because I enjoyed this but probably won’t ever return to it
Tried it. Not really my taste but it had some good samples/beats. May go back to it.
It was alright.
Chill and hypnotic.
That was straight gangsta
the best song on this album isn't even by gza
Regular hip-hop album
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!
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
Enjoyed it - not my scene, but appreciated it
interesting - different
Pretty coo
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.
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.
3.08
Solid sample openers. Based on my limited nostalgia, a total 90’s feel
Not my genre, but I enjoyed the storyline. One of the better rap albums for me.
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.
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
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."
loved some tracks, didn't enjoy others
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
Good
Meh. Not bad, but wouldn't actively stream it.
Fine. 3 5
Hate to say it but I’d rather watch the Kung fu movies than listen to Wu Tang or Wu adjacent albums.
Good but not my style
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 my vibe.
Hippity Hoppity
Fun album, classic 90s rap
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.
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
Great sound, love the transitions & samples, but too repetitive.
Some nice segways and tunes here
rap
Atmospheric but I began to lose interest
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.
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
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.
Sounds like crappy boring mediocre hip hop to me
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
Nice chill beats, and bars that are full of personality. The flow is basically the same on every track though.
Good listen. Appreciated the interweaving of dialogue from samurai films and creative lyrics.
Classic and smooth NY Hip Hop from the mid 90s.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
I liked the sound of it but it was a bit boring
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.
Nerdy, catchy.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
already listened to it, pretty decent. big fan of b.i.b.l.e
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.
Yet another Hip-Hop album. At first I quite liked it, but after the first few tracks I started to get bored.
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 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.
I thought the beats were fairly boring
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.
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.
7/10. Too same-y
Meh, smells like Wu-Tang spin-off. Nothing special going on here.
3-4
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.
Not my type of music
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?
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.
Cold World is a standout for me. Too much forgettable filler.
I feel your flow GZA.
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.
Nice for my workout
First hip-hop album ever listen to, just soso
Heavy rap. Not bad, just not for me.
good but not really my thing
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.
показался более интересным чем остальные реп-альбомы с первого раза, надо потом вернуться
Liked the lo-fi. 3/5
Exciting blend of samples and vocals -- very cleverly produced.
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 :')
Good beats, not loud, easy to play as background music. Head bopping, not boring. Doesn’t sound dated either. 3/5
Not enough variation to be interesting to listen to in one session
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
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.
Done before, obviously forgettable...
Nice vibe, smooth but also treacks blend into one. some deep lyrics I probably didn't pick up on.
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 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.
The beat was cool but would not add any of these songs to my playlist. The all kinda sounded the same to me.
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!
Pretty good rap, although it mostly ran together for me
I love the concept of the Wu-Tang Universe but I think all the albums just fall slightly flat for me
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.
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.
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.
This was fine but it definitely didn't stand out much for me.
Fun unique 90s hip hop album. A classic.
Best Song: 4th Chamber Worst Song: I gotcha back
Killah Rap.
Pretty decent old school rap
Ace sounds from our favourite hip hop swordsman
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
Hip hop, un poco rollo, pero bueno, bien.
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
Interesting rap. Soft and easy sounds often introduced with attention driven recorded intros.
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.
Above average WuTang related rap album with the Kung fu samples.
Quite chill hip-hop
An interesting album with a storyline. I quite enjoyed it despite it not being my usual style of music.
i enjoyed this but it never got beyond background vibes for me
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 ⭐️
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
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
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.
Okaish East Coast HipHop.
good not amazing
Very cool flow and great beats. Well produced and great rapping. Rap's not my genre, but I enjoyed it. Three stars.
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.
Cool samples, good beats and verses
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
alright beats but boring rapping to back it up leaves it to not give me the best time with this.
I liked this, I’d give it a 3.5 if I could
3.2 Enjoyed it with one go-through
Decent
The beats are surprisingly catchy and engaging. The lengthy excerpts from Shogun Assassin are rather tedious.
I like it. I really enjoyed the music. The talking, not so much. 3
I like this style of rap better than most. it almost feels like indie rap.
B- Liquid Swords 3 Duel Of The Iron Mic 4 Living In The World Today 4 Gold 3 Cold World 3 Labels 3 4th Chamber 3 Shadowboxin' 3 Killah Hills 10304 3 Investigative Reports 3 Swordsman 3 I Gotcha Back 3 Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth 4 This was pretty good. I thought this was SZA until just now. Oops.
