When it comes to thought provoking, street-bred raw lyricism, the Wu-Tang Clan's fountain of wisdom, GZA takes his job very seriously. The way he crafts his double-edged rhyme flow mirrors the skill and precise technique of one who works with fine ceramics. GZA's metaphoric and multi-layered lyrics are often touted by critics as his rap name implies; genius.
Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in every borough of New York City, The GZA's workmanship can be found three albums deep with classics dating back to 1991 including the albums Words From The Genius, the gold-selling Liquid Swords and Beneath The Surface. Before his days of microphone notoriety, GZA found himself, during the early ages of rap music, travelling throughout New York City sharpening his rap skills in scattered rhyme battles. "I've studied rap in every borough," the GZA says proudly. "I've been rhyming before a lot of these cats out here were born. We've [Wu Tang Clan] always drank, ate and slept hip-hop. I love it." On his latest blockbuster album Legend Of The Liquid Sword, The GZA makes reference to his hip- hop foundation on the reflective Fam (Members Only) "I grew up around B-Boys, DJs, MCs, through rap, never thinking in ways of TV," the Genius raps. "It was strictly all about magnificent rhyme clout."
During GZA's travels, he encountered other rap veterans that recognized his promise and helped to nurture his talent. "I watched a lot of people come up that are big now," Genius says earnestly. "I used to make demo tapes with cats that rocked with Russell Simmons and people like that. The history goes so far back; I've always been really focused on writing dope rhymes."
The GZA's dream of perfection has been realized once again on his fourth album to date. Legend Of The Liquid Sword not only regains the powerful momentum started by the last three releases, it adds to the Genius' verbal legacy with uncompromising integrity. Heat-seeking darts like the introspective, Auto Bio where GZA breaks down the elements of his life that created the man he is and the crime thriller Luminal.
What has always set The GZA apart from the ordinary is his ability to create complex images with simple context. In the same way it's said that a picture is worth a thousand words, Genius assembles his words to create thousands of vivid pictures. "I don't like to just be simple," he explains. "Even though some of my stuff can seem simple at times, I like to write in a way that when you listen to it over and over again, you hear something new and it requires you to think." Legend Of The Liquid Sword does just that. Whether the listener gets captured by the vocal acrobatics of Santi White (who has written songs for Res) on GZA's Stay In Line or the authentic old school soul production on the masterpiece Animal Planet, Genius weaves satisfying brain food through his lyrics. In his phenomenally cerebral use of metaphors, The Genius flawlessly equates human city dwellers to animals in the jungle onAnimal Planet , which was produced by rhythm doctor Bink (who has produced heavyweight joints for Fat Joe, Nate Dogg, Mr. Cheeks and Faith Evans). With beats by fellow Wu Tang brother RZA, Jaz-O (Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt album), DJ Muggs (who has produced for Cypress Hill, Mobb Deep), Wu producer Mathematics (Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Sunz of Man), Arabian Knight and other sonic masterminds, GZA's talents come across even heavier. On the adrenaline raising Hip Hop call to arms, Knock, Knock (the album's shining debut single), The GZA asks on the chorus, "knock, knock, who the f*** is banging at my door, is it abstract, commercial or hardcore?" In his signature way of ill rhyme construction, GZA further defines the parameters of whatrap music should be.
Don't call GZA's comeback just a comeback, it's a return of an entirely revolutionary thought process. "When we did Back In The Game on the Wu-Tang Iron Flag album, I did a verse about gambling," he explains solidly. "I didn't want to be 'back in the game' or 'back on the block,' that's typical. I made it all metaphorical." It's those same metaphors that makes the Genius' liquid sword a living legend in it's own time.
Name: GZA/Genius
Real Name: Gary Grice
Label: N/A
Web: N/A
1112
GZA/Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bobby said, "Fuck spendin 50 on a whip, buy a clip"
Mental flip, got a thousand tracks thought on a chip
Said he had mad toys to make noise
You split and separate drums like asteroids
The concerned producer sampled this question
Hit him with the beat for the answer, with extra compression
When sound travel, it quickly grab you
Bugged out, tryin to think you can match this
The portrait's too graphic
Panaramic view for you, stamp Wu
The feature gothic, the outcome will be catastrophic
We wrote block-tic checkpoints on your next joint
And who the nigga you anoint?