I'm never going to choose to listen to this, but I enjoyed parts of it.
The title track is great. "Cold World" is also worth a listen. The real star, per usual, is RZA's beats and production work. Though the album is a little too heavy on rather long samples from Shogun Assassin (1980). 3.2 stars rounded down.
I enjoyed the film / video game aspect of the album.
Never realized how many hip hop records have spoken word interludes. Don’t hate, but don’t love. Overall, this is pretty good. Good beats, not loud, easy to play as background music. Head bopping, not boring. Doesn’t sound dated either.
Cool rap, not totally for me
undarground... mitä vittua tarkoittaa maanalainen? aina olluvar kuuluisia.. luulin tarkoittaa epä suosittu ja harvempi henkilö kuuntelee esim richie guerrero 400 monthly listeners. noh tota hyvä albumi tässå, wu tang jäsen jatkaa samankaltaista hip hop musiikin tuotantoa.. pakko antaa vähäisempi arvosana kuin cuban links joka oli jo heikompi kuin,36 kammiota. ryhmänä niin paljon versaliteettia että se toimii paljon oaremmin, vaikka tässä toki featureja. lyrisismi toki mahtavaa, mutta se on odotettuakin, ei mikään yllätys siinä.. neste miekat... huhhuh... killah hills 10304
This is probably my favorite album by a former Wu-Tang Clan member. I’ve enjoyed some Raekwon and Ghostface Killah albums as well and they’re pretty close, but I think Liquid Swords is on par with Enter the Wu-Tang. Usually I don’t love skits in the midst of songs, but I think GZA accomplished this way better than any other rapper I’ve heard, mostly using dialogue from the film Shogun Assassin (which I should probably check out). The production for this album is incredible, especially considering it was recorded and produced in RZA’s basement. I’m unclear how advanced RZA’s home studio was, but I can’t imagine it rivaled The Firehouse or The Hit Studio where Enter the Wu-Tang was recorded and mastered (respectively). RZA and GZA made miracles on this album, it sounds over a decade advanced. Ghostface Killah’s Fishscale from 2006 and Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II are of similar quality, but they’re both over 10 years later and were recorded at more developed studios.
Higher end 3
Gets ya nodding dog noddin
So Wu already on the list? GZA boi ur ass dismissed Liquid swords may be filled with bars But u just scrape by with soft 3 stars
3.
Interesting concept. Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5
I liked this much more than I expected to and would probably place it close to the top relative to the other very famous rap albums on this list. However I’m still not really a fan of this because none of the songs really stuck out. I’ll have to re-listen to this sometime.
HipHop als schönes Konzeptalbum.
Why do people have such an ick for 90’s rap? I love the Instrumentals here, such wonky and non traditional beats are so fun. NY Hip-Hop was so fire back in the day, bring it back. This is another album that’s deff gonna grow on me as I reslisten. Living in the world today; 4th chamber, Investigative reports.. gah there’s too many bangers bro
Albumet var helt okej. Jag gillar den. Lite old school. Det är nice. Ganska samma sound genom hela skivan. Bra flow. Glad att jag fick höra den. Andra lyssningen blev den bättre. Coola filmklipp.
Det är bra. Men lite för enformigt. Det är rätt "enkla" beats. Inget extra. Antar att texten är en viktig del. Kan inte riktigt ta in den. Skönt flow, men lågmält. Det är inte dåligt men inte heller svinbra. Lite tjatigt med alla ninjatjafs. Det var säkert ballt en gång. Men det håller inte i längden. Shadowboxin är bäst.
Stone hard NY hip hop. From the source to the next step in the 90s. Could have had a bit more soul or funk as a criticism.
Fiko
VERY NY 90's boom-bap hip hop album. The Wu Tang Clan members are all good lyricists so its fun to hear them all here. I do wish the actual songs were stronger though. None of them really stuck out to me after multiple listens aside from B.I.B.L.E, which stood out to me more for GZA's political lyrics than anything else. While this does create a "vibe" for the album, I don't find it to be super memorable. RZA's production is very good and must have been great to hear at the time when most production was simpler than what we hear here.
Pretty meh here. A couple catchy tracks but not a lot to keep my interest.