700 volts on the track to slay
Murderous wordplay displayed, for killin cascades
Throwin bullets in the air to test wind
And which way the cyclone spins
Counter on clockwise, still civilized
Kill spies on the wall, that still flies all dies
[Masta Killa]
Give no extension on the lynchin
It's tension if the name of the Clan is mentioned
It's the aura that's felt, that causes one to flash his gun
And reveal how he really feel, confirmed
He'll never live after the show, see the promoted for the dough
I'm takin, breakin his wax
Throw my shit on to perform my selection from the Swarm
Day 2 breaks, it's a stormy Monday
My ninjas lay in revines and ditches
Underneath shrubs and leaves
They breathed through underwater reeds
The enemy walks above, Clan remain subterranean mud
Off shore banks, tanks approach the location
Bombarded by the circle of death formation
Telecom lines are sniped from these low altitude strikes
Shatterin bulletproof helmets with scrap nail fragments
Of cell, inhale these venomous thoughs that I propel
Through the north facility, the city must suffer at the hand
Of the Chief's command, volts is in
At 3 minute intervals the heat intenses
Deadenin the power from electrical fences
Defences are down, shake a nigga up, bounce him off the sound
[Interlude: Killah Priest of Sunz Of Man]
You know what I'm sayin?
The God ca-diver, in the streets of Iris.
We talk about sex, money and drugs.
(Ruled by power.) And why'all cats don't know
What it's about. (Love and power.)
It goes deeper than what you see on TV.
Killah Priest, come on.
[Killah Priest of Sunz Of Man]
Burnin desire, ebony eyes
Painted toe nails, legacys die
Drivin by the well, egyption queens, Arabian shieks
Are paid to knock off rich kings, for the joy some sing
Graveyards filled with scarlet widows, who stabbed they husbands
Sleepin on silk pillows, blood on they robes
Disguised as beggar in cheap wool clothes
Lambs and wolfs in black hoods, pull out they gats
Like magic wands, castin spells, sendin niggaz to Hell
Trappin they souls in realms, baptize em with holy water
Springin on the heads of plenty witches' daughters
Interviews with the richest reporters
Silent nights over the dividers, a 1000 muslim bibles
For the cobler, hebrews flee to the hills of Masada
For the love of God, guns make a loud sound
I'ma show you how thugs get down
Shoot outs, bullets turn into bloodhounds and hunt you down
Cursed nation, lost generation
X-Files, describe them in the future as cosmic rulers
Fallen angels from space intruders
Dyin saints, blood spilled on the floor like wet paint
See it in the pictures, read it like the lost scriptures
Dissolve it with your 100 proof liqour
[Njeri]
Ha, I shot the sheriff and the deputy secondly
Threatenin the lives of those who threaten me
Lessenin my chances of defeat by predeterminin the victory
As taught by Sun Tzu in the chapter, after the third one
I heard my words shall be bombed, regardless to anything or anyone
I die by the gun, my life has just begun
Thought I was livin all along, but I was wrong
This long road I have to travel in countless battles
These filthy snakes with poison fangs and rattles
Kings, queens and pharoahs change to cattle
I'm able to subtract the devil's arrow
Singin at his eyes on the sparrow, mind narrow
2 positions, horoscopes and tarots
Hark harolds, angels and Christmas carols
Raven images hang from the mantels
Man made slaves and modern day babbles
Raw from Africa and golden ropes and sandles
By wicked thieves and vandals
Who man-handled us with leather whips and burnin candles
And rambled through our castle, leavin niggaz shambles
Stole our golden sodas like some arab camels
We gazed, amazed and baffled as he loaded his ammo
With to the barrel and blasted out our bone marrow
We went to Gretal and the Hansel, tricked by this wicked jackel
Children of my grand old daddy, have me
In mind were they lost in this wilderness blind?
The song "1112" by GZA/Genius is a collaboration between GZA, Masta Killa, Killah Priest, and Njeri, and is about the struggles of life, survival and resistance. The first verse by GZA talks about materialism and the obsession with buying expensive luxury cars, while he suggests investing in music equipment for creativity. The verse also mentions the power of sound and the use of compression in music production. GZA further talks about Wu-Tang Clan's influence and dominance in the rap industry, warning other rappers to watch out for their lyrical prowess. The second verse by Masta Killa talks about the tension and violence that surrounds Wu-Tang Clan and their performances. Masta Killa's lyrics describe the subterranean and guerrilla tactics Wu-Tang Clan employs to resist and maintain their dominance.
The third verse is rapped by Killah Priest and speaks about the darker aspects of society, corruption, and power. His lyrics mention various types of people and cultures, including Arabian sheiks, Arab camels, Africans, kings, and queens. The lyrics describe society's brutal treatment of people, symbolized by the image of a snake with poisonous fangs and rattles. Killah Priest's lyrics also touch on themes of ancient religions, faith, and the search for a higher power.
Finally, Njeri raps the last verse and talks about her resistance against the oppression and control of society. Her lyrics speak of her willingness to use violence, and to accept death as a possible price for her resistance. The verse finishes with a question about whether people are helpless or whether they are blind to their own power.
Line by Line Meaning
Bobby said, "Fuck spendin 50 on a whip, buy a clip"
Bobby suggests that instead of buying an expensive car, you should buy a gun and add ammunition to it.
Mental flip, got a thousand tracks thought on a chip
Having an endless creative flow, so much that there are thousands of tracks ready to go.
Said he had mad toys to make noise
You split and separate drums like asteroids
The concerned producer sampled this question
Hit him with the beat for the answer, with extra compression
Bobby brags saying he has equipment for making music and can split and separate drum sounds effectively. The producer samples his statement and responds with a beat that highlights Bobby's skillset.
When sound travel, it quickly grab you
And equalizes the pitch up, until it have you
Bugged out, tryin to think you can match this
Sound travels fast and grabs your attention, it raises the pitch to the point where it overpowers you and inspires you to try and match it.
The portrait's too graphic
Panaramic view for you, stamp Wu
The feature gothic, the outcome will be catastrophic
We wrote block-tic checkpoints on your next joint
And who the nigga you anoint?
The image is too vivid, the view too wide to display, giving the Wu-Tang Clan a dominant reputation, and whoever is being anointed is challenged to prove themselves worthy with cautionary blocks in place.
700 volts on the track to slay
Murderous wordplay displayed, for killin cascades
Throwin bullets in the air to test wind
And which way the cyclone spins
Intensity at maximum level, delivering powerful lyrics that aim to kill. Testing how versatile and enduring they are by throwing out into the public.
Give no extension on the lynchin
It's tension if the name of the Clan is mentioned
It's the aura that's felt, that causes one to flash his gun
And reveal how he really feel, confirmed
If someone talks about the Wu-Tang Clan, there will be immediate tension, and it will force people to show their genuine feelings.
Graveyards filled with scarlet widows, who stabbed they husbands
Disguised as beggar in cheap wool clothes
Women who killed their husbands are in the cemeteries, with their red garbs and pretending to be poor and homeless.
Raw from Africa and golden ropes and sandles
By wicked thieves and vandals
Who man-handled us with leather whips and burnin candles
A reference to the slave trade and how African people were treated with cruelty by the slave traders.
Ha, I shot the sheriff and the deputy secondly
Threatenin the lives of those who threaten me
Lessenin my chances of defeat by predeterminin the victory
As taught by Sun Tzu in the chapter, after the third one
Fighting back against aggressors and reducing the likelihood of defeat by predicting the outcome, as taught in The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ROBERT DIGGS JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